Application Cycle One: 06/12/2009

• Undergraduate college: Duke University
• Undergraduate Area of study: Agriculture/Earth Sciences

• Total MCAT SCORE: 514
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 130, C/P 128, CARS 127   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.50
• Science GPA: 3.52

Summary of Application Experience

I avoided MDApps for a while due to highly intimidating profiles. However, I thought it might be useful to document an average (re)applicant\'s experience. Maybe I\'m missing something but why are so many MDApps anonymous? Anyways here\'s some information to share.

Some great resources (in case you don\'t already know) are:
Harvard Med Girl Blog: http://harvardmedgirl.blogspot.com
Look through for how to prepare for interviews, and great resources to read. She took the application really seriously, and it definitely shows.
Allopathic Interview Feedbacks: http://more.studentdoctor.net/schoollist.php?type=2

Some advice:
- I am learning as I go to more interviews, but so far the three things I would boil down a successful interview are: humility, enthusiasm, and empathy. Be humble. When describing every experience you\'ve had, also state how you learned from them, the people who helped you out, and the connections you made. Pay tribute to everyone who supported you and brought you to this point in your life. Be enthusiastic. Why do you want to go this medical school? Anybody can come up with a laundry list of things like \"great research, happy students, supportive and accessible faculty, etc.\" but look for unique and specific things that show you\'ve done your research looking at X university and where you fit in. Be empathetic. At my interview in Albany, I came across a tough cookie who I honestly felt was trying to see how I would react. Each time he disagreed with me, I\'d do my best to acknowledge his arguments I agreed with and respectfully disagree with the other points. Never make any conversation one-sided. At the end of this unexpected debate, I thanked the interviewer for his views and what I had learned from him.
- Never count yourself out anywhere. UMiami was in-state subsidized so I thought I wouldn\'t have any luck, but I can\'t believe it was the first to give me a chance!
- Consider sending out an update letter about 2-3 months after you\'ve submitted the secondary (and haven\'t received an interview). Expressing additional enthusiasm/interest in a program certainly can\'t hurt, particularly if it is genuine. And plus, I think this is a much more proactive, polite and sincere way of communicating with the admissions office (rather than constantly phoning to check your status). If you haven\'t done anything new consider taking up a new volunteer job or getting a recommendation from an employer, doctor -- anything to give them a reason to look at your application again. Chances are it may have slipped to the bottom of the like 4000 applications they receive a year.

Finances:
There are a couple resources to help you out. If you worked for Americorps, like I did, you get an education award. You can stretch this award out over several years and pay it in small increments (it is taxable), but its optimal use is in making you financially classified \"independent\" and qualifying you for federal loans and grants. See this document: http://nationalserviceresources.org/files/legacy/filemanager/download/447/rogers.pdf
The National Health Service Corps is willing to pay your entire cost of education if you commit to an underserved area after medical school. This means specialties will have to wait, but it\'s perfect if you want to be a primary care physician. Also note that underserved doesn\'t necessarily mean What-what land somehwere in the Midwest. It could mean the Housing Projects in the Bronx in New York City, which could be just as broadening an experience.