Application Cycle One: 07/31/2009

• Undergraduate college: UIUC
• Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences

• Total MCAT SCORE: 522
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 130, C/P 132, CARS 129   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.40
• Science GPA: 0.00

Summary of Application Experience

Basic info:
-Molecular and cellular biology major with minor in chemistry.
-Low GPA with strong upward trend junior/senior years.
-1 year of hospital volunteering/shadowing.
-1 year of research with 1 publication.
-Teach For America corps member: taught chemistry in an underprivileged urban high school. Holla if you\'re TFA!

Notes:
-Applied to TMDSAS schools because they were cheap - I applied to all schools at the cost of one AMCAS school. I am not affiliated with Texas in any way. Got an interview and didn\'t get outright rejected post interview, so I guess that worked out.
-Secondary application fee is not required at Tulane for TFA corps members!
-Did not have a nonscience professor LoR - that barred me from applying to some schools.
-Grew up in IL, moved to CA for TFA. My immediate family resides in IL. Hence all the IL schools.
-8 interviews: 3 acceptances (1 from a waitlist), 5 waitlists, 0 post-interview rejections. I think my TFA experience really helped.

Non-traditional applicant with high MCAT, low GPA (the UCs rejected me based on my crappy grades - believe me, I called.), and decent ECs - applied to a bunch of schools to maximize my chances of getting into ONE school. I\'ve put up my stats to give those with lower GPAs hope.

If you\'re in the same situation, apply early and apply all over the US if you can afford it - I spent all the extra money I earned as a teacher on med school apps. Expect interviews and acceptances a bit later in the application season. PM me on SDN if you have any questions regarding the application process. Good luck and don\'t despair!! :)