Brief Profile:
As a high school senior, I followed a hunch and enrolled in a CNA course. The clinical opportunities that have followed make that the best decision I have ever made.
After working several years in the critical care setting, I now realize how much I prefer personal interaction over time spent in a lab, OR, etc. There are amazing things done in the OR and lives saved in the ER and ICU, but sooooo many of these people are far down a road of chronic illness. I have become intrigued by the potential of primary care, preventive medicine and public health efforts. Maybe there is less pay in primary care, but so what, there is a serious need to look at the big picture and improve everyday health. I know there are many sides to this argument, so PM me if you have any feedback. I would love to chat.
This is my second application cycle. MD schools suggested re-taking my MCAT to improve my PS score. DO schools suggested improving my science GPA. I saw the most potential in retaking two Gen Chem courses that were anchoring my GPA (2.2 & 2.4, which are incorporated into the GPA above). This summer I re-took, and got a 4.0 & 3.3 respectively (who-hoo!). I am eager to see how schools respond to that, with the addition of more clinical work and shadowing in primary care. Below is a brief summary of experiences:
* 6 years of experience as CNA (5 years ICU - Seattle trauma hospital, 2 years of combined inpatient care @ rural community hospital, home health care, King County Jail, and various inpatient facilties through staffing agency).
* 1.5 years as Clinical research Assistant (Immunogenic vaccines for breast and ovarian cancer w/ UW Medicine laboratory)
* Health Educator (local group home for Seattle\'s underserved)
* 2 years as a Teaching Assistant (Intro & Advanced Biology courses, UW Biology)
* Shadowed 5 physicians (110 total hours -- Neurosurgery, Pulmonary Medicine, Family Medicine, Public Health & Pediatric Neurology, 2 DOs & 3 MDs)
* 2 Published articles in undergraduate newspaper ( topic: Healthcare reform)
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/25/2010
Undergraduate college: University of Washington
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 502
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 127,
C/P 124,
CARS 126
Overall GPA: 3.35
Science GPA: 3.25
Summary of Application Experience
06/2010 - DO NOT include independent study abroad programs in AACOMAS or AMCAS (unless they are important pre-reqs)! I had an unreal battle with University of Peru just to get a transcripts for the one class I took there.
07/2010 - The secondaries roll in. This is a part-time job!
8/17/2010 - LECOM = first interview invite.
9/2/2010 - KCOM Interview invite. I am so excited to see such an established program!
9/2010 - If one could count the number of times I checked my email inbox this month... 2 rejections....waiting on others.
9/30/2010 - DMU Invite!!
10/2010 - KCOM & DMU interviews: Both programs are very impressive all around. KCOM: great facilities, and student community. Clinical rotations are clearly top-notch for D.O. schools. After touring the town though, I questioned if my girlfriend & I could handle it. DMU: I had a gut feeling about this place from the beginning of the day. Seemed to have everything that KCOM offered, but the little things stood out to me -- it felt like the place for me.
10/27/2010 - ACCEPTED TO LECOM, KCOM, and DMU!!! The dream is a reality, and it feels good. I think my mind is made up, but still considering attending other interviews (PNWU & ATSU-SOMA).
11/01/2010 - Matriculating @ DMU. So excited to have cleared the acceptance hurdle. I can now look forward to the next, shaping phase of the journey.
Summary of Experience:
Last year: rejected post secondary. Advised to retake MCAT, however I chose to re-take two of my GEN CHEM courses that were the anchors of my entire transcript (I saw more potential in this improvement versus the MCAT).
Summary of Experience:
However nice facilities. Erie looks like a great city to live in. PBL is great... but I am second-guessing it as 100% of my didactics. Bottom line: My other two acceptances are far better choices in my mind.
Summary of Experience:
Came here the day after KCOM -- this is my favorite. Everything about this place excited me. Interview went well........fastforward.....ACCEPTED! This is looking like my future.
Summary of Experience:
ACCEPTED!!! This program has it all IMO - friendly faculty, staff, community, great curriculum & clinical opportunities. Small town is my only reservation.
THISTIME took the old MCAT and scored a 26 which is in the 55th percentile of all old scores.
We converted this to a 502 on the updated scale which is in the 57th percentile of the updated MCAT. We also converted THISTIME’s section scores as follows:
THISTIME scored a 10 on the Biological Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 127 on the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems.
THISTIME scored a 7 on the Physical Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 124 on the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems.
THISTIME scored a 9 on the Verbal Reasoning section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 126 on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
