Brief Profile:
Since I am giving my stats I\'m going to try to remain as anonymous as I can be until after the interview season is over I know I am not the strongest applicant in the world, but I really do trust that God has a plan for me... every invite is a blessing.. HERE WE GO!
Extracurricular: Premed Org Director Volunteer Service Trips Did research in both Genetics and Medicinal Chem Med missions trip Work at women\'s clinic Public Health water quality trip Counselor at premed summer camp Shadowed MDs/DOs etc.
Update 6/19/2012 This year has gone by so quickly and this cycle ended up being more than I could have ever imagined. my cycle ended with: Applied to 22 Schools (DO+MD) Sent 19 Secondary\'s (MD Schools only) 12 Interview invites Attended 10 Interviews Waitlisted at 3 schools Accepted at 5 schools
I truly enjoyed the interview trail and visiting different cities and such. I withdrew all my waitlists because I had already gotten into the schools that I wanted. I wanted to share my pieces of advice to all those applying. I know these are probably things most of you have heard a million times before, but I they are really important!
1. APPLY EARLY!!!! i can\'t emphasize this enough. I had already gotten my interview invites in early August and I knew some people who hadn\'t even submitted their applications or gotten verified yet! 2. Apply Broadly.... plenty of instate schools (I feel they are more forgiving of lower GPAs), reachable private schools, and a couple of dream schools (which I clearly got rejected from...but a girl can dream..lol) 3. Give yourself a 2 week limit for secondary\'s and SAVE all of them. You will repeat most of your essays. This was probably the most grueling part of the process. I am pretty sure I can write a book about myself after writing these. But after this is easy sailing. 4. ACCEPT every interview invite until you have accepted and secured your seat in a class 5. Read up on the schools and go through the interview feedback page on SDN to go over questions. 6. Know your application like the back of your hand...both primary and secondary. 7. Create questions to ask before you get there and while you are. 8. Jot down any important facts 9. BE YOURSELF in the interview... 10. Send thank you notes. Try to do it as soon as you get back home so you don\'t forget 11. At the end of each interview, write down the pros and cons of this school...be honest with yourself as to why you would and wouldn\'t attend the school. This really helped me in my decision making
Ultimately I choose the school that made me most feel at home. I actually turned down a 50% scholarship, but i KNEW I wouldn\'t be happy at the school. When you know, you\'ll know. Just be honest with yourself and what is important to you. At the end at every med school, you have to memorize material and pass the STEP... so I would focus on other aspects of the school...but thats just my opinion. Feel free to message me with any other questions.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/21/2011
Undergraduate college: University of Florida
Undergraduate Area of study: Premedical Studies
Institution: University of Florida
Area of Study: Other
Degree Obtained: Public Health
Total MCAT SCORE: 505
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 125,
C/P 124,
CARS 130
Overall GPA: 3.47
Science GPA: 3.13
Summary of Application Experience
6/22/11- I submitted my AMCAS. My original plan was to submit it within the first week of June, but I was having a lot of trouble with my personal statement (writer\'s block, etc)...and with my relatively high verbal and writing score, I wanted it should be really good and I must admit: it\'s pretty awesome and it was definitely worth the wait.
7/13/11- FINALLY VERIFIED... my goodness I almost had a heart attack waiting that long. I have realized that this is probably why its better to apply early.
9/8/11- I tell you, I really underestimated the amount of time and patience secondaries would take. I am pretty sure I can write a novel about my life as a premed with all these essays. But its all good, I finally finished my last MD one today...I was honestly ready to throw in the towel after the 5th one..SO HAPPY I AM DONE WITH THAT! I going to wait on the DO ones for a little bit..
Summary of Experience:
First Rejection :-/ Oh well- you win some and you lose some. I guess it doesnt sting as much since I have other interview invites...
Summary of Experience:
First INVITE!!!! So Excited! So Blessed! -Attended the interview and I really enjoyed it. Saw a M2 I knew from my alma mater actually. Love the new hospital... hope I get in here!
Summary of Experience:
2nd Invite, first interview I attended. The faculty and students are REALLY nice and welcoming. they really seem like a family there. Loved the curriculum, except for the fact that you take your Step 1 in your 3rd year.. not sure how I feel about that
