Brief Profile:
Hello all! I made this mdapps in the hope that it helps someone get through this whirlwind of a process we affectionately refer to as "applying to med school". I'll go ahead and list my activities in this space since so many people seem to have questions about it. I'm probably the definition of a cookie cutter applicant, and it is definitely reflected in my application on the whole. I'll just list and add blurbs to explain. ER Volunteering- Worked since 2009 for around 200 hours Work- I've worked in the ticket office for about a year and a half and a panera over the summers/breaks. I do not currently work at either (updated 12/16/2012) STRIPES- Our school's safe ride program, of which i was an executive for 2 and a half years. The majority of my undergraduate career was spent slaving over this program, I've easily put in hundreds upon hundreds of hours. Hobbies/sports- I run errday, play pick-up basketball quite often, and am the captain of two co-ed teams. I play guitar and piano as well (though not well) Academic recognition- Dean's list every semester, I've received a scholarship here and there Standardized Patient- I work as a standardized patient for our medical school, it's quite entertaining but I only have around 50 hours here Bicycle Drive- My mom and I set up a bicycle drive with the help of our local church for residents of Joplin, MO after the tornado, it was moderately successful. Physician Shadowing- I shadowed about 80 hours? One of which was my father who practices in pulmonology haha Undergraduate Research Assistant- Speaks for itself, I've been involved in research for about a year God's Love We Deliver- Spent a week in New York delivering food to sick individuals over winter break Alternative Spring Break- Spent a week in Joplin, MO helping residents rebuild houses/miscellaneous
My letters of recommendation were, as I recall, "solid". I received one from my organic chemistry professor, genetics professor, ethics professor, a physician I shadowed, and my research PI. Ballin.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/12/2012
Undergraduate college: University of Missouri
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 516
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 130,
C/P 128,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.95
Science GPA: 3.96
Summary of Application Experience
I will likely continue to update this throughout the cycle! I'm not entirely sure what to put in this space, but hey, just going to wing it. My initial thoughts on applying to medical school can be summed up in the articulate phrase "this blows". My application situation is a little weird. I go to a school that requires a committee letter to be sent, and, as such, my application was technically complete on 6/29/2012 but nothing really ended up happening (none of my letters were in) until early August. So my application was in early but because the committee took forever in getting my letter out, I was really complete in the middle of the cycle. 12/16/2012- Right now, I have two acceptances, to Rosalind Franklin and Saint Louis University. It would be a difficult choice between the two right meow; SLU has more "name recognition" and would probably be considered to be the superior schools, but I had a great time at my interview day at Rosalind Franklin. Overall, we'll have to see where we are in a few months!
Applied
University of Kansas
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: 08/07/2012
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: No
Summary of Experience:
Ended up not completing the secondary because I realized being accepted here would lead to living in kansas *shudders*
Summary of Experience:
I passed the primary screen here but after realizing that they didn't accept ANY form of AP credit (which was all of my English credit in college) I wasn't able to complete the marathon of a secondary. It was rather unfortunate, but considering the trade-off would have been taking English in college I'm calling this one a win.
Summary of Experience:
Was given the "further status" sometime in late November. Even if I receive an interview here, I likely will not attend since I already have a few acceptances and I don't want to pay for airfare.
Summary of Experience:
I was small pooled around the 24th of August. Considering the fact that it is currently the 16th of December, I'm going to take this one as a NO
Summary of Experience:
Pre-interview hold. Makes sense, I'm a fairly cookie-cutter applicant and they get somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 billion applications
Summary of Experience:
Hahahahahahahaha like I'm going to be invited here, please. I must have been in cocky mood and wanted to knock myself down a few pegs when I applied here.
Summary of Experience:
Took forever to get this effing secondary. Haven't received an interview invitation as of yet, but I would love to get the opportunity here. On my short list of top schools.
Summary of Experience:
Indiana was an interesting experience. The interview day as a whole was fine, but my god I am not a fan of the fact that you may not get put in the location you want. I'm not sure many people want to go to medical school in Gary, Indiana haha
Summary of Experience:
This place was incredible. I had a great time with the other applicants and the campus is gorgeous. Tara was very friendly, and I have nothing but good things to say, other than I wish they would accept me! I'm currently on hold, so we'll see how this goes.
Summary of Experience:
I can't describe how much fun I had at my Case Western interview. It was like falling in love for the first time. It was like what falling in love for the first time resulted in for me after they put me on hold haha easily my top choice. Very disappointed to be in this position, but a guy can dream.
Summary of Experience:
Of all the places I interviewed at, I felt as if this was my poorest experience in terms of how I felt coming out of the interview. I thought I totally bombed it, but lo and behold, it was the first school I was accepted to. Go figure. I definitely enjoy the school and if nothing changes with anywhere else (phoenix, case western) I will likely matriculate.
Summary of Experience:
My undergraduate institution has, so far, shown me no love. Their post-interview process is a bit odd, as they only accept 5 people at the end of each month until March, when they accept 30 all at once. I will likely be waiting a while to hear back from them.
Update: I was accepted at the end of January!! I was extremely surprised to receive an acceptance from them this early, but very excited. They are making my choice of school quite difficult.
Summary of Experience:
I can't remember exactly what day I was accepted, but I think the time-frame is approximately accurate. In any case, I had a great time here on my interview day, the staff was very friendly and honestly was one of the most welcoming environments I have been in, in terms of interviews. They don't have a ton of research opportunities in what they offer, but if I received a scholarship, I could definitely see myself here.
