Brief Profile:
4-year MS/BS completed in 2012 college: worked in two research laboratories, multiple long-term leadership and volunteering experiences 2-year gap spent conducting MRI research
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Institution: Brandeis
Area of Study: Biological/Life Sciences
Degree Obtained: MS
Total MCAT SCORE: 507
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 127,
C/P 125,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.82
Science GPA: 3.79
Summary of Application Experience
AMCAS Primary: sent to 30 schools [submitted 6/10/2013; processed 7/11/2013; rec letters received 8/6/2013] Secondaries: received 29 (did not receive from UCSF), completed 24 Rejections: 15 (not including UCSF) Interviews: 9 --Acceptances: 4 [withdrew 3] --Waitlists: 5 [withdrew 2; rejected 3] --Rejections: 0
Total Costs: $4,783 --Primary Application (30).....................$1,175 --Secondary Applications (24)..............$2,156 [so ~$90 per school] --Interviews (9)........................................$1,452 [did not stay in a hotel]
Application Complete, Rejected
University of Cincinnati
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: 07/09/2013
Secondary Completed: 08/05/2013
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: 03/31/2014
Summary of Experience:
Update letter sent 11/27/13. Update letter #2 sent 2/11/14.
Summary of Experience:
Overall impression: superb clinical rotations in Boston, high prestige factor; administration is not student-friendly and can be difficult to achieve things with all the red tape
Summary of Experience:
On hold 8/12/13, submitted update through the secondary website on 8/27/13. Update letter #2 sent 2/26/14.
Like with my other interviews, I had an incredibly positive experience. However, there were a few noteworthy observations that stuck with me: 1) Talking with many current students, the most common answer for why they decided on GWU was location (D.C.). 2) They are also undergoing a total change of curriculum (for the better, in the long run), but the staff could not give any more detail than "it will be more integrated". 3) During the tour, we stopped by the Simulation Center as three 3rd-years were being evaluated with a manikin. What followed was embarrassing, as the students failed to respond appropriately to the situation, even as the technician changed the vitals to a more extreme state multiple times. Granted, they are still students in the learning process--but the tech said they had learned about the particular situation in class earlier that very week, and should have known what to do. 4) The faculty interviewer was very nice and outright told me that "it was a yes" from her. The student interview also went well, but alas I am in the alternate pool.
Summary of Experience:
Update letter sent 1/23/14. Update letter #2 sent 3/18/14.
Seems like an amazing school, with a brand new teaching building at the center of campus. UMass Memorial Hospital is attached to the school, which is very nice. It would be very tough to turn down an acceptance here--the only real downside is living in Worcester.
Summary of Experience:
Amazing clinical opportunities. They are attached to the VA, and clinical rotations are done among 6 area hospitals. The Free Clinic is also one-of-a-kind, giving students excellent clinical exposure very early (and with a lot of Spanish!). I would love to live in San Diego.
On the waitlist is better than an outright rejection, but since there are only 125 per class, I am not getting my hopes up for an acceptance. Unfortunately, they do not accept update letters at all.
Summary of Experience:
Withdrew from Under Consideration list 3/29/14.
This was my first interview, and I knew it would be MMI. They took plenty of time to explain the MMI process, and it was incredibly well-run in the new Simulation Center. I was impressed with everything the school had to offer, other than the buildings which needed renovations. The school is a self-professed "mom-and-pop" institution, and everything is done on a small scale.
All of the students loved being there, but for many (everyone I talked to) it turned out this was their only acceptance. If they were accepted at a different school, they likely wouldn't be at Albany. Then, as I interviewed at other places, I noticed that Albany really is lacking in resources and what it can offer its students.
I did love my interview day there, though, and enjoyed the MMI. I connected with all but one interviewer in the mini-stations, but alas am on the waitlist.
Summary of Experience:
Withdrew acceptance 5/9/14.
Small pool 9/4/13.
I loved my visit to UVM, and am currently planning on attending in the fall. I stayed with a student host the day/night before, and met 20 current students as we went out to eat at a bar. Everyone is welcoming, and the school is totally student-centered. The curriculum is unique (take Step 1 very early), but allows for additional time for rotations. If I get into my state school (or get pulled off the waitlist at UCSD), I will have a tough decision to make.
Summary of Experience:
Withdrew acceptance 3/19/14.
While there was a lot to like about Drexel, and I enjoyed speaking with my fellow interviewees, there were a number of experiences that left a sour taste:
1) pre-interview essay: at the beginning of the day, take 30 minutes to write an essay on one side of a sheet of paper. 2) shuttle to interview: the hospital is a 20-minute shuttle ride away, and I had to take a shuttle, then find my interviewer's office. 3) Interviewer late: My interview was at 12:00pm, and I began waiting in his office at 11:45am. He finally arrived at 12:45pm (his 12:30pm interviewee was also waiting next to me by then), and he did not apologize! The interview lasted 10 minutes, as I thought it would from talking with current students. 4) Interviewer demeanor: I am not sure if this was supposed to be a "stress" interview, but my interviewer was curt, asking seemingly random questions and without ever making eye contact. This was his first time seeing my file (or he acted like it was), and he would press me on my responses by asking unnecessary follow-ups. I simply tried to remain calm, talk slow, and keep my enthusiasm; but I was kind of shocked that all of the build-up (flying to Philly, getting to Drexel) came down to such a disappointing interview. I wish it could have been more of a dialogue/conversation.
Summary of Experience:
Withdrew acceptance 5/2/14.
I didn't really have any expectations for my interview, but was blown away by my trip to Penn State. I stayed with a student host--he had a very comfortable apartment (everyone lives a 5 minute walk from the school), and I got the chance to hang out with him and his friends the night before my interview. They even gave me a pre-tour of the school! I could tell they loved being there. I just don't know if Hershey is the right fit for me, and will have to see if they can provide a decent financial aid package.
Note that the med school is in Hershey, which is 2 hours away from the undergraduate college in University Park.
Summary of Experience:
Update letter sent 11/27/13. Update letter #2 sent 2/11/14.
Four hours after I sent my second update letter, I received an e-mail response from the Dean of Admissions saying that she will be setting up an interview for me shortly. Thus, I highly encourage people to send update letters to this school.
FYI: I e-mailed [email protected] and cc'd Dr. Callahan [[email protected]] and Dr. Brooks [[email protected]]. I believe sending a formally written letter as a PDF looks most professional, so in the e-mail I directed them to this PDF attachment as my update; as opposed to including the update content in the body of the e-mail.
The interview day is completely student-run and intended to be as stress-free as possible. I enjoyed getting to speak with A LOT of current students throughout the day. My student interview (30 minutes, closed file) was very relaxed, and I was able to hit it off really nicely with my faculty interviewer (up to 60 minutes, open file).
