Application Cycle One: 2004

• Undergraduate college: UC San Diego
• Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences

• Total MCAT SCORE: 522
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 131, C/P 130, CARS 129   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.98
• Science GPA: 4.00

Summary of Application Experience

I know I'm in the minority here...but this was a FUN year! Think about it: if you really want to be a doctor, what could be more fun than marketing yourself to your future colleagues, traveling the country, visiting schools and hospitals that pamper you all day, and earn frequent flier miles at the same time? I know it's expensive yadda, yadda, yadda.... but let's get serious: money is just money. Putting on a nametag from Harvard Medical School and getting treated like you're hot shit for a day is priceless. And then if you get in...

In all seriousness, never forget to keep things in perspective. Each application, secondard, interview, and plane ride is a new adventure, in a new city, with a new audience. Cherish this time. I remember on one of my flights I sat next to a friendly man. After learning that I was on my way to interview for med school (maybe Penn? I don't remember...) he asked, half-jokingly, 'So, have you sent in you're application to Haa-vud yet?' I gave him an honest response and explained that I was interviewing there the following week. He stopped asking questions. It made me realize that when all you do is interact with pre-meds, it's hard to feel too special--but don't forget that 99% of this world thinks you're God just for WANTING to be a doctor--and that's a great feeling.

All in all, go into this with a positive attitude and give it your best shot. As I like to tell some of my students (I tutor kids) 'Whether you think you can or you think you can't...you're usually right.' So have faith, take the advice of all your peers/teachers/mentors/friends, apply early, and have fun ;-)