Application Cycle One: 2005

• Undergraduate college: Johns Hopkins University
• Undergraduate Area of study: Engineering/Technology

• Total MCAT SCORE: 514
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 130, C/P 129, CARS 124   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.87
• Science GPA: 3.90

Summary of Application Experience

4/11: Long time since I last updated. Anyways, it is great having lots of interviews, but unfortunately, I got stuck with a lot of WLs as well. I think schools liked that I did well in a 'tough' school doing a 'tough' major and my MCAT was so-so, but my VR score was sub-par. I am ESL, although my English is fluent, but my family does not primarily speak English. During my interviews, I appeared very young, and hence immature. At my volunteer activities, some doctors/nurses thought I was still in high school! Also, for some invites I was really exhausted from traveling and it did not show in my enthusiasm (Sinai, UMD). In addition, I will say I may not have performed above-average on most of my interviews, but in no way did I fail or blow them off. Finally, I wished I could started some more patient-centered ECs earlier.


Being on the WLs is pure hell. I'm in a state of pure-agitation. Although VCU is a good school in-case I don't get in off the WLs, I have now ranked my schools. I have Case ranked kind of low because I'm not sold on their curriculum changes, but I still love how enthusiastic the students are. Einstein doesn't appeal too much to me because of the high tuition, but then again its in the NYC, which is good for learning medicine. I sent UMD a letter of intent because I figured if I don't get in here, I probably won't get in anywhere, and I know for sure I would love being in Baltimore for another 4 years (downtown instead of midtown) and I would have a very supportive family who works in UMDSOM and nearby. Here's to waiting and praying...

4/18: Call me paranoid or something, but the news just keep getting worse. There are already 12 in-state matriculants on SDN/MDapps going to UMD. Thats 10% of the all the seats. Based on this sampling size, I doubt there will be any or little WL movement. I am going to speak to my pre-med counselor to see why I didn't get in. At least, I can make peace with myself and know my areas of improvement. My senior year is heartbreak and tears even though I'll be graduating at top of my class.

4/22: Rejection from Case. Its sad, but oh well. I had doubts about their curriculum changes and thesis requirement. I'll go wherever God takes me.

4/29: Rejection from Einstein. Makes my choices easier, but still kinda sad. At least, if accepted I would have the option of contemplating Einstein.

5/14: Rejection from Maryland-low waitlist. Am I really the bottom 40/270 in-state interviewees? My dad did his doctorate at Maryland, my mom works in the school of medicine. I also sent in LORs and talked to 2 admission representatives when they came to Hopkins for an information session. I'm heartbroken. If I don't got a chance at Maryland, I don't got a chance anywhere.

5/16: Holy cow! I'm in at Rochester! Ok, I'll tell you how the story goes. Rochester was a 'reach' school. I was hesitant about adding on the AMCAS because it is cold in upstate NY. I didn't get a single word from them until February. Then, I scheduled an interview for late february, of which I booked the WRONG plane ticket. I then cancelled and rescheduled the interview, which the only opening left was the last interview day (3/10). Fortunately, because I booked the wrong ticket, I also surreptitiously found out the dean of admissions was coming down to give an information discussion about Rochester in late Feb. So, I sat down and then told him I was coming in two weeks for an interview. A week later, I found out he was going to interview me. I also found out a Hopkins alum was also interviewing me. Anyways, I got waitlisted, and then sent in my update package.

5/18: Wow, a call from Dartmouth. This is going to extremely difficult decision. My cup overfloweth. Ok, another good story. I realized the week before my Dartmouth interview, my parents booked the wrong plane tickets (I usually book them, but I was extremely busy) for the wrong day. I could easily cancel the interview, but cancelling the plane tickets would have cost $200. I had to heckle to sales rep. to bend the rules to get a full refund by over-exaggerating a health condition. A lot of prayer went into these mis-booked flights and interviews.



Advice for future applicants:
1) An earlier application will get you more interviews than a late application
2) Talk to admission representatives if they come to your school
3) Don't slack off senior year if you want to get off the WL.
4) Don't BS the PS but you can rush through the secondaries.
5) Be enthusiastic during your interviews.
6) Talk to your premed advisor on how to attack the WLs.
7) If your state has only 1 public med school, don't expect too much if you get WLed.
8) Its ok to misbook your flight, as long as you can reschedule an interview or get full refund.
9) Explain any red flags about your application after they interview you. They will make note of it when they present you to the Adcom. I explained my VR to VCU, Roch, Temple but not to other schools.

My rankings:
1. Mount Sinai (only 40 WL acceptances last year)
2. UMD (might as well be a rejection)
2. URoch (only 90 regular MD spot)
2. Upittburgh (lots of acceptances thrown out on SDN)
2. Dartmouth (~78 regular MD spots)
3. Einstein (rejected)
3. Case Western (Cool if I get in, cool if I don't: nevermind, rejected)

AMCAS submitted: 7/7/05
AMCAS verified: 7/18/05

Expenses:
TPR prep class- $1600
MCAT books/material- $200
MCAT- $200
Primary application fee-$1,000
Secondary application fee-$1,800
Postage/envelopes-$10
Travel costs-$1,500
Total- $6,310

PS: I think a lot of people who know me can figure who I am. I'm quite an eccentric character. Thats cool, now you know more of my dirtay secrets.