AMCAS Submitted: 07/11/05
AMCAS Verified: 07/20/05
Due the secondaries asap. I am hoping to get into a couple of schools with a 6 on my verbal.
10-8: I decided to apply to many schools because the application process is so random. You never know where you will get in. Once accepted to a school I am going to cancel other interviews for schools that I would not really want to attend.
10-14: I only took the MCAT once. I was too lazy to retake it again in August. Since it is so early in the process it is hard to tell what schools will do with my application because of the 6 on my verbal section. I think that schools will put me on hold and look at my application later, but it is hard to tell. So far I already have 2 interviews and it is only October. There is still a lot of time left for interviews.
10-21: I am not sure why I have not received secondaries from UCSD (my home town), UCI (current undergraduate school), and UCLA. My MCAT score which is about 2-3 points below their averages is decent but my verbal score is killing me. But I would think that my GPA (BCPM: 3.96 and Overall: 3.85) would atleast cancel out part of my verbal score. Even though I have not received secondaries from these schools I am still optimistic because they have not yet rejected me, meaning that I still have a chance to receive secondaries from them.
11-3: I believe my Albany interview went well. I only had one interview but most received two. The interview was open file. They will always ask an ethics question. Albany will start accepting people during the end of November. I haven't heard back from Penn State yet. They said it will take 6 - 8 weeks post interview for a response. I am currently in school taking 12 units, playing lacrosse, and working 20 hours/week. My schedule is pretty flexible because I only have class 2 days/week and I can choose my own hours for work.
11-9: The Rosalind Franklin secondary has an essay question on how you foster growth and discovery in one aspect of your life. For this essay I talked about all of my mentoring experiences in which I had to pass knowledge onto others (growth of knowlegde) and then I talked about my research (discovery of knowledge). Hope this helps!
11-22: My interview last week at Rosalind Franklin went really well. I had two interviews. The worst part was waiting in the admissions office from 9 to 12 pm. I showed up early so I could eat breakfast and have some coffee. After the interviews we took a tour of the school from 12 to 12:30 pm which was followed by lunch. During the tour we got to see the anatomy lab which was pretty cool. It was also snowing all day when I was there. If you interview there make sure to bring warm clothes. Another suggestion would be to bring something to read when you have to wait hours in the admissions office. RFU also told us that the admissions committee would meet on 12-9 and then the applicants would be able to call them in the afternoon on 12-12 to find out if we got accepted, rejected, or waitlisted. I received my UCSF rejection via ground mail.
12-6: Currently I have one acceptance to Penn State and I just got waitlisted at Albany. Overall I am pretty happy with these results so far because now I know that I will be attending medical school next year. I should be hearing back from RFU next week on Monday (12-12). Hopefully I will be able to get an interview at one of the other four schools that I am currently on Hold pre-interview. Wish me luck.
12-15: A couple of days ago I received my second acceptance from Rosalind Franklin/Chicago Medical School. I will be sending out letters of interest with my recent activities to some schools that put me on Hold pre-interview. Hopefully these schools will grant me an interview.
12-19: I submitted my PSU secondary on 9-1 and my application was complete on 9-21. I received an e-mail from PSU on 9-21 and then I scheduled my interview for 10-12. I got accepted on 12-2. Sorry I didn't answer sooner but I did not receive an e-mail from mdapplicants.
2-2: I have one interview left at Wayne State on 2-13. I don't really know much about the school. It will be fun to go to Detroit though. Right now I am receiving rejection letters from schools I have not heard back from post-secondary. Hopefully I will get one or two more interviews.
2-15: My interview at Wayne State went really well. I flew into DTW airport on 2-12 and then spent Sunday with a couple of freinds going to different restaurants. I looked over the interview feedback for WSU on SDN and also the WSU website. My interview was really laid back. Some questions I was asked include: Why Wayne? Tell me about your Mom/brother. What was your SAT/ACT score? Tell me about your research. Did you interview anywhere else? Do you have any question? I was asked this 3 times! Following the interview was a boring tour with 2 MSII students who were kind of discouraging. Following was lunch, which was ok. If you are currently applying to WSU this year you need to look into the contract agreements between WSU, the University Physicians Group (UPG), and the Detroit Medical Center (DMC). I find out if I got accepted to WSU next week on 2-22-06. Wish me luck!
2-17: I just got accepted (via e-mail) to Albany after e-mailing them a letter of interest with an attached transcript of my most recent grades yesterday. I guess they liked what I had to say! Now I have 3 acceptances and I am still waiting to hear back from Wayne State next week. Some advice that I can give about interviewing are: 1) know the school (read interview feedback from SDN, look over school website, etc), 2) know what you like about the school (i.e. the curriculum, early clinical experience, many affiliated hospitals, diverse student population, etc), 3) get a good night of sleep before the interview, 4) wear a nice suit with a tie, 5) show up early to the interview (at least 30 min), 5) talk to other applicants and try to relax, 6) give firm handshake to interviewer, 7) sit when asked to take a seat, 8) answer all questions honestly, 9) ask interviewer questions at end of interview (i.e. can students perform their own research, maybe ask the interviewer about their field, etc), and 10) give firm handshake and thank them for their time! All of the interviews I went on were really laid back and the interviewer just wants to get to know you so don't be nervous. Typical questions include: Why do you want to go to XYZ school? Why do you want to be a doctor? Tell me about your research. Tell me about yourself. What volunteering have you done? Have you interviewed any where else (be honest)? Hope this helps!!!
2-20: In the LOI that I wrote for Albany it stated what I was currently doing (i.e. classes, lacrosse, etc.), presentations/conferences that I attended after submiting my AMCAS, and what I liked about the school (i.e. the curriculum, the facilities, the diverse class, many opportunities for research, early clinical experience, etc.). I also attached a transcript with my Fall 05 grades. Make sure the LOI is positive. You could also write why going to XYZ school will help you become a better physician.
2-23: I called Wayne State yesterday and received my 4th acceptance. It is going to be hard to choose between the schools. Right now I am leaning towards Penn State though. A response to why I am good at interviews: During the interviews I am just myself, I tell the interviewers the truth, I research the school thoroughly before the interview, I pretend that I am interested in the school, my looks would be on the 'good' side I guess (I don't think this matters because all of my interviewers were male), I let the interviewers know what I have done since submitting my AMCAS (presentations, conferences, grades, lacrosse, etc.), I ask intriguing questions at the end of the interview (ex. at Wayne State I asked them what is the relationship between WSU, the University Physicians Group, and the Detroit Medical Center because there are contract negotiations going on), and lastly I am not nervous/anxious at all about the interview. I go to research conferences because I am interested in them. One recent conference that I attended I got to see a live mitral valve repair and I learned how to use the Da Vinci Robot (robot used for surgery). Also there is free food : ) At some of the conferences I might present a poster. I do have a couple abstracts published from different conferences. Right now one of my articles is pending publication in a major journal.
2-23: The guy I do research for goes to various conferences that have to deal with cardiothoracic surgery. When ever he attends one he invites me to come. I don't have to pay because I register as a student so they don't charge me. It's more of a learning experience I guess. Some of the conferences that I have attended normally cost thousands of dollars to attend.
4-3: Out of my four acceptances I am leaning towards Penn State.
5-2: I just withdrew from Albany and Rosalind Franklin so hopefully someone that is waitlisted will get accepted. Looks like I will be attending Penn State in the Fall. I hope that my story gives you guys encouragement to apply even if you have a low verbal score. I got accepted to four schools with a 6 on my verbal. Just make sure to apply to a wide range of schools. Good luck to those applying in 2006/2007!
5-9: I received my last rejection from Temple so I am officially saying that I will be attending PENN STATE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE for entering class of 2006. Wish me luck.
We help students become doctors. TM
