So far... pretty good. Only one interview at HMS so far. Went pretty well.
Since I'm canadian and had never heard of the term 'Rolling Admissions' I applied really late (literally, Oct 15th). I think that may have hurt my chances at Columbia, and especially hopkins.
Update(03/10): So nothing from UfT yet, which I'm really worried about as it is my first choice. Word on the street is that all interviews have been sent out. Bah, I would traded my HMS interview for a UfT one any day. With UfT's scheme, my GPA jumps to 4.0, and a 42S, and research experience, I just don't know what more I could have done to deserve at least an interview (my essay was the same as HMS)..
Update(03/19): Got the dreaded UfT thin envelope today. Wow, this really sucks, it was my #1 choice. Ah well, life continues.
Update(03/20): Yay, two thin envellopes in a row. This time from HMS. I figured my interview over there was a fluke. The one-two punch from both UfT and Harvard this week is pretty rough, but enh.. At least my wallet can breath a sigh of relief.
On another note, some of my impressions from my interviews this week:
University of Montreal seemed.... nice. The students there are probably one of the most coherent and tight-packed group of kids I've ever seen. Unfortuneately, I mean 'kids' quite literally, as since a lot of them are straight out of Cegep, I could sense a distinct 'high schoolish' feel to it that I'm not sure I really liked. The curriculum looked pretty amazing with a good mix of 'Apbs' and really good clinical exposure. However, it's a HUGE class, I hadn't realized... almost 260 kids! You have to wonder when it gets time for clinical electives whether there will be room?
I was not very impressed, however, by the interview day itself. You had your group interview (which was quite a nice change) around one-ish, and then I had to sit, waiting in a room until 5 as people in your group get called out one a time. Very tiring, and could have been organized a little better.
University of Ottawa:
I really like UfO. I think their curriculum offers a good balance of PBL and lectures. The whole 'ecurriculum' thing that they try to sell you actually looks quite neat. The hospitals are actually directly connected to the medical school, and it seems like you have alot of physician (mentors, profs, etc) contact and patient contact relatively early on.
Update 22/03:
Wow! I just got an email from Leslie Taylor letting me know that an interview spot had opened up on the 31st! Jeeessuusss.... what a relief... I suppose that means i'm really at the bottom of the list, so I'll really have to shine at the interview, but wow! Just when I had given up hope.
Update 5/04:
Accepted today to McGill as an IP student. It is an amazing feeling to know that, no matter what happens now... you're gonna be a doctor...
Update 15/05
The 'Big Day.' One acceptance (UWO) and four waitlists. Not half-bad. I think, looking at my application as a whole, it is a pretty mediocre file with the exception of the MCAT. And this is reflected as the two accepted canadian schools were the ones where the MCAT actually counted for something post-interview (McGill, UWO) not just a cutoff (Queens, UfT) or not looked at altogether (Mac, UfO). Essentially, what I've learned is that, while a bad MCAT will bring you down, excelling on the MCAT doesn't really bring that much to the table and can't really compensate for mediocre ECs.
Anyways, I think no matter what happens in the summer, I'm pretty much committed to McGill.
A long, difficult, harrowing process. But its over. Yay.
