I have been reading these for two years. I thought it was very helpful when people gave as much information as possible.
October: Started writing my personal statement.
November-March: Had my English professor and three MDs look over it for errors and suggestions. This was extremely helpful.
February: Requested letters of recommendations. Asked them to have everything in by June 1st. Pre-med Advisor Interview.
April: Made final corrections on my personal statement.
May: Started on the AMCAS application the day it opened. It definitely took a month to get everything right. I printed it every few days and made corrections. I put as much information as possible for each activity and checked the formatting (spacing, etc).
June 6th: AMCAS Application submitted.
June 8th: AMCAS Application verified.
June 18th: Final recommendation received by Interfolio. There is always one person who procrastinates until the last moment. That's why I told them June 1st. I ended up having a total of eight letters of recommendations (1. Family Medicine Physician, 2. Head of Graduate Department, 3. Research Advisor, 4. Research Advisor, 5. Undergrad Prof-Science, 6. Undergrad Prof-English, 7. Head of Community Health Clinic (Volunteer Work), 8. Pre-health Advisor).
June 22nd: GW emailed secondary.
June 25th: Columbia secondary email.
June 26th: Submitted GW secondary. Started Johns Hopkins secondary.
June 28th: Submitted Columbia and Cornell secondaries. Cornell secondary email.
June 30th: Submitted JH secondary.
July 1st: I do not know about EVMS anymore...
July 2nd: Georgetown secondary email.
July 3rd: Cornell secondary application complete email. I'm still working on the Georgetown secondary.
July 4th: Had two people look over my essay for Georgetown. Added Drexel today through AMCAS.
July 6th: Georgetown secondary still not working for me...this is torture!
July 8th: Finally got the Georgetown secondary to work. I will sleep well tonight...Georgetown secondary submitted.
July 9th: EVMS emailed secondary, but I'm not sure if I will fill it out. GW secondary complete. Added AECOM.
July 10th: Received an email today from VCU--application under review. They say they only send secondaries to about 2600 students; hopefully, I will be one of them.
July 11th: Georgetown secondary application complete email. I'm working on my AECOM essay.
July 12th: Received VCU secondary email!
July 13th: UPenn secondary email. Emory sent an email saying their secondary would be available on 08/15.
July 15th: Submitted UPenn secondary.
July 17th: Received secondary emails from UVA, Temple, and NYU. Submitted AECOM, VCU, and NYU secondaries.
July 18th: Received Mt. Sinai secondary email.
July 19th: Submitted Temple secondary.
This process is really starting to get to me. I wonder if all my hard work on the AMCAS, the PS, and my secondaries will be in vain. I'm trying to stay positive even though I know there are so many qualified applicants out there, but it is really hard...
July 20th: NYU secondary complete email.
July 21st: Submitted Mt. Sinai secondary. The UVa secondary is definitely the hardest I have had so far. Checked UPenn status page: Complete!
July 22nd: VCU secondary complete email.
July 23rd: VCU INTERVIEW INVITE!!! I cannot believe it! I called my dad immediately; he was so excited!
July 24th: UMaryland secondary email. I'm basically done with UVA. I just want my friend to look over it. Time to work on UMaryland!!
July 25th: Only one essay to go on UMaryland (What does it mean to be entering a profession?). I really need to think about that one. I'm going to submit the UVa secondary tomorrow.
July 26th: Submitted UVa secondary. It's time to focus on UMaryland.
July 28th: Received email from Georgetown: processed payment.
July 29th: Submitted UMaryland secondary.
July 30th: MSSM and Temple secondaries complete.
July 31st: UVa secondary complete.
August 1st: UMaryland secondary complete.
I bought some books on medical school interviews and scheduled a meeting with the prehealth advisor at my school. I really need to kill my VCU interview. Realistically speaking, it might be the only one I get. (I have been slacking on my positive thinking exercises).
August 2nd: GW INTERVIEW INVITE!! OMG!! Words cannot express how happy I am....OMG!!
August 3rd: A few people have received the Drexel secondary already.
August 5th: Still no Drexel secondary...this is driving me crazy!
August 7th: Drexel secondary email finally. Submitted Drexel secondary.
August 8th: OK, so two people on SDN definitely have gotten UVa interview invites. I'm hoping against all odds to get one as well.
Working on my interview questions...some of them are really out there, but I need to be able to answer whatever I'm asked confidently. I cannot believe this process will go on until April. It was more exciting and fun filling out the secondaries than just waiting around for the firing squad to pick your number. It's hard to keep hope alive this early in the process; I cannot imagine what it will be like in a few months.
August 9th: I'm anxious for the Emory and Howard secondaries to be released.
August 10th: UVA INTERVIEW INVITE!!!! I was really not expecting this after having possibly the worst week ever--my car broke down and had to be towed twice!
August 13th: JHU secondary complete.
AECOM secondary complete...no interview...I can still cling to the hope that some schools haven't looked at my application yet. I was really hoping to get the Emory and Howard secondary emails before I vacation, but I guess that is just not going to happen.
August 15th: Unfortunately, no email from Howard.
August 16th: Howard secondary email, yeah!!!
August 17th: Emory, where are you?
August 18th: Submitted Howard secondary.
September 4th: Back from vacation. Unfortunately, no new developments.
September 7th: HOWARD INTERVIEW INVITE!! What a pleasant surprise!
September 8th: Drexel secondary complete email.
September 10th: First official rejection: Georgetown.
September 11th: AECOM INTERVIEW INVITE!! Emory secondary email!
September 12th: CORNELL INTERVIEW INVITE!! I'm in a daze...
This process just gets more and more nerve wracking!! I believe I've done well in my interviews, but I'm sure everyone feels that way. I don't know if there is a huge disconnect between my perceived interview skills and my actual performance. I'm so scared that I won't get in anywhere. I keep replaying my interviews in my mind and finding things I should have said differently or a question I should have asked or something, ah...
September 19th: Emory secondary submitted.
September 20th: UMARYLAND INVTERVIEW INVITE!! I worked soo hard on their secondary. Wow, I cannot believe it.
September 21st: Sent update letters to Temple and Drexel.
September 24th: Emory secondary complete email.
It's another one of those 'thinking about the medical school application process is making me nauseous days.' Uhh... I keep checking my inbox and postbox all day long waiting to hear something. It's like my spirit is slowly dying!! Ha ha ha...
September 27th: COLUMBIA INTERVIEW INVITE!! This is the invite that was causing me to timidly approach my mailbox everyday. I'm so happy, so happy.
September 30th: Sent update letters to NYU and MSSM.
So, I've sent out update letters to Drexel, Temple, NYU, and MSSM in the hopes of getting an interview. For NYU and MSSM, I mentioned that I would be in the area for another interview. I'm not even sure of the proper etiquette for the update letter/interview request is. I hope if anything, I hope they give my file another glance because I have clearly expressed interest in their school. God, I hope I didn't just piss them off. I'm feeling sick again...
October 2nd: No word from NYU or MSSM...
October 3rd: The VCU committee has reviewed my application...no news until October 15th or after. (My stomach is definitely in knots)!
October 7th: EMORY INTERVIEW INVITE!!! Hotlanta, here I come!
It's so hard to believe that October 15th could be a day I find out if I get into a medical school I've interviewed at or was rejected. I'm definitely steadying myself for some bad news, but really hoping for something positive, even if it is silence on the 15th. I feel as though I've been battling through this process for so long--from my MCAT, personal statement revisions, secondary applications, and interviews. I'm just so tired of worrying and wondering. Even with the interview invites I am still worried because I know someone who had eight interviews last year, was wait-listed at three schools, and got off the wait-list at one school days before classes started. I don't know if I have that in me. It was extremely emotionally taxing on him and his family. I know I'm asking a lot, but hope is all I have!!
October 10th: VCU ACCEPTANCE (and scholarship offer)!! I was told in person since I was there to meet with some professors. Words cannot describe how happy I am. I just want to cry, scream, and laugh every time I think about it.
October 15th: GWU ACCEPTANCE!! Holy crap! I'm still in shock from the first one. I just CANNOT believe it.
October 17th: UVA ACCEPTANCE!! My head is spinning!
October 19th: GWU SCHOLARSHIP OFFER! Wow, now it's cheaper for me to go here than my state schools!
November 12th: UMARYLAND ACCEPTANCE! Totally unexpected phone call!
November 14th: DREXEL INTERVIEW INVITE! I was just thinking a few hours ago: they rejected me.
December 3rd: HOWARD ACCEPTANCE!! I did my happy dance at my desk! I loved the atmosphere at this school.
December 21st: CORNELL ACCEPTANCE!! I am in shock. This in not an overstatement.
January 10th: DREXEL ACCEPTANCE!! I really thought I was rejected pre-interview...
A word about withdrawing from Howard: I really loved the atmosphere at this school. It was great to see so many black students in one place. As a person that has attended schools with about 95% white students, Howard really warmed my heart. However, when comparing GW to Howard, I looked at the facilities first and foremost. I felt like I was looking at a cutting edge medical school when I looked at GW while Howard seems a little bit older (which it is). For all the money I'm going to spend on my medical education, I want to feel like I'm getting the best possible facilities. If they had newer facilities, it would be a much harder choice because the general feeling of community at Howard is unmistakable. Other schools say they have it, but at Howard you can FEEL it.
A word about withdrawing from UMaryland: Baltimore...
January 15th: AECOM ACCEPTANCE!! I'm so happy. I love this school. Thank you admissions, I love you!! I've been waiting for this day since I interviewed in October. I love this school. One of my top three definately.
February 8th: AECOM Scholarship offer!!
March: My application season is over!! I completed my FAFSA, and I waiting for the best deal. I cannot believe it went this way...I'm so happy with the turn out.
March 21st: UVa Scholarship offer!!
We help students become doctors. TM
