Brief Profile:
2009 Application Cycle Motto: 'All it takes is one.'
Last two years (incl. post-bacc) are an 'A' average
Clinical Experience: During Independent research - Cardiothoracic Surgeon ~ 30 hrs total (Viewed 2 surgeries from inside OR) Shadowing - ENT ~ 20 hrs total Shadowing - Vascular Surgeon ~ 20 hrs total Volunteering - Current position @ local hospital #1, 4 hrs a week, in clinics and on floor ~ 100 hrs total.
Research: Research Technician - Currently studying hematology and iron. recycling proteins in response to hemolytic anemia. Since May, will have two pubs by the end of the year. Research Assistant - Previously studied vision in monkeys and humans, 1 year. Independent Research - Tissue engineering, literature review completed, potential publication. Independent Research - Resuscitative fluids, studied the ethics and morality of the clinical trial process as it pertains to emergency situations and published an original article.
Publications: First Author - Original Article - Independent study of the ethics of the clinical trial process as it pertains to a resuscitative fluid. Second Author (Post AMCAS, in update letters) - Research Article - Characterizing the Macrophage's role in iron recycling. Proc Natl Acad Sci - Epub in April 2 Abstracts - Scientific Conferences 2 Poster Presentations - Scientific Conferences
MCAT: I took the exam for the first (and hopefully last) time in Sept. of 2007. I hope I'll only ever have to take it once. I studied for about 3 months, but I studied extremely thoroughly. If you want to see how I studied, check out the MCAT forum on SDN.
Extracurricular Activities and Other Relevant Facts: TA position held for 1 semester (during which I had 18 credits.) Volunteered for Various Cancer Societies, held an executive position in a provincial one. Volunteered in Student Societies and had a project undertaking which was my own. Currently training Martial Arts (Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing) I am a singer (ex BMus, first two years of University), ex-Member of a touring professional choir, still sing currently. I used to play hockey competitively, have since traded this love for Jiu-Jitsu I am learning to cook gourmet food. Most ridiculous conquest: Turducken!
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 2008
Undergraduate college: McGill
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 523
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 131,
C/P 132,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.38
Science GPA: 3.40
Summary of Application Experience
**Note: I get a lot of requests for how I studied for the MCAT. See here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=6695902&postcount=273 GL!
June 2nd, 2008 - I'm predicting that in the coming application cycle I will get from 1-4 interviews
June 24th, 2008 - I cannot believe that it's taken me this long to submit my AMCAS. I took a very personal experience and put a lot of thought into my PS so let's hope that it shows. I am truly grateful to those people who read it for me and made suggestions.
July 28th, 2008 - AMCAS verified. Two of my LOR writers still haven't submitted their letters. That's just how it goes though. Your LOR writers are doing you a favor so you have to be grateful with what they can give you...and that I am. Hopefully they find the time soon.
August 15th, 2008 - I'm almost done all of my secondaries. About 10 or so to go. There are just so many good schools out there, I'd be blessed to attend any of them.
August 20th, 2008 - 4 of my 5 LORs have been verified on AMCAS and Interfolio. My non-science LOR is still late however. This is unfortunate because schools like U Michigan I was done with back in July and the entire app is waiting on just 1 LOR. Again, however, the LOR writer is doing me a huge favor by agreeing to support me, so I am grateful for that.
Sept 3rd - Finished almost all of my secondaries. Emory still hasn't opened their application yet. :p And I just got a letter for a VANDERBILT INTERVIEW!!
September 8th - Finished Vandy, but for some reason the system wouldn't save my app. Will try again tomorrow.
September 18th - Absolutely, completely blown away. Seven interviews. I have exceeded my expected total by way more than I could have imagined. I. am. so. excited! Now I just have to find a school that will believe in me!
September 22nd - And the speechlessness continues. I just got invited to both Case Western and CCLCM!!! I really just do not know what to say...
September 25th - U Cincinnati just offered to interview me with a sneaky set of pre-interview questions. :p I was accepted to Cinci's SMP program but choose not to attend. If the faculty at the medical school are like the SMP faculty I will be very happy!
October 13th - I'm finished with 3 interviews: Albany Medical College, Wayne State, and Medical College of Georgia. All of these interviews went well, and the people I met seemed really cool at every school. My MCG interview went especially well and I really clicked with my interviewer. I was also very impressed with the facilities at the school and the campus itself; they are beautifu1!
December 24th - Well it's Christmas tomorrow and so far I've gotten exactly what I wanted. :) Just finished my Dartmouth interview and will hear back from them in 4-8 weeks. Overall I thought the interview was good.
January 15th - Rejected from Einstein. Very odd, I loved my interview here. They interview a lot of people so who knows what happened...
January 28th - ACCEPTED TO CASE!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH OMG!!!! Oh my acceptances, this is my number one choice! I loved it there!
February 10th - Rejected from CCLCM Post-interview. This really hurts. I would have attended CCLCM over any other school on my list. First choice easily. Oh well, I can't stay sad for long, there's so much else to look forward too this year! :)
March 2nd - YES! Interview at McGill! I was very unconvinced that McGill would consider me since they do seem to have a GPA bias, and also to choose students that have always had 5 courses per term. My record is a little bit heterogeneous, but I guess they liked something! There are a ton of factors drawing me toward McGill: Location, home city, GREAT city, love of Canada, crazy/intense experience as an M3 and M4 (good thing), and also that I could continue my research. Of my acceptances, between Case and McGill I would definitely choose McGill.
Application Complete, Rejected
University of Pennsylvania
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: Yes
Secondary Completed: Yes
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: Yes
Summary of Experience:
PIH: 15/11/2008 - Pre-interview hold, Status Page, Silent Rejection
