Brief Profile:
What I did wrong: Screwed up first two years, academic probation, almost kicked out. 2.3 GPA starting junior year (I just went home and looked at my freshman year grades. I had a 0.99 my first semester! That makes my stomach curdle). I had very serious personal problems starting college. I'm not sure I ever attended class my first two years outside of exams, and I missed some of those too.
What I did right: Finished the last two years at Hopkins on the Dean's List - My transcript GPA is actually a 3.3 but AMCAS averages retakes. Did a Post-Bacc IRTA at the NIH for a year Did a year research at Johns Hopkins - Wilmer eye institute Did a MPH at UC Berkeley - 3.7+ Did a MS at Georgetown (SMP) - 3.9 Turned my apps in super early, got great recs. The rest is below. Good luck!
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 2003
Undergraduate college: Johns Hopkins University
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
4/01: This may be my last update. I am pretty sure I'll be attending Case Western. The only monkey wrench that could ruin my plans would be getting pulled off the MSSM waitlist. I've done pretty well in my graduate program at GU (3.9 ish), so we'll see if it has any effect on the waitlist. Even if I got in off the waitlist I'm not sure I'd choose it over Case. Thanks for everyone that gave me positive support! 3/29: declined SLU interview. Leaning towards going to CWRU 2/25: Accepted to Drew/UCLA program! I can stay home!! 1/26: UIC interview. Not sure if I will go. Sent my 1st semester transcripts out. Hope it helps.
At this juncture I think its important for me to note that applying and getting in early has allowed me to filter out my interviews. I can only imagine the costs associated with going to 7 additional interviews. I imagine I would have spent another 2-3K. This underscores again how the one thing TOTALLY WITHIN YOUR CONTROL is to TURN IN EVERYTHING EARLY. And of course luck helps too as it has in my app cycle.
1/22: Sent updates to NYU and NU, they're basically done interviewing so I think the updates were sent in vain. Interview granted at Drexel. 1/13: Offered interview at USUHS. I dont think military medicine is for me. On another note, I'm going to stay at the SMP program. Unfortunately case western insists that I finish the program (although OSU doesnt). 1/2: Interview invite from Kansas. First state I lived in when I moved to the U.S. but will decline. Trying to decide if I should finish the SMP program at Georgetown. 12k for a semester. Is it worth it?!? I clicked 'withdraw' from schools I'm not actively considering so it's easier to tell where I still hope to hear from. 12/18: Finished Drew/UCLA interview, waitlisted at Sinai. I was dreaming thinking I would get in immediately. Now the long torturous wait. 12/16: I emailed Drew/UCLA about arranging an interview while I was at home for break and they offered me one for two days from now! A chance to stay home for med school! This is awesome. 12/11: I got into Case!! I just took my Histology final and I was really depressed because I didn't think I did that well, so I decided to call Case, figured I'd kill two bad things in one day. I asked her for my status, and she said.. 'hold on', and tranferred me to another person who told me the good news. I practically popped her eardrum! Wow, I'm so fortunate. So lucky. After all this, I got into a great school. Suddenly speechless. 12/4: Rejected from Downstate, not too suprising. Entering 'post-secondary silence' mode. Haven't heard any good news from schools for about a month now. 11/24: Finished Case interview. Loved the place. I'm done for the time being. Now returning to sitting back and waiting. 11/12: Called Wake Forest. Waitlisted. Its becoming more apparent that I am getting waitlisted to the 'better' schools. As someone mentioned to me before, I might stand out from other applicants for interview review, but when I'm compared next to other applicants for acceptance, the holes in my application are far more obvious. Hopefully my work in the SMP program will get me off these lists. 11/10: Interview notice for Case Western! Wow! It was a thin envelope. I thought I had gotten rejected a week after my file was complete. One week till mount sinai. 11/1: Accepted to Medical College of Ohio. I find it ironic that I got waitlisted to the two private schools, but accepted to the three public school + one private but publicly affiliated school. So much for it being hard to get in in state schools from out of state. It goes to show how much of a crapshoot this process is. 10/27: Albany Med interview invite by email. Recently rejected to pitt, BU. Waitlisted at GW. I kinda expected it given how many they interview. 10/22: Got a phone call from mom. EVMS mailed my acceptance home. 10/15: I GOT INTO OHIO STATE!!! I'M THE HAPPIEST PERSON ON EARTH! AND SO EARLY TOO! I'm proof you can make up for a very poor past with hard work and determination! YES!!! Update-Michigan State! By phone! two in one day. wow! 9/14: 10th interview!! Wake Forest!! I called to check if my app was complete and the person informed me I was on the interview list!! All things comes in pairs. Waitlisted at Tulane. Shoot! 9/10 - Rejected from UCSF pre-secondary. Ouch. :( 9/3/03- 9th interview. Just got an email from Mount Sinai! I can't believe it!!
Six months ago I didn't think I had a shot at an allopathic medical school. It took a lot of courage and support to even attempt to apply. I've spent the last five/six years slaving away to make up for the youthful indiscretions of my first two years of college. Follow your dreams, I am. I really hope that my application gives encouragement to people that have struggled along their way to applying to medical school. I know I could've used some during my journey. Ignore the negativity and nay-sayers, achieve what you know you are capable of. For those of you that are waking up academically later in college, I suggest that you plan out your next few years carefully so as to create an application that obviates your previous struggles.
I cannot stress this enough. APPLY EARLY. I submitted AMCAS mid June, processed before before the July active date, turned around secondaries ASAP, sometimes same day, basically done applying in mid/late August. Applicants like me need every advantage we can get. Again, if you're wondering if you should've done this or that already, the answer is YES, you should've done it a week ago!
I know my app might pique some curiousity, so you can email me at [email protected] if you have questions (or advice)!
