Brief Profile:
Non-trad (36 y/o) who has always planned to go to med school and is finally ready to take the plunge. Married 12 years. Three kids - will all be in elementary/middle school by the time I matriculate. TX resident. Would love to stay in my area due to spouse's job, kids' schools, house, support of friends. Applying in other areas too - mostly where we have family (none live here). Will go where the acceptance is!
Career: Former high school teacher. Have since stayed in the field with tutoring, part-time instructing, etc.
Education: Pre-reqs all finished by college graduation in late 90's. Took a few post-bacc courses (4.0) to prove to the schools that I can still hang.
MCAT: Audited a few science classes that I had already taken 15 years ago. Also took a Kaplan course. 32M: 11p/11v/10b
Volunteer: Clinical off and on since college. Community continuously for about the last 10 years.
Shadowing: Less than 20 hours, but put more in planned section. Would like to get more but have not had much luck despite many phone calls.
Research: Couple of semesters in college. Nothing big. Back then, it wasn't common practice for an undergrad as it is today.
Leadership: Board positions in community organizations. Big fat nothing on TMDSAS College Leadership section as all leadership positions have been since graduation.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 05/15/2012
Undergraduate college: Florida state school
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 513
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 127,
C/P 128,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.65
Science GPA: 3.46
Summary of Application Experience
As of 2/16/13, my season is over! I had such a great experience talking with my future class, the current med students, and some people in the city of my TX acceptance that I decided to withdraw from all my waitlists. I really feel my choice is the best fit for my family as a whole.
I enjoyed each school at which I interviewed, and I know I would have been happy and well-educated at all. It's unfortunate that we only get to pick one. :) Especially in TX, decision-making is rough with ranking schools when you have no idea what they thought of you, but in the end, it's nice to think about that all early and be done.
TMDSAS submitted 5/16/12. GPA: 3.65c, 3.46s Transmitted to schools 5/21/12. Last transcript received 5/25/12. Last LOR received last week of June.
AMCAS submitted 6/8/12. GPA: 3.63c, 3.44s Verified 6/21/12. Last LOR received 8/2/12. (One of the science letters, so I was not complete at most schools until this point, despite finishing secondaries as early as the end of June. This LOR was assigned to 17 schools. Make sure you stay on top of your letter writers!)
Summary of Experience:
Snail mail hold letter 10/12. Really want to interview here! Letter makes it clear that updates are not considered pre-interview.
Summary of Experience:
Ranked pre-matched school higher.
This school is amazing! I would certainly be happy here. The curriculum makes a lot of sense, the faculty are very involved with students, and their are ample opportunities to explore interests.
Summary of Experience:
Matched to second choice, which quickly became 1st choice once learning more about the schools and cities. I withdrew from the waitlist via email to admissions. UTSW is amazing, but in my non-traditional state, I feel it may not be as conducive to my family lifestyle.
School has a lot of opportunities, and students seem very driven. (I mean that positively.) Liked Dallas more than I anticipated.
Summary of Experience:
This school is fantastic. Their new curriculum combined with loads of (academic as well as volunteer) extracurriculars is quite impressive. Many opportunities and loads of support. I do have to admit that I was not nearly so taken with the city of Cincinnati.
Awesomely accommodating to my in the area email - thank you! (This process is so expensive as is....). Secondary questions upon interview confirmation (not in original secondary with fee payment).
Summary of Experience:
Hold status. (This is NOT a waitlist, but there's no place to categorize it.)
Great school, but I already knew that. :) Lots of opportunities. Best part was how comfortable I felt there; it is really a diverse population. Lots of very intelligent accomplished people, but not a lot of flaunting. I liked the city of Cleveland a lot too.
Un-freaking-believable! I am honored to get an interview here.
Summary of Experience:
I can't believe I almost didn't apply here because I wondered why I might want to live in Lubbock. The other MS0s, MS1s, MS2s, and contacts in local school districts have been amazingly friendly. I think my entire family will benefit from a slower lifestyle during this stressful time. There is also a definite family culture that exists at TTUHSC. I finally withdrew all other waitlists because I cannot wait to get on with my life (for the next 4 years) here!
Nice school with happy students. My interviewers were awesome. Lubbock offered way more than I expected. It would be a nice city to hang around for a few years, especially for a non-trad with a family.
