Brief Profile:
I am the president and business manager of a nationally-known a cappella group which takes up about 20 hours a week. I also have been involved with two premedical organizations, 3 separate lab stints, a social fraternity, employment at a local hospital, and volunteer work in a local ER.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 2003
Undergraduate college: University of Illinois
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 507
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 127,
C/P 126,
CARS 127
Overall GPA: 3.32
Science GPA: 3.67
Summary of Application Experience
DON'T LET SECONDARIES FOOL YOU! A great many schools send automatic secondaries. I applied to 20 schools, got 17 secondaries, and was on top of the world! Now, only a few months later, I am desperately clinging to the last 7 schools that haven't yet rejected me.
This has been a good learning experience, regardless of how well or poorly I'm doing regarding admissions. I really hope I don't have to go through this again next year. Numbers seem to matter much more than I expected them to, but I feel I've done surprisingly well for how poor my numbers are. Many schools look at the person as well as the numbers; many don't give a crap who you are unless your numbers are good, and only then do they begin to explore what sort of doctor you have the potential to be. This SUCKS for anyone with poor numbers.
I submitted AMCAS first week of October and was finishing up secondaries all the way through Christmas break. Not recommended. Apply as early as possible while still allowing for a solid, well-thought-out essay.
Added: UChicago was my top choice, hands down. Loved every minute of my visit there, and no reason to doubt that the next 4 years will be any different.
