Application Cycle One: 2015

• Undergraduate college: Top 10 University

• Total MCAT SCORE: 516
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 129, C/P 129, CARS 129   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.90
• Science GPA: 3.90

Summary of Application Experience

Lessons I've learned so far:
1. The interview process is a 1 year process. Do not panic if you are the twilight zone (twilight zone = that difficult time after you submitted all your secondaries but haven't received any interviews yet). You can add more schools as desired, but don't beat yourself up just yet. You have months still to go.
2. Don't be afraid to apply to dream schools. You never know where you'll get in and, honestly, it's a couple bucks difference. Conversely, don't assume that you are more likely to get into a "backup" school. There is no such thing as a backup school, only schools that see you as a "fit".
3. Take advantage of student hosting. Don't pass up because you are nervous or need to get into zen mode the night before. If anything, talking with student hosts will make your nerves melt away! (And I'd argue that being relaxed is the key to acing your interviews)
4. Enjoy the process. As outrageous as this may sound, interviewing is the most enjoyable part of the process. You get an excuse to travel, meet new people, experience programming that other people painstakingly organized for you, and talk about yourself. If you know who you are and why you want to be a doctor, no question will stump you.
5. Thrift stores + friends with unwanted fancy clothing + frequent flyer points + BYO food to airport -> instant savings
6. That first acceptance = HALLELUJAH. Getting into a medical school feels even better than getting into your dream school.
6. Choose the school that gets you excited, whatever it is that gets you excited. There is nothing wrong with choosing a school solely based upon personal reasons. At the end of the day, any school will train you to be a doctor, and what remains is how happy you'll be on the (long) way there.