A couple of these are reach schools, I know (well, with my GPA I guess everything is a reach), but I'm praying for good results for this academic year. For OUCOM, at least, I'm sure that'll turn out well, as I had a chance to do the Summer Scholars program there, destroyed it, and got a personal invite from the Dean of Admissions.
So, here's to a great year!
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Update 2/26/08: I did a post-bacc at Hunter, which is great for the experience, but sucks for the fact that in order to get a letter from the committe, you have to take 6 lectures and 6 labs, and request the letter before january or something. I've only taken 4 lectures and 2 labs (will be 4 labs when I complete my Orgo labs), so I can't get it. Plus, it's obviously way past January. So I called the health advisor at Connecticut College and she told me that they would be able to write it (a strong one too), and interview me. Interview is scheduled for May 9th, which still leaves me okay for the June application cycle. Now I just have to work on getting all my LORs and other info to them. Hunter is definitely willing to send the professor LORs to Conn, so I guess things are looking up already in terms of getting a committe letter (I was worried I'd have to give sexual favors to old profs of mine...)
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Update 2/27/08 (I'm gonna be doing this daily I think to motivate me and help myself along):
I called a few people for advice/LoR's (a MD/PHD I shadowed that was also my orgo professor, a current student at OUCOM, the career office at my school so I can find out how to use Interfolio, etc...) Although I already have my committe interview scheduled for May 9th, I really need to work on getting all my LOR's out to Interfolio by latest March 17th, in order that the committe can process it and all that. I also need to have my personal statement done (maybe not proofread, but done...) Sigh..write a personal statement in 2 weeks..I guess it's possible, but I just hope what I write is good at the end of it all. Okay, ttyl.
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Update 2/28/08:
So I'll be getting an additonal two LoRs from two physicians (my pastor, and this other guy my dad knows), which is great. I did make sure to tell him (ask, nicely) to make the letters as strong as possible. Dont need no weak-wristed letters here!!! Also, I'm looking to see if the head of the Summer Scholars program from OUCOM can write an LoR for me too (left a message on her machine)..she actually mock-interviewed me and we discussed my low GPA, so I think a LoR from her stressing my ability to complete (well, excel in) a medical school course-load will be very clutch.
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Update 6/6/08
So a lot has happened in a bit over 3 months...I've got my committee letter all set, have re-updated by personal statement, my amcas is verified...
Yeah, well, I still know I'm going to get a lot of rejections, unfortunately. It's gonna hurt, I know...the thing I hate the most about having such a low gpa is that I know for a damn fact I had the potential to do a lot better, if I had gotten my head straight a lot quicker. It sucks everytime I read an mdapps or talk to a fellow applicant, about all the opportunities that were opened to them because they took a lot of interest in their classes early on. I think I may have enjoyed college a lot more if that had happened to me, if maybe I had realized that the stuff I was studying was actually important and worthwhile.. It took a bit, and unfortunately, I'm the one that's hurt all the more for it. I've had a lot of people ask me, seriously, whether I think I can realistically become a doctor...I dont take offense, to be honest. If I were looking at myself, I'd ask the same question too.
The answer? Yes, I really do. It's not just the MCATs, it's not just the experiences I've had (which are really quite unique, I believe)...it's just I can't see myself doing anything else. It's a little wierd when you set a goal for yourself, and *everything* in your fucked-up life starts falling into place to guide the path towards that goal. The world just...clicks, and falls into place to help you reach that goal. Coincidence?...well, I don't really think so. That's how it is with me and medicine. I got my act together, and decided this was something I wanted to do. With only 3 months of self-studying for the MCATs and working full time, and partially supporting my family of 6, I got a score that tons of pre-meds would kill for. I'm so fortunate to have a job that allows me to interact with hundreds of children and medical personell on a daily basis, and my goal that I can get into medical school is the reason I get up every morning.
And while I may not get into medical school this year and have to work my ass off a little more, I welcome the experiences, and the growth that'll come from that. I've become a stronger person in the past 3 years, and I feel I'm more than prepared to enter medical school...an extra year of hard work will just prepare me even more.
So I think I'll wait a few more months, until I hear from all the schools I've applied to, in order to update. Hopefully I'll have some good news, but either way, I'll have some news. I wish all you future doctors good luck in pursuit of this great dream.
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So, wow..what a difference 2 months and 14 days makes.
I've only been able to send back 9 secondaries (very limited funds), and of those 9, I've gotten 2 interview offers (Case and Wake), 1 rejection (Vandy), and 1 pre-interview hold (SUNY Upstate).
I'm in like total shock at my interviews..especially wake, I mean damn, they only interview 8-10% of applicants! Wow...okay, trying to take some deep breaths here. It's just..wow. Well, Case is 9/12 and Wake is 10/3 (brother's birthday)...wish me luck, guys.
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So, Case interview went okay I think, though I wish I had talked more about their clinical exposure as a reason to attend the school..wish me luck!
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10/16/08
This shit's bananas. B A N A N A S
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4/18/09
This shit gets even crazier...just got a half-tuition merit scholarship from case. Words cannot express how elated, overjoyed, amazed, astounded, pumped up I am about this school. It's an even bigger deal for me since I'm classified as an international student, so I dont qualify for federal aid..nice to see I wont have to borrow as much in private loans.
In case I haven't expressed it before: I LOVE THIS FUCKING SCHOOOOOOL!!!
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6/12/09
Sitting at my office..last day of work..leaving for Case early Monday morning. This is unbelievable, guys.
