Brief Profile:
I attended a small liberal arts college, attended with above average scholarships. Dean\'s List every term. Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Biology major with Distinction. MCAT = 38 < x < 33
Member of Sigma Xi Research Honor Society, Biology Club, Collegiate Track & Field Team, a social fraternity, Eagle Scout.
Lifeguard Supervisor/Manager [4 yrs], Volunteered as a pharmacy tech at a free healthcare clinic [~150 hrs], Diabetes research at University of Chicago, Cardiac tissue bioengineering research at Baylor College of Medicine (I had my own independent project), Clinical research at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Clinical observation and clinical assistance at Cook County Hospital (Anesthesiology Dept.) [150+ hrs], Surgery observation at Texas Children\'s Hospital (Dept. of Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery) [~80 hrs], I work in a family practice clinic during school breaks.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 07/06/2009
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 472
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 118,
C/P 118,
CARS 118
Overall GPA: 3.84
Science GPA: 3.93
Summary of Application Experience
Some people call themselves \\\"non-traditional applicants\\\"; I am a somewhat traditional applicant, applying straight out of undergrad. I WOULD consider myself to be an \\\"applicant applying non-traditionally\\\". By this I mean that many of my applications were turned in late due to the fact that I simply did not have a computer or internet access during much of my application process. I was living in South America (Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico City) taking classes from Aug-Nov, and therefore wrote many of my essays by hand while riding down pothole-filled dirt roads and in the rainforest. I would then type my essays on my handy BlackBerry, and upload them whenever I happened to find a stray cell signal (applying to medical school = VERY large phone bill). Therefore, my rural location, lifestyle, and activities all served to greatly delay my application process. Did this impact my acceptance/denial at particular schools? Probably \\\"yes\\\" at the more competitive schools I applied to (read: Baylor), however I like to think that it didn\\\'t influence decisions that much (hint to future applicants - get all your apps in ASAP). While I clearly did not get accepted by every school I applied to, I still managed to obtain interviews at more than half the schools, and acceptances at almost as many. I am in the very fortunate position to know that I hold several acceptances at schools I KNOW I will be happy to attend. I wish the best of luck for everyone else applying this year and in the future!
I feel like everything above pretty much explains itself. Instead of doing a painfully detailed breakdown (my memory and record-keeping isn\\\'t quite that acute, and I doubt anyone reading this really cares), just look at my evaluations for each school. All the important stuff is there. If you have questions, PM me on studentdoctornetwork.com (username: biochemist21).
Applied, Withdrew
Georgetown University
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: 08/16/2009
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: No
Summary of Experience:
I withdrew from here without submitting a secondary after noticing the acceptance rates and my complete doubt in getting an interview following my flat denial at Boston. No sense in wasting my time with a school that won\'t take me seriously.
Summary of Experience:
Kind of surprised that I didnt get an interview invite considering I was a competitive applicant and had research/LOR/clinical observation there, but I guess that\'s part of the mystery of the med school application process. Rather disappointed but not heartbroken. Nothing negative to say about the school though, facilities and location are great. This would be probably the only school that could pull me out of the Midwest.
Summary of Experience:
Not really much to say other than I was extremely surprised that I didn\'t get an interview here. I live only 40min away from the school and quite a few people from my undergrad were accepted here in the past. Apparently I wasn\'t what they were looking for this year.
Summary of Experience:
Based on the turnaround time between secondary submission and rejection I doubt this school even took a look at the rest of my application after they saw I was coming from a Midwest liberal arts college instead of an East Coast school.
Summary of Experience:
Disappointed that I didn\'t receive an interview invite, however, I will take it as a compliment that they took so long considering me.
Summary of Experience:
Again, I was surprised that I did not even get an interview invite here since I did do an entire summer (500+hrs) of research in the U of C labs and had competitive numbers. Oh well, I\'m not exactly heartbroken about it. I guess I\'m not their \"ideal applicant,\" haha.
Summary of Experience:
Facilities are fantastic. Access to all the hospitals in Cleveland since the only competition for M3/M4 clinical spots are with Case Western students. Very unique and self-directed curriculum. Either you are going to love it or hate it (ie. not for everyone). Its a 5-year program, but it\'s completely paid. I was somewhat surprised I got an interview invite, but gladly took it. Word of advice to future CCLCM applicants, make sure you know your research inside and out because you WILL get grilled about all the details of it. 3/17/10 - finally updated that I was rejected. Oh well, I knew I was going up against stiff competition for only 32 spots. Still happy with my experience.
Summary of Experience:
8/22/09 - \"favorably\" moved into a smaller pool of applicants for review for interview invitation. Not sure what that means, but I\'ll focus on the word \"favorably\", haha. 3/5/10 - I attended the interview and the facilities as well as the students seemed amazing. The curriculum design is rather confusing since they are in a transition year, but all the students seemed to like it. The students in general are very involved in many activities outside the classroom. It is worth noting that this school is not actually in the city of Milwaukee, but rather about 7 miles west in a pleasant suburb. All in all, an excellent experience.
Summary of Experience:
Not really much to say about this school. Its my home state school and one of the largest in the nation (~330 per class). It was just a bit too big for my liking after going to such a small undergrad.
Summary of Experience:
Awesome school, I enjoyed my day there. All the students seem really excited about their school and the curriculum. Long wait for the interview date, but a swift acceptance afterwards. Definitely one of my top picks.
UPDATE 4/12/10 - I attended \"Second Look Weekend\" at the school and I was really blown away. I came in leaning about 60/40 in favor of another school, but by the end of the weekend I have decided completely on coming to Case!
Summary of Experience:
I pretty much just applied here because it was in my state. I was surprised when they short-listed me until I found out that they do that to almost everyone before inviting them for an interview. The facilities were far from impressive and location was clearly lacking. Not the school for me.
Summary of Experience:
Nice school, just not the \"right fit\" for me. I gave up my seat since there is no reason to hold it when someone else could have it.
Summary of Experience:
8/25/09 - I have been deemed worthy to receive the secondary from Loyola = me excited!
I really loved this school and it is just down the street from home. I cannot say anything negative about the school, its a great place, the students seem awesome, and its right by the greatest city in the world, CHICAGO!
Summary of Experience:
Iowa gave me an interview invite less than 36 hours after submitting my secondary. It was my last submission, and first invite, haha.
Interviewing I loved this school! Don\'t discount this school just because its in Iowa City. It\'s in a true college town and the atmosphere is great. The students all seemed very happy and the facilities are really first class.
biochemist21 took the old MCAT and scored a which is in the percentile of all old scores.
We converted this to a on the updated scale which is in the percentile of the updated MCAT. We also converted biochemist21’s section scores as follows:
biochemist21 scored a 1 on the Biological Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 118 on the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems.
biochemist21 scored a 1 on the Physical Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 118 on the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems.
biochemist21 scored a 1 on the Verbal Reasoning section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 118 on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
