Brief Profile:
Very late decision to pursue a career in medicine. For years, I planned on doing astrophysics grad school, but I had some life-changing realizations/experiences while abroad. As such, I don\'t have many medically-related EC\'s, but plenty of research, experience tutoring, a fun/strong internship at a solar energy firm, and years of coaching swimming.
Currently in a gap year, during which I hope to conduct research in a medically-related field (would love to find something around LGBT healthcare), get more clinical experience, and follow my passion for teaching (ESL).
My GPA is worse than I\'d like mostly because I am TERRIBLE at math, but I loved physics too much to do something else. I had a few semesters with straight A\'s and a B- or C+ in a math-heavy course. Never bothered me, because I was still an excellent physicist with a bright future in grad school. After the switch to medicine, I\'m afraid it has the potential to hold me back.
If I could do undergrad again, I would have gotten involved in the community outside physics MUCH earlier, and gotten more clinical experience early on. However, I\'m very happy that I got an excellent education in a subject I love, and still might have opportunity to attend med school--best of both worlds, in my opinion.
If I get skunked this app cycle (yikes), I\'ll probably find a real job, re-take the MCAT, and apply again.
NB: I listed coaching, teaching ESL, and shadowing a surgeon as my most meaningful experiences--completely honest, if not the most exciting selection of my EC\'s.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/16/2011
Undergraduate college: University of Notre Dame
Undergraduate Area of study: Physical Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 519
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 129,
C/P 132,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.60
Science GPA: 3.48
Summary of Application Experience
Submitted AMCAS on time, working on secondary essays; I hope that schools don\'t interpret my long turnaround time as disinterest.
UChicago, UMichigan, and Chapel Hill are my top choices. They are all reaches for me, especially considering my GPA.
Applied, Withdrew
Emory University
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: 06/16/2011
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: No
Summary of Experience:
SR: 7/8 SS:7/28
Very cool curriculum, brand new facilities, and the people seem amazing. I think the society system would really jive with my learning style. Really hoping for an interview on this one.
Top choice/VERY reachy. Finally submitted my secondary after much deliberation over essays. One of my best friends just matriculated, and constantly raves about it. Very LGBT-friendly. Also very grey and cold.
Summary of Experience:
SR: 7/21 SS: 7/26 II:7/27 IA:7/9 A:11/19
Top choice/reach. AMAZING international opportunities, great area, good curriculum, awesome people. Interview scheduled for early September! Even though IS kids automatically get them with secondary invites, it\'s still encouraging/motivating.
Interview day was amazing, and put UNC solidly above the rest of the pack. I don\'t want to go anywhere else.
SO THRILLED to get an acceptance. Definitely planning on matriculating here.
