Brief Profile:
At one of my interviews (I am forgetting which one), one of the other applicants saw a disembodied arm in the sim center and was like "have you seen Arrested Development?". AWESOME
After trying for a while to rank the schools in an objective way (and finding out that doesn't work---my three favorite schools tied), I'm going to go with a combination of feeling at second look, financial aid, and discussions with current and former students.
In the end, it turns out that I don't qualify for much need-based aid anywhere (my non-custodial parent's income was counted by 4/7 schools, and my parents aren't footing the bill), making it extremely difficult to turn down my (very good and very inexpensive) state school. I have basically concluded (and calculated) that it would be financially stupid to go anywhere else. Excited to be a part of the UNC School of Medicine Class of 2017!
Major things on my application: -3 summers + this year research in the same lab (with oral presentation at conference, submitted non-1st author paper at time of application. Updated schools in January to include publication of that paper, a poster presentation at conference this year, co-author on several oral presentations and posters at conference.) This experience also included teaching undergraduates, and some shadowing and interaction with subjects in our clinic. -Odd/unique semester abroad experience -2.5 years volunteering in the community around my undergrad -Long-time interest and participation in a performing art -1 year research in another lab (had a poster presentation at an on-campus event, but otherwise uneventful) -TA for an upper-level biology class
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/15/2012
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 516
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 130,
C/P 127,
CARS 130
Overall GPA: 3.86
Science GPA: 3.87
Applied
Johns Hopkins University
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: Yes
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: No
Summary of Experience:
This secondary got lost in the craziness of getting a million applications, moving to a new apartment, and starting my job. At this point (October), I think I\'ll save my $100. Oh well, Hopkins, maybe I\'ll see you for an away rotation!
Summary of Experience:
Whoops. I guess I didn't feel like I clicked with my interviewer, and I was a little frustrated by being on another interview after I thought I was done traveling. I was not a huge fan of the school, so I think this is for the best.
Things I liked: Lots of research opportunities, global health emphasis (if you want), it's the first place where I really felt like I understood and was interested in PBL, student housing is very cheap for NYC.
Summary of Experience:
Hm. I think I will go to my second looks and then decide how much I want to remain on this wait list.
Things I liked: MS Translational Research, LEAPP program, opportunity to do rotations at CHOP, University City is a very pleasant area, financial aid people were very straightforward and helpful, very time-tested 1.5+2.5 curriculum.
Summary of Experience:
There is no way I see myself going here. Didn't think it was a great fit during my interview, and I prefer the schools I've been accepted to.
"Hold After Interview." I think I'm ok with that. Not a big Cleveland fan.
Things I liked: BEAUTIFUL Children's Hospital, MS Biomedical Investigation, free afternoons, big public hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Case Western area is very nice. had a great time with my host, Cleveland seems very affordable.
Financial aid is, you guessed it, all loans again. I've been talking back and forth with the office, and they've essentially confirmed my calculations of ~390k in debt if I take 6 years to do residency+fellowship. Really disappointed because I really liked this school.
Whoa! Yay! Thought I wouldn't hear until a month or two from now!! (and had kind of resigned myself to not getting in)
First tier wait list.
Things I liked: scholarly project (longitudinal), areas of concentration, students I met were really friendly and fun, UPMC is HUGE, new children's hospital and their peds in general is amazing, lots of research funding/opportunities, CSTP program, PIttsburgh seems like a really manageable and livable (read: inexpensive) city.
Note: I am biased because several members of my family attended medical school (some of them residency as well) at PItt and my grandma still lives here.
4/1: Financial aid is all federal loans, and NYU is more expensive than a few of the other schools I'm considering. Don't think I'll be holding this acceptance for much longer.
Totally shocked! Thought I wouldn't hear until at least January!
Things I liked: patient-centered curriculum (hard to explain, look it up), large *public* hospital for some rotations, commitment to global & public health, nice student housing, great location in Midtown East/Murray Hill
Late April: Official aid package. All loans. It suggests I borrow from my family. The three other schools I'm looking at are cheaper, and I think I like them better than Columbia.
At Second Look, I was basically told my aid package would be all federal loans. I also don't think I liked it as much as Vanderbilt. I think I see myself coming back to NYC for residency rather than medical school.
Wow! Crazy! Excited! (clearly I cannot compose sentences right now because I'm so in shock)
Things I liked: Very friendly admissions office, students were friendly and seemed to have a good school/life balance, mandatory rotation outside the city, school seemed very willing to help you/let you do whatever you want to do, research project in curriculum, 1.5yr preclinical that is old enough to have had at least one class take the boards
Summary of Experience:
Withdrew after Vanderbilt acceptance.
Yay! They get bonus points for being the first to let me in. :)
Things I liked: LUNCH. Kidding (only half-kidding, lunch was awesome) aside, everyone at UVA was incredibly friendly and welcoming, the med school building is beautiful, I like their curriculum (patient-centered; reminded me of NYU), Charlottesville is a really beautiful, pleasant, and historical place, rotations all around the state give you diverse experiences, they have great research and global health opportunities. Really enjoyed my day here!
Summary of Experience:
They actually gave me a small amount of free money? Man, UNC, way to be a really reasonable place. I am liking you more and more.
My feeling at Second Look was, "This is a really wonderful place, but I don't know if this is the place for me." I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and came to the conclusion that if I end up here I will be fine.
Woohoo!
Things I liked: really like idea of doing rotations all over the state, it definitely had the Southern charm, teachers I interacted with seemed excellent, close to family, Chapel Hill really is a nice place to live, in-state tuition is unbeatable.
Second Look was really awesome, but I'm still not 100% on Nashville. Vanderbilt seems like an amazing and special place though. I got my financial aid the next week--small need-based scholarship and ~65-70k loans/yr. (later reduced to more like 50-60k loans/yr, but still pretty expensive)
Yaaaay!!
Things I liked: Major focus on student wellness, new curriculum and the philosophy behind it seem exciting, mandatory research, faculty are really committed to medical student education, house system :P, nice children's hospital, students seemed really happy and friendly. I think I would also be really happy, and get a great education at Vanderbilt.
