Brief Profile:
After studying music for two years in college, I had a change of heart and decided to give my best shot at getting into medical school. My GPA before starting my science courses was 3.75, but all of the general science classes went surprisingly well bumping me up to a cGPA of 3.87. I'm applying this cycle after only having the basic science courses completed, a couple of upper level bio classes, and only half of the orgo sequence. I'm hoping that a upward trend on my GPA and my decent MCAT score will get me in somewhere.
MCAT: I went through all the ExamKrackers books over 6 months, and took FL practice exams roughly every other weekend. I took several Kaplan FL's and all the AAMC FL's - the AAMC tests are the best practice available. I tried my best to mimic real test conditions every time for the FL. The EK Biology book was especially helpful as I didn't have any upper-level bio classes before the test.
First Kaplan Test: 28 Kaplan Diagnostic: 33 AAMC 3-11: between 31 and 36
Extracurriculars: I have quite a myriad of activities due to changing majors, but I've kept myself busy throughout with jobs and volunteering. I wish I had more research experience, but I plan to keep doing research this school year in hopes that I can bring it up during interviews.
- charity work of some kind throughout all of undergrad - music ensembles, singing competitions, overseas chorale tour when studying music - Tutor ACT, SAT, math, and science for private company (~20 hrs/week) - Volunteer at Children's Memorial Hospital (~200 hrs) - Research part time during school year (~100 hrs) - Summer Research Intern at Rosalind Franklin University (40+ hrs/week) - CRC Press Chemistry Award
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed below are just that - opinions. Picking the "best" medical school is not an objective process, and below are my thoughts in trying to figure out what is best for me. Lastly, for any soon-to-be or current applicants, I would not have applied to these schools if there wasn't a chance of me attending. This process is long and arduous with sometimes inexplicable decisions by some schools, so gaining an acceptance to any of these schools is quite an accomplishment regardless of school "prestige."
Good luck to all future MD's!
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/27/2012
Undergraduate college: DePaul University
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 517
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 130,
C/P 129,
CARS 129
Overall GPA: 3.87
Science GPA: 3.98
Summary of Application Experience
Submitted 6/28/12 Verified 7/30/12 Game Over 5/8/13
"What a long, strange trip it's been"
I didn't want to do this, but I figured I should calculate it...
Total Costs Thus Far
Practice MCATs = $245 Real MCAT = $300 (rescheduled once) Primary Application = $1146 Secondary Application = $2194 Travel Costs = $1085 Lodging Cost = $25 New Suit = $330 Second Look Days = IDK exactly but flying costs $$$
Total Cost ~ $7000
Applied, Rejected
Vanderbilt University
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: Yes
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: Yes
Summary of Experience:
Got the dreaded snail mail rejection today. Feeling alright though since I just got back from an awesome interview at Brown. It was a long shot but I love this school and Nashville... Perhaps residency
Summary of Experience:
Didn\'t complete secondary: I loved the idea of this school, but the heavy research requirement + super long secondary + low chance of acceptance means it just isn\'t meant to be. Wasn\'t truly excited about this one
Summary of Experience:
C 8/9 || R 1/25 || Pretty surprised by this one considering in-state status, I've had family get their MD here, and my scores are above their averages. Regardless, not that disappointed because UIC isn't even much cheaper because they still charge and extra 12K for the summer sessions M2,3,4, and the I'm pretty stoked about the acceptances I already have
Summary of Experience:
Spent about 2 months in the \"application complete\" status before being rejected. A little disappointed, but honestly I think I might have liked the idea of UofC more than the actual school, location, etc... Or maybe that is me just trying to fell better. Spent a long long time working on these essays, but putting a lot of effort into these made other ones easier.
Summary of Experience:
C 8/31 || R 1/17 Really would have loved to interview here since I love the area and know several people in the NU system. I can stare out the window from my work to see Feinberg. Still planning on applying here for residency though!
Summary of Experience:
C 9/3 || R 11/5 || Wish I was a Wisconsonite. Had to get another LOR for this application which caused about a one month delay. Hope this doesn't hurt my chances because Madison is awesome, the program is fantastic, and UW is definitely the right price
Summary of Experience:
C 8/6 || II 12/6 Withdrew because I couldn't see myself living in NYC with the high coa and already having an acceptance at a good school in the Chicago area
Summary of Experience:
II 8/31 || IA 11/14 || Silence...
FINAL DECISION: Not very impressed with Indiana's administration. My application seems to have vanished or they are just giving me a silent rejection. Also unless I would have been in the lucky 60% who win the Indianapolis, I would not have considered going here.
11/14 Interviewed at Gary campus, which was a little strange since it wouldn't be my top choice, but overall the interview was relaxed, 2 on 1 with pretty regular questions.
Summary of Experience:
C 8/2 || II 8/23 || IA 9/10 || WL 10/16 Not that bummed about this one. The interview was quite abrasive and I just didn't "click" with the program like I have felt at other places.
Summary of Experience:
C 8/2 || II 8/10 || IA 10/22 || WL 11/28 || A 3/5 || Withdrawing 5/10
FINAL DECISION: This was a very tough one to withdraw from. While I would have loved to have lived in DC for four years, I couldn't justify the cost especially when I have a great scholarship from Iowa. I could have tolerated the seemingly hands-off administration and the poor facilities for the lifestyle, and I honestly enjoyed the specialist focus of the school. But in the end, I want to choose a med school based on the school - not the lifestyle
4/10 Second look day: Perfect weather in the perfect city for the two days I was there. No wonder why they receive over 10K applications! Talking with current students allowed me to see myself at the school a lot better, and I love all the opportunities to gain experience with different specialties. While I'm still not head over heels for the school, I easily could deal with that for the opportunity to live in DC
3/5 Accepted! Was accepted about a week after sending in a LOR. However, I never received an email or phone call about the acceptance - I only found out by logging onto the portal! Good thing I checked!
11/28 CAP'ed - O well lots more fish in the sea
10/22 Very impressive match list and awesome area of DC. Fell in love more with the city than the school itself though..
8/10 First interview invite!!!
8/2 One of my top choices if money isn't an issue...
Summary of Experience:
C 8/3|| SP 9/16 || II 9/20 || IA 11/28 || A 12/21 || Withdrawing 3/20
FINAL DECISION: Wouldn't attend over Loyola, Iowa, or Gtown. This is just my opinion, but the following reasons didn't work for me. Far away from actual Chicago + No teaching hospital + fewer research opportunities + reputation.
However, the facilities are pretty nice and some people love doing rotations at community places. Just not for me
12/21 Really quick turnaround time after interview is really nice. I wonder if some of that had to do with the DePaul-RFU connection.
11/28 The interviews were great and relaxed, plus I already knew the school pretty well and I even knew one of my interviewers which surprised me quite a bit
Summary of Experience:
C 8/17 || II 10/23 || IA 11/17 || A 12/10 || Withdrawing 5/10
FINAL DECISION: At the end of the day, Loyola felt too similar to my undergrad experience. While I appreciate a supportive administration, it almost felt like "youth group" instead of a professional training program. That type of environment is great for some people, but it wasn't meant for me. Also, after living in Chicago for 5 years, I feel confident telling everyone that Loyola is not in Chicago - it is in the near-suburbs. Yes you can drive/train into the city, but you can't walk 10 minutes from your apt for an urban lifestyle. I loved that part of living in Lincoln Park and Lakeview, and to me that is the real experience of living in a city: the neighborhood bars, the hustle and bustle of young professionals, the hole in the wall food joints, and all the other everyday life sort of things. If you are intentional, you can absolutely go do Chicago things, but don't think that it is the full Chicago experience. (/end rant)
Lastly, and this is just personal preference, I never got that "wow" from Loyola. They seemed "good" in every way but never really "great"
4/16 Got a call from admissions: Scholarship!!! Not a full ride but it's something
12/10 Accepted!! Loved the atmosphere, campus, and hospital. So happy to get to attend such a great program and get to stay in Chicagoland. One of my first acceptances to a school I would really be happy spending 4 years at.
11/17 Great facilities and overall underrated program in my opinion.
10/23 Just got back from Gtown interview and was taking a nap after (not)sleeping in a DC airport last night and trying to rest up for Iowa interview tomorrow morning when I get a call from an unknown number: Interview! Took me a while to realize what was going on though :)
8/17 Secondary was somewhat long, but I felt like my EC's matched what they are looking for
Summary of Experience:
C 8/20 || II 8/24 || IA 10/12 || A 12/4 || Withdrawing 3/20
FINAL DECISION: This one is sad for me because I think the school has a great program. The price is definitely right (super cheap!), I love the clinical teaching, and the administration really seems to be responsive and pushing the school forward.
However, spending a year in Carbondale and then three in Springfield did not jive with the lifestyle I wanted nor my plans with my SO. I also want to pursue a specialty, and the school's reputation is for primary care. It seemed like there would be fewer opportunities for research as well.
12/4 Received AWPA and acceptance in very close proximity to each other.
10/12 I was honestly pleasantly surprised with the interview here, and one of my interviewers really impressed me with SIU's philosophy and clinical focus. Very small interview group was a nice change of pace.
8/24 What a fast turnaround!!! They must love us central Illinois kids
Summary of Experience:
C 8/31 || II 10/18 || IA 10/24 || A 3/13 || MATRICULATING!!!!
5/1 Received generous Dean's Scholarship and SO was offered a great job at UIHC = Decision Made
4/13 Second-Look day just made me fall more in love with this school. Throughout this process I've felt like there were many schools I could be happy at, but this is only one of two schools that made me feel simultaneously ecstatic and honored to be a part of the school. Everything from the admin, the facilities, the culture, the research opportunities.. it is everything that I wanted.
The only slight problem is the idea of giving up an urban lifestyle like I've had the past 5 years in Chicago. Georgetown seems to be the answer for this, but the med school definitely did not wow me as much. And Loyola is in the suburbs of Chicago, so although the urban lifestyle is accessible, I wouldn't be living in it. Despite all of this, I would absolutely be able to embrace the Iowa City lifestyle for 4 years including the Big 10 football, good bars, trendy restaurants, and easy access to outdoors. Let the pro/con lists begin.
3/13 ACCEPTED!!! Haven't stopped smiling for hours :)
1/12 Final pooled - was kind of expecting this after not hearing anything back for a while
10/24 Already familiar with the IC area, and the interview day just convinced me more that Iowa would be an awesome place to learn medicine.
10/18 So excited by some love from a great Big 10 school! Iowa football anyone?
8/31 Iowa city + great med school = Big 10 dream school.
