Brief Profile:
Otherwise traditional applicant with a BS in neuroscience, a bit of math background, and plenty of research experience.
***12/12/13: Thought I'd update my bio a little more as we get closer to the holidays! I originally went through 3 years of undergrad convinced that I wasn't going to go premed. After numerous experiences in a multitude of research labs ranging from bird ecology to computational neuroscience I eventually had to admit to myself that research wasn't my primary interest, and that instead, I really enjoyed the interactive and clinical component that being in the medical field offers. After much soul searching, I decided that I was going to apply to medical school around senior year of college, and realized that I had a long and hefty journey ahead of myself. My GPA is pretty much a U-curve with sophomore year being my lowest point, but I pulled it up significantly afterwards. I also took the MCAT twice, going from a 25 in June 2012 to a 31 in May 2013. I legitimately did not prepare enough for my first MCAT, but am pleased that to see that so far, it hasn't been a significant problem and wasn't even asked about when I interviewed at Temple. My advice for test-prep is to do as practice problems and take as many practice tests as possible. Always, always, always overshoot so you can perform to your expectations. Through a combination of senioritis and determination to have my AMCAS submitted ASAP, I became too comfortable after scoring in the 30's on my practice AAMC's, and I honestly wished I had tried harder in retrospect.
Thank you all for viewing my page, and if you are currently applying, GOOD LUCK!! and if you have any questions please feel free to PM me! ******
Some quick highlights:
~2000+ hours of research/internship experience with a few publications. ~100 hours of clinical volunteering w/ some shadowing at the ER ~40 hours of non-clinical volunteering at a legal office ~3 years of academic tutoring at a college level ~President of college running club, board member for 2 years at my school's neuroscience association.
Included on AMCAS: various research experiences, publications (2), weightlifting (as a hobby), tutoring, club leadership positions, and presentation and awards received at the 2011 EB conference.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/25/2013
Undergraduate college: Top 50 Private College
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 511
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 127,
C/P 128,
CARS 127
Overall GPA: 3.70
Science GPA: 3.70
Summary of Application Experience
I applied while I was taking my gap year and volunteered and worked (read: spent much time trying to find work) in the meantime. I definitely feel like having more free time has been essential to preparing a better application and also gaining more relevant experiences. Also would not have applied to as many OOS state schools.
Summary of Experience:
Should have researched this school more carefully before applying. Grant very few interviews to OOS applicants and even fewer acceptances.
Summary of Experience:
Submitted late app here more out of a sense of desperation and anxiety from not having received any word from schools. Getting my acceptance at Temple at 2 days later more than made up for paying the ridiculous secondary fee haha.
Rejection letter took forever to open and they really gave me the go-around before I found out, linking me to a webpage within the e-mail where I logged in, then hemmed and hawed around until I found the status page which finally told me -.-
Summary of Experience:
Finally got the II after calling the admissions office earlier, who said they were about to send me one anyway. Will be here on Jan 8th!
Post Interview thoughts: amazing facilities. Was very impressed with the SIM center here and the main instructor who taught clinical skills at the center was kind enough to give us a tour of the rooms. Labs were fairly large, and the library was nice. In terms of the actual interviews, I was impressed at how quickly I was able to get through them. Interviews were set for 40 minutes each but I was done with all three of them by the end of the hour. Overall interviews went well, and no particularly off-setting questions were asked. Fairly relaxed.
Summary of Experience:
Great feeling post-interview. Students seemed very nice and happy there, and the interview itself was very relaxed. My only complaints are the sketchy surrounding neighborhood and potential transportation issues. Getting around Philly seemed much more complicated than Chicago. Overall couldn't believe that I got accepted and would be very happy to attend!
