Brief Profile:
I took a few gap years before applying to strengthen my application. I will try to keep this as updated as possible. I am trying to remain somewhat anonymous during this cycle, but if you have any questions, please send me a message on SDN.
MCAT and GPA are updated and accurate now that the application cycle is over.
I have a mix of research experiences, clinical experiences, hospital volunteering, shadowing, community service, and college athletics. I feel like I'm a typical pre-med applicant based on my ECs, which is why I applied broadly.
SR = secondary received SS = secondary submitted II = interview invite IA = interview attended
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 07/17/2014
Undergraduate college: University of California
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 519
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 131,
C/P 129,
CARS 127
Overall GPA: 3.80
Science GPA: 3.80
Summary of Application Experience
If you're interested in how I studied for the MCAT: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/30-mcat-study-habits-the-cbt-version.503250/page-28#post-14948607
6/18/14: I submitted > 30 primaries because I wanted to increase my chances of getting into at least one school. However, I know I'm going to hate myself once secondaries start rolling in. We'll see how many secondaries I actually end up completing. I'm waiting for transcripts to be received by AMCAS before my application will be ready for review.
6/27/14: Transcripts received by AMCAS. Application ready for review.
Primaries for 34 schools = $1348
7/18/14: Application processed and verified. Let the secondaries roll in???
7/21/14: Woke up to 12 secondary emails. I felt my cortisol levels immediately spike.
7/30/14: Submitted 16 secondaries, but still have 14 secondaries to finish. Likely not going to complete certain secondaries because of the # of essays or LOR requirements.
8/4/14: First interview invite at the University of Pittsburgh! Very surprised, but very excited!
8/6/14: Added Harvard, Yale, and Brown to see what happens.
8/30/14: Currently have 5 interview invites and I couldn't be more grateful. However, I dread looking at my bank account at this point.
10/21/14: I have already attended 3 interviews (no decisions yet) and I still have 6 more to go! I haven't received another interview invite in a couple weeks so I'm not holding my breath on receiving another one.
11/11/14: First acceptance to University of Iowa after I interviewed at Albert Einstein! So happy and excited!!!
1/12/15: Last interview of the application cycle is at UC Irvine.
4/30/15: Accepted at University of Pittsburgh off first tier waitlist! Very unexpected, but very grateful. Will be matriculating unless I get accepted at a CA school ;)
Applied, Rejected
University of Washington
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:
Rejected pre-secondary 10/7/14 because out-of-region
plainandsimple took the old MCAT and scored a 36 which is in the 97th percentile of all old scores.
We converted this to a 519 on the updated scale which is in the 97th percentile of the updated MCAT. We also converted plainandsimple’s section scores as follows:
plainandsimple scored a 14 on the Biological Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 131 on the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems.
plainandsimple scored a 12 on the Physical Science section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 129 on the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems.
plainandsimple scored a 10 on the Verbal Reasoning section of the old MCAT which is approximately equal to a 127 on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
