Submitted my AMCAS early June. I would've submitted it on the first day available since I actually had all of my information, EC and PS written by February, but I had such a difficult time choosing my 18 schools. I actually developed a massive headaches that lasted for a few days X_X
But since that was so early in the cycle, my primary app was verified by end of June and by the next day, secondaries were rolling in my email. Can't complain, though! The whole month of July was pretty much just working on secondary apps for a handful of hours each evening, as I was working full-time. My goal was to finish all of my secondaries by the 1st of August. I gave myself about 2 weeks to finish each secondary, starting from the day I received them in my inbox. With the exception of 2 schools, I did manage to achieve that goal. My committee letter also happened to finally come through by the end of July. I was praying every night that it would get done in a timely manner, as I wanted it to be available when all of my secondaries were submitted.
7/22 - Mayo MN and AZ campuses rejected my application; I wasn't selected for further review. Since they didn't have a secondary and their school averages were 3.8, I didn't really think I had a shot. But you never know unless you try, right? This kinda stings. I'm not even done with my secondaries and I've already been rejected from one program. I just wish I had the chance to tell them that my boyfriend is currently at Mayo Clinic for his PhD and he's pretty much family to me. Time to move on, though.
8/11 - Got my first interview invite with UW!! Ugh, I'm seriously hyperventilating because this is an amaaaaaazing school with an awesome MD program.
8/11 - But also, that enthusiasm was slightly (only slightly) curbed by GWU's update on my application being placed on hold for an interview :( I guess it's still very early in the cycle but a hold is not exactly amazing news. Oh well.. keeping my fingers crossed! And still, UW, WOOHOO!!
8/15 - Got a hold for interview on U of Arizona - Tucson. I keep reminding myself that it's still waaaay early.
8/25 - Checking my email daily like crazy! No movement so far, which mean I should go out and relax after work since this smoldering August weather means summer is still here :D
8/31 - AHHH I can't even express my excitement for my II at Tulane!! Seriously, I was not expecting Tulane to give me any love. It's definitely one of my top choices! I was in training for a new job and I couldn't even focus afterwards. But why are the interview dates sooo far away? The earliest one is sometime late January and I have scheduling conflict that day, but I also don't want to wait until the end of February. Dilemma.. but a good dilemma to have!
9/8 - It's been so quiet with all of my other apps. Anxiety is definitely kicking in again. I think most med school applicants suffer some type of neuroticism during this time, but I keep overthinking that my interview invites are sheer luck and that there's a red flag on my app somewhere. Maybe due to low academic metrics. That feeling definitely won't go away until I've matriculated, ha! Also, religiously checking my app portals and SDN forums aren't helping! With rejections being sent left and right, and waves of interview invites already out, I'd almost prefer a swift status decision. But no news is good news, right? And no news is better than a hold status, right? Ahh, I'm gonna go do something fun before I go mental. I'll check in later with good or bad news :)
9/13 - Uhh, miracle?! I was rejected from Mayo (AZ campus) in late July, but come a month later, they send me a LOR request?! I was so confused. Please don't tug at my heart string, Mayo. I think I could really fall in love with you! Apparently, they have new leadership in the admissions dept and are reopening some applications - at least that's what their subsequent, clarifying email noted. I still can't believe it. It's definitely not an interview invite, but I'll take any chance I can get!
9/14 - It kind of seems like all of my good news so far have been dampened by subsequent bad news. I was just rejected from Albany Medical College this morning. I'm a little disappointed because I thought I would have a chance at an interview here, but I guess not.
9/23 - So, I finally got an 'application complete' email from CMS at RFUMS today - about 2 months after my secondary and LORs have been submitted. Woohoo! It seems like they've been pretty backlogged this year, but I expect that they would with over 10K applications to shift through a year. But now the complete email says it could be another 8-10 weeks before I hear back regarding my status. I guess this is where the real waiting begins, ha!
10/3 - September has been such a slow month, in terms of hopeful/good news - well, with the exception of being unrejected from Mayo AZ. It seems like it has also been a slow month for everyone else in this application cycle. I hope October brings good news.
10/21 - Got my rejection email from GWU. Definitely sad but I knew it was coming. To be on hold for that many months, I didn't really think I had a shot -- especially when so many others who were complete more recently were getting IIs.
10/28 - Washington State University finally got their accreditation and they're opening up their first application cycle this year! Primary application sent first thing this morning. I'm so beyond excited that Washington now has another public medical school to serve the people of this area. This has been long overdue, for sure!
10/31 - Happy Halloween! Got my rejection from Georgetown this morning. After surviving through so many rejection rounds so far, I was keeping my fingers crossed, but alas!
11/18 - Secondary to WSU sent! It took a long time to fill out their secondary, but I managed. Crossing my fingers for an interview invite!
12/2 - Rejection from Drexel.
12/6 - I guess it's that time of year - med school app massacre! Rejection from Tufts today.
12/13 - Rejection from Mayo Arizona and Rochester, for the 2nd time. So much heartache...
12/20 - AHHH, interview invite from WSU received tonight!! Literally the best early Christmas present ever!! Thank you WSU! Merry Christmas, everyone!
1/10/17 - Rejection from Brown University. Kind of expected it. Waited in silence since late July.
1/27/17 - Attended my interview at Tulane and just fell in love with it! Everything from the city to the school to the students and faculty was just so comforting, warm and welcoming. Everyone seemed so genuinely happy and stress free. I would love to attend med school here! I think I did decent on my interview here. I really enjoyed the standardized patient role play and student interview. The faculty interview was good, although super short. All in all, the whole day was just super chill and easy going. I have good vibes with Tulane, so *fingers crossed*!
2/1/17 - Attended my interview at UW and I like it, although (if I was being honest with myself), I wasn't in love with the school or the program as much as I was with Tulane. The students and faculty were definitely friendly and helpful, but the vibe was definitely very fast pace and... just very academic. I don't know. I think I could do well here and be comfortable, but I don't know if I would be as happy of a person being in Seattle and at UW. The 3-panel interview was also... f*ck, it was tough. It was like a 30 minutes of being bombarded with questions upon questions. And then that role play... I've never been so confused in my whole life. I'M STILL CONFUSED as to what the point was. Anyhoo.. I don't have such a good feeling.
2/3/17 - Just got back from my interview at WSU. Although it is an extremely new school -- with this cycle being the cycle for their charter class -- the optimism and enthusiasm were extremely infectious! Faculty were beyond friendly and welcoming. And Spokane is just breathtaking beautiful in the dead of winter, in the midst of a snow storm that made the whole city look like a snow globe. The only reservation I have is how much of my personal mission matches up with WSU's mission. The MMI format of the interview was just... NOT my style. I felt like I either completely tanked the station or nailed it. I guess we'll see.
2/11/17 - Rejections from VTC, University of Arizona, and UCLA within the past week.
2/13/17 - OMG, ACCEPTED TO TULANE! MY FIRST INTERVIEW AND MY FIRST ACCEPTANCE. I made the deposit without hesitation. Words cannot begin to describe my emotions right now. Now, I just have to figure out how to pay for $80-85K a year...
2/14/17 - Happy Valentine's Day, you guys! I woke up this morning and spent a good 3 minutes in bed, sobbing from happiness. I've got a roof over my head, food in the fridge, a mother who has sacrificed an entire life of personal happiness for me, and a boyfriend who is so loving and supportive -- there's literally nothing else I could possibly want or need. I just feel so incredibly blessed. Just wanted to get that out there, lol.
2/25/17 - Status update from UW: 'Still under consideration.' The email did say we'll get a final status update no later than end of March, which kinda makes me nervous. On one hand, it would be nice to move only 40 minutes from home and go to UW (which has an AMAZING medical program, top 10) for a cheaper tuition, BUT on the other hand, I'm itching to move away from Seattle and Western WA. But for $85,000 a year at Tulane... That is soo much money that I DON'T have. Ugh, praying financial aid is somewhat generous!
3/1/17 - Just got the call, and ACCEPTED TO WSU! Honestly, I'm quite surprised; I was not expecting this since I felt liked I bombed my interview. But I guess you never really know!
We help students become doctors. TM
