Re-applying. I scaled down, not by choice, but by necessity- I reapplied in October because I was unsure whether or not to wait an extra year, and I had NO money. Nope, parents aren't helping this year. It's been pretty wild.
10/25/05- I submit my AMCAS. I kid you not. I was going to wait another year and apply, but Dr. Webster, an awesome woman, convinces me not to. Something tells me to do so.
11/4/05. AMCAS Approved.
The secondaries start coming in. All the UCs within a week. I have a lot of work, with my anatomy class (for my back up plan), full time work at PP.
11/7/05. There is no snow. I am glad I am not patrolling full time. 7500 feet? sadness.
12/15/05. My back up plan fails. I am rejected from a MEPN program, 4 days before my anatomy final. My motivation dies with it, but somehow, I slog through it. I didn't really want to be an FNP anyway. I want my MD.
1/6/06. Holy crap! A secondary from UCSF? There is a deity. And the same day, Tulane calls me for an interview. Wow!
1/26/06. Thursday's child is full of grace... good day for an interview. Both of them go well, and I show Grand Canyon photos to the Dean and to my second interviewer. They are super cool people. I love New Orleans. Mountains, however, are a two hour flight to Denver away. Sigh.
1/31/06. Pre-Interview hold at UCI. Two years running? Well, it's what I expect with a late app.
2/6/06. Pre interview hold at UCSD. See above note.
2/6/06, after posting in the good luck thread- TULANE acceptance is official. My friends start calling me Dr. Niki. It hasn't yet sunk in.
2/8/06 CU rejects me. I see on SDN that someone has an interview from Davis. I am not going to sleep for the next two nights, hoping that I get an interview at UCD. I need some LUCK!
2/14/06 Happy Valentines Day from UCSD! Invited after a LOI/update for March 7th. They work, I promise you! My bro and sister live there, and 2/17 Letter received from LA. I call them to try to set up an interview, and it won't be until April unless someone cancels. The woman is super kind, though, and I give her my number in case someone does, letting her know I can be there within 24 hours.
2/21/06. I'm 'sick' today. Actually, I do feel like crap, but I thought some fresh air on a mountaintop would help. So I drive to Tahoe, ski at Sugar Bowl and meet some Davis surgery residents. They're rad. Both women, hanging out with a male nurse (talk about gender reversal). They wish me luck. Then, my phone rings...
It's Kevin Chan from UCSF, wanting to schedule an interview for NEXT TUESDAY! If I get in, I'll be third generation and first woman from my family to earn my MD from here. I turn into a stuttering idiot on my cell phone on the side of Mt Disney. Dorked out. Got home and got my email from them. I'm overwhelmed-
2/27/06. Tomorrow. Is. Huge. I've been listening nonstop to Eminem's 'Lose yourself in the music...' trying not to be nervous. I slept last night, and I've got my plan for tonight. Spent yesterday wandering around the SF campus making sure I know where things are. Spent Saturday in Santa Cruz with a close friend and met a fellow SDNer- which was way cool (Hi Deborah!). Now I have to check in with LA to see if there's an opening so I can do one flight to SoCal next week instead of two. SO much to do with this process. I am excited and nervous all at once. Wishing the forums were up and running.
3/4/06. Coming down from my UCSF interview. I am in love with the school, and had fun talking to the physicians who spent an hour with me each - cool people. Switching gears- SD interview is on Tuesday. UCLA just scheduled for April 25th?! Whoa. That seems late in the game to me, but hey, I'll see if anyone cancels and I can come earlier. You never know unless you ask. I'm sure someone will cancel.
3/?/06. Went to UCSD and liked the school. Students seemed stressed out. I got to visit a close friend in San Clemente who works for an animation company and that was SUPER fun.
3/16/06. Oh, Yes. Just walked home from the clinic, opened my email and there, looking at me, was an invite from Terri at UCDavis. I am stoked beyond all comparison. Not only did I spend the last 5 days skiing Kirkwood to Sugar Bowl and meet someone rad in the process, but now I have a chance at Davis, which would be AWESOME. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Next Friday I'll be there...
3/23/06. Snow, snow and more snow! Guess what Irvine doesn't have? Snow. So, when I got the email that UCI didn't want to interview me, it was kind of a relief... besides, I met a super cool guy last week who I'm still hanging out with (what a wonderful distraction from all of this) and I'm interviewing at Davis tomorrow!
3/24/06. Davis was rad. Acceptable pool from UCSD. I'm so ready for a beer and my weekend. :)
4/1/06. I was hoping the phone call I got from my mom was an April Fool's joke, but nope- UCSF gave me the boot. Weird, especially since both interviewers gave me very positive feedback, and the last one said he thought I'd be put on High Priority at least. Just goes to show that this process is infuriating. Just when you think you have a handle on it... Sigh. Oh well. Legacy counts for little. I have my grandfather's med school diamond from his graduation pin (it's the main one in my grandmother's engagement ring), and that's about as connected to UCSF as I'm going to be. My dad took it well, even though he was AOA from there. Whatever. I wasn't entirely sure it was my first choice anyway, after visiting Davis (I liked UCD much more).
4/18/06. The waiting is the hardest part. Sigh. Keeping the faith, and hoping for the best.
5/30/06. I'm done with this process. I'm not going to medical school. Got rejected from Davis and realized that I didn't really want to go, so I'm doing a Nursing program so that I can actually have a life. Glad I found out before I really spent a ton of money. In any case, I hope those of you applying have better luck than I did. I wish I knew why my interviews went so damned well and then I received rejections, but in all honesty, I think it's a blessing in disguise. Be nice to your nurses; they might have had a higher MCAT than you!!! But seriously, be excellent to each other. Peace out.
We help students become doctors. TM
