Experience Type: Community Service/Volunteer - Medical/Clinical Experience Name: Physical Therapy scribe Organization Name: Creekside alzheimer's special care center City, State, Country: Plano, TX, United States Experience Description: I am involved in the physical therapy and care for my patients. It's a very hard, yet rewarding job. One of the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's is loss of memory with mild psychosis. This means that everyday I have to reacquaint myself with most of my patients.Though I have to regain their trust and overcome their fears, I enjoy each relationship. Why? There is no falseness, only honesty between us. The toughest part has to be watching the families endure the gradual loss of health and trust of someone that we all knew intimately.It's rough on a husband of 30 years when his wife trusts you, the attendant, and does not remember him. Sometimes I am able to talk to family members to prepare them for the visit, so that they won't lash out at the patient or feel overwhelmed. Life is already tough; no one wants to be alone ,die alone or be forgotten. Just being there and helping someone 65 years of age learn to walk again allows me to appreciate that which I have. I bring my children sometimes during visiting hours and watch them interact with the patients. You can almost see lives being extended by the hugs of a child.
Experience Type: Community Service/Volunteer - Medical/Clinical Experience Name: Radiology scribe Organization Name: Presbyterian hospital of Dallas City, State, Country: Dallas, TX, United States Experience Description: I worked with the doctors as they analyzed CT and MRI scans. I typed up the diagnostic reports as they dictated the results. Between cases I would spend time with the doctors, talking about balancing family and medicine. Other times I helped patients prepare for scans. I loved the 2yrs of experience. There was a weekly contest where scans were posted and the person that correctly picked the abnormality would get lunch. I told one of the doctors on duty what I thought the problem was. He later informed me that I was correct. It was then I realized how much I had learned from the doctors and nurses in such a short time. I reveled in the constant challenges and helping the patients. I loved learning about my future.
Experience Type: Community Service/Volunteer - not Medical/Clinical Experience Name: Dallas/Texas Best City, State, Country: Dallas, TX, United States Experience Description: For 10 wks each year, we work with high school students on their science projects for a local and state competition.
Experience Type: Teaching/Tutoring Bio/math tutor
Experience Type: Research/Lab Experience Name: Perception Analysis in Rats Dates: 03/2001 - 08/2002 Contact Name & Title: Dr. Brain Reneker, Project Director Organization Name: University of Texas at Dallas City, State, Country: Dallas, TX, United States Experience Description: We tested to see how rats under different conditions (i.e. complete darkness) respond to different frequencies of sound over a period of time..
Experience Type: Community Service/Volunteer - not Medical/Clinical Experience Name: Dallas Minority Family Organization Name: Dallas Minority Family- organizer City, State, Country: Dallas, TX, United States Experience Description: Allowing people to see a world outside of their everyday existence can change futures. This is what Dallas Minority Family is set up for. Every year since 2001, during Black History Month, we hold an event in the poor areas of south Dallas. During the event , we bring in local colleges and corporate recruiters to talk to elementary and high school students about life. We have different booths about going to college as well as getting jobs within tech and science based industries. At each booth there is a raffle for a computer or a videogame system. Yet you can only join the raffle if you answer questions about your educational future. We also try to set up individuals with mentors to help them after the event. The event is not about numbers; it's about affording people a pathway out of hopelessness.
Experience Type: Leadership Experience Name: Marriage Counselling Dates: 06/1996 - Until Present Experience Description: Helping couples understand themselves and how to dealing with life together
Experience Type: Community Service/Volunteer - not Medical/Clinical Experience Name: Local Constable Dates: 02/1996 - 12/1999 Hours/Week: Organization Name: Royal Bahamas Police Force City, Country: Nassau, Bahamas Experience Description: As a peace keeper, once a month we conducted patrols of local neighborhoods. I was an investigator in the Bahamas, hence it was essential to work hand in hand with local law enforcement
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 2005
Undergraduate college: University of Texas at Dallas
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Institution: Masters Degree in Finance GPA:4.0
Area of Study: Computing and Information Science
Total MCAT SCORE: 498
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 125,
C/P 125,
CARS 123
Overall GPA: 3.80
Science GPA: 3.70
Summary of Application Experience
12/31 With Christ Jesus ALL things (including medical school)are possible!!!
I am a foreign(F-1)student from the Bahamas.The process has been expensive but rewarding. I am very happy. UTDallas is an excellent school. Its hard as hell but prepares you well.The pre-Health department is incredible.They actually care what happens to you. I love those guys.I screwed up the MCAT results because I over-emphasized it. I was averaging 31-35 before taking it. I guess I paniced. Anyway I am in.
For foreign students out there: use the following website to help you choose where to apply.If I knew this info I would have saved atleast $1500.
This site list every American and Canadian school (MD and DO ) policy toward international students. If I had to do it all over again I would have also applied to:
University of Chicago Dartmouth College Boston University Charles Drew University/UCLA Yale University Tufts University Columbia University Case Western Reserve University
These schools give loans,grants and scholarships to international students.I wouldn't have applied to school that want 4 years upfront. The Medical School Admission Requirements(MSAR)guide is not always true.Don't be afraid to call the schools.
For those that need help financing their education, go here:
http://www.edupass.org./finaid/loans.phtml
Note:You may not need a US co-signor, if you have three years of credit history you may be OK.
Scholarship info here: START LOOKING NOW!!! Most of the deadline occur during the application process.
Interviewing: Don't make the process about getting in and you will succeed.If you know you are going to be a doctor, you must put aside the fear of the interview. People can see fear in your face. They don't know if its b/c you are scared or b/c you are hiding something.Don't give them that choice to make in the first place. You are there b/c they want you. Before interviews,answer all your questions with a friend then in the mirror. See what others see. If you don't like what you see, don't get pissed. Smile! Why? B/c you saw it before anyone else did. Now you can work on it. If your ECs are weak:Volunteer where you know you will make a difference. Don't just go to a hospital to shadow.Go to your neighbourhood school and mentor kids there. You are never too young or old. Make people your priority and you will get in.Write what you did down in prep for your secondaries so you can get them in EARLY!
I got into every program I interviewed at as a foreign student.That is unheard of.Why, b/c when I interviewed I asked 60% of the questions. I always fly in early and talk to the students and tour the campus by myself.During the interview I always talk about the area and events around the school. I talk about what I learned about the school and why its for me.I never let the interview get out of control. How do you do that? Always be focus.Don't be ashame of your record.Know who you are. I end every answer to a question asked as a lead to the next question. Have three things that you know that you confident in.Example, my three are: my patient's right to choose, my family before medicine and taking time for my community. Every answer to any question comes thru these three and I end every answer with a lead to these three points. I am also brutally honest, while being nice. Being a strong christian has also enhanced my focus.
Secondaries for individual schools: These are the most expected secondary questions:
I treat secondaries as an extension of my personal statement. Always write as much as you can.Use them to clear up any areas your statement did not cover.In secs, I covered my volunteer experiences and the importance of my family more extensively.Don't talk about the school much, talk about yourself.They already know themselves.They want to know more about you.At the end of my answer I write something like.....' After reading your mission statement and researching your program I believe that XYZ shares my vision of giving back to the community.'When I talked to Deans of different programs before I applied,they all agreed that that was what they were looking for. Another cheap trick is to treat your AMCAS experience section as a mini-essay to further elucidate your application.
This is a great Guide for Applying to Medical School (Note:Its from a small school but thats irrelevant b/c its helpful nontheless):
2/22 In retrospect, I think the DEFINING MOMENT of this entire process came in Oct. 2005. I was invited to a formal dinner in Irving, Texas by Texas Tech Medical School. I was not going but a fellow applicant insisted, so we went. We arrived early while the event was still being set up. To my amazement, as I walked in, I was immediately approached by both the Dean of Admissions and the President of the school. For 15 minutes I was asked about my intentions for medical school. I was horrified by my responses: they sounded pretentious and rehearsed. The rest of the evening I walked around with this huge smile on my face. I knew that I had blown my chance at Texas 'tumble weed' Tech, but who cared. The important issue was that I had not taken the time to be myself. THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. My real interviews were scheduled for the upcoming months, so I was grateful this meltdown did not happen then. It also showed me a side of arrogance that was not becoming of a real man. I put myself on notice. No matter how confident I got, there was no substitute for practice interviewing with yourself, then with a friend. I also thanked Jesus for the opportunity to grow.
3/28 Its official,I am going to Northwestern.Its a dream school.The true pass/fail system & only 6 exams the ENTIRE first year is incredible.The PBL-based curriculum with NO CLASS RANKING the first two years got my attention. With class 8am-12pm & a USMLE STEP 1 average of 238 I couldn't ask for more.The campus and accompanying hospitals must be seen to be appreciated. I also loved the push to help underserved areas.I have been blessed beyond measure.
Remember: Jesus MCAT buster,Jesus Medical school buster.These are nothing compared to parting the Red Sea.You are only as big as your dream and your faith in Jesus.
P.S. I only did this profile to encourage others.Remember, no matter how much info is presented here, you are unique in your own way.Don't get bogged down with stats and info.If you have any questions or need help, you can reach me at [email protected]
