Application Cycle One: 2006

• Undergraduate college: California State University, Fresno
• Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences

• Total MCAT SCORE: 513
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 129, C/P 128, CARS 127   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 4.00
• Science GPA: 4.00

Summary of Application Experience

*To clarify, my dad is Hispanic, but my mom is Chinese. So, I'm not sure how this changes my minority status.

-Transcripts sent from Fresno State 06/01/06.
-AMCAS application sent 06/05/06.
-Transcripts received, application up for verification 06/09/06.
-AMCAS requires my transcript from Junior College, for a summer class I had forgotten about. Sent 06/14/06.

I took the April 22, 2006 MCAT, so I sent my application without knowing my score. As a result, I applied pretty much everywhere. I figured I'd be able to screen my secondaries based on the score. Overall, I'm looking forward to this process, but hope that it ends well. -- 06/05/06.

Not knowing my MCAT score is pretty stressful. -- 06/14/06.

Just got my MCAT score. 32Q. Overall, very satisfied. Competitive for lots of schools, and gives me a chance at some of the reaches. In the end, just glad to have it over with. Next stop, secondaries. -- 06/19/06.

Still waiting for JC transcripts to be received, and AMCAS to be verified. I called the JC office, and they were sent 6/19. More waiting. --06/23/06.

Got my first secondary via e-mail: Columbia. My AMCAS still hasn't been verified because of that darn JC transcript. Hopefully, that's done soon. --06/26/06.

Secondary to George Washington received. Much more straight-forward vs. Columbia's. Only one question makes you think: a list of why you want to go to GWU. The long road is beginning. --06/27/06.

JC transcript received by AMCAS. In line for verification again. --06/28/06.

Secondary received from University of Chicago (Pritzker). Not very fun, three essay prompts. I plan on finishing George Washington's tonight and mailing it by Monday. --06/29/06.

Just finished my secondary for George Washington, but I can't send it in because I'm still in line to be verified by AMCAS (waiting stinks). Also received mail from Johns Hopkins just notifying that their secondary is available online. It's not too bad. I'm hoping to make some progress on Chicago's (Pritzker) over the next couple days. Hurry up AMCAS. --07/11/2006.

Verified by AMCAS. Very happy about that, but I'm still waiting for one of my science professors to finish his letter before I'm totally ready to start sending secondary stuff in. But, definitely glad to be verified. --07/18/2006.

Secondaries are starting to really flood. I'll start cutting out schools soon. I'm trying to finish Hopkins/Yale now. Still waiting to hear about my professor's letter. I'll send in Wisconsin Medical College and St. Louis University on Monday because they only need one science professor letter. --07/20/2006.

Sent a letter to another professor who agreed to write me a letter. Hoping that that whole situation will clear up soon, so that I can send a lot more secondaries in. Meanwhile, I have SLU, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Dartmouth ready to send on 07/24/06 because they don't require more than one science professor. Also received secondary from USC. --07/21/2006.

Medical College of Wisconsin sent. Dartmouth sent. St. Louis requires more letters. Lots of schools waiting for my professor(s) to finish their letters. --07/24/2006.

Lots of secondaries flooding in. This weekend I'm going to cut out a few more schools. Still waiting for letters. UC, Irvine finished. --07/26/2006.

I'm up for review at Medical College of Wisconsin, Dartmouth, and UC-Irvine. Pretty good mix for first three. I submitted everything for Columbia today too. Still waiting on second science letter before I can send a bunch in. --08/02/2006.

Lots of secondaries. Once I get that second letter it will all be more manageable. Right now I'm just focusing on Northwestern (they give a deadline), then UCLA/UC-Davis/UCSD. --08/03/2006.

Continuing the grind. Letters of recommendation are definitely the limiting factor to pounding out the secondaries. I just finished UCLA/OHSU/Iowa/Albany/Rochester. I'm trying to make sure all my letters are in order to get postmarked by the 21st (Northwestern's deadline). Once I get the second science teacher, I'll be able to send the rest. --08/14/06.

I've sent in a ton of secondaries/letters the last couple days. All my letters are in. I got my first interview invite: Pittsburgh! Great school, I'm psyched. --08/18/06.

This last week was great. Interview invites to: Iowa, St. Louis Univ., UC-Irvine, NORTHWESTERN & HOPKINS. Super psyched. I need to start working on sample answers to interview q's. --09/09/06.

Starting to prep for interviews, doing sample answers. I'm crazy excited to start the interviewing. --09/12/06.

Not enjoying the cost of flying across the country multiple times. I'm hoping to get an early acceptance at one of the first schools (namely Northwestern or Hopkins), so I don't have to do so much. Other than that, things are good, reading a book on Health Care Policy, and trying to finalize some of my interview answers. Also, going to finish Harvard/UCSF/Duke secondaries this week. --09/18/06.

INVITE FROM YALE! --09/18/06.

Got an invite from Dartmouth right after Yale. Scheduled them for 10/12 and 10/13. Hahaha, Yale interview on Friday the 13th. Wish me luck. --09/19/06.

Had my interview at Wake on Wednesday. It was great, I had an awesome time. Don't know where I'll end up, but I think I'd be happy there. I have Iowa and Northwestern next week, and Irvine/Dartmouth/Yale right after that. I'm really looking forward to these next few. It'll be a busy next few weeks, but hope that it all works out. --09/29/06.

Northwestern was amazing. It's definitely my number one as of now. I have Yale and Dartmouth this week, I'm hoping for the best because they're incredible schools. Waiting is going to stink, but I'm hoping hard for at least an acceptance at Northwestern. Also, got an invite to UCSF, which is exciting (scheduled for 10/31/06). --10/11/06.

The path has been grueling doing the flights, but by and large, I'm enjoying seeing all these places. Got an invite to Oregon Health and Science, but for the most part I'm done after October with interviews. --10/17/06.

So far, acceptances from Wake Forest and UC-Irvine. I'm glad that I'll have options come decision time. Went to UC-Davis and UCSF to finish up interviews, and enjoyed both places. I've really liked all the places I've gone to, and I hope they make me make the difficult choice between them all. For now, more waiting. --11/14/06.

Got acceptance to Northwestern yesterday. I absolutely loved the school and Chicago. I can't wait to revisit for 2nd look. I am incredibly happy about this acceptance. Sigh of happiness/relief. --11/21/06.

Got the letter of acceptance to Northwestern. : D. Waitlisted at Pitt, which is cool because I liked it less than NU. --11/24/06.

Waitlisted at Johns Hopkins. Better than rejection, that's how I'm looking at it. Still waiting on the UC's and Yale, it's between them and Northwestern now. --12/27/06.

Accepted to UCSF! Very excited and relieved that I've gained acceptance to such a great school. I'll wait to hear from Yale and check finances, but it's all gravy now. --01/25/07.

Invited to interview at Harvard. Definitely looking forward to the experience. --01/29/07.

Harvard was great. I really loved the school and area, as well as the students/faculty. I'm anxious to hear from them and Yale. But, I'm happy with whatever happens from here. If they decline me, UCSF for sure, if they accept, then it's a tough decision. But this is more than I ever could have asked for from the beginning. --02/21/07.

Waitlisted at Yale, rejected at Harvard. I sent back the form to stay on Yale's waitlist; I'll see where I stand on the list at least. If I'm low, I'll just withdraw and be set on UCSF. If I'm high, I'll see what happens and decide from there. : D. --03/28/07.

I'm set on UCSF. Definitely excited about starting there: really enjoy the school, city, and people. My name is still on Yale's waitlist, but just because I'm curious. --05/29/07.