Application Cycle One: 2007

• Undergraduate college: American University
• Undergraduate Area of study: Computing and Information Science

• Institution: Post Baccaleureate Pre-Med
• Area of Study: Premedical Studies
• Institution: M.S. Integrative Genomics in progress
• Area of Study: Biological/Life Sciences

• Total MCAT SCORE: 516
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 130, C/P 128, CARS 127   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.76
• Science GPA: 3.92

Summary of Application Experience

08/25/06
Withdrew my AMCAS before verification. I've been given the opportunity to get an M.S. in Genomics (and get a salary!!!) over the next two years. So I'll be going through this process next summer. In the meantime I'll be able to do some serious research in behavioral genetics.

06/24/07
Submitted my app a few weeks ago. There was a problem with a transcript (was missing) so I'm still in line for verification. Have already compiled the secondary questions from past years (studentdoctor.net) and have them nearly completed. Hope there isn't a stall on my LORs!

07/22/2007
Had everything in EARLY, but AMCAS was confused by one of my transcripts. I was just verified Friday (20th) ugh! But I've already submitted 3 secondaries, have CCLCM to finish today, and hopefully will pick up the rest of the slack next week. My LORs are ready to go except for two of my professors who have them written but are having difficulty submitting them. They're going to call Interfolio tomorrow morning and get it straightened out. I'm surprisingly unstressed, though.

07/23/07
Sent off LORs to all schools except Colorado (may decide against secondary), Mayo, UCSF, and Duke. I decided not to bother with the secondary from Duke (if I even get one). They require Calc II, which I've not had. Since their adcom doesn't make any decisions until March, I might be taking the 5 credit class for nothing--time consuming and expensive. Duke isn't in my top three, so no worries.

07/26/2007
I started to get nervous and added a few more schools that are either close to home or are known for geriatrics. I'm pretty stressed right now trying to finish my graduate Biochem class (the entire book in 10 weeks--I'll definitely be ready for the intensity of med school), optimize my genotyping methods for my thesis research, and filling out secondaries. Oh, and trying to squeeze in training time for the 180 mile AIDS Trek in Sept. I don't think it ever ends...

08/20/2007
I am, of course, freaking out. I could be hearing from most of my schools anyday now. Every time I check my email, my heart skips a beat. Now I think I know what it feels like to be a death row prisoner just days before execution, waiting for the Governor to call... okay, so that's a little overstated. But I do keep having nightmares that I'm passed over for the Mayo secondary!

08/24/2007
Got the Mayo secondary yesterday!!!!! And turned it in this morning. Getting a little anxious because lately when I open my email I hear crickets.

08/31/2007
Vanderbilt invite was unexpected! Still crickets in my e-mailbox, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

09/16/2007
Interviewed at USD on Friday. It went extremely well, but there was a mix-up about which program I'm applying to. So I have to go back 10/18 to interview with the MD/PhD committee. Oh well, I got my feet wet, had a good experience, and they are covering my travel expenses for the second trip. Everyone is so nice there. Mayo interview invite today!!!! I'm still in shock and so happy I can't breathe. I feel lucky that I'm excited about every interview I've scheduled and haven't been rejected by any schools I care about. Of course, I'm not taking anything for granted. A rejection after an interview utlimately is the same as a rejection before an interview.

10/19/2007
DONE WITH MY INTERVIEWS!!! Unless Yale calls. (But I don't really want to go there. I just want to scope it out for a possible residency.) Hopefully I will hear something soon from my interview schools...

10/23/2007
Maybe not done interviewing. Rescheduled the Iowa interview. I will pop in on my way back from a conference. Not sure how I'm going to get home driving alone, though. That was part of the issue in the first place--my complete inability to stay awake behind the wheel for more than 6 hours.

10/24/2007
ACCEPTED!!! University of Rochester. Loved the school. Hate to say that it isn't my first choice, but, hey, now my worst case scenario is still pretty frickin incredible! And their geriatrics program is completely amazing--I am sooooooo grateful! I know that I would be happy there.

11/18/2007
Haven't been very good with updates (SO BUSY!) Am very excited about all my acceptances. In particular Pitt. I really want to do research in neuroscience/genetics and am leaning toward geriatrics psych. So the school looks like a perfect fit for me on paper (my idol has a lab there, geriatrics track, option to transfer into MD/PhD, a relative lives there...) but I still get a strange feeling from the place. I don't like that it is so big, and although I truly like Pittsburgh, I don't know that I want to live in a city again. If there isn't an official second look weekend, I'm going to make another trip out there anyway to really sink my teeth in. Also am still considering USD. Probably not Rochester. I may keep the acceptance to be more competitive with financial aid, but we'll see.