9/2/06- So I almost did not make this page because I have very low MCAT scores, but great experiences and so-so GPA with a wonderful upward trend. I enjoyed reading all of the under dog stories, so I thought that if I get in this will really be a way to encourage others in my position. My MCAT scores were low because the day of the MCAT at around 5am I got a call about my best friends (like my sister for the last 14 years) 20 year old brother being killed in a car accident, so hopefully my Aug scores will be much better. I averaged about 20-22 on practice MCATs and I studied with Kaplan. I applied to 17 schools out of state, and 7 schools in state(TX). I turned in my TMDSAS on 05/26/06 and AACOMAS on 6/20/06. I got all 6 of my letters of rec by April 2006. I have 2 DO letters, one of them was from the DO I worked for, 1 from my Spanish teacher, 1 from my biol teacher, and 1 from my chem teacher, and 1 from the volunteer coordinator at the hospital I volunteered with. I was complete with both services in early July. My pre health committee also wrote me a LOR and sent all of my LOR's the beginning of August. So far I have completed secondarys for TCOM, NSUCOM, PCOM, CCOM, PCSOM, KCOM, PCOM-GA, AZCOM, UMDNJ-SOM, and KCUMB-COM. I have been rejected, but told that they will relook at my application when I get my Aug 06 MCAT scores back, from TUCOM-NV, TUCOM-CA, VCOM, and COMP of the pacific. I have not received any interviews which has really been nerve racking. I really want to become a DO, but since there is only one osteopathic school in Texas I also applied to the MD schools in TX. My first choice is unthsc-TCOM because I live close and also I am in undergrad at UNT. I really like the friendly atmosphere, and it will be closer to my family.
9/11/06
Well, I have not heard anything yet. I know that it is still pretty early in the game, and schools are probably looking at the highest stats to interview right now just to snatch them up first. I am waiting, not so patiently, for my Aug MCAT scores to come out. Why must they torture us so much. I was surprised when I went to take the test that there were much much less people taking the Aug test than the April test. I thought it would be opposite because people would have more time to study during the summer. I am pretty sure that I will not receive anything from UT Southwestern, there stats are incredible. As for the other MD schools in Texas, I am sure that my GPA alone is too low for them. I have been checking my mail (both email and snailmail) like 50 times a day. Since that influx of secondarys I got in July, I have really received nothing.
9/14/06
So I just found out that a new osteopathic school has opened in TN. I of course applied, especially since there is no secondary fee this year. It cost $50 which sucks since I have probably paid over $2000 just in fees, and I will probably pay alot for travel if I get an interview. I just think that I really dont want to do this again next year so the more schools the better my chances for this year will be. I had this weird dream last night, I saw a list of names and MCAT scores so I started looking for my name and I found my first name and next to it was a 25, then I looked further down the list and found my full name and there was a 21, but then I got a phone call and someone said I actually got a 15. I was so upset because I didnt think I could do any worse than I already did before. I have come to the realization that I may not get in this year, which really sucks because I have put everything I have into school and work and volunteering. I made a commitment to myself when I changed my major to see everything through to the end because I am not a quitter. I work with alot of premeds that have applied 2-5 times without an acceptance and they have way way better stats. Most of them have given up on applying again. I just cant do that, I dont care what I have to do or where I have to live, I really want to be a physician. I really dont want the system of applying and waiting to break down my confidence. I am a very confident person, I know I can handle alot, and I will not let an MCAT score determine my life for me.
9/26/06
So I am an idiot! I did not realize that just because a school does not show any interest in you, you should still send in all of your letters of recommendation. I guess since I applied through the Texas application service that actually does that for you, I didnt really think about doing this. So the last week has been a phone tag game. I have called ALL of the out of state schools I applied to and found out which ones 'misplaced' my letters of recommendation that my schools advisor sent out. Yeah some of these schools I have sent out 2 sets of letters of recommendation, and they still have not received anything. It is so frustrating, I almost want to travel to their school and hand them the letters. I am now complete for sure at TCOM, AZCOM, CCOM, NOVA, and DeBusk COM. So only 4 out of state schools have my stuff. All of the Texas schools have my stuff also, but most of them do not have secondaries. I have to say that the new osteopathic school DeBusk is really organized. They got everything quickly and even let me fax my secondary. Only 2 days after I listed them as another school designated on my AACOMAS they had already sent me an email saying they received it and sent me a secondary, and they got my LOR's in like 3 days. Everytime I call they are so nice, and they are really trying to get the ball rolling on their new class. I really hope I get in there. I actually think I have a better chance with them since they have nothing to really compare their applicants to. I am still patiently waiting for the MCAT to come out, which gives me nightmares pretty much every night. I have a bad bad feeling in the pit of my stomach everytime I think about it. On the up side, my grades this semester have really improved. I got 98's on my Ecology and Cell Biology tests this week. This may not seem significant to those of you that make all A's and maybe a B here and there, but for someone working full time and going to school this is incredible. Also I am known to be a 'B' student, which means most of my grades are B's and I have quite a few C's from my business classes. So I couldnt be happier right now about that. I figured if I make all A's this semester I will have a 3.05 science and overall GPA. Now that I look at it, it kinda sux. At least it will look good that I have a 4.0 GPA semester. Right?!?
10-13-06
Holy Crap!!! MCAT scores are out. I went from a 16P(V6 P5 B5) to a 19M. It is not much of an improvment, but at least its somewhat acceptable. I had never ever heard of anyone getting in with a 16, but I have heard of some people getting in with a 19. My writing score went down, that kind of sucks. I did not really practice writing for this test. I figured I did pretty good the first time, and most schools look at the best scores. My breakdown was kind of disappointing. I made no improvement in biological sciences. Overall, I am happy with the outcome. I will probably take the test again in 2007 if I don't get an interview by January.
10-23-06
I have finished calling all of the schools about my status, I am pretty much complete at all of them, I have now been rejected from TUCOM-NV, TUCOM-CA, NSUCOM (pending MCAT), OSUCOM, COMP, and DMUCOM. That sucks! Well, I guess I still have a lot of schools left to give me a chance. Now I know why everyone says apply to as many schools as you can. I am complete at a lot of schools too. So far complete at: TCOM, KCOM, AZCOM, CCOM, K-CUMB, NYCOM, PCOM-GA, PCOM, PCSOM, LMU-COM, VCOM,WVSOM,and UMDNJ. I am going crazy waiting for some sort of sign from anyone. I wait all day for the mail to come, but usually I get nothing. I wish the schools would just send me anything, if they want to reject me I would like to know so I will not be wondering what my status is. A few of those places that rejected me didn't even send me anything, I had to call and find out over the phone. I paid so much money for their secondary applications and they don't even send a darn postcard! How Rude!
10-30-06
Another one bites the dust! CCOM sent me a rejection letter... I also called a bunch of the schools I have left to ask what my status was and if they got my new MCAT scores today. The lady I talked to at WVSOM's admissions office told me that they were going to look at my file today, but then she told me that they look for better stats in an applicant and that I probably will not be asked for an interview because the person that chooses the new class has alot of candidates this year with above average stats. That was a wake up call for me, It really makes me realize what the admissions people think of me. I have decided for sure that I am retaking the MCAT, but not in January. I want to kick ass on it and I only have one more chance to take the MCAT so I will probably take it in April 2007.
11-7-06
I just recieved a rejection letter from AZCOM. Only 11 more DO schools left! I am getting scared that I will be rejected to many more schools soon, but all I need is just one interview. I am currently studying for the GRE for my back up Master's Degree in Microbiology plan. I probably should take the MCAT in January but I am scared to be one of the first to take this new format. I am working alot lately so I will not have time to properly study for the January one.
11-30-06
I called Kirksville a few days ago asking for my status and was told that I have been rejected. That hurts. So my total is now 9 out of state DO rejections. I have not been recieving any mail from any of the schools for the last few weeks so hopefully the rejections are slowing down. I am still complete at VCOM (status on hold for Fall grades), PCOM-GA, PCOM, KCUMB, NYCOM (told that they are not going to look at out of state applicants until January), PCSOM, UMDNJ, WVSOM (already reviewed, put on hold until further notice which I hear means that eventually I will be rejected), LMU-DCOM, and TCOM. I guess you must be rejected in order to narrow it down to an acceptance. Its kind of like that game 'Deal or No Deal' where you eliminate all of the money to get to what you really want. hmmm.
12-18-06
Nothing new really. I got a rejection from UTMB in Galveston, but that is not a really big suprise. I am just preparing for taking the GRE right now. I have to take it in January to get the score for graduate school and the premedical program I am applying to. I finally applied to the premedical program, I just have to send in all of my transcripts and scores. I really hope I get into the MS in Medical Science program at the UNT Health Science Center.
1-23-07
Wow I have been slacking! So I took the GRE, I got an 1100. That is not too bad I guess. Probably around average. I am complete at both masters programs I applied to. One is the Microbiology and Immunology 2 year program, and the other one is the Premedical Science 1 year program. Both are at the UNT health science center (home to TCOM). I am so excited! They are so nice there. I went through alot of trouble trying to get two letters of recommendation specific for the graduate programs and they let me use my medical school letters that they already had for my TCOM application. Everyone there has always been very nice to me. I have visited the campus so many times because it is only 30 min away from my house and everytime I go I just feel like it is where I belong. Hopefully I can prove to them through doing post bac that I deserve to be there. I got a rejection letter from TCOM for this cycle unfortunatly. At least they sent me one, almost none of the Texas schools have sent me anything. I can't believe this is my last semester of undergrad. It has been almost 6 years since I started college and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Im not the party girl type so I do not have any fun party or clubbing stories, but I still feel like my college experience has been great. It was so weird paying tuition to my school for the last time and buying undergrad books for the last time. I can't wait to cross the stage and hang my diploma up.
