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MD Applicants

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  • User #7159

  • Application cycles: 2007
  • Demographics: Female, East Asian
  • Home state: California
  • Brief Profile: --Head woodwind instructor for award-winning marching band
    --Teaching assistant for Introduction to Psychology and Core Biology Labs
    --Coordinator for Core Biology Labs (I train all the TAs, in addition to being a TA)
    --Developmental psychology, neurosurgery research (no publications, 4 posters)
    --4 grants for neurosurgery research
    --Volunteer experience: free community health clinic, science experiments with kids, organ donation awareness, dementia patients at VA, guide at children's science museum, tutor for underprivileged kids
    --Stanford Premedical Association - put on events to help inform premeds
    --Leadership in some of the above clubs
    --Shadowed thoracic surgeon: 2 quarters
    --Academic advisor on dorm staff
    --Dorm residence assistant
    --Full merit-based scholarship (tuition, room, board) for undergraduate and medical education in California

    Interested in hands-on aspect of surgery, working with children, and education.
  • // Applications //

    Application Cycle One: 2007

    • Undergraduate college: Stanford University
    • Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
    • Institution: University of California, Irvine
    • Area of Study: Other
    • Total MCAT SCORE: 516
    • MCAT Section Scores: B/B 129, C/P 130, CARS 127  
    • Overall GPA: 3.75
    • Science GPA: 3.74

    Summary of Application Experience

    Abbreviations: sg=secondary granted, ss=secondary submitted, c=complete, io=interview offered, is=interview scheduled, r=rejected, a=accepted, wl=waitlisted, wd=withdrew

    7/30/08: I decided that Stanford and UCSF aren't worth the wait anymore; I really wanted the peace of mind of knowing where I'm going so that I can get housing and get excited about the place. So I decided to withdraw, and I'm officially going to UCSD! I'm very happy with my decision. In addition to being at a great program in a beautiful area, I'll be near my family and boyfriend.

    6/6/08: Davis is really disorganized; I got a waitlist email from them even though I withdrew a month ago. I have heard of several other cases of this type of thing... Thought I'd post it here just so you all know.

    5/9/08: Even though I liked the curriculum and friendly, helpful atmosphere at UC Davis, I decided to withdraw because there doesn't seem to be much research support.

    4/24/08: Alternate list at UCSF. The letter was very nice... we'll see what happens, I guess. I'm going to remain on both my waitlists because I would choose either over UCSD, but it's hard to not know where I'll be in the fall.

    4/3/08: Waitlisted at Stanford. I'm really sad about this - it's my first choice, and I had sent them a letter of intent. At least I have a solid option in UCSD... I'm really hoping to be at Stanford or UCSF, though. I also enjoyed my visit to Davis a lot, so that's something else to think about.

    3/19/08: Interview invite at UC Davis! I'm really excited for the opportunity to learn about the school.

    3/17/08: High priority list at UCSF. It could definitely be worse, but I wish I could have an outright acceptance! Oh well. I guess I should be hearing back from both UCSF and Stanford around the same time, which is a bit unfortunate - I wish I had more time between the two so I could write a LOI if appropriate.

    3/5/08: Rejected by USC. At least it's not one of my first choices, but it still hurts to lose an option and to feel the rejection. My confidence is not so high right now. I've got UCSD no matter what though, and I did like the school.

    2/20/08: I'm going to be a doctor!!! I got into UCSD today. This is really great, especially considering my two rejections. So much of the stress is gone!

    2/19/08: After 5 months, I finally received a post-secondary rejection from UCI. Argh. I had called last week and was told that there was some complication with my application (i.e. it had been accidentally overlooked, perhaps?), and that it would go to review immediately. I am thinking about calling to ask about weaknesses in my app and to possibly appeal the decision. Honestly, it's not one of my top choices, but the main thing is that I want to get in somewhere. I'm worried that the interviews I've received are from extremely competitive schools and I might not get in...

    2/5/08: Good news and bad news... The good: I absolutely loved UCSF and would be thrilled to have an acceptance there. The bad: I got my first rejection - from UCLA. Oh well. I'm very glad to have interviews from my top two schools, so I hope things will work out.

    2/2/08: I just got an interview invite for Stanford - MY FIRST CHOICE! As with UCSF, I thought I would be rejected... I am so excited!

    1/31/08: I interviewed at UCSD and liked it! I think it went pretty well. I should hear back in about 3 weeks. I am still hoping for more interview offers...

    12/27/07: OH MY GOODNESS - I just got an invite at UCSF! I really hadn't been expecting it since I haven't been doing very well with invites. I was actually expecting a rejection from here, but I'm super excited about this!

    12/12/07: Complete at UCSF :) Complete everywhere now, so I hope I hear some more interview news soon!

    12/11/07: UCSF is backed up, and I probably won't be complete for another 2 or 3 weeks :( I talked to UCI and UCLA last week, and they said my file was out of the office for review, so I should receive an interview decision soon.

    11/26/07: I FINALLY GOT AN INTERVIEW INVITE! My first invitation is from UCSD! I'm extremely excited :)

    10/9/07: Wow! I'm so excited that I just got the UCSF secondary! I had pretty much given up hope. I hope to send that out today, and I also need to do Davis ASAP - it's due in 2 days.

    9/6/07: All 5 secondaries submitted! I admit that I was in a rush to get them out, so I'm not in love with what I wrote... Oh well. I'm satisfied. I really hope I hear from UCSF and UCD with good news eventually.

    8/30/07: I submitted my first secondary to USC! I wanted to submit everything within 2 weeks of receiving the secondary, but I had a math final exam and a 5-day vacation that put me behind. It should be okay.

    8/16/07: UCLA has received my AMCAS. I got my first screened secondary from UCSD!

    8/13/07: I've received word that 4 of my schools (UCD, UCSD, UCSF, and USC) have received my AMCAS. USC also sent me their secondary - my first one! They don't screen, but it feels great to be moving on to the next stage.

    8/6/07: AMCAS verified! I haven't added any more schools to my list yet. I also got an email from UC Davis saying they received my AMCAS and may send out a secondary after screening.

    7/18/07: AMCAS submitted to the 7 California schools (not including Loma Linda). As I said previously, I don't think I would be happy in any other state due to family connections. Hope this goes well!

    7/10/07: I'm just about ready to send in my AMCAS, but I'm waiting on 2 things: my transcripts and my personal statement. I had no idea that processing of transcripts would take so long; since they're not done yet, there's no point in submitting my AMCAS. Also, I'm almost happy with my personal statement, but I'm struggling to include more information... this is difficult. I've decided that I'm going to focus my application on the CA medical schools and apply to only a few out-of-state, if any. I've realized that I wouldn't be happy away from home for another 4 years, so I am prepared to reapply if it comes to that.

    5/9/07: My MCAT score came in today: 34T. I met my minimum 'OK' score of 33, but I'm somewhat disappointed because I had scored 35 consistently on my practice tests. I kicked butt on the writing sample, which I hear doesn't matter much, but maybe that will help make up for my 10 in VR :(

    4/8/07: I took the real MCAT yesterday... ugh. I just want to know how I did. My last 3 practice tests were all 35, and if I achieved that, I'll be happy. Better would be nice, though. I am going to be so antsy for one month.

    3/25/07: I took another practice MCAT today. This one was actually from AAMC and not Princeton Review. I got a 35 again (12PS, 11VR, 12BS) which brings my best combined score to 37. I'm definitely aiming for at least 35 on the real MCAT, which is in under 2 weeks; I feel pretty confident about it. I feel that I still have a lot to study in bio and physics.

    3/3/07: I've done 2 more practice MCATs (just finished one a few minutes ago) and I received a 35 - yay! My highest combined score is now a 36T. I feel confident that I can do this well if not better on the real MCAT, especially considering how much I didn't remember in the bio section. I still haven't started my personal statement, which I know is awful, but I'm so busy with other schoolwork and ECs.

    12/2/06: It's early in the game for me; I'm taking the MCAT this April and will be applying in the summer. My first practice MCAT was a 28L: awful! Getting very nervous and stressed! My dream school is UCLA, but I find myself wondering if I'm good enough to get in. No matter what happens, I hope to stay in California, close to my family and significant other.

    Application Complete, Rejected

    University of California, Irvine
    University of Southern California
    University of California, Los Angeles

    Attended Interview, Withdrew

    University of California, Davis

    Attended Interview, Waitlisted, Withdrew

    Stanford University
    University of California, San Francisco

    Accepted

    University of California, San Diego

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