Application Cycle One: 2008

• Undergraduate college: Santa Clara University
• Undergraduate Area of study: Fine Arts/Architecture

• Institution: Mills College
• Area of Study: Premedical Studies
• Degree Obtained: PostBac

• Total MCAT SCORE: 522
• MCAT Section Scores: B/B 130, C/P 130, CARS 132   Detailed Breakdown
• Overall GPA: 3.49
• Science GPA: 3.45

Summary of Application Experience

3/10/09

Dean Jones from Loyola called me yesterday to congratulate (and notify) me of my acceptance to Loyola! He caught me completely by surprise--I had thought pretty much all the seats were filled. I don't think I've ever been as nervous as I was between the time I understood who the call was from and the time he informed me of my acceptance.

I'm a reapplicant, and when I applied to Loyola last year I made the bold (or according to some, 'stupid') decision to apply only to Loyola. I was so excited about their program and after all my medical school research, chatting with students, researchers, etc., I felt Loyola was the best place for me to build the foundation for my medical career. I reasoned that if I'll practice medicine for a few decades, why should I hurry to get into medical school ASAP, if one can better lay that foundation than another? I reasoned if I didn't get into Loyola last year, which I didn't, then I could try again this year.

Of course I applied to a few other programs since you're limited to applying to Loyola twice, and if I wasn't going to get into Loyola then I still wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor! I felt Loyola would be the best fit for me, but I knew I could still become a great doctor at another school.

So here I am, two years after having began my pursuit of Loyola, and four years after my switch from architecture to medicine. It's been a wonderful journey, and while I dreamed of this outcome, it's different when it comes true.

I hope everyone's dream come true as well :)


2/27/09

I really enjoyed interviewing at both Loyola and UCLA. Both programs were amazing and I would be incredibly happy at either program.

I'm waiting to hear back from both programs, though with my interviews taking place a bit later in the interviewing period, it's possible that waitlist spots are all that are currently available. I guess we'll see--I would sure love to have an acceptance soon!

If I have to apply again (this is my second year applying) then I'll be happy to do so. Wherever life takes me, I'm sure it'll be wonderful!