I just thought I'd write a little something to summarize the whole process. At this time a year ago I didn't think I'd get into any school because of what I thought my MCAT would turn out to be. Well, the MCAT turned out better than I thought, and now I'm about to matriculate to UVa for the second time! My application process is very similar to the infamous #6325, who definitely inspired me to approach my fate at UVa the way I did.
I wrote my first letter of intent back in October. Yeah, super early. But with schools that are willing to look at letters you send them, there's no reason why you shouldn't let them know early that their school is where you want to be. I wrote my next letter of intent in February, about two weeks before I got my interview invite for the second to last day of the interview season. I ended up getting very sick at 3am the morning of my interview (first time since 3rd grade), and was told that maybe it just wasn't meant to be when I called to explain my situation. I pretty much begged to see what could be done, and I ended up interviewing the next day, but not touring (like I really cared at that point! I just wanted a chance!). Sent another letter of intent immediately after the interview, but ended up on the waitlist the next week. Sent my fourth and final letter of intent right around May 15th.
I was told on June 2nd that the waitlist had not moved, and that the class was still overbooked by 7. Somehow, 10 days later, they reached the waitlist and they liked me enough to offer me a spot in the class. Sorry to have rambled for so long. Two aspects of my application got me to where I am now: persistence and an army of physicians and professors at UVa that did absolutely everything possible to get me back to UVa. So for everybody who feels like they are a long shot at their dream school, keep those two things in mind, and maybe you'll get as lucky as me.
6/13/09 - Received the best phone call of my life yesterday! I'm going to UVa!!!!! I pretty much gave up all hope when I found out last week that they were still overbooked by 7. I can't believe I get to go back to Charlottesville for four more years! Double Hoo!
5/13/09 - Whooo! Had my best semester ever for my final semester while still taking a ridiculous course load (thanks a lot e-school). Hopefully that helps me out in my bid to UVa.
4/27/09 - Still waiting on UVa. I've sent three LO(Intents) since the fall. The fourth is coming once I receive my final transcript. I feel very good about my chances. Hopefully I'm right.
3/11/09 - Waitlisted at UVA. I'm crushed. The waiting game begins.
2/9/09 - FINALLY an interview from UVA! I've waited so long, and can't believe it actually happened.
1/6/09 - Interview from Jefferson and mass withdrawals. Only schools I have left are ones I really would love to go to.
12/18/08 - I guess UVM met earlier than they said they would. Waitlist. Oh well.
12/18/08 - Oh, it's been awhile since I wrote anything. Not many updates. Some rejections - including Cornell, my reach #1. Didn't really bother me though. You can read about my VCU interview here: http://more.studentdoctor.net/viewinterview.php?interview=27619.
11/9/08 - Read about my UVM interview here: http://more.studentdoctor.net/viewinterview.php?interview=26786. Really great school and I would highly recommend applying there.
10/17/08 - Interview at VCU! I honestly can't believe this one. At the end of August I received the sub-committee status update. I sent a letter of interest within the next few days and had my status changed to the 'may' message the same day. Two months later I have an interview! So exciting!
9/29/08 - Interview at Vermont! Didn't really expect this one, but I am definitely excited!
9/27/08 - The interview at Tulane was FANTASTIC! Read about it here: http://more.studentdoctor.net/viewinterview.php?interview=25899
9/23/08 - ACCEPTED!!!!!!!! I can't believe I've been accepted this soon. Such a huge load off my back. I loved EVMS and it is also the cheapest school I applied to when taking into account tuition and cost of living. Once I get back from Tulane I'll start looking at which schools I'll be withdrawing from.
9/11/08 - Two rejections in two days! Case was expected. I'm a little surprised about being rejected from Georgetown so early, but I'm almost positive it's because of my 'lack' of significant clinical experience. In all honesty though, rejections don't hurt that much when you've already interviewed, you feel really good about your chances there, and you have more interviews to go to. Now if I get rejected from one of my top 4, then maybe I'll change my tune. But for now I'm just happy to be rejected in September as opposed to waiting months just to find out the same thing.
9/5/08 - Finally getting around to writing about my EVMS interview. All I can say is that I was extremely impressed with everything about the school. You can see my feedback here: http://more.studentdoctor.net/viewinterview.php?interview=25626. I tried to write everything I could, but if there's anything else, just ask.
8/19/08 - Tulane interview!!!!!!! I can't believe it! If Tulane were closer to where I live, the school would undoubtedly be a top 5 choice. Still, it's a very attractive destination for me. Tulane is a school with strong ties to the community (Service Learning Program), and is located in as urban of an atmosphere as you can find. I can't wait to interview there!
8/18/08 - I'm finally done. Will mail my Loyola secondary tomorrow. Now it's just a waiting game.
8/14/08 - First interview!!!!!!! EVMS and I really like the Norfolk area, so I'm pretty excited. I was starting to get worried, even though I probably haven't even been reviewed at most schools because of my later MCAT. I'm sort of basing that on having no VCU status message other than that I'm complete.
7/23/08 - Whoo! Just four more secondaries to go! I'll finish Rosalind Franklin and have it mailed by Saturday. Then I just have to wait for Loyola, Drexel, and Rush to send their's out. I'm getting really anxious as word should be getting out about interviews within 2-3 weeks.
7/14/08 - My MCAT is in and I've never been happier in my life! I seriously thought I would wind up with a 25 or worse, it was that bad. PS was horrific (I marked >75% of the questions) and somehow I still got a 9 on it. I'm surprised at the M for the WS, but I'm not worried about it since a)most adcoms don't care about the WS, b)I have A's in all my writing courses, c)I think I wrote a great PS. So I can attest that it really is true that you're going to score your average on the real deal.
7/9/08 - Haven't written anything in awhile. I've been rolling through secondaries as you can see. They are honestly not that difficult if you know why you applied to the schools you did. Maryland's is probably the most annoying yet with multiple essays to do. But none of them are that hard, and it's nice to be able to let schools know more about you and your motivations. I have a pretty consistent theme of my essays which I also think makes it easier for me.
6/18/08 - Application verified. AMCAS didn't make a single change to my designations for BCPM, so my BCPM came out higher than I thought it would have been. I was actually afraid it could have been as low as a 3.48, but thankfully it's a 3.62. Everything would be perfect right now if I thought I had done well on the MCAT.
6/11/08 - Transcript marked as received and my application is ready to be reviewed. Just one more LOR and AMCAS will have everything (except my MCAT of course).
6/4/08 - Submitted my application! Still waiting on my transcript to arrive, but the Registrar says it was sent out yesterday. It's too bad I still have to take the MCAT, because I'm really anxious to begin secondaries.
5/15/08 - Finally got all my grades in for this semester. So I finish my first three years with a 3.65 overall, and what I think should be a 3.58 BCPM. It will be interesting to see what AMCAS actually gives me since a lot of my science classes are engineering classes. I have a feeling that it will end up lower.
We help students become doctors. TM
