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- Dec 10, 2010
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I have been applying to medical school for the past 3 years.
This is my story.
Three years ago I submitted my first application and thought that this would be a piece of cake. All of my friends told me that I would get in for sure. I had a genius like reputation(not that I am), and people would joke to me about how I would end up at Harvard Medical School. Part of me began to believe it too ( although I knew I was nowhere near a top tier material). I was aiming for a mid tier school, but figured I would settle for a bottom tier school as well. With a 3.7c/sgpa, 31 MCAT, and strong ECS I thought I was set.
How foolish I was.....
I was high on the number of secondaries I was receiving that July. I figured I was really popular ( Only to realize later that secondaries are typically given just on numerical screens). I turned in 30 secondaries by August with anticipation and excitement. September came with silence. Felt numb by November. Disappointed by December. I had already graduated in August, and planned to sit on my butt and enjoy the rest of my year before medical school. I spent 4 months partying, and telling girls I was going to medical school. I went home happy on many nights, but ironically I ended up screwing myself. With my lifestyle I had nothing to add to my application.
For the New Year, I knew I would be reapplying. Sure enough I am rejected from all medical schools by May, even the low tier schools that I thought I was too good for. Rather than looking for a job, I overloaded on community service and clinical experience. I also retook the mcat for a 33. I wanted to jam pack everything for the next application cycle. At this point, the thought of taking another year off from medical school scared the hell out of me.
What a humbling year. Yet, I told myself that next cycle I would make it no matter what. Life became painful to bear knowing that I was a medical school reject. I hated telling people I did not get in this year. Humbling.
With a somewhat new application ( For the rest of the year, I spent 30 hrs/week+ on ECS, and a higher MCAT), I thought I would get in for sure on my second attempt. I applied to 35+ schools and turned in all my secondaries in July. I get my first interview in August, then another in September. I thought I must have done something right. Medical school seemed so close now. I nailed my interviews, but am left in silence for the coming months. I was as hopeful as I was last year after receiving all of those secondaries. By February I had racked up 6 interviews! I began to grossly fantasize about all of these medical schools wanting me and having to choose between them. I also made sure to tell other people I had 6 medical school interviews. Turns out I would get rejected by 2 post interview, and waitlisted by 4. Up until June I was still hopeful for an acceptance. No way I could not get in with 6 interviews I thought.
It happened. I failed to get in with 6 interviews.
All this time I am unemployed borrowing thousands of dollars from my parents.
The past two cycles made me feel like a loser. On top of that I had no job. I was not working. I went from having such a good reputation in college as the "smart one" to being a failure. I lived with my parents, had no job, and no medical school.
I broke down. What was I doing with my life?
It was June 2011, and I wasn't sure if I should turn in my primary application. I had continued my intense EC schedule but still had no employment. I owed my parents a lot of money, and was scared to borrow more. Around that time I was fortunate to find a full time job. I had lost all self confidence in my application and ultimately in myself. Yet, for some reason I applied. I decided to go for a third time. Maybe I was crazy. Maybe I was in denial. All I knew was that I wanted to be a doctor despite everything that told me I shouldn't.
I mustered up all my energy to push forward.I manage to submit my secondaries by the end of July. August and September roll by with silence... FML. Why did I apply again?
October rolls around with an interview invite, then magically I receive 4 interviews by November. Mid December I hear back from the school I interviewed at in November: Rejected. What a way to start the interview season.. I thought there was something wrong with my application at that point. I finish all of my interviews by January, and waited in silence.
Until today....
I FU#$%ING MADE IT. AFTER THREE LONG YEARS. ACCEPTED C/O 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
This is my story.
Three years ago I submitted my first application and thought that this would be a piece of cake. All of my friends told me that I would get in for sure. I had a genius like reputation(not that I am), and people would joke to me about how I would end up at Harvard Medical School. Part of me began to believe it too ( although I knew I was nowhere near a top tier material). I was aiming for a mid tier school, but figured I would settle for a bottom tier school as well. With a 3.7c/sgpa, 31 MCAT, and strong ECS I thought I was set.
How foolish I was.....
I was high on the number of secondaries I was receiving that July. I figured I was really popular ( Only to realize later that secondaries are typically given just on numerical screens). I turned in 30 secondaries by August with anticipation and excitement. September came with silence. Felt numb by November. Disappointed by December. I had already graduated in August, and planned to sit on my butt and enjoy the rest of my year before medical school. I spent 4 months partying, and telling girls I was going to medical school. I went home happy on many nights, but ironically I ended up screwing myself. With my lifestyle I had nothing to add to my application.
For the New Year, I knew I would be reapplying. Sure enough I am rejected from all medical schools by May, even the low tier schools that I thought I was too good for. Rather than looking for a job, I overloaded on community service and clinical experience. I also retook the mcat for a 33. I wanted to jam pack everything for the next application cycle. At this point, the thought of taking another year off from medical school scared the hell out of me.
What a humbling year. Yet, I told myself that next cycle I would make it no matter what. Life became painful to bear knowing that I was a medical school reject. I hated telling people I did not get in this year. Humbling.
With a somewhat new application ( For the rest of the year, I spent 30 hrs/week+ on ECS, and a higher MCAT), I thought I would get in for sure on my second attempt. I applied to 35+ schools and turned in all my secondaries in July. I get my first interview in August, then another in September. I thought I must have done something right. Medical school seemed so close now. I nailed my interviews, but am left in silence for the coming months. I was as hopeful as I was last year after receiving all of those secondaries. By February I had racked up 6 interviews! I began to grossly fantasize about all of these medical schools wanting me and having to choose between them. I also made sure to tell other people I had 6 medical school interviews. Turns out I would get rejected by 2 post interview, and waitlisted by 4. Up until June I was still hopeful for an acceptance. No way I could not get in with 6 interviews I thought.
It happened. I failed to get in with 6 interviews.
All this time I am unemployed borrowing thousands of dollars from my parents.
The past two cycles made me feel like a loser. On top of that I had no job. I was not working. I went from having such a good reputation in college as the "smart one" to being a failure. I lived with my parents, had no job, and no medical school.
I broke down. What was I doing with my life?
It was June 2011, and I wasn't sure if I should turn in my primary application. I had continued my intense EC schedule but still had no employment. I owed my parents a lot of money, and was scared to borrow more. Around that time I was fortunate to find a full time job. I had lost all self confidence in my application and ultimately in myself. Yet, for some reason I applied. I decided to go for a third time. Maybe I was crazy. Maybe I was in denial. All I knew was that I wanted to be a doctor despite everything that told me I shouldn't.
I mustered up all my energy to push forward.I manage to submit my secondaries by the end of July. August and September roll by with silence... FML. Why did I apply again?
October rolls around with an interview invite, then magically I receive 4 interviews by November. Mid December I hear back from the school I interviewed at in November: Rejected. What a way to start the interview season.. I thought there was something wrong with my application at that point. I finish all of my interviews by January, and waited in silence.
Until today....
I FU#$%ING MADE IT. AFTER THREE LONG YEARS. ACCEPTED C/O 2016!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
It's amazing to hear that this time it worked out! You didn't give up hope, and now you're in!!! 
