2016 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

[mavric1298]

I'm no lawyer, but;

http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/traffic_civil_infraction.asp

Florida handles traffic violations on a county by county basis - I would take the time to do the research, and see if yours is truly a criminal offense. AMCAS isn't going to answer that - they are just giving a canned response. What matters is what is on the background check and how it is officially reported.

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[occams_razor]

Unfortunately when I google my name, the cringeworthy stuff that comes up isn't related to me at all.

Like, there's apparently a porn star with my name. I really don't have a porn star worthy name, so I don't get it. But it's there on the first page among some other less than ideal stuff

don't worry, anyone who googles you will quickly realize that is not you. a good friend of mine had the same issue with a porn actor sharing her name, which is also a quite regular and boring name haha

Hi guys! I need some advice!
I graduated pharmacy school a couple of years ago and have been working in a hospital... I have wanted to do medicine since my 3rd year in pharmacy school... But i had to finish pharm school... And now im super unhappy with my career! So i finally picked myself up and took the mcats in may! (Awaiting scores) but i was one of those ppl who experienced computer issues during my test (my luck) but chose to score still (i work full time i couldnt get the june 2nd retake off)
My current stats:
3.4 undergrad gpa
3.92 pharmd gpa
I have 4 LORS (2 physicians, 1 undergrad chem professor, 1 pharm school in which i did my seminar research project with)
I have a lot of shadowing and community service
Im really scared of what i got on the mcat... What percentage would you recommend me to retake the mcat? Its really hard because i work full time and i cant take anytime off!

Thank you in advance!

When you get your MCAT score, you should come up with your school list going by your percentile and the school's average MCAT (this will be for the old exam) and what percentile that is. So for example, a school like Hopkins has an average MCAT of 36 which is 96th-97th percentile, whereas a school like University of Louisville has an average MCAT of 30 which is 75th-80th percentile. Also, definitely invest in the MSAR.

 

[remzremz]

AMCAS Processing is Complete

06-04-2015

Application has been made available to the designated medical schools.
Just got the email and this is what my status now says in the application itself. Also now has a calculated AMCAS GPA.
I think I read in some forum that AMCAS doesn't actually forward applications to med schools until July 1 but the above message seems to contradict that. Thoughts?

I'm new to this. Do you really not find out your AMCAS GPA until everything is sent to schools? There's no way to know your exact AMCAS GPA way beforehand?

 

[Eccesignum]

There are a couple GPA calculators floating around this site if you search. Here's one of them: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/amcas-aacomas-gpa-calculator.1122068/

 

[Eccesignum]

I'm new to this. Do you really not find out your AMCAS GPA until everything is sent to schools? There's no way to know your exact AMCAS GPA way beforehand?

(My above is regarding this post)

 

[mavric1298]

I'm new to this. Do you really not find out your AMCAS GPA until everything is sent to schools? There's no way to know your exact AMCAS GPA way beforehand?

officially you won't know until your app is verified, which technically is before it is sent to schools, but post submission, (depending on when you actually hit submit). The calculator I made above uses all the formulas that they say they use, so will give you an idea.

 

[NonTrad16]

15 days until the MCAT. Planning the AAMC practice test next week. Feeling fatigued (and all that goes with it). Regardless, I'm looking forward to the day after when I plan to not get out of bed until noon, just because I can. Then gotta put the polish on PS, activities, etc.

I was delighted to find out that AACOMAS required a 'verification' of my study abroad work...

Anyone else digging the amount of money they extract at each step? Test ($300), prep ($$), transcripts (now >$300!), applications (unscreened secondaries? Here's another few hundred!). Haha, I guess it's all part of the process.

 

[Cawolf]

'm looking forward to the day after

I felt much worse the day after.

That is when you get to start second guessing all of your answer choices.

 

[Eccesignum]

I felt much worse the day after.

That is when you get to start second guessing all of your answer choices.

Right? I took it in January and there were several answer choices that STILL haunt the back of my mind.

 

[Cawolf]

Right? I took it in January and there were several answer choices that STILL haunt the back of my mind.

I took the 1/10 test and I know how you feel. There are a couple answer choices that I know would have bumped me up a point.

In the end I was happy with my score, so I guess it really didn't matter!

 

[NonTrad16]

I felt much worse the day after.

That is when you get to start second guessing all of your answer choices.

I'm relying on MCAT amnesia, and traditionally I've been strong in the "Well, that's done... what do I do now?" method of recovering from exams/'trauma'. ("When life gives you lemons, just say "F*** the lemons" and bail.") The anxiety from no score has been a real drag. I can't even make an honest school list...

One more month of waiting won't be fun, but at least I can look at something else in the meantime! With a June MCAT there's no use in me studying for a second shot this year -- either I get a good enough score and send out more applications (beyond my 'burner' schools), or I'll start job hunting in my SO/my next location and consider my options.

EDIT: Also, I'm already feeling disillusioned, people. Let my post-test dream survive!

 

[Cawolf]

@NonTrad16

Best of luck on your exam though!

 

[mavric1298]

Question for everyone; I know you can select to have additional letters sent/assigned after you submit, but how does that work once you've been verified - isn't your packet already sent? I'm still waiting for my boss (who I nag every couple days) to get mine submitted, and I'm on the quarter system so I'm waiting for grades to post the 17th (then e-transcript so a couple days after till I could submit). Do you have until the batches get sent to the medical schools, or do they send them along after the fact?

 

[Amelie.]

Hi everyone! I am really excited to be applying this cycle
I graduated a few years ago and have been working as a researcher in an immunology laboratory since. I have two small children at home as well. I have a 3.8 GPA and 33MCAT. I am applying to 18 MD programs...hopefully that is enough... Emory is my top choice but that may be wishful thinking. I submitted AMCAS application this morning but I am waiting on a transcript from a college I forgot I attended ugh... GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

 

[Amelie.]

@jddoc2015 I wrote about having kids in my PS. I didn't mention having kids anywhere else on my application though. I felt it had to be addressed because becoming a mom WAS the reason that led me to pursue medicine. I want to be an OB/GYN so I mentioned my personal experiences.

If being a parent doesn't fit into your PS theme, I'd definitely put it in somewhere else. I like to think being a parent to two kids, working full-time, and taking post-bacc classes, volunteering, doing research, scribing, etc will help me stand out. I'm also fairly young, so most people are shocked when I say I have 2 kids.

I'll let you know in a few weeks how my PS statement works out...I already applied TMDSAS and should hear back soon.

This is me! I debated a lot about whether to mention having small children - esp because if they do the math they will realize I had a baby at 18 I ultimately decided to mention it in my personal statement. My son has some medical issues and that was what sparked my interest in the medical field so not mentioning it would pretty much be lying. Plus - as you touch on - having kids is a huge responsibility and it shows you can handle a heavy schedule.

 

[Chlorini]

@C_Avila wow 18! And you have great stats! Are you in GA?

 

[wagonwheel23]

@C_Avila I'm hoping for Emory as well! But, I'm really open to anything. I did research for a summer at Emory and absolutely loved it (and Atlanta). Good luck!

 

[Amelie.]

@Chlorini no I am not. I am interested in some of the research there and visited during a conference and really liked it!
@wagonwheel23 hey good luck to us!

 

[wholeheartedly]

Question for everyone; I know you can select to have additional letters sent/assigned after you submit, but how does that work once you've been verified - isn't your packet already sent? I'm still waiting for my boss (who I nag every couple days) to get mine submitted, and I'm on the quarter system so I'm waiting for grades to post the 17th (then e-transcript so a couple days after till I could submit). Do you have until the batches get sent to the medical schools, or do they send them along after the fact?

@gyngyn ?

 

[gyngyn]

@gyngyn ?

I know that the applicant has the option to assign letters variably to all of the schools on his list. I do not know if additional letters can be sent through AMCAS after the packet has gone out.

 

[Eccesignum]

I know that the applicant has the option to assign letters variably to all of the schools on his list. I do not know if additional letters can be sent through AMCAS after the packet has gone out.

I'm a little sketchy on this as well, and hope someone can answer. I submitted on the 3rd and hope to be verified before July. Since AMCAS says that application materials go out July 1st, do I have until then to assign my letters to schools? Or do I need to have that done by the time the application is initially verified? Or just by the time I send secondaries back? I've seen conflicting answers in the pre-allo forum.

 

[TravelingPanda]

Dropping back in the thread to say I hit submit yesterday! I thought I'd feel a bit relieved to have the primary application in, but instead I'm almost more nervous than I was before.

Planning on starting to pre-write some secondary essays this weekend.

Good luck everyone!

 

[charlie517]

If we send it in by June 15th think it'll be ready by July 1st??!

 

[mavric1298]

I'm a little sketchy on this as well, and hope someone can answer. I submitted on the 3rd and hope to be verified before July. Since AMCAS says that application materials go out July 1st, do I have until then to assign my letters to schools? Or do I need to have that done by the time the application is initially verified? Or just by the time I send secondaries back? I've seen conflicting answers in the pre-allo forum.

I called amcas today about it and they guy I spoke to didn't really understand the question and couldn't provide a clear answer. He kept saying "check the schools deadlines for letters of rec" and didn't seem to ask I was more concerned about how amcas sent them out - in addition to you packet wouldn't make much sense as your app might have already been looked over by the school - my guess though is letters aren't needed until secondaries are submitted however. I guess I'll have to drop our admissions a call tomorrow to see if they can clarify from their point of view

 

[Eccesignum]

I called amcas today about it and they guy I spoke to didn't really understand the question and couldn't provide a clear answer. He kept saying "check the schools deadlines for letters of rec" and didn't seem to ask I was more concerned about how amcas sent them out - in addition to you packet wouldn't make much sense as your app might have already been looked over by the school - my guess though is letters aren't needed until secondaries are submitted however. I guess I'll have to drop our admissions a call tomorrow to see if they can clarify from their point of view

I've checked on websites for most of my schools and the majority say letters must be in by the time you turn in your secondary (as in, they'll look you over and decide whether you're getting a secondary without your letters being there). Still unsure whether AMCAS, though, needs you to have letters assigned to schools by the time they send your packet out. It seems not but I'm paranoid.

 

[wagonwheel23]

Planning on starting to pre-write some secondary essays this weekend.

Take a break this weekend! You deserve it!

 

[EParker37]

Application has been transmitted to the schools on my list, working on secondaries, and waiting on my MCAT scores, then its complete and the real waiting begins!

 

[ThinkReallyFast]

Application submitted yesterday to 36 schools! Its painful to see how much that is, and I still have secondaries to pay for. /yikes

My goal this week is to assign letters and get a few more secondaries completed!

 

[Glycereine]

Reapplying seems to have burned the enthusiasm a few of my letter writers had last year. They were all very responsive previously and not so much now...

 

[Gordon Gekko]

Reapplying seems to have burned the enthusiasm a few of my letter writers had last year. They were all very responsive previously and not so much now...

You didn't save their LORs from last year?

 

[Glycereine]

Not 100% sure what you mean, but LORs are supposed to be sent directly to AMCAS from the writers, not from me. I actually do have copies of some that they were kind enough to let me see, but I can't send them in in their stead regardless.
Am I missing something else?

You didn't save their LORs from last year?

 

[Cawolf]

Not 100% sure what you mean, but LORs are supposed to be sent directly to AMCAS from the writers, not from me. I actually do have copies of some that they were kind enough to let me see, but I can't send them in in their stead regardless.
Am I missing something else?

Most people use Interfolio or some other letter service.

 

[Glycereine]

Most people use Interfolio or some other letter service.

So...

literally just googled interfolio and realized that was a terrible failure on my part. I didn't even know what it was...

I assumed it was something that schools used to submit the letters, not something I could use.

Feeling pretty stupid right now

 

[VegasPreMed]

Hello! I'm a non-trad as well, just waiting for prelim percentiles from the 2015 MCAT before I pay to submit (transcripts in already).

One five year old daughter and a pregnant wife at home. I was reading the discussion earlier regarding mentioning kids on the application and just wanted to say I talked about my family in my activities and even used an aspect of it as one of my most meaningful.

Applying to 15 MD schools and 15 DO schools. Nevada resident (obviously). Good luck all!

 

[Glycereine]

Hello! I'm a non-trad as well, just waiting for prelim percentiles from the 2015 MCAT before I pay to submit (transcripts in already).

One five year old daughter and a pregnant wife at home. I was reading the discussion earlier regarding mentioning kids on the application and just wanted to say I talked about my family in my activities and even used an aspect of it as one of my most meaningful.

Applying to 15 MD schools and 15 DO schools. Nevada resident (obviously). Good luck all!

Haha I read your post and was wondering why 15 MD and 15 DO schools would make it obvious you were a Nevada resident... Then I realized.

good luck!

 

[Gordon Gekko]

So...

literally just googled interfolio and realized that was a terrible failure on my part. I didn't even know what it was...

I assumed it was something that schools used to submit the letters, not something I could use.

Feeling pretty stupid right now

For the copies you do have, I'd use Interfolio. They give you a coversheet to send in with the LOR. It will look like your recommender sent it in.

 

[Glycereine]

For the copies you do have, I'd use Interfolio. They give you a coversheet to send in with the LOR. It will look like your recommender sent it in.

Thank you!

I can't believe I missed this last cycle...

 

[occams_razor]

Application submitted yesterday to 36 schools! Its painful to see how much that is, and I still have secondaries to pay for. /yikes

My goal this week is to assign letters and get a few more secondaries completed!

dang that's a whole lot of schools! just MD or is that including DO too? any reason you decided to apply to so many?
good luck! and try not to get too burned out writing secondaries

 

[wagonwheel23]

Just started pre-writing some secondaries... Not bad so far! I have a spreadsheet of each school I'm applying to that includes secondary prompts and expected release dates. I've ranked them in the order I should start working on them. 1 down, 20+ to go!

 

[Traumweber]

Just started pre-writing some secondaries... Not bad so far! I have a spreadsheet of each school I'm applying to that includes secondary prompts and expected release dates. I've ranked them in the order I should start working on them. 1 down, 20+ to go!

Schools have the same secondary essays every year?

 

[wholeheartedly]

Schools have the same secondary essays every year?

Quite often, yes.

 

[wagonwheel23]

Schools have the same secondary essays every year?

I did some digging through past threads and it looked like the only prompt that changed (of the schools I'm applying to) is Mt. Sinai. So, the churn doesn't look too bad at all.

 

[Glycereine]

Schools have the same secondary essays every year?

Even the ones that change typically don't change that much, so pre-writing to last year's still gives you a nice start.

 

[Traumweber]

I did some digging through past threads and it looked like the only prompt that changed (of the schools I'm applying to) is Mt. Sinai. So, the churn doesn't look too bad at all.

Ah yes, I just figurerd out where all the old school threads were. I should start writing them!

 

[wagonwheel23]

Ah yes, I just figurerd out where all the old school threads were. I should start writing them!

Yeah, the old threads are helpful. I'm only pre-writing now because I'm taking 2 weeks of vacation soon and would like to completely detach from work and medical school applications. After MCAT studying, AMCAS, and working a 55+ hour a week job during everything, I need some rest!

 

[PopeChaChaStix]

Hey all, here's a new question for everyone/anyone that wants to think about it:

Where is a good place in the app to clarify why I have a ton of "no credit" PE classes (we're talking yoga, weightlifting etc) at a local community college? I have to report it because I went there and I have a transcript.

I had a job during that time as a tutor in the college library, a position that required I take 9 units, but not pass anything. So, I took PE and didn't worry about showing up for the finals, hence the NC's.
I also took 3 courses there right out of high school to knock off some undergrad courses, I got A's in all three in subjects like calc and anatomy. Everything else was post-bac.
So, it's something like: A, A, A, (4years later) NC, NC, NC...etc....cumulative GPA: 4.0.

Will this be something to worry about with adcoms? should I just address this under an EC title about my tutoring there?

 

[Glycereine]

Hey all, here's a new question for everyone/anyone that wants to think about it:

Where is a good place in the app to clarify why I have a ton of "no credit" PE classes (we're talking yoga, weightlifting etc) at a local community college? I have to report it because I went there and I have a transcript.

I had a job during that time as a tutor in the college library, a position that required I take 9 units, but not pass anything. So, I took PE and didn't worry about showing up for the finals, hence the NC's.
I also took 3 courses there right out of high school to knock off some undergrad courses, I got A's in all three in subjects like calc and anatomy. Everything else was post-bac.
So, it's something like: A, A, A, (4years later) NC, NC, NC...etc....cumulative GPA: 4.0.

Will this be something to worry about with adcoms? should I just address this under an EC title about my tutoring there?

If all of your NCs are PE classes I wouldn't worry about it. If some are academic courses, I would reference it somewhere.

 

[ThinkReallyFast]

dang that's a whole lot of schools! just MD or is that including DO too? any reason you decided to apply to so many?
good luck! and try not to get too burned out writing secondaries

That is just MD schools.

I heard a presentation on acceptance of those with post-bacc repair -- the presenters advice was to apply broadly (30+) to schools whose philosophies match yours. It is expensive and time consuming, but I would rather apply once if possible.

 

[doctorold]

Decided to bite the bullet and submit my AMCAS today even though not all of my transcripts (or my LORs) have arrived. Really hoping the registrar's offices send them in quickly. I ended up doing 21 MD schools, and will probably do the same number of DO schools. But I've already made a good start on prewriting secondaries, so hopefully burn out won't happen.

You are applying to 42 med schools total, and you don't expect a burn out?

 

[doctorold]

I didn't say I wasn't expecting burn out. Just said I was hoping to avoid it. Wishful thinking is all

Good luck. It's worth it