2007 Non-Trad Applicants' Progress Thread

[MiesVanDerMom]

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Is it time to start one of these yet? Did someone already do it? I'm all done with my AAMC and ready to go. I have one more person looking over my PS this weekend but I really like it at this point. Now, I'm just dying to get my MCAT scores and get this show on the road! Oh, the other thing I'm still not decided on (for my app) is my schools. I have 25 right now and I'm not sure if I should cut a few. Anyone else out there want to share?? 🙂

 

[thes_hunter]

Is it time to start one of these yet? Did someone already do it? I'm all done with my AAMC and ready to go. I have one more person looking over my PS this weekend but I really like it at this point. Now, I'm just dying to get my MCAT scores and get this show on the road! Oh, the other thing I'm still not decided on (for my app) is my schools. I have 25 right now and I'm not sure if I should cut a few. Anyone else out there want to share?? 🙂

Oh crap! I have been soooo busy trying to get myself into an SMP (in case my waitlist situation doesn't come through) I have totally forgotten about my AAMC! 😱

Yeah... that PS. Why is writing those things so terror inducing?


Also, in all my rejection letters they told me that they got 11,000 applications, or 6,000 applications etc. I hear application numbers were up last year. Any where I can find hard data on this?

And are any of you guys factoring into your equations of who to apply to on how many applications the school got last year? 😕

 

[donks06]

I figured I might get this thing kicked off, too! 😀

Any thoughts on where else I might apply?

 

[suicidal cell]

Hello fellow non-trads! First post here at SDN. Haven't even started the AAMCAS yet, will be taking the MCAT this coming August, and just working my butt off until then. Right now, I'm thinking about applying to 30+ schools (oh, the confidence ), but the final number of schools I apply to will probably all boil down to how good or bad my MCAT scores will be.

 

[oxeye]

I'm here too - AMCAS is about done. My PS needs one more major revision and then I think I will be happy with it.

I'm waiting for my MCAT scores and then I'll submit my AMCAS. I'm applying EDP and probably won't apply to extra schools if I don't get in through EDP. Very nerve-wracking ... I'd love to be able to fast forward to October.

 

[girlsporty]

Is it time to start one of these yet? Did someone already do it? I'm all done with my AAMC and ready to go. I have one more person looking over my PS this weekend but I really like it at this point. Now, I'm just dying to get my MCAT scores and get this show on the road! Oh, the other thing I'm still not decided on (for my app) is my schools. I have 25 right now and I'm not sure if I should cut a few. Anyone else out there want to share?? 🙂

Count me in. 👍 I've got AMCAS and AACOMAS going, transcripts in or on their way, and all grades entered, pretty much. I'm holding off on putting in the "experiences" until I move into my new home at the end of the semester and my PS needs some MAJOR work, but it's a start.

My stats are lukewarm, but I think I'm right on for DO schools. My MD school selection will depend on my MCAT scores. 😱

I HOPE THEY COME OUT SOON!!!

Mies, I was discouraged from applying to Howard because I'm Caucasian by some of my advisors. Any word on that?

 

[donks06]

I thought about the Howard thing, too...Why the hell not? I think, though, that if you are caucasian you have to come from a disadvantaged background...and I'm thinking really disadvantaged.

 

[MJB]

Both about 90% complete...transcripts are already starting to trickle into the services. Still tweaking the PS, but think I have it to where just some finishing touches need to be done.

That being said, I probably won't be completely finished and ready to submit until about the 15th of June I would guess....don't take the MCAT until Aug. anyway.

 

[QofQuimica]

Just wanted to wish all of the non-trad applicants good luck. 🙂 If any of you want someone to read your PS, PM me.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I'm applying as "disadvantaged" and planning on practicing in an underserved area (where I'm from originally, rural appalachia) so I figured I'd apply. I guess I didn't think it was such a big deal (no advisor, so I didn't realize people were being discouraged from applying...) Hmm.. We'll see what happens I guess. I'm considering taking it off my list b/c I don't really want to live in DC with the kids (too expensive).

 

[drglenn08]

I'm applying as "disadvantaged" and planning on practicing in an underserved area (where I'm from originally, rural appalachia) so I figured I'd apply. I guess I didn't think it was such a big deal (no advisor, so I didn't realize people were being discouraged from applying...) Hmm.. We'll see what happens I guess. I'm considering taking it off my list b/c I don't really want to live in DC with the kids (too expensive).

Seriously, DC public schools are a mess - Northern VA are better but not by far. DC is not place for kids

I'm only applying to a few schools because I don't think I'll get in to others and I don't wanna spend a grand just to get rejected.

PS is finished - i think everyone I know has read it, lol. AAMCAS finished, transcripts sent and AAMCOS finished, transcripts sent. Hopefully, some crazy school will accept me beyond my belief, lol!

 

[RxnMan]

...Also, in all my rejection letters they told me that they got 11,000 applications, or 6,000 applications etc. I hear application numbers were up last year. Any where I can find hard data on this?...

I believe you can find everything you want here. They will come out with '06 numbers in the next few months, once the class lists are finalized and people matriculate. You can also look at a MSAR, but that's also probably based on '05 numbers.

 

[RxnMan]

Just wanted to wish all of the non-trad applicants good luck. 🙂 If any of you want someone to read your PS, PM me.

Ditto here.

 

[MJB]

I'm just curious what is considered "disadvantaged". I saw that question on there and kind of chuckled..

"Do you consider yourself disadvantaged?".....Well, in what way? 🙂

 

[lilnoelle]

Honestly, I didn't check the disadvantaged box and probably should have because I didn't understand that I would be considered disadvantaged... I don't really know whether non trads are figured differently than trads on the disadvantaged area, but with trads, its talking about a being disadvantaged a large period of time between infancy and 18 years old.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I'm just curious what is considered "disadvantaged". I saw that question on there and kind of chuckled..

"Do you consider yourself disadvantaged?".....Well, in what way? 🙂

I put yes because 1) I'm from a medically underserved/poor area and 2)I grew up below the poverty line. I'm 27 now and my husband and kids and I are somewhere between 200% and 250% of poverty line (I know because my kids are on CHIPS for insurance). The AMCAS asks about 0-18 so I went with it. My financial situation growing up certainly affected my college years whicih is what they're largely judging me on. It asks you to explain so I put the bove info and also talked about how I had to leave a certain "elite" college for my state school because of financial reasons. I figure they can decided if they agree. Theres no hard guidelines on it.

 

[ClosetNerd]

AMCAS:
- 2/4 transcripts verified (the other 2 should arrive any day)
- Grades entered
- MCAT scores to be announced (am I even competitive?)
- Researched schools (I’ve got a good list but needs more work)
- Overhauling the PS
- Tweaking the activities

AACOMAS
- Researching schools

😱 Lots to do in JUNE! 😱

 

[MJB]

I put yes because 1) I'm from a medically underserved/poor area and 2)I grew up below the poverty line. I'm 27 now and my husband and kids and I are somewhere between 200% and 250% of poverty line (I know because my kids are on CHIPS for insurance). The AMCAS asks about 0-18 so I went with it. My financial situation growing up certainly affected my college years whicih is what they're largely judging me on. It asks you to explain so I put the bove info and also talked about how I had to leave a certain "elite" college for my state school because of financial reasons. I figure they can decided if they agree. Theres no hard guidelines on it.

Interesting! I too grew up in what is considered and "underserved" area...but I don't think we ever needed anything we couldn't get.

I just noticed that they put pretty much no restrictions on it, so I wondered what they were expecting there.

I'm a nearly 30-something white guy with a bachelor's degree...we're pretty much a dime a dozen, and sometimes I wonder if that doesn't hold me back! 🙂

Never considered checking that box, I just wondered if it was strictly a race and socioeconomic thing or if other factors were included.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

My AMCAS is officially ready to go. This week of 90 degree weather made me decided to drop all schools from my list south of here. Who ever thought someone would choose places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland for the weather? I'm down to 23 schools now and sticking with it. 👍 My #1 pick is University of Pittsburgh. Is anyone else applying there?

 

[cmircea]

Hello Everyone,

I am just starting to prepare for MCAT and I badly need help to pick up some good textbooks on physics, chem and bio, to refresh my long time lost memory on these topics. Anyone has any good suggestions ?
You can answer on this forum or send me an email at: [email protected]
Good luck to everyone!!!

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

My AMCAS is officially ready to go. This week of 90 degree weather made me decided to drop all schools from my list south of here. Who ever thought someone would choose places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland for the weather? I'm down to 23 schools now and sticking with it. 👍 My #1 pick is University of Pittsburgh. Is anyone else applying there?

Ick, Pittsburgh weather is awful. I lived there for 4 years (went to school there) and hated every day of that awful weather. It gets just as hot in the summer, and hits sub-zero temps in the winter. I remember my nostrils freezing on the way to class one day. That was enough for me (and I grew up in a suburb of NYC, so cold weather was nothing new to me.)

Sorry -- I'm done with my flashback now.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

Ick, Pittsburgh weather is awful. I lived there for 4 years (went to school there) and hated every day of that awful weather. It gets just as hot in the summer, and hits sub-zero temps in the winter. I remember my nostrils freezing on the way to class one day. That was enough for me (and I grew up in a suburb of NYC, so cold weather was nothing new to me.)

Sorry -- I'm done with my flashback now.

We actually had SPRING this year! It's the first time we've had spring in like 20 years or so (distant memories of it from my childhood) Normally we go from snow to 90 degrees. So, I'm thinking we're in the good phase of the 20 year weather cycle. At least you get variety here: by the time you're sick of the heat it's winter and vice versa. Uh, actually, I can't logically defend the weather here. I will quit now.

 

[runningmom]

Status as of this evening:

TMDSAS - app submitted, 2 LORs received, waiting on: the other 2 LORs, my stupid PICS (see my post about freaking out) and ALL my transcripts.

AMCAS - have decided I completely hate the PS I was happy with two weeks ago. So I'm rewriting it. Still tweaking ECs based on what the final PS ends up looking like. Probably not going to be able to hit the send button on Monday which kinda bums me out - but I'll get over it.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I just submitted AMCAS but they're saying they won't verify until my summer schhol transcript is in. Grrr. I e-mailed them but i wonder if i should call too. Moving on to available secondary questions now. And beginng Weight Watchers in hops of losing baby weight before interview suit buying time 🙄 ...

ETA: I called AMCAS and it turns out I goofed up and now they need to get another transcript before I'm complete! It is a transcript for classes I haven't finished yet. I went over to the school and they looked at me like I was crazy for paying for a transcript with no grades on it. Oh well. At least it's ordered now...

 

[runningmom]

Moving on to available secondary questions now. And beginng Weight Watchers in hops of losing baby weight before interview suit buying time 🙄 ...

Oh dear! Hadn't considered *THAT* yet. Let's see - baby due 19 Aug - not much chance I'll be back down to fighting weight before Sept (when at least my top two schools start interviews). Tell me how funny it is going to look walking into an interview where I've talked all over my application about the marathons I love to run, then they look up and see..... tada!..... the Michelin Man! 😱

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

Oh dear! Hadn't considered *THAT* yet. Let's see - baby due 19 Aug - not much chance I'll be back down to fighting weight before Sept (when at least my top two schools start interviews). Tell me how funny it is going to look walking into an interview where I've talked all over my application about the marathons I love to run, then they look up and see..... tada!..... the Michelin Man! 😱

But at least you'll *feel* thin since you won't be lugging that baby around anymore! And you're having #3 right? So, you'll be running around and too busy to eat. You may be *underweight* by the time you're a month post-partum!

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

My AMCAS is officially ready to go. This week of 90 degree weather made me decided to drop all schools from my list south of here. Who ever thought someone would choose places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland for the weather? I'm down to 23 schools now and sticking with it. 👍 My #1 pick is University of Pittsburgh. Is anyone else applying there?

I would love to go to Pitt, but it just isn't an option for me since my wife will remain in the Navy (she's an active duty OB/GYN) while I go to medical school. So, as you can imagine, I am limiting my applications to medical schools that are near Navy bases.

Just waiting on MCAT scores and PS. I have a very rough draft done, and may be taking advantage of some of the offers on SDN to have it looked over.

 

[runningmom]

Submitted in AMCAS today. Of course, they don't have all my transcripts yet. 2 of 6 thus far. (Yes, 6..... ). On to the TMDSAS secondaries!

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Submitted my TMDSAS today! Both TMDSAS and AMCAS already have my transcripts. All but one of my LORs has been submitted. My goal is to finish the UTSW, A&M, and TTECH secondaries and my AMCAS by Monday (before my spirit is totally crushed by my MCAT scores!)

 

[ClosetNerd]

I'm still hammering out my thesis and tweaking the PS... I'm impressed with all of you who have turned it in already. It makes me feel like a slacker. How is everyone else doing?

 

[gpumpkin67]

I am feeling like a slacker too...AMCAS has had all of my transcripts for weeks, but I still don't like my PS. I am just hoping to beat the post-MCAT verification rush next week.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

I am feeling like a slacker too...AMCAS has had all of my transcripts for weeks, but I still don't like my PS. I am just hoping to beat the post-MCAT verification rush next week.

I'm in the same boat...that PS is kicking my a$$! I'm also struggling with the descriptions for work experiences / activities.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I got verified today and found out my GPA was a lot lower than I thought. Oops. Now I'm waiting on a LOR from a prof I don't trust too much. I am about to go email him. I have this awful feeling this letter is not going to get written and I have no one else to ask. Feeling nauseous...

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

OK, I just submitted my AMCAS today. Took a little longer than I thought, but I still got it in plenty early. All my LORs are now done, so hopefully everything is in good shape for me with respect to getting my applications verified. Now, on to those secondaries!

Good Luck All!

Jota

 

[ClosetNerd]

OK, I just submitted my AMCAS today. Took a little longer than I thought, but I still got it in plenty early. All my LORs are now done, so hopefully everything is in good shape for me with respect to getting my applications verified. Now, on to those secondaries!

Good Luck All!

Jota

Way to go! 👍

I think I've got a good "rough" draft going on the PS... but I still have to cut out 300 characters.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

Way to go! 👍

I think I've got a good "rough" draft going on the PS... but I still have to cut out 300 characters.

Mine was 12,000 characters when I started so I know how you feel! I'm really long-winded, though, so in the end it made my PS better to have to shorten it. to you!

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Way to go! 👍

I think I've got a good "rough" draft going on the PS... but I still have to cut out 300 characters.

Thanks!

Those last characters are the hardest, because you have probably already cut so much (Mine was around 12000 characters at first, too!) What helped me was to just take frequent breaks. When I would come back, something would usually jump off the page to be omitted. So, I just kept repeating until I got it down below 5300. Keep it up, at 300 chars to go, you are almost there!

I actually had a harder time with the activities descriptions. I hate SDN sometimes. I was reading about everyone putting what they learned from their activities, and how it related to medicine, etc. So I tried that, and what I wrote seemed so fake. In the end, I just made them to be a description of what I did, which is probably what schools are looking for anyway.

 

[RxnMan]

Thanks!

Those last characters are the hardest, because you have probably already cut so much (Mine was around 12000 characters at first, too!) What helped me was to just take frequent breaks. When I would come back, something would usually jump off the page to be omitted. So, I just kept repeating until I got it down below 5300. Keep it up, at 300 chars to go, you are almost there!

I actually had a harder time with the activities descriptions. I hate SDN sometimes. I was reading about everyone putting what they learned from their activities, and how it related to medicine, etc. So I tried that, and what I wrote seemed so fake. In the end, I just made them to be a description of what I did, which is probably what schools are looking for anyway.

Jota, I did that 'what I learned' stuff for one of my ECs (because I had charater space left over) but did a basic description for the rest - just like a resume. I know it's hard with the search disabled, but I wrote a bunch of posts talking about ECs, how to organize them, etc. Those might help you.

 

[QofQuimica]

I actually had a harder time with the activities descriptions. I hate SDN sometimes. I was reading about everyone putting what they learned from their activities, and how it related to medicine, etc. So I tried that, and what I wrote seemed so fake. In the end, I just made them to be a description of what I did, which is probably what schools are looking for anyway.

I might be the person who gave you this suggestion, and if so, I want to clarify that what I meant was that I explained why I did each activity and tried to show how they all went together to make me into the pre-med that I am today. In other words, here I had fifteen diverse things done over a span of nearly fifteen years, some of which clearly relate to medicine, and several of which seem to be pretty random, but they weren't. There was a reason why I chose to volunteer with cancer patients and not, say, work in an ER. My college study-abroad experience did not relate to medicine directly, but it did influence some of my subsequent activities and affect the person who I became. The activities are in chronological order, and presumably they are all important to me or I wouldn't have included them. So what I wanted to do was to give the adcom some semblance of who I am today and how I got here. I used my ECs to help me tell that story, because my PS focused more on just a couple of select things (mainly my teaching and research background) and because I didn't have the space there to get into things like what my study abroad experience 11 years ago meant to me. But I'm definitely not advocating to make up rationales that don't actually exist. Does that make more sense?

 

[WrongAnswer]

Yeah, so I have most everything ready. I was going to submit last week, but my pre-med advisor wanted me to revise my PS.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

So embaressing! I e-mailed a prof to remind him to get my LOR in by th of June and he replied he'd sent it 3 weeks ago! I went and checked Interfolio and there it was. Feel like such an airhead. Glad all my LORs form profs are in. Now I have to write one for the doctor recommending me. 🙄

 

[aliziry]

I know that even though Im a "traditional applicant", my route has not been traditional. I just wanted to join your thread.

 

[gpumpkin67]

Submitted 6/19, verified this afternoon...How is everyone else doing?

 

[runningmom]

TMDSAS: Submitted 6/1, last transcript FINALLY received 6/16 (the particular school needed *3* requests to finally get it sent), sent to schools 6/21. Secondaries completed: 3 of the 4 required. Still to do: one last secondary and waiting on 3 more LORs (3 are in). Of course, I haven't formally asked one of the writers yet, so that is MY fault!

AMCAS: Submitted on 6/7, last transcript received on 6/19 awaiting verification. Twiddling thumbs... still twiddling... 😴

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

Got my firat secondary today! Ohio State U. I really LOVE the school but am afraid of being a Steelers fan in Browns country. I won't mention that part on the app 🙂 This is so exciting!!!!

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
Now that 2006 is all but done as classes start in late July and August, I am unsticking the 2006 and sticking this one.

njbmd 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood supermod surgeon. 😎

 

[Twitch]

Anyone fly a lot for work? Curious as to your thoughts on scheduling interviews. I may be flying to client sites Mon - Thu.

 

[the brown note]

Anyone fly a lot for work? Curious as to your thoughts on scheduling interviews. I may be flying to client sites Mon - Thu.

Hope I'm interpreting your question correctly--are you asking if you can schedule interviews mainly on Fridays? Interviews could be a bit tricky if there's no flexibility in your schedule. I applied last cycle, and some of the interview requests gave me several dates from which to choose, some only gave a couple dates, and some just assigned me a date without asking my availability (which, theoretically, you could call and ask to reschedule, which some people have done with mixed success--some schools basically won't reschedule you or you have to wait a couple months for a new slot). Some schools, like MSU, had designated Friday interviews for out-of-staters who had to travel, which was nice. Offers of Saturday interviews are a rarity (I didn't encounter any in the 20 schools to which I applied).

If you can take a week off occasionally, you might be able to cluster a few interviews together (just be careful that you allow for travel time and consider the level of energy needed to do your best--I personally found that doing 3 interviews back-to-back was exhausting). Good luck!

 

[Twitch]

Hope I'm interpreting your question correctly--are you asking if you can schedule interviews mainly on Fridays? Interviews could be a bit tricky if there's no flexibility in your schedule. I applied last cycle, and some of the interview requests gave me several dates from which to choose, some only gave a couple dates, and some just assigned me a date without asking my availability (which, theoretically, you could call and ask to reschedule, which some people have done with mixed success--some schools basically won't reschedule you or you have to wait a couple months for a new slot). Some schools, like MSU, had designated Friday interviews for out-of-staters who had to travel, which was nice. Offers of Saturday interviews are a rarity (I didn't encounter any in the 20 schools to which I applied).

If you can take a week off occasionally, you might be able to cluster a few interviews together (just be careful that you allow for travel time and consider the level of energy needed to do your best--I personally found that doing 3 interviews back-to-back was exhausting). Good luck!

Fridays would be ideal. FWIW, UTSW interviews on Saturdays , but their 35 MCAT avg just blows we away. Since this is a new job, they won't let me take a week off - a day or so here and there might work. I'm worried about my 29Q, and on one hand think I should apply to more places on the other.... heck someone in TX will love me, maybe? 😍

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Fridays would be ideal. FWIW, UTSW interviews on Saturdays , but their 35 MCAT avg just blows we away. Since this is a new job, they won't let me take a week off - a day or so here and there might work. I'm worried about my 29Q, and on one hand think I should apply to more places on the other.... heck someone in TX will love me, maybe? 😍

With your GPA, I wouldn't worry too much about the 29Q for TX schools. It's true that Baylor and UTSW have higher average MCAT scores for matriculants, but last year's average matriculant (for all TMDSAS schools) had a 28. As long as you don't mind being an average MATRICULANT, you should be fine 🙂