2007 Non-Trad Applicants' Progress Thread

Started by MiesVanDerMom
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I've received three secondaries (AMCAS still hasn't verified me), which are in various stages of completion. The Beast is Saturday, and I'm alternating between cautious optimism and the desire to vomit on my shoes. :scared:
 
Quix said:
I've received three secondaries (AMCAS still hasn't verified me), which are in various stages of completion. The Beast is Saturday, and I'm alternating between cautious optimism and the desire to vomit on my shoes. :scared:
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I cried after the PS section, but no vomit. Well, I did vomit but it was the flu. :luck: to you.
 
Well, I'm now officially a med school applicant. Submitted both applications tonight, and even after my wife and I proofread each of them at least 5 times, I'm still scared to death to print them off for fear of finding something wrong.

They've had my transcripts since May, so now all that's left is to get verified and take that silly test on Saturday.

Went with 5 DO and the three "local" MD schools this time. Strongly considered Tulane and GW, but decided against it for now.

500 bucks...NO WHAMMIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
 
Full panic mode. I just finished another physical sciences practice exam, and I think I've forgotten everything I've learned and taught over the past few years. Check the bridges come Saturday. :scared:
 
Just scored the practice exam - 29. 🙁

There were some that I was on the fence about, so a 30-31 was reasonable. Not terribly competitive, however. I'm doing nothing but practice tests from now until Saturday.
 
Quix said:
Just scored the practice exam - 29. 🙁

There were some that I was on the fence about, so a 30-31 was reasonable. Not terribly competitive, however. I'm doing nothing but practice tests from now until Saturday.
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Be careful not to burn yourself out!!
 
Suppose I should get in on this thread. I've already submitted 5 secondaries. I had hoped to finish 3/week, but that didn't work out. Anyway, good luck to all you other non-traditionals out there.

Finished: Pitt, Columbia, Northwestern, Penn (no essays, yay!), OSU
In progress: Yale, CWRU
Need to get my but in gear: Cornell, Penn State, Mayo, Iowa, Loyola, Georgetown
Waiting for secondaries: U Minnesota (twin cities), Drexel

In retrospect, I probably should have applied to more "backup" schools than I did... doh!
 
Quix said:
Just scored the practice exam - 29. 🙁

There were some that I was on the fence about, so a 30-31 was reasonable. Not terribly competitive, however. I'm doing nothing but practice tests from now until Saturday.
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quix, i would advise that you don't spend time doing full practice tests! we all are rooting for you to do well on this test, and the best way to burn yourself out is to keep doing full practice tests. you should focus on your strongest area and make sure you know that stuff down cold! doing some problems is ok, but doing full tests will just end up frustrating you. anywho, best of :luck:!!
 
Grazie mille!

I'm actually doing a variation on that - I scored a 12 on the Verbal Reasoning (surprise, surprise, writing/researching in the humanities for the past twelve years), so I'm focusing less on that; if I can bring up my physical sciences by two points or so (which really comes down to working on physics and chemical kinetics) and the bio sciences by a point or two (which means working through more orgo), I'll feel more comfortable, and will be in the 32-33 range, which should be okay for the schools to which I'm applying.
 
AACOMAS was submitted almost 2 weeks ago. Just waiting for the last transcript to arrive and get verified. In the meantime, I am working on the secondary essays, just in case.

UMDNJ-SOM
VCOM
UNECOM
WVSOM
OSUCOM
KCUMB
TCOM
NSU
LECOM
MSUCOM (PROBABLY NOT)
 
I feel like I'm getting somewhere...

Submitted secondaries (incl MSTP/MD/PhD):
Jefferson
U of Pittsburgh
U of Rochester
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson
University of South Florida
Baylor (not yet submitted MD-only)

Working on secondaries: Case, Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Stony Brook, U of Colorado, UIC, U of Pennsylvania, Emory, Stanford, UMiami (just got today, screened!), UWash (MSTP primary)

Waiting on secondaries: Drexel, Duke, U of Alabama, UC San Diego, UNC, MSTP (MD secondary)

I'll finish those secondaries one of these days...
 
Quix.. A 12 in Verbal is super impressive! Keep up the good work. Your almost done with the test.


On a personal note. I'm getting burned out from these secondarys. I have turned everything in for 12 schools but I still have about 9 more to fill out. 😱

What do you guys do to keep your motivation up? These essays are killing me.
 
ClosetNerd said:
Quix.. A 12 in Verbal is super impressive! Keep up the good work. Your almost done with the test.


On a personal note. I'm getting burned out from these secondarys. I have turned everything in for 12 schools but I still have about 9 more to fill out. 😱

What do you guys do to keep your motivation up? These essays are killing me.
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dude, i am so getting killed by the essays! that's why i've only submitted 5 so far. out of my 23! 😱

next on my list to tackle is umiami b/c they set a 2 week deadline from when you get the secondary (which for me was yesterday).
 
I've finished two of the three for Pritzker, but I'm not even thinking about them until after the beast.

Took another practice physical sciences this morning, and scored a 10, which makes me feel a bit better.
 
Quix said:
Full panic mode. I just finished another physical sciences practice exam, and I think I've forgotten everything I've learned and taught over the past few years. Check the bridges come Saturday. :scared:
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Pittsburgh is the city of bridges, so that could take a while :laugh:

Seriously, most important thing for the MCAT is to not freak out. Keep a cool head and you'll do great 👍
 
MiesVanDerMom said:
Pittsburgh is the city of bridges, so that could take a while :laugh:

Seriously, most important thing for the MCAT is to not freak out. Keep a cool head and you'll do great 👍
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:laugh: so true!! i don't even know the names of half of them, but i know there are over 400 in the greater pittsburgh area. :wow:
 
Quix said:
I've finished two of the three for Pritzker, but I'm not even thinking about them until after the beast.

Took another practice physical sciences this morning, and scored a 10, which makes me feel a bit better.
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Kick some Ass tomorrow!

Good Luck man, I'm sure you'll do greeeeaaaaaatttt 👍
 
good luck to all the MCAT takers!! 😀

in progress updates...i got my first interview invite today at university of pittsburgh! yay! 🙂

i'm a little disappointed that they didn't want me for the MSTP, but i'm still excited to check out the MD program.
 
scentimint said:
good luck to all the MCAT takers!! 😀

in progress updates...i got my first interview invite today at university of pittsburgh! yay! 🙂

i'm a little disappointed that they didn't want me for the MSTP, but i'm still excited to check out the MD program.
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AWESOME! that is fantastic. 😀 Way to go Scentimint!

Go NonTrads!
 
A little panicked here - my scores are all over the board.

The last three practice exams:

1) 29 Wednesday
2) 27 Thursday
3) 35 Today (PS 14, VR, 11, BS 10)

Can I just submit my last practice test and keep that one? Please?
 
For Scentiment: :clap: :clap: :clap:
For Quix & all the other people who are about to kick the MCAT's butt: :luck: :luck: :luck:
 
MiesVanDerMom said:
Now the 60 day wait! Good luck my brother. Do you feel like it went well??
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I (think I) crushed verbal reasoning and the essays (EDIT) - I defined the question in terms of repression of challening opinions, took a little tour of art history (comparing the challenging nature of Cassatt's feminist works with Mappelthorpe's religious iconoclasm) and then went on to philosophy, noting that theorists like Mill argue that we can't repress something because it is unpopular, and further, we only really understand ourselves when we are challenged (paraphrasing his Utilitarianism); the second essay was (EDIT)- I started off by noting that this concept tends to remind one of both Robin Hood and Marx and Engels Communist Manifesto, but that there was a long philosophical and sociological tradition stressing mutual interdependence in society, as well as a demonstrable need to promote altruism - starting with Plato's Crito and willingness to die rather than go against the society that has benefitted him so well, to Aristotle's noting that we are by nature social animals, to social contract theorists like Locke, Kant, and Hobbes, to contemporary thinkers like Amitai Etzioni and John Rawls) - I felt more comfortable about the biological sciences than the physical sciences. I'm hoping for a 30; anything more is gravy.

Now I get to focus my attention on research, my writing projects, and the classes I'm teaching, so the wait shouldn't seem that long.
 
Quix said:
I (think I) crushed verbal reasoning and the essays (First was "(EDIT)- I defined the question in terms of repression of challening opinions, took a little tour of art history (comparing the challenging nature of Cassatt's feminist works with Mappelthorpe's religious iconoclasm) and then went on to philosophy, noting that theorists like Mill argue that we can't repress something because it is unpopular, and further, we only really understand ourselves when we are challenged (paraphrasing his Utilitarianism); the second essay was (EDIT) I started off by noting that this concept tends to remind one of both Robin Hood and Marx and Engels Communist Manifesto, but that there was a long philosophical and sociological tradition stressing mutual interdependence in society, as well as a demonstrable need to promote altruism - starting with Plato's Crito and willingness to die rather than go against the society that has benefitted him so well, to Aristotle's noting that we are by nature social animals, to social contract theorists like Locke, Kant, and Hobbes, to contemporary thinkers like Amitai Etzioni and John Rawls) - I felt more comfortable about the biological sciences than the physical sciences. I'm hoping for a 30; anything more is gravy.

Now I get to focus my attention on research, my writing projects, and the classes I'm teaching, so the wait shouldn't seem that long.
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well, you'll definately score high on the writing section. I wrote about Bill Clinton eating barbeque and got an S. So, you're a few steps above that. I felt like I'd done HORRIBLY coming out of mine and found I'd scored on the low end of my practice tests, but not lower. So, if you don't feel horrible I'd say you probably scored on the higher end of your practice test scores 👍 I like to speculate on such things. it's a bad habit.

Good luck with teaching. You get mucho respect from me. I was an awful teacher. :laugh:
 
Thanks! I could also be setting myself up for the karmic smackdown of all time, though. 😉

Did you just teach the history course, or were there more? As part of a grad program, as an adjunct? Inquiring minds want to know...
 
Quix, I'm a non-trad, too, and I think we had the same form (at least the same essay questions). I had DL.

I feel pretty good about my test, esp verbal, but who knows. The bio was crazy hard, and when I checked to see where the passages were adopted from and two were from research articles in Nature, I knew why.

Where are you applying?
 
Quix said:
Thanks! I could also be setting myself up for the karmic smackdown of all time, though. 😉

Did you just teach the history course, or were there more? As part of a grad program, as an adjunct? Inquiring minds want to know...
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I was a history grad student for a year there and just taught that particular course (twice). That was enough for me! I really loved my students but I was no good at it. They deserved better 🙂 I think I'll make a netter doctor than a teacher. I liked the one on one and small group stuff, though, so I'd love to teach in a clinical setting someday 👍 I really think teaching is the most important profession and wish it had worked out. But there just wasn't enough blood and guts involved. I missed the OR... :laugh:
 
I've decided to give up my compulsive status page checking... I mean does it even matter? Once I am complete? They will email or call me if they offer me an interview right?

This waiting game sucks. I wish that someone somewhere would give me some sort of love. I need something new.
 
ClosetNerd said:
I've decided to give up my compulsive status page checking... I mean does it even matter? Once I am complete? They will email or call me if they offer me an interview right?

This waiting game sucks. I wish that someone somewhere would give me some sort of love. I need something new.
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I was wondering the same thing. Not that I'm complaining about # of interviews, but it'd be nice to get some type of closure from the other schools I applied.
 
Are ya'all planning to take your spouse with you to your various out of town interviews (not the actual 30min-1hour interview but the rest of the day)? Are schools cool with this typically?
 
We decided it would be impractical for both my husband and I to miss work for interviews. Also purely speculative until I have an acceptance in hand. For these reasons we decided that he'd go with me on second looks, but not interviews.
 
what's the latest? any love from schools yet? I've completed most of my secondaries, but now I'm considering submitting more AMCAS applications to schools since I have not heard back from anybody yet.
 
I am still working on secondaries...I'm completely done with 8, but some of them are much longer for MD/PhD, so that's what's slowing me down.

Got love from UPitt, negative love from UNC (rejected MD/PhD...not sure yet about the MD program but they don't take many OOSers, so who knows).
 
Y_Marker said:
Did you need to run this by the school and are they generally cool with this?
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oh, i should clarify, they won't be making any kind of contact with the school itself. they're just coming along for the trip and to check out Philly. if i get an interview. i would never subject a med school to my 2 year old, or vice versa:laugh: I heard over on pre-allo a lot of schools have programs on interview day for the spouses though. but not the kids:laugh:
 
MiesVanDerMom said:
oh, i should clarify, they won't be making any kind of contact with the school itself. they're just coming along for the trip and to check out Philly. if i get an interview. i would never subject a med school to my 2 year old, or vice versa:laugh: I heard over on pre-allo a lot of schools have programs on interview day for the spouses though. but not the kids:laugh:
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Sorry to crash your thread! 🙂 Maybe I applied to the "wrong" schools, but there weren't any activities for spouses on interview day at any of my interviews last year! 😳 There were things for SOs during some Second Looks, though.

I didn't bring my spouse to any interviews--there wouldn't have been much of interest to him, anyway. Most of them consisted of a short introduction to the interview day, 1-3 interviews with faculty/admissions staff/students, a hospital/med school tour, maybe a short presentation on financial aid/housing, maybe a quick overview of the admissions process, and maybe a quick curriculum overview. At some interviews, there was a lot of down time, but it was a good chance to chat with other prospective students and the current med students that often came by to say hi. At other interviews, I literally barely found time for a bathroom break! 😱

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't bring SOs to any part of the actual interview day--of course your family is a big part of your decision, but their presence might leave the adcom with a weird impression. (You might be tempted to say, "Well, if they don't appreciate my family, it's not somewhere I want to be, anyway!" However, with the competitiveness of gaining admission, until you have at least one acceptance in hand, I wouldn't risk it.) Having the family check out the area/city while you're at the interview or after the interview and generally being there for moral support during your interview stay can be a good thing (or could be more distracting, depending on the type of person you are). FWIW, I never saw anyone bring their SO to any interview days (though I did see a parent or two 😱 which elicited dismayed and condescending looks from the adcom staff).

Just keep in mind that you probably won't get in everywhere you interview (so the SO attending could add unnecessary expense if you don't get in), and you'll probably want to go back to Second Looks (if available) for a more in-depth assessment of the school and area if you get in. If you can afford to go again, the SOs can go with you then (and it's even heavily encouraged at some schools). (A few schools will even subsidize your transportation to Second Looks, and many will find you free accomodations with a student if you want it.) Good luck! :luck:
 
My experience has been somewhat different wrt bringing spouse to interviews, esp those that have socials the night before. Most TX schools so far have been cool with it, though I was curious about other folks experience esp non Texas schools. Financial issues aside, this may even work to your advantage. At one of my interviews the interviewer wanted to meet my wife - she did after the interview was over. She was impressed at the initiative of bringing the wife and we talked about family for some time.

For OOS schools - to keep costs down - the second look idea probably works better.

If anyone does the spouse bring along for Wake Forest please let me know what the school says.
 
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