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2009 Non-Trad Applicants' Progress Thread
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Hmmm . . . maybe that is true. I'm not sure. Anyone know?
Progress on this end: decided not to go for what would basically be a second FAP appeal. The decision was made for me when I realized there were no more seats left for the July MCAT in my hometown. Grr! I knew that would happen! I'm now registered to take the test July 10th in my hubby's home city. I'm also tackling the daunting task of calling all of my schools to see if they'll waive secondary fees. I too would like to submit by the 15th, so I need to know if I need to take some schools off of my list.
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I'm a 2008 non-trad applicant, but I thought I'd peek in here and see how you were all doing. I wish you the BEST of luck! Knock em dead! 
I applied to 28 schools and completed 25 secondaries. However, there were a number of them that didn't have any essays (I found a thread on SDN about which secondaries are the quickest and....errrr...that may have had some impact on which extra schools I added to my list). And ping is right - there is a lot of repeat, so you can recycle and reuse a number of essays.
I was working full time starting in July, so I think the best thing I did was to go to the SDN secondary essay question thread from the year before and pre-write the essays while I waited to get secondaries back. Then, when I received them, I turned most of them around same day, or within a day or two. The only exceptions are the few that had mammoth essays (i.e., Pritzker, Rosalind Franklin, Rush (not big, but SO many little ones)). Those tended to take me a week.
Other things to keep in mind are LORs. No school will evaluate your file until you're "complete," which includes receipt of your LORs. If you're a lucky non-trad and have a committee letter, you're set. Just try to put a fire under the pre-med advising office to get that letter out so it's not the one thing holding you from review. If you don't have a committee letter, there will be hoops to jump through regarding what letters are required by which schools. I don't know much about that, but it looked like a headache. Also, even if you have a committee letter, there are a couple of schools (I think MCW, EVMS, GWU, maybe Penn State?) that will require an extra letter if you have a graduate degree. However, I convinced those schools to just accept a letter of good standing since I graduated from graduate (law) school so long ago (1999), and didn't have any type of advisor.
As for interviews, if I were you, I'd apply to as many schools as you can now. If you have to decline an interview later on down the road so be it. But better to have the option of delaying it a few weeks due to work reasons, than to have less interviews and less (or no) acceptances.
You do not need an MCAT score to submit your primary, or to be verified. In fact, the vast majority of schools will even send you out a secondary even if you have no MCAT score. But your application will be on hold until it does come in. The point is to get everything else in in the interim, so that you're complete and ready for review as soon as your MCAT score is released. For schools that screen though, you'll have to wait until they get your MCAT score before they send you a secondary. And I recall that while Loyola doesn't screen, they don't send secondaries until your MCAT scores are posted either.
I applied to 28 schools and completed 25 secondaries. However, there were a number of them that didn't have any essays (I found a thread on SDN about which secondaries are the quickest and....errrr...that may have had some impact on which extra schools I added to my list). And ping is right - there is a lot of repeat, so you can recycle and reuse a number of essays.
I was working full time starting in July, so I think the best thing I did was to go to the SDN secondary essay question thread from the year before and pre-write the essays while I waited to get secondaries back. Then, when I received them, I turned most of them around same day, or within a day or two. The only exceptions are the few that had mammoth essays (i.e., Pritzker, Rosalind Franklin, Rush (not big, but SO many little ones)). Those tended to take me a week.
Other things to keep in mind are LORs. No school will evaluate your file until you're "complete," which includes receipt of your LORs. If you're a lucky non-trad and have a committee letter, you're set. Just try to put a fire under the pre-med advising office to get that letter out so it's not the one thing holding you from review. If you don't have a committee letter, there will be hoops to jump through regarding what letters are required by which schools. I don't know much about that, but it looked like a headache. Also, even if you have a committee letter, there are a couple of schools (I think MCW, EVMS, GWU, maybe Penn State?) that will require an extra letter if you have a graduate degree. However, I convinced those schools to just accept a letter of good standing since I graduated from graduate (law) school so long ago (1999), and didn't have any type of advisor.
As for interviews, if I were you, I'd apply to as many schools as you can now. If you have to decline an interview later on down the road so be it. But better to have the option of delaying it a few weeks due to work reasons, than to have less interviews and less (or no) acceptances.
You do not need an MCAT score to submit your primary, or to be verified. In fact, the vast majority of schools will even send you out a secondary even if you have no MCAT score. But your application will be on hold until it does come in. The point is to get everything else in in the interim, so that you're complete and ready for review as soon as your MCAT score is released. For schools that screen though, you'll have to wait until they get your MCAT score before they send you a secondary. And I recall that while Loyola doesn't screen, they don't send secondaries until your MCAT scores are posted either.
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*Goes to search for that thread...*
Thanks so much for your advice. It's sort of the conclusion I was gradually coming to as well. I'm still not going to apply to 25+, but I've decided to added several places which wouldn't require an overnight to interview. Man, I wish I wasn't po'! Fingers crossed. 🙂
Also, thanks for clearing up the MCAT question. There are a lot of conflicting threads out there on the topic.
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Sigh. I actually just cut my list from 13 to 11, because two of them were not in cities where my husband could continue with his PhD. I have faith that I'll get into one of them, though. Maybe not this year, but next year fo' sho'.
I just hit "submit" on my AMCAS application. Did anyone else feel like barfing a little when they submitted their app?
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I absolutely felt this way! I tend to obsess and nitpick over details until the last mintute. I was shaking when I hit the button.I just hit "submit" on my AMCAS application. Did anyone else feel like barfing a little when they submitted their app?
I was also a little annoyed that instead of being reviewed, I was put on hold because one school was late sending transcripts. I called the registrar of the school several times, but was only able to get voice mail 😡. I finally got a hold of someone, and was assured that my transcripts would be sent out the next day. I would suggest that if you like to tweak until the last minute, wait to hit the button until you are sure the transcripts are on their way.
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I'm glad someone can sympathize! I kept going over the mindless stuff, like the spacing and wording of my experience list.
As for the transcripts...when you log on to your AMCAS application, if you click on the link on the left that says "Details" (near "Status"), it tells you which of your transcripts have been received and which have not. No guessing needed! Hope you get your transcripts soon....
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Hey Guys!
Just have to share - I had the most amazing conversation this afternoon with the assistant dean of admissions at one of the schools I was rejected from last year. I've been trying to call all of them to discuss my app, ways to improve, etc. Anyway, I was not exactly prepared to be connected on the spot to someone high up, but wow . . . I am SOO glad I did that! He told me quite a few things that I think may be helpful to others here, so I'll share:
1) Non-traditional applicants stand out and are already interesting to the committee becuase of their varied backgrounds (Woo-hoo! Sidebar - given my art history background, we had a fun little dialogue about Italian museums!)
2) It's important to have LORs from various perpectives - academic and clinical were the two specifically mentioned (research also, if you have it/want to do it). For the clinical LOR, he said they want to read in your letters that you are comfortable around patients, you've had enough exposure to know what medicine is really like, etc.
3) Get your app in early and turn those secondaries around quickly!! I told him that I knew I applied late last year and felt that likely worked against me. He agreed and added something I didn't think about - I didn't turn that particular secondary around very quickly (took me a month or more to complete it. I was waiting on LORs, but should have just submitted). He said this may not be the case everywhere, but at this particular school they take that sort of thing into consideration as a measure of your interest/motivation/etc. (gulp!) They know you can't always control how quickly your LORs are received, but you can control how soon you do your end of the work. (So, use that thread on last year's secondary topics and do some pre-writing!)
4) I told him I had taken microbiology and biochem and done well in both since last year. He said this was great and that I should continue to take upper level coursework and put those on my AMCAS app as "future courses." He made me feel a lot better about my app by saying they admit who you are now, not as you were 2 or 5 or 10 years ago (yes!!!!). They want to know that you're going to walk into your first year med classes, have a grasp on some of the material, and not feel like a fish out of water. (He specifically mentioned anatomy as another one I should try to take before matriculation . . . granted, this is just one' school's perspective)
5) I had been wondering how schools would view me taking the MCAT 3 times. This was a mixed answer - he said (naturally) it's not ideal because they look at the MCAT as a measure of how you'll do on Step I, and you only get one shot at that . . . but on the other hand, they know that no one wants to take the test once, let alone twice, and most definitely not 3 times, so the fact that I'm giving it another go shows that I'm going to do whatever it takes to get in . . . and that's a good thing. 🙂D)
Anyway, I thought that may be helpful info. I will stress that this was only one school's perspective, though. If you're interested in hearing what school it was, PM me. (I would post it but I'm being paranoid/feeling transparent right now!)
Just have to share - I had the most amazing conversation this afternoon with the assistant dean of admissions at one of the schools I was rejected from last year. I've been trying to call all of them to discuss my app, ways to improve, etc. Anyway, I was not exactly prepared to be connected on the spot to someone high up, but wow . . . I am SOO glad I did that! He told me quite a few things that I think may be helpful to others here, so I'll share:
1) Non-traditional applicants stand out and are already interesting to the committee becuase of their varied backgrounds (Woo-hoo! Sidebar - given my art history background, we had a fun little dialogue about Italian museums!)
2) It's important to have LORs from various perpectives - academic and clinical were the two specifically mentioned (research also, if you have it/want to do it). For the clinical LOR, he said they want to read in your letters that you are comfortable around patients, you've had enough exposure to know what medicine is really like, etc.
3) Get your app in early and turn those secondaries around quickly!! I told him that I knew I applied late last year and felt that likely worked against me. He agreed and added something I didn't think about - I didn't turn that particular secondary around very quickly (took me a month or more to complete it. I was waiting on LORs, but should have just submitted). He said this may not be the case everywhere, but at this particular school they take that sort of thing into consideration as a measure of your interest/motivation/etc. (gulp!) They know you can't always control how quickly your LORs are received, but you can control how soon you do your end of the work. (So, use that thread on last year's secondary topics and do some pre-writing!)
4) I told him I had taken microbiology and biochem and done well in both since last year. He said this was great and that I should continue to take upper level coursework and put those on my AMCAS app as "future courses." He made me feel a lot better about my app by saying they admit who you are now, not as you were 2 or 5 or 10 years ago (yes!!!!). They want to know that you're going to walk into your first year med classes, have a grasp on some of the material, and not feel like a fish out of water. (He specifically mentioned anatomy as another one I should try to take before matriculation . . . granted, this is just one' school's perspective)
5) I had been wondering how schools would view me taking the MCAT 3 times. This was a mixed answer - he said (naturally) it's not ideal because they look at the MCAT as a measure of how you'll do on Step I, and you only get one shot at that . . . but on the other hand, they know that no one wants to take the test once, let alone twice, and most definitely not 3 times, so the fact that I'm giving it another go shows that I'm going to do whatever it takes to get in . . . and that's a good thing. 🙂D)
Anyway, I thought that may be helpful info. I will stress that this was only one school's perspective, though. If you're interested in hearing what school it was, PM me. (I would post it but I'm being paranoid/feeling transparent right now!)
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CultureDoc--you rock! Thanks for sharing all of that insight. Good luck with your apps.
I haven't submitted yet because I keep changing things in my personal statement. I've had four "final drafts" now (I'mup to ten total). Ugh. I think I'm going to force myself to hit the button on Sunday. I really need to get it out of the way so I can focus on the MCAT.
But for now, I'm going out for dinner with friends! Have a great Friday everyone.
On a sidenote, has anyone seen the animated short "Rejected"? Ahhhh, so classic.
I haven't submitted yet because I keep changing things in my personal statement. I've had four "final drafts" now (I'mup to ten total). Ugh. I think I'm going to force myself to hit the button on Sunday. I really need to get it out of the way so I can focus on the MCAT.
But for now, I'm going out for dinner with friends! Have a great Friday everyone.
On a sidenote, has anyone seen the animated short "Rejected"? Ahhhh, so classic.
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Great post! Thanks for all of the info.
I, too, have had wonderful and encouraging experiences speaking with admissions folks at medical schools, and so I am (foolishly??) optimistic about my chances, despite my very sad undergraduate GPA. I really hope they just skip right over those to my post-bacc grades and ECs. 😀
Go non-trads! 👍
I, too, have had wonderful and encouraging experiences speaking with admissions folks at medical schools, and so I am (foolishly??) optimistic about my chances, despite my very sad undergraduate GPA. I really hope they just skip right over those to my post-bacc grades and ECs. 😀
Go non-trads! 👍
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Hey!
Hope all the non-trads had a relaxing yet productive weekend.
Finally. AMCAS submitted. I'm hoping I make the 24 June tranche of delivered applications, but right now I'm just going to do my best to shift my focus to the MCAT. Nor will I think about the cute shoes I could have bought with the application fees.
I would have taken a practice exam today, but my neighbors were having a rowdy BBQ and I couldn't really concentrate. My last practice exam was at my goal score, so that was a bit reassuring. They've quieted down, so perhaps I'll just study the endocrine system until I fall asleep.
Good luck everybody!
Hope all the non-trads had a relaxing yet productive weekend.
Finally. AMCAS submitted. I'm hoping I make the 24 June tranche of delivered applications, but right now I'm just going to do my best to shift my focus to the MCAT. Nor will I think about the cute shoes I could have bought with the application fees.
I would have taken a practice exam today, but my neighbors were having a rowdy BBQ and I couldn't really concentrate. My last practice exam was at my goal score, so that was a bit reassuring. They've quieted down, so perhaps I'll just study the endocrine system until I fall asleep.
Good luck everybody!
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It really depends on how busy they are. People have been tracking the times on this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527396
Looks like the recent average is about four days and those who submitted on the 9th haven't been verified yet.
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Haha, me too. Ah well, we won't know until we know. 😛 I'm trimming my list back down too, just don't have the money on hand for a wide application cycle. My mom is uninsured and it's been a rough year for her so I'm pooooooooooooor. Good luck to us with our slim lists, we're good enough, we're smart enough, and doggonit people like us. :-D
Yes, that is the true tragedy here, all those neglected shoes. My feet are ready to boycott.
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I say go ahead and get the shoes! What's another $50 or $100 when we're going to have $200,000 in student loan debt? 😎
Just kiddin. But retail therapy IS extremely effective in terms of stress relief. Used clothing stores are a great compromise - it's new to me, but cheap!😀
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I've been out of school for a little while but I'm interested in getting into medicine. I'll need to finish off a few science courses to get prereqs out of the way, but my GPA wasn't too bad (3.3) in undergrad.
My question - I'm not sure what field I want to go into. I'm at least a year away from applying but I wanted to know which test(s) I should be looking into. Do I have the order of the tests correct in terms of the choices I will have after taking them?
Thanks in advance!
My question - I'm not sure what field I want to go into. I'm at least a year away from applying but I wanted to know which test(s) I should be looking into. Do I have the order of the tests correct in terms of the choices I will have after taking them?
Thanks in advance!
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Is anyone else spending WAY too much time on SDN lately? I'm getting no work done between SDN and thinking about my apps...baaaaaaaaaaad girl. Gonna get fired, which will put a crimp in my shoe/interview fund. 😛
ETA: I'm a giant flaming dork for this, aren't I?
ETA: I'm a giant flaming dork for this, aren't I?
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EXACTLY. And the thought of getting through another year of this work makes me want to gag. Sad part is, it's not a bad job, I'm just done with it.
If only we had problems like this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=531787 🙄🙄🙄🙄
🙄🙄
🙄🙄
I need to be a trophy wife. Er. Trophy doctor.
Ok, I'm actually going to do some work now. 🙁
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Yes, I am definitely perusing SDN way more than I should be. There are so many useful and so many ridiculous things on here!
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Hey Guys! Here comes a GIANT muti-quoter because I feel the need to respond to everyone . . . I am SUCH a dork!!
It was my pleasure to share - I was on SUCH a high after I had that call. I had to dish! And I did think there was some good info to share there. And yes, now I too am feeling possibly foolishly optimistic about my chances . . . *sigh* . . . can't I fast forward to see how it all turns out??! 😛
SCORE! WTG!
I, sadly, have not done so yet. Grr! All my transcripts have been received, so there's no excuse for me now. I'm just hung up on my PS, which is sooo annoying . . . But I need to get this out of the way to focus on the MCAT.
I LOVE the non-trad forum! Only here would you find a Stuart Smalley quote. Yessss!! 😀
Oh geez . . . this has SOO been my line of reasoning as of late! . . . this could escalate quickly!
No, you're not! I have certainly felt the same way, so I force myself to take SDN breaks (of like several days) because otherwise I don't get anything done! It's RIDICULOUSLY addictive!
GOOD GOD! That thread is out of hand! It's like a train wreck . . . I knew I should avert my eyes, but I just kept reading! 😱😱 There is some seriously effed up stuff on SDN (and by SDN I mean pre-allo 😛). Last year (and probably every year) there was a thread on stripping to get through med school . . . and one on taking ritalin or adderall for the MCAT . . . I thought they were jokes at first, but then I got sucked in to reading them! Oh well . . . it takes all kinds, I guess. 🙄
Ok, now for some actual work before I fall asleep tonight!! Ciao tutti!
It was my pleasure to share - I was on SUCH a high after I had that call. I had to dish! And I did think there was some good info to share there. And yes, now I too am feeling possibly foolishly optimistic about my chances . . . *sigh* . . . can't I fast forward to see how it all turns out??! 😛
SCORE! WTG!
I, sadly, have not done so yet. Grr! All my transcripts have been received, so there's no excuse for me now. I'm just hung up on my PS, which is sooo annoying . . . But I need to get this out of the way to focus on the MCAT.
I LOVE the non-trad forum! Only here would you find a Stuart Smalley quote. Yessss!! 😀Oh geez . . . this has SOO been my line of reasoning as of late! . . . this could escalate quickly!
No, you're not! I have certainly felt the same way, so I force myself to take SDN breaks (of like several days) because otherwise I don't get anything done! It's RIDICULOUSLY addictive!
GOOD GOD! That thread is out of hand! It's like a train wreck . . . I knew I should avert my eyes, but I just kept reading! 😱😱 There is some seriously effed up stuff on SDN (and by SDN I mean pre-allo 😛). Last year (and probably every year) there was a thread on stripping to get through med school . . . and one on taking ritalin or adderall for the MCAT . . . I thought they were jokes at first, but then I got sucked in to reading them! Oh well . . . it takes all kinds, I guess. 🙄
Ok, now for some actual work before I fall asleep tonight!! Ciao tutti!
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I know, right?! The craaaaaaaziness.
So, hopefully you got your PS done last night. Are you in need of a little tough love? I haven't submitted mine either, but ostensibly I'm waiting for a spring transcript to get there. I did, however, finish the Yale supplementary yesterday...WHEEEEEEE! First secondary done before my primary is even submitted. Weird.
How's everyone else doing? Are you MCATers enjoying the wait for your scores? 😉
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Here we go! I've been verified since the 4th and I'm just waiting on the big release on Tuesday... 
I want to rock this year!
Good luck to you all!
I want to rock this year!
Good luck to you all!
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Here we go! I've been verified since the 4th and I'm just waiting on the big release on Tuesday...
I want to rock this year!
Good luck to you all!
Good luck to you too!
I just submitted today. I'll be on hold until they receive my last transcript (sent on the 12th, how long does it fricking take to get from MA to DC?!), but I had to stop the cycle of moving commas here and there. It was REALLY hard to push that button. Anyway, it seems highly unlikely that I'll be verified by the 24th, but I hope it's not too much later.
Oh, and just to out myself as, well, I dunno what...I finished the Yale supplementary yesterday. It's pretty funny that I'm done with a secondary before my AMCAS is even being verified.
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Awesome job on the secondary! I'll cross my fingers that you get verified quickly.
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Applying to 47 schools (includes many I probably have to business applying to).
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Thanks! You are already verified, right? Just waiting on MCAT scores?
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Another non-trad here. I'm complete/verified with AMCAS and TMDSAS, have been complete with AACOMAS since 6/2. Applying to 26 schools or so. I'm really hoping this is my year. Best of luck to you all!!
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Yep! I took the MCAT in 2003, so those scores were still in the system. I think that technically means my app is "complete" and will be sent out tomorrow. From what I can tell, it is the schools' policy on how fresh a MCAT score must be.
I submitted TMDSAS application but unfortunately i did not think my past nonclinical work was important extracurriculars untill someone else told me they counted for a lot. I sent an email requesting the update, but my apps had been submitted to the schools already. The response i got was i should have proofread my application before(which is true). I did not get an explanation if they would still send it to the schools anyway. The FAQs do say update requests by email will be fowarded to the school. I have been unsure if they sent it or not.
Has anyone had this experience before?
Has anyone had this experience before?
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I finally got verified yesterday after two weeks in the verification line. I just checked my email, and I already have three secondaries🙂! I hope that means I have a chance, and not that the schools send secondaries to everyone. I hope I get more, and that they don't all come in clusters so I have time to give each one the attention it needs. I still don't have all my LOR's lined up. My favorite prof ( one of the few who might remember me) is not teaching until the second summer session, and I won't be able to talk to him until then. Should I wait to turn in my secondaries until then?
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A couple of things - the secondaries you're receiving now are the unscreened ones (the ones they send to everyone). There actually aren't that many schools that screen. Look up the schools you applied to in the MSAR - it will say if they send secondaries to all applicants or screened applicants.
As for waiting on your LORs to turn in secondaries, the answer is NO!! Turn those around as quickly as you can (while still doing a good job on them). I've spoken with a few folks high up on the admissions food chain now, and they said that they know when they sent you the secondary and when it was submitted. While they know that you might need to wait on a LOR, having your part done ASAP shows motivation and interest.
Good luck!
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Check out the pre-allo forum, lots of info over there.
So how's everyone doing? I am still waiting to be verified. ARG. I'm also waiting on my last letter writer. She said she'd have it in two weeks ago, and it's all that's holding up my committee letter, so it's driving me nuts. 😡
Anyway, other than getting good practice with waiting, I'm really enjoying my summer. 😀 Y'all??
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MCAT MCAT MCAT... other than that not much. I am REALLY looking forward to the summer after July 18th. I keep checking the secondary thread to see if anyone has received anything from KU.
My grad advisor has been "working" on my letter for a while too... but I figure it's not worth bothering her until after the MCAT because my application won't be complete for a while anyway. And she's been finishing up spring term grades, sitting on theses defenses, etc., so I don't think she's blowing me off.
Breeak, did you go through your undergrad for the committee letter? I mulled that over, but I've been out of Cambridge for a few years now and it didn't feel like a good fit for me to go through their office. Just curious.
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I hope your mcat studying is going well, it's the home stretch! Since you already have scores I guess there's a little pressure to do better though, huh?
My worries about the last LOR were primarily about my committee letter, since I figured they wouldn't start on that until all my LOR were in...but luckily I found out they've done a draft for me and are just waiting on that letter to round it out. I'm guessing that means the committee letter will be done very quickly after hers comes in at least. She called me 3 weeks ago to say she was literally working on it then, and since then it hasn't shown up, and she hasn't answered my emails or calls about it. I'm close to walking over to her office and harassing her in person, but she was out this week. Either that or get the other Dean I know to lay the guilt on a little. I know she likes me and it will be a great letter - she's just a little flaky sometimes, but it's driving me NUTS. Glad you're able to be a little more sanguine about it. 😎
I am not getting a committee letter from my undergrad. A) they don't do committee letters, only a letter submission service like interfolio. Most schools express a preference for a committee letter. B) I have had a lot more recent contact with the people at the HES HCP program, and felt like the focus should be on who I am now. It's annoying that it was $500. Hopefully worth it. The premed office at my undergrad does offer essay review and advice though. A Dean that I was very close with while I was there retired and moonlights in the premed office, so I've been able to get really good feedback from her. It's kind of nice having two sources. 😀
So if you're not going through your undergrad are you going the interfolio route?
Cross your fingers for me that I get verified today please everybody - if I have to wait through a long weekend I think I will tear some hair out. I was hoping to use the extra time to plow through some secondaries. 😛
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I'm still struggling to get my SMART transcripts added to my application. I have no clue how to fill out the application for the courses taken in the Navy. Lab/no lab? It was all hands-on...
Any other Navy Nukes have an application filled out for a previous year that can give some guidance?
Any other Navy Nukes have an application filled out for a previous year that can give some guidance?
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I finally submitted my Texas apps. 😀 I hope to have the funds to submit my AMCAS and AACOMAS before the end of the Month.
I am only applying to 18 schools. I had 38, but realized, i couldnt afford it, and that was BEFORE i added up all the cost of secondaries. 😱
Anywhoo.. Good Luck to you all...
I am only applying to 18 schools. I had 38, but realized, i couldnt afford it, and that was BEFORE i added up all the cost of secondaries. 😱
Anywhoo.. Good Luck to you all...
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Finally verified with all 3 services - TMDSAS, AMCAS, and AACOMAS. I've started getting secondaries in and am trying to turn them back around in under a week. Hoping I can sneak my apps in before all the better qualified apps get in!
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Yay non-Trads!
I just submitted my secondary... Right now I'm applying EDP to one school so that one secondary is a major milestone for me. Then there is the MCAT on Friday. Ack!!!! After Friday, all I need to do is make sure my LOR's make it in by the time my MCAT score is released in August.
Maybe I'll go to sleep at a reasonable time tonight. I hope everyone else is doing well!
I just submitted my secondary... Right now I'm applying EDP to one school so that one secondary is a major milestone for me. Then there is the MCAT on Friday. Ack!!!! After Friday, all I need to do is make sure my LOR's make it in by the time my MCAT score is released in August.
Maybe I'll go to sleep at a reasonable time tonight. I hope everyone else is doing well!
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Another Class of 2012 successful non-trad chiming in to wish you guys the very best of luck. I can vividly remember being where you are now, and thinking how incredible it would be to get accepted. Now I'm on the other side of that hurdle and I can tell you that it feels fantastic! Except now I'm getting a bit nervous. 😉
For those who are applying to fewer schools, don't freak out when you see others applying to a huge number. I applied to ten schools, filled out secondaries for only six of them, was granted three interviews, and got accepted to my first choice school right before Thanksgiving, negating the need to go to the last two interviews. My numbers were decent, but hardly stellar. Applying way broadly may be necessary if you're weak academically, but don't go nuts. That's a lot of money.
Some quick advice:
1) As a non-trad, you've got life experience. While you're competing directly with the trad students in terms of numbers, your true strength lies in all the life stuff that lies beyond the little enclosed world of undergrad education. Use it in your PS and use it in your interview.
2) Stay the hell out of pre-allo. Those people are completely nuts and will drag you into the swirling mass of paranoia, misinformation, and neuroticism that is their version of the application cycle. Seriously, stay away.
3) Don't screw around on studying for the MCAT (if you haven't taken it already!) and especially on your secondaries. Turn them around and get the out of the door as fast as you can while maintaining quality.
4) Keep perspective. It's easy to get all caught up in the numbers and find yourself stressing out in a completely counterproductive way. If you want an example of the sort of frothy-mouthed lunatic you'll become if you start obsessing over this stuff, you'll find them in pre-allo.
5) Keep a sense of humour. Most of this process has a strong element of the absurd in it. Laugh; you'll feel better.
6) Stick together. Ask for help when you need it, and give it when you can. These are your future colleagues you're already talking to. Be cool to each other.
Good luck. May you all find the success you're looking for.
For those who are applying to fewer schools, don't freak out when you see others applying to a huge number. I applied to ten schools, filled out secondaries for only six of them, was granted three interviews, and got accepted to my first choice school right before Thanksgiving, negating the need to go to the last two interviews. My numbers were decent, but hardly stellar. Applying way broadly may be necessary if you're weak academically, but don't go nuts. That's a lot of money.
Some quick advice:
1) As a non-trad, you've got life experience. While you're competing directly with the trad students in terms of numbers, your true strength lies in all the life stuff that lies beyond the little enclosed world of undergrad education. Use it in your PS and use it in your interview.
2) Stay the hell out of pre-allo. Those people are completely nuts and will drag you into the swirling mass of paranoia, misinformation, and neuroticism that is their version of the application cycle. Seriously, stay away.
3) Don't screw around on studying for the MCAT (if you haven't taken it already!) and especially on your secondaries. Turn them around and get the out of the door as fast as you can while maintaining quality.
4) Keep perspective. It's easy to get all caught up in the numbers and find yourself stressing out in a completely counterproductive way. If you want an example of the sort of frothy-mouthed lunatic you'll become if you start obsessing over this stuff, you'll find them in pre-allo.
5) Keep a sense of humour. Most of this process has a strong element of the absurd in it. Laugh; you'll feel better.
6) Stick together. Ask for help when you need it, and give it when you can. These are your future colleagues you're already talking to. Be cool to each other.
Good luck. May you all find the success you're looking for.
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Thanks for the above quick advice.
You're a year ahead of me and I'm lurking in order to glean nuggets of wisdom. (like stay out of pre-allo; I have.)
Some of you are applying to 40something schools?
Is that a lot to anyone else or am I still wet behind the ears. I am in a situation in which my family is well established in the Philadelphia region. I will be applying to the five medical schools in Philly. I suppose I'm a little light in the loafers with regard to the number of schools to which I am applying.
You're a year ahead of me and I'm lurking in order to glean nuggets of wisdom. (like stay out of pre-allo; I have.)
Some of you are applying to 40something schools?
Is that a lot to anyone else or am I still wet behind the ears. I am in a situation in which my family is well established in the Philadelphia region. I will be applying to the five medical schools in Philly. I suppose I'm a little light in the loafers with regard to the number of schools to which I am applying.
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Thanks for the advice DeAlighieri. 🙂
Coffee good luck on the MCAT. I'm jealous you aren't buried in secondaries.
Brown, I think the LOR situation gets a lot more complicated when you aren't using a committee letter because you are correct, different schools have different letter requirements. Lots of people deal with it though, so just do your research.
As for me, I'm chugging through secondaries, 5/18 down. Totally stuck on BU's educational narrative essay though. Blech. Anyone else incredibly sick of talking about themselves yet?
Coffee good luck on the MCAT. I'm jealous you aren't buried in secondaries.
Brown, I think the LOR situation gets a lot more complicated when you aren't using a committee letter because you are correct, different schools have different letter requirements. Lots of people deal with it though, so just do your research.
As for me, I'm chugging through secondaries, 5/18 down. Totally stuck on BU's educational narrative essay though. Blech. Anyone else incredibly sick of talking about themselves yet?
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Hello Fellow Non-Trads. I am new to this thread but I remember reading SDN (many moons ago) when I decided to get serious about my move from PhD to MD. I have taken a lot of inspiration from the threads. Keep up the hard work. Best of luck to everyone this cycle.
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hey, all, I'm applying EDP to ne school and have been complete there for a couple of weeks. Sounds like they won't start talking about interviews for another few weeks though so time to sit and wait....
