2010 checklist

[junkct]

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Hey all,

I was just wondering, for people applying for 2010 admission (starting to apply in June), what should we be concentrating on at this point in the process? As far as I know:
-taking the MCAT
-writing Personal Statement
-getting LORs
-updating CV (for LORs)

...is there anything else we would need to do before the school year ends or before we start filling out the primaries?

Sorry if there's a thread/sticky about this already!

 

[Jolt21]

Hey all,

I was just wondering, for people applying for 2010 admission (starting to apply in June), what should we be concentrating on at this point in the process? As far as I know:
-taking the MCAT
-writing Personal Statement
-getting LORs
-updating CV (for LORs)

...is there anything else we would need to do before the school year ends or before we start filling out the primaries?

Sorry if there's a thread/sticky about this already!

thats pretty much the gist right now...only thing i would add, is that if you have most of your stats set, starting making a very preliminary list of schools. look at requirements, gpas, etc...but thats only if you have extra time

does your school not help you out with a timeline? i've got timelines, checklists, biweekly meetings, email updates, etc...should def. head over to your school's Career Services center or whatever the equivilant is.

 

[junkct]

thats pretty much the gist right now...only thing i would add, is that if you have most of your stats set, starting making a very preliminary list of schools. look at requirements, gpas, etc...but thats only if you have extra time

does your school not help you out with a timeline? i've got timelines, checklists, biweekly meetings, email updates, etc...should def. head over to your school's Career Services center or whatever the equivilant is.

well, I mean they have timelines and everything, but it's most of the big things that they point out (MCAT, LORs, PS). There's a lot of smaller things that go into those big things. For example, you do need to have your MCAT done by april/may, but that means enrolling for and taking a prep course (if you wish) in jan/feb/march. Or for PS, you need to start working on it early so that you can get it into as many hands as possible for review/revisions. Most timelines don't put this stuff in there. It's the smaller things I'm concerned about... the little nitty gritty details. It's all so overwhelming. I don't want june to arrive, and then go "ah crap, I forgot to do X 3 months ago and now I have to rush it"

lol i don't know if that makes sense, but that's more of the stuff i'm worried about.

 

[sleepy12]

You could also get your descriptions ready for your work/activities section. They take longer than you think bc you need to put your hours and dates and the descriptions are important.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

These are more specific for certain types of applicants and are just the ones I can think off the top of my head.

a) Think about saving some money now to pay for travel expenses when you get interviews
b) Think of things you want to do with your year off (in case you are a senior now)
c) If you have a ton of time on your hands and are really bored and have no life, you could look at past secondaries and prepare some standard answers (or at least think about the topics a bit)

And remember, get everything (except your posts on SDN) proof-read...your application will look that much better without typos (this is especially important for people for whom english is a second language...like me 🙂)

 

[Anotherface]

Are you asking what your priorities should be?
If so:
-the first thing you can get and should get is your LOR.
-then focus either on MCAT or your Personal statement. If you are taking the MCAT early then work on your PS after the MCAT, and vice versa.
- when you finish all that you can start compiling your list of extracurricular activities/jobs/hobbies.
-finally you submit your primary and secondaries.

 

[junkct]

yeah! thanks guys, that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for... never thought about writing up descriptions for ECs. that's a good idea!

 

[BluntSurgeon]

seriously man, get your LORs in order and ready to go so that you can turn them in on the very first day. I was like you (started to prepare way early) and I was delayed at a few schools simply because one professor never got around to turning in that letter. Honestly man, LORs.

 

[redlight]

o man i responded to this but i guess i forgot to click reply or something...

i had a few decent ones like maybe start following current events in science/medicine/technology and public health policy more closely for interviews.. maybe checking out a few books on putting together an app in a coherent way or picking schools or approaching your essay or w/e is relevant.. start begging for cash from everyone..

start your mock interviews or get practice ones lined up.. if you don't have answers to common questions like "what kind of job satisfaction do you expect from a med career... how would you fix [insert major problem with the health system]," and so on

then i had some teasers like start getting ripped so you can be a stud by interview time if you aren't already.. er..um.. i don't remember the rest but i had some good ones!

 

[sleepy12]

I would say getting your LORs is the thing you should really do in advance because its the one thing that will revolve around someone elses schedule and you will have no control over it.