2011 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

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AGLAIA said:
Wow!! Congrats!!
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Yeah, I'm totally floating on a fluffy cloud of disbelief right now. 😀

Or, um, maybe that's just the percocet from my knee surgery this afternoon. 🙄
 
Dianyla said:
Or, um, maybe that's just the percocet from my knee surgery this afternoon. 🙄
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Hehe, we won't tell! Congrats! Goes to show that the squeaky wheel does indeed get the grease. 😀
 
Dianyla said:
Yeah, I'm totally floating on a fluffy cloud of disbelief right now. 😀

Or, um, maybe that's just the percocet from my knee surgery this afternoon. 🙄
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Meh, I would be floaty too if I could add SF to OHSU on my list of interview invites! Good on you for advocating for yourself and asking for another look!!
 
I'm really excited today. I was at my volunteer gig this morning, talking to the IT head about the project I'm working on for them. I mentioned that I'm out of a job in December and the guy told me that I could probably work for them.

The job he said that they had open is an interface job WITH THE SCHOOL THAT I AM INTERVIEWING AT AND APPLYING FOR A FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP.

Excuse me for shouting. I'm excited.
 
badb100d said:
Hehe, we won't tell! Congrats! Goes to show that the squeaky wheel does indeed get the grease. 😀
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Squeak squeak!

PS: I love your avatar & title.
AGLAIA said:
Meh, I would be floaty too if I could add SF to OHSU on my list of interview invites! Good on you for advocating for yourself and asking for another look!!
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It's strange, a few people I've talked to about this all think it's crazy to appeal a rejection. From my experience of being on the hiring side in the professional world, I know how hard it is to sort through piles and piles of applicants, all of whom start looking about the same. It's so easy to get overlooked, and I really have specific reasons for wanting to go to this school. Also, UCSF has a specific appeals process posted on their website, which is encouraging.

I think I might just float away into outer space if I got an interview invite. 😀

EdLongshanks said:
I'm really excited today. I was at my volunteer gig this morning, talking to the IT head about the project I'm working on for them. I mentioned that I'm out of a job in December and the guy told me that I could probably work for them.

The job he said that they had open is an interface job WITH THE SCHOOL THAT I AM INTERVIEWING AT AND APPLYING FOR A FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP.

Excuse me for shouting. I'm excited.
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I've been doing IT for a hospital for the last 12 years, and highly recommend it. The benefits are great, and it's cool to see how that side of the house operates. Not to mention the professional connections! :luck:

eablackwell said:
Woot! Awesome! Congrats and good luck!! 👍:luck:
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Thank you! I'm working on that secondary now, thankfully it's soooooo much easier than OHSU. If you're doing MD only, there are no essays. Really, none. I'm debating whether to apply to their "underserved focus" track and that does require essay, I figure it can't hurt to have more space to write and show myself well. :xf:
 
Q,

What is the story of your Dean's letter? Are they letting you graduate 🙂
 
Dianyla said:
OMG!! After being rejected pre-secondary and appealing, I just got a UCSF secondary invite tonight. :soexcited:
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Awesome! I know of one other person who appealed and did not get an invite, so double kudos to you. 😀

EdLongshanks said:
I'm really excited today. I was at my volunteer gig this morning, talking to the IT head about the project I'm working on for them. I mentioned that I'm out of a job in December and the guy told me that I could probably work for them.

The job he said that they had open is an interface job WITH THE SCHOOL THAT I AM INTERVIEWING AT AND APPLYING FOR A FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP.

Excuse me for shouting. I'm excited.
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As well you should be. Congrats to you too!

EdLongshanks said:
Q,

What is the story of your Dean's letter? Are they letting you graduate 🙂
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Did I tell you about the letter already, or is this just one of your freaky coincidences? I'm thinking it's a freaky coincidence, because I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you this story!

So, Dean's letter. My school allows us to read our Dean's letters to make sure there are no errors. Which it's a good thing I did, because the dean had put the subspecialty I want to go into (i.e., fellowship I want to do in the future) instead of the specialty I'm applying for (i.e., residency) in the letter. Minor detail that was easy to change. The rest of the letter was stellar; I got the highest level of recommendation. The dean also cited portions of my clinical evals from some of the major rotations (medicine, peds, OB/gyn, etc), and mentioned some of my research and volunteering activities while in med school.

Here's why Ed's question freaked me out a bit. At my school, the Dean's letters are actually written by two people: the Dean of Students and the Dean of the Medical School. The student dean, who I know pretty well because we have worked together on various projects over the years, has been joking for a while now about not wanting to let me graduate. Well, the deans actually wrote that in my Dean's letter. :laugh:

Personal feelings aside, yes, they are letting me graduate. 🙂
 
QofQuimica said:
Did I tell you about the letter already, or is this just one of your freaky coincidences? I'm thinking it's a freaky coincidence, because I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you this story!
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It's a funny coincidence. No, I didn't know the story. Congratulations on the great Dean's letter. That should get you into one of your top 3.
 
QofQuimica said:
Awesome! I know of one other person who appealed and did not get an invite, so double kudos to you. 😀
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I'm still afraid to go back and re-read the letter of appeal that I wrote... it was a little "out there" as I'm sure you can imagine. I must have piqued their morbid curiosity. :meanie:
QofQuimica said:
The rest of the letter was stellar; I got the highest level of recommendation. The dean also cited portions of my clinical evals from some of the major rotations (medicine, peds, OB/gyn, etc), and mentioned some of my research and volunteering activities while in med school.
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Of course we never doubted that you would get anything less, Q. Congrats! 👍
QofQuimica said:
Personal feelings aside, yes, they are letting me graduate. 🙂
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My employer LOR said essentially the same thing, that they didn't want to let me go. I actually had to choose my letter-writer very carefully, because I wouldn't put it past one of my bosses to actually sabotage my efforts. 🙄
 
QofQuimica said:
Awesome! I know of one other person who appealed and did not get an invite, so double kudos to you. 😀


As well you should be. Congrats to you too!


Did I tell you about the letter already, or is this just one of your freaky coincidences? I'm thinking it's a freaky coincidence, because I'm pretty sure I didn't tell you this story!

So, Dean's letter. My school allows us to read our Dean's letters to make sure there are no errors. Which it's a good thing I did, because the dean had put the subspecialty I want to go into (i.e., fellowship I want to do in the future) instead of the specialty I'm applying for (i.e., residency) in the letter. Minor detail that was easy to change. The rest of the letter was stellar; I got the highest level of recommendation. The dean also cited portions of my clinical evals from some of the major rotations (medicine, peds, OB/gyn, etc), and mentioned some of my research and volunteering activities while in med school.

Here's why Ed's question freaked me out a bit. At my school, the Dean's letters are actually written by two people: the Dean of Students and the Dean of the Medical School. The student dean, who I know pretty well because we have worked together on various projects over the years, has been joking for a while now about not wanting to let me graduate. Well, the deans actually wrote that in my Dean's letter. :laugh:

Personal feelings aside, yes, they are letting me graduate. 🙂
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Q, you are such an inspiration for us. Thanks for being the definition of awesomeness. You're advice and humor has helped me the entire time that I have been a premed student. I speak for all of us when I say, thanks so much for all you do.

I just know you are going to get into any program that you want!
 
67333_446810949143_782499143_5120609_2075978_n.jpg


This was my fortune tonight. I hope it's true; my state school's committee is meeting this week!! :laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
got home today to a letter of acceptance from Drexel. It's my first acceptance so I'm overjoyed. I cried then I started dancing around my living room.

😀
 
catswym said:
got home today to a letter of acceptance from Drexel. It's my first acceptance so I'm overjoyed. I cried then I started dancing around my living room.

😀
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Congrats!!!👍👍
 
catswym said:
got home today to a letter of acceptance from Drexel. It's my first acceptance so I'm overjoyed. I cried then I started dancing around my living room.

😀
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Awesome. Well deserved!! I think crying and dancing is a completely appropriate reaction!!! 😛
 
For months I've gotten up every morning hoping to find some sort of good news med school email in my inbox, and invariably found some junk mail instead. This morning I could hardly believe it when I received an invitation to an interview at Mayo Medical School! I'm so excited!
 
Just an update... ACCEPTED TO MERCER!!!! I can't believe it - don't ever let anyone tell you an MD is out of reach!
 
catswym said:
got home today to a letter of acceptance from Drexel. It's my first acceptance so I'm overjoyed. I cried then I started dancing around my living room.
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phltz said:
For months I've gotten up every morning hoping to find some sort of good news med school email in my inbox, and invariably found some junk mail instead. This morning I could hardly believe it when I received an invitation to an interview at Mayo Medical School! I'm so excited!
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BigBoosting said:
Just an update... ACCEPTED TO MERCER!!!! I can't believe it - don't ever let anyone tell you an MD is out of reach!
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Awesome, congrats to all three of you! 👍 :biglove:

I had my first residency interview yesterday, at my home school, and felt like it went well. The interviews were very conversational and not at all stressful. The program director (PD) and chairman went over all of the features of the program and facilities, including upgrades that will start in time for my class. It's a very academic and research-oriented program, which is good for me, and there are people doing research in my area of interest. There are several current residents who are nontrads, too, and so was one of the other applicants I interviewed with. All in all it was a very positive experience.
 
Accepted. 😀

Accepted to University of Illinois in Chicago. It feels so odd to type that! I've been thinking about this moment for years! So happy for everyone, Non-Trads are rockin' this cycle!!!!

As always, 4/10 for LIFE!
 
ChicagoSL said:
Accepted. 😀

Accepted to University of Illinois in Chicago. It feels so odd to type that! I've been thinking about this moment for years! So happy for everyone, Non-Trads are rockin' this cycle!!!!

As always, 4/10 for LIFE!
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Woo! Grats! 4/10 for LIFE! LoL, can't believe there are so many of us from that thread 😉
 
ChicagoSL said:
Accepted. 😀

Accepted to University of Illinois in Chicago. It feels so odd to type that! I've been thinking about this moment for years! So happy for everyone, Non-Trads are rockin' this cycle!!!!

As always, 4/10 for LIFE!
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Congrats!!! 👍
 
ChicagoSL said:
Accepted. 😀

Accepted to University of Illinois in Chicago. It feels so odd to type that! I've been thinking about this moment for years! So happy for everyone, Non-Trads are rockin' this cycle!!!!

As always, 4/10 for LIFE!
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Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4/10 rulz!!!!!
 
SFGuy2011 said:
So I found out today that I've been accepted at the University of Wisconsin. I can't believe that I'm actually going to medical school!! Booyah!!
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Congratulations!!
 
SFGuy2011 said:
Haven't heard from any schools in quite awhile. This is going to be a painfully long application cycle.
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SFGuy2011 said:
So I found out today that I've been accepted at the University of Wisconsin. I can't believe that I'm actually going to medical school!! Booyah!!
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See, all you had to do was come in here and whinge about it and BAM! Acceptance! 😀

Congrats!!! :luck::luck:
 
SFGuy2011 said:
So I found out today that I've been accepted at the University of Wisconsin. I can't believe that I'm actually going to medical school!! Booyah!!
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Wild! Way to do it to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratssssssss!:soexcited:
 
I just wanted to thank everyone for their posts. This is my first post on these forums and I wish I found them earlier. You are all very helpful and the positivity is amazing.

I am a non-trad and applied this cycle albeit a bit late (SEPT-OCT). I got a few rejection letters so far and no interviews. Gotta keep my fingers crossed.

For those of you that have been accepted, would you mind sharing some of your info? (gpa, mcat and dates of appliction). Or if you prefer could I ping you for those. I'm not sure if i"m competitive

I hope I at least get an interview
 
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Mindscrew said:
For those of you that have been accepted, would you mind sharing some of your info? (gpa, mcat and dates of appliction). Or if you prefer could I ping you for those. I'm not sure if i"m competitive.

I have 3.25 undergrad gpa, 3.6 Masters (but because it was research based it only shows up as 9 credits!) my second Master's degree was course based but becuase it was technically pass/fail (according to amcas) it won't be converted 🙁. I also worked for 10 years.
MCAT 33 10V, 11P, 12B P.
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3.33 undergrad GPA (248 semester hours including post-bacc)
3.87 post-bacc GPA (114 semester hours)
3.97 post-bacc sGPA (90 semester hours)
MCAT: 31Q (9V, 10P, 12B)
Submitted primary mid-June. Submitted most secondaries by August 1st.
8 years military and 2 years as an ER tech in a Level I facility.

Good luck to you!!
 
Hi kids! I was hooked over here by a certain highly adorable renal organ. Aaaaand whyyyyy it is that I haven't been posting here is beyond me....I think that I forgot all else beyond Case when I finally got in ><
:hello:

30/f/married/didallsortsofstuffinlifebeforereturningtofulfilllifedream.
Case Western Reserve University first year med student.
12PS/13BS/12VR S. Approx 3.0 gpa undergrad; 3.9 gpa postbacc (coursework of my own design). See Medapplicants info for more details.

So to Mindscrew, absolutely you are competitive - if your application is well fleshed-out. THAT is the most important element beyond stats. They won't consider you for a moment if you appear 2d in your essays/ECs/letters etc.

The app cycle (and prep for it) was a BEAST and hopefully is OVER for most of you too! My wholehearted cheering goes out to you guys during the cycle.

Observation: I've noticed that for the most part, the happiest students in my class are the non-trads - they seem to enjoy it more and are more at ease with themselves. Some of the students that haven't stopped since preschool seem to absorb a few things faster; however, I've noticed I tend to get more of the big picture. Perspective means a lot in this process. 😀
 
I've been working in the biopharmaceutical industry for the last 10 years, worked on a number of new drugs (focused mostly on innovation in medicine), one of the companies I helped build has just applied for approval for a new medication in polyneuropathy (after positive phase III results). I've travelled and had clinical experience overseas (India) and conducted basic research in my master's program for 2 years. I'm worried b/c no interviews yet. 🙁
 
Mindscrew said:
I've been working in the biopharmaceutical industry for the last 10 years, worked on a number of new drugs (focused mostly on innovation in medicine), one of the companies I helped build has just applied for approval for a new medication in polyneuropathy (after positive phase III results). I've travelled and had clinical experience overseas (India) and conducted basic research in my master's program for 2 years. I'm worried b/c no interviews yet. 🙁
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How long have your apps been complete? If you've only been complete for a couple of weeks, it's way too soon for you to worry. It often takes a month or more for schools to go through the later apps, because now they're already backlogged from all the apps turned in before yours. In addition, it's important to apply strategically. Your MCAT is competitive, but your GPA is significantly below average for allo schools, and you have no post bac to bolster it. Hopefully you applied broadly and not just to a handful of top-tier schools.

Auriga said:
I was hooked over here by a certain highly adorable renal organ.
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I knew that cute kidney was good for something! Thanks for stopping by--hope you'll stick around. 🙂
 
Mindscrew said:
I've been working in the biopharmaceutical industry for the last 10 years, worked on a number of new drugs (focused mostly on innovation in medicine), one of the companies I helped build has just applied for approval for a new medication in polyneuropathy (after positive phase III results). I've travelled and had clinical experience overseas (India) and conducted basic research in my master's program for 2 years. I'm worried b/c no interviews yet. 🙁
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Do you have any community service/volunteering/humanitarian type of activities? That's the only thing I would recommend you could do to improve your app, but you are already a solid and competitive candidate.
 
Mindscrew said:
I've been working in the biopharmaceutical industry for the last 10 years, worked on a number of new drugs (focused mostly on innovation in medicine), one of the companies I helped build has just applied for approval for a new medication in polyneuropathy (after positive phase III results). I've travelled and had clinical experience overseas (India) and conducted basic research in my master's program for 2 years. I'm worried b/c no interviews yet. 🙁
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Your story sounds pretty interesting to me, so I think as long as you apply broadly you have a chance. I submitted 29 primary applications, and I only applied to schools that I'd be happy at if I got in. Q knows of what she speaks - apply broadly. If all else fails try the SMP thing and apply EARLY, EARLY, EARLY next year. You'll get it.
 
I did apply broadly. I am hopeful.

I have research that i didn't publish from my msc. I will write the article (1st authorship) now and also pick up some volunteering/shadowing to help my application.

I'm not sure i can stomach a bost bach program, I already did 8 yrs of university..

would it be better to reapply early next cycle or go to the caribbean?
 
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Mindscrew said:
I did apply broadly 58 secondaries. I am hopeful.

I have research that i didn't publish from my msc. I will write the article (1st authorship) now and also pick up some volunteering/shadowing to help my application.

I'm not sure i can stomach a bost bach program, I already did 8 yrs of university..

would it be better to reapply early next cycle or go to the caribbean?
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Oh SNAP!! 58 secondaries is about as broad as it gets. You must have carpal tunnel syndrome by now. And I thought I applied broadly. :laugh:

Personally, had I not gotten in anywhere I would have waited, done an SMP, and reapplied. Was there a reason why you waited so long to submit? Late MCAT or something?
 
Mindscrew said:
I did apply broadly 58 secondaries. I am hopeful.
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That definitely qualifies as broad! How long ago were you complete? Again, if it was within the past few weeks, the schools may not have had a chance to review your app yet.

I have research that i didn't publish from my msc. I will write the article (1st authorship) now and also pick up some volunteering/shadowing to help my application.
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Can't hurt. You can send updates to the schools about these things.

I'm not sure i can stomach a bost bach program, I already did 8 yrs of university..
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You wouldn't have to do a formal program; lots of people apply with do-it-yourself post bacs. It's just something to think about if you don't get in this year, because a lot of people who get in with low GPAs do have more recent high-GPA coursework.

would it be better to reapply early next cycle or go to the caribbean?
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I'm not at all a fan of going to the Caribbean. I wrote a long post about this a while back that you can search for if you really care. But the gist is that 1) Caribbean schools are expensive and high risk--many people start, and many people fail to pass Step 1/graduate and/or fail to match in the US. When you hear the "success stories," what you aren't hearing about are all the people who never made it to the match in the first place. Whereas, the rate of failing out of American schools is essentially zero. 2) The number of American grads is increasing drastically as both MD and DO schools increase their class sizes and open new schools. By the time you graduate, you will be competing with the largest number of American grads in history for a relatively unchanged number of residency slots. Who do you think will get the short end of that stick?
 
ty for all of your advice and support. I just found out i'm on hold at another school (pre-interview). I was late in the cycle b/c I wrote my MCAT this july and hten waited for the restults before submitting! my mistake. lost 4 weeks just for that!. I really appreciate the advice. I know course work could help and of course there is the other two avenues to add as well;
1. add some additional clinical experience/shadowing
2. finish that research paper

oh yea and
3. pray! haha
 
I completed in late sept/early oct. so i'd say i'm getting to the 4-6 week timeframe
 
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