2012 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

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Everything has been submitted and secondaries have been filled out by the first week of June. Started getting e-mails saying that my application has reached their schools and they will be starting to review all the material. This thread is making me anxious lol. I am going to leave now.
 
I second the emotion that I can't believe this is finally happening! It seems I spent so long thinking about applying, planning to apply, working on my application and finally submitting, it just seems weird to think all the work might turn into me becoming a doctor.

On another note, for prior military applicants, especially Navy and Marines, make sure you request a SMART transcript. My app is currently on hold, even though everything else is fine, because I got college equivalent credit for SERE school. Seriously. It depends on who reviews your app, since my THREE friends who started med school this year from the Navy didn't even know what a SMART transcript was. So, although we hear a lot about SMART transcripts for enlisted sailors and Marines, officers have one too. I don't think it will hurt my app to badly in the long run, but it hurts seeing people get secondaries and interview invites while I'm in limbo (even though I submitted 6/14).
 
chrissyxf said:
Suggestions on how to encourage letter writers to send their letters in?? I have 2 (one of which I absolutely need) that just haven't sent anything in yet and haven't responded to my first follow up email. Sigh.
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Here's an idea I read somewhere on SDN. Go ahead and send them thank you notes by mail. Be sure to write something personalized. Some people like to include a small token like a starbucks gift card, for their trouble.

Apparently this worked well for the person who posted the idea! I just sent a note out a few days ago to my one hold out.

6/29/11 EDIT: Anecdotal, and more than likely he would've been on top of it anyway, but my one hold out submitted his letter today. Within minutes of each other, I got the AMCAS notice and an email from him saying he submitted, and thanks for the thank-you note/gift card. YMMV, but I really don't think many people would find a thank-you note awkward or brown-nosing, especially if you can write something sincere to them. If someone has already agreed to write a letter for you, they deserve a thanks.
 
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Got my MCAT score back, looks like I am going to try and retake in August. Damn BS section...

Would it be worth applying now and indicating a retake on my application?
 
Catburr said:
Here's an idea I read somewhere on SDN. Go ahead and send them thank you notes by mail. Be sure to write something personalized. Some people like to include a small token like a starbucks gift card, for their trouble.

Apparently this worked well for the person who posted the idea! I just sent a note out a few days ago to my one hold out.
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This^^. Also, if I was going to write an update email I'd be sure to include points such as "I know you're busy with a lot of things" and "please let me know if there's anything you need from me in order to make this process as painless as possible." I also kept my email updates to once a week and recently I sent an update email after 5 days.

One student recently forwarded me the email he/she sent to me less than 24 hours ago because he/she felt that I wasn't responding fast enough. Don't do that. :meanie:
 
Application Complete. Yippie!
Both BPCM and Total GPA are spot on where I expected them to be.

Now working on the secondaries......
 
Ok secondary essay done for Baylor! Whoop! 😀
 
PharMed2016 said:
When did you submit if you don't mind me asking? I submitted on 6/21 @ 1:00AM - exact time of email supposedly.
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Not at all.

I submitted on 6/3.
All transcipts registered as received by 6/14 though they were received on 5/31 and 6/8.
Went under review on 6/24 and completed today, 6/29.
 
Count me in as of last night. A little late start, bur still pretty early for a compulsive procrastinator. Still got 3 LOR due.
 
Submitted AMCAS last night. A little later than I would have liked, but I decided to go ahead and wait for my final transcript to get posted before applying.

I'm predicting 3ish weeks to get verified. It looks like the people that were verified in the last few days submitted around the middle of June.
 
The wait is agonizing. All transcript registered as received since 5/25. Pending 6 MD & 2 science professor LOR. For MD LOR, one down & five more to go. None for science professor (looking for one - most retired). Might not have all letter turn in until sometime in August. Taking the July MCAT. Will be applying to 15-20+ schools. Hoping for an in-state acceptance. I have decided to proceed submitting my app this week to state schools only and latter to all others despite not having all the LOR yet. Any thought?
 
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I believe that you won't need your LORs till you are ready to submit the secondary. That said, if you submit the secondary w/o the needed LORs then, your app will not considered as complete or reviewed by the school.

Thankfully all my LORs are in. Submitted 7 secondaries so far. Workoing on 2 more. Hopefully I get a few more this week. I agree the waiting hurts especially, if you don't work.
 
The wait gets longer as the days go by. I submitted on the 3rd, my turn for review came up on the 7th (4 days wait), but they had not registered my final transcript as received till the 14th. My turn came up again on the 24th (10 days wait now from the 14th) and they completed the verification on the 29th.

I see that you are on the Pre Med Verification thread. That should give you an indication when your turn will come up!
 
I checked my CC statement to make sure that Hofstra didn't charge me multiple times and got all 🙁 when I saw the bill.

:scared:

I mean it's not like I don't have an excel spreadsheet with the cost of each school included, but... still. :cry:
 
n3xa said:
I checked my CC statement to make sure that Hofstra didn't charge me multiple times and got all 🙁 when I saw the bill.

:scared:

I mean it's not like I don't have an excel spreadsheet with the cost of each school included, but... still. :cry:
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Oh Hostra, one of the institutions said that I couldn't apply because I don't meet their BS requirement. :laugh:

Anyways, looking at the AAMC verification list... I should be hopefully getting my application verified by Friday. Wish me luck.
 
Hey everyone!!! I hope the application cycle is going well for you. I have a question since I see that everyone of SDN turns in secondaries pretty early, I am a little confused as to what approach I should take. My AMCAS has been submitted and verified but I am scheduled to take my MCAT on July 28 but I really want to devote the next couple of weeks to studying and preparing hardcore but should I be working on secondaries also?
 
Nurse2Doctor said:
Hey everyone!!! I hope the application cycle is going well for you. I have a question since I see that everyone of SDN turns in secondaries pretty early, I am a little confused as to what approach I should take. My AMCAS has been submitted and verified but I am scheduled to take my MCAT on July 28 but I really want to devote the next couple of weeks to studying and preparing hardcore but should I be working on secondaries also?
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You should be studying for your MCAT. Schools won't review your application until after you have everything in with MCAT being a definite. It takes about a month for your scores to come in so you have plenty of time to write your secondaries.

Good Luck.
 
MacVA said:
Got my MCAT score back, looks like I am going to try and retake in August. Damn BS section...

Would it be worth applying now and indicating a retake on my application?
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you can, but i would not submit any secondaries until you get the new mcat score back as some schools may look at your application without realizing you have retaken.


which part of the bs is causing you grief....the orgo or the bio??
 
I'm still waiting for my transcript issue to be resolved. I am taking advantage of the time to pre-write secondaries that weren't automatically sent, but it's tough to see others on SDN getting interview invites already!

I submitted 6/14 and was hoping to have smooth sailing, but I guess not🙁
 
blife said:
I'm still waiting for my transcript issue to be resolved. I am taking advantage of the time to pre-write secondaries that weren't automatically sent, but it's tough to see others on SDN getting interview invites already!

I submitted 6/14 and was hoping to have smooth sailing, but I guess not🙁
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I agree with the part about seeing others get interview invites already (waiting on one last LOR). Although I'm not expecting any early invites as my stats are low - just hoping to get into one school!

Is it bad that I can't wait for this whole process to be over already, and it has only just started? 😛
 
I've submitted a few secondaries. I am complete at two MD schools, but the secondaries I submitted to SOMA and KCOM won't be complete until I get that doctor letter. (He did email me back to tell me he was working on it. Hopefully it will be in Interfolio next week so I can stop worrying.)
 
TMDSAS transmitted
AMCAS submitted
AACOMAS waiting on xscripts

Not looking forward to the barrage of secondaries, though I did get TCOM in quickly.
 
Verified!

2 Secondaries submitted, 1 more will be done tonight

woot, woot!
 
Pet peeve: people who say they will do something (ie upload a LOR) by a certain date and it doesn't happen.
 
n3xa said:
Pet peeve: people who say they will do something (ie upload a LOR) by a certain date and it doesn't happen.
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Sounds like SOP at my office. 😏
 
Just had my application verified early this morning. Calculated BCPM GPA (Science) and cumulative was right where I expected everything to be. All my letters are currently in and everything is ready to go. I'll keep everyone updated as secondaries or any interviews come rolling in. 😀
 
excitedneuron said:
I agree with the part about seeing others get interview invites already (waiting on one last LOR). Although I'm not expecting any early invites as my stats are low - just hoping to get into one school!

Is it bad that I can't wait for this whole process to be over already, and it has only just started? 😛
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No, I understand what you mean by wanting the process over. I keep reminding myself to enjoy the journey, that way it seems more exciting than stressful. Of course, some interview invites would help me feel better, too!
 
I finally submitted last night at 11:30. I did not expect the nervous jitters that pressing the 'Submit' button gave me, but I'm very glad to have that off my plate.

So far the waiting has been good to me; as an early decision applicant my app went to the front of the line and was verified by 10:00 this morning. I mean, it was verified wrong, but still. I had been ready for a long wait, so that was a pleasant surprise.

My major piece of advice: don't go to a school with a stupid grading scale. Not only is it unnecessarily harsh (an 80 is a 2.0 🙁), but it confuses the heck out of the verifiers. Five of my courses had the wrong grade entered by AMCAS. I need that .05 GPA boost, dang it! :laugh:

Now just waiting for the adjustment and a secondary. :xf: And some motivation to do my actual work.
 
does amcas html calculated BCPM bears an significance? pdf calculated BCPM not available yet. submitted 7/7.
 
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1stmd16 said:
does amcas html calculated BCPM bears an significance? pdf calculated BCPM not available yet. submitted 7/7.
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No. The HTML version is not to be trusted. This has been reported multiple times in pre-allo.
 
Sumbitted about 1/3 of my secs, just got complete at my first choice. Fingers crossed time!
 
Wow, talk about a deluge of secondaries. I'm considering taking a few days off work just to get them done (and all of them haven't arrived yet!)
 
I have got past my initial rush of secondaries. 13 down, 3 pending - expect to complete and submit 1 today and 2 by Friday at the latest. Expecting 2 more - got emails from the schools telling me to expect it.

I applied to a whole bunch - so waiting for a few more. A couple sent me emails saying that they were reviewing my app. I think I will be much better after July.

Work has been really hectic. On the school front, I am thanking my stars for just taking a calculus class this summer. I didn't anticipate that secondaries will mean so much work!
 
Hi all,

I'm having trouble deciding what LoRs to send to what schools. I have really good letters that I want to show off, but I know that it can sometimes seem like overkill if you send too many. I'm a nontrad with an MPH and 3 years working in a research setting. I went through my undergrad school's committee review process and have a committee letter, which includes a letter packet. That packet has letters from my three research mentors (undergrad, grad, and professional). I also got two other individual letters: one from my favorite English teacher (I was an English minor and want to highlight my strength in humanities) and one from a volunteer position at oncology camp, which I listed as one of my most significant ECs. Anyway, I've got a lot of great letters, but I don't know how many to send to each school! If I just send the packet, I am only getting research letters. But if I add in the volunteer letter, is it too much to also throw in the English letter?
 
Wow, you guys are so early. I guess i'm a huge procrastinator. I just submitted my AMCAS app 3 days ago. MCAT was taken on 7/6. Only apply to one school. And that school said they start reviewing applications around 2nd week of august. So hopefully i'll fall in the second batch. Crossing my fingers for a decent MCAT score on 8/9!!!! PLEASE, GOD, PLEASE!!!!
 
ddb said:
Hi all,

I'm having trouble deciding what LoRs to send to what schools. I have really good letters that I want to show off, but I know that it can sometimes seem like overkill if you send too many. I'm a nontrad with an MPH and 3 years working in a research setting. I went through my undergrad school's committee review process and have a committee letter, which includes a letter packet. That packet has letters from my three research mentors (undergrad, grad, and professional). I also got two other individual letters: one from my favorite English teacher (I was an English minor and want to highlight my strength in humanities) and one from a volunteer position at oncology camp, which I listed as one of my most significant ECs. Anyway, I've got a lot of great letters, but I don't know how many to send to each school! If I just send the packet, I am only getting research letters. But if I add in the volunteer letter, is it too much to also throw in the English letter?
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Unless, there's specifically some maximum letter amount you can send I'd send them all. And if there is you can always send the others as updates after an interview. But when in doubt it never hurts to call and ask the school you're applying to as long as it's not part of a pattern of incessant calling.
 
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