2013 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

[augeremt]

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Just submitted and now I wait.

I'm a non-trad 5 years out of undergrad, heavy GPA repair these last two years. No kids or spouse. I think that about covers it.

I should've applied earlier because it looks like verification is taking forever but I needed a mini vacation so I really hope this doesn't hurt me in the long run.

Good luck to everyone!

 

[cloverpie]

Just submitted and now I wait.

I'm a non-trad 5 years out of undergrad, heavy GPA repair these last two years. No kids or spouse. I think that about covers it.

I should've applied earlier because it looks like verification is taking forever but I needed a mini vacation so I really hope this doesn't hurt me in the long run.

Good luck to everyone!

Wow, we are the same person exactly. 🙂 submitted this morning, ugh. Best of luck to you!

 

[stolen_biscuit]

A forced vacation isn't necessarily a bad thing! I am leaving Wednesday for a week's vacation, and I was hoping to just chill. As it turns out, I am drowning in secondaries, and I don't think I can take off a week from working on them or I will come back to a nightmare. Looks like I'll be taking my Mac with me....

 

[MedPR]

Currently somewhat buried in secondaries. Lots of cutting and pasting going on over here.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Currently somewhat buried in secondaries. Lots of cutting and pasting going on over here.

definitely

 

[excitedtoapply]

I don't really understand verified versus release in the AACOMAS. I was verified last week and was told by my top choice school that they were going to download application yesterday but I haven't seen any change in the AACOMAS. Am I just being impatient?

 

[dsoz]

I don't really understand verified versus release in the AACOMAS. I was verified last week and was told by my top choice school that they were going to download application yesterday but I haven't seen any change in the AACOMAS. Am I just being impatient?

The way I understand it is that they are verifying all day M-F 9:00 to 5:00. They "release" only one day a week. Then the participating schools need to "download" the released applications. Once downloaded, the schools have to take action on the information (sort and send secondaries).

good luck.

dsoz

 

[excitedtoapply]

The way I understand it is that they are verifying all day M-F 9:00 to 5:00. They "release" only one day a week. Then the participating schools need to "download" the released applications. Once downloaded, the schools have to take action on the information (sort and send secondaries).

good luck.

dsoz

Oh. Stinky Cheese. That means my app probably didn't get downloaded yesterday 🙁, and I was so excited...breath in, breath out. As folks at my work like to say, "every thing will be just fine".

 

[psychkub]

A little discouraged here. I am working on 5 different secondaries, but cannot even submit as I don't have the funds for it. In the process of cashing out my IRA to help pay for everything. Here's hoping the process is quick, I could really use the monies right now.

 

[Esquire]

Two questions:

1. Some secondaries have an optional portion to explain poor grades, etc. Better to just skip these? Whatever hiccups I've had were just plain immaturity, nothing special.

2. My secondaries won't be complete until all letters of recommendation get in. But some of my recommenders have been reeeally slow.

Should I tell the schools to remove those recommenders to make my secondaries complete? I'm trying to get all my stuff in early; at what point in the admissions cycle should I remove them in order to make my secondary complete on an early basis?

 

[abolt18]

.

 

[levodopa]

A little discouraged here. I am working on 5 different secondaries, but cannot even submit as I don't have the funds for it. In the process of cashing out my IRA to help pay for everything. Here's hoping the process is quick, I could really use the monies right now.

I hear you. I opened up another credit card account for this sole purpose.

Anyway, non-trad here doing research at the NIH before med school. I've had a hell of a year relationship-wise, work-wise, and sanity-wise. 😛 I am applying this cycle to 24 schools and I am freaking out thinking I need to add more. I often find myself doubting my capabilities but I just need to realize that part of this process is plain old arbitrary. 31 MCAT/3.9 GPA, hoping for some in-state love. I submitted my application June 18th but haven't been verified yet and am still waiting for that damned committee letter to get processed. Fingers crossed for everyone!

 

[Justin Stuart]

I am applying this cycle to 24 schools and I am freaking out thinking I need to add more.

I'm only planning to apply to one school this year. I have a 3.98GPA and a 39R MCAT, so I've done my part.

I have other things to do this summer than writing a bunch of unique applications. Not to mention the cost of travel if you must go to 24 interviews.

The nice thing about being a non-trad applicant is that I have a career to fall back on if med school doesn't pan out as planned.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Two questions:

1. Some secondaries have an optional portion to explain poor grades, etc. Better to just skip these? Whatever hiccups I've had were just plain immaturity, nothing special.

I am still writing an explanation so they know I am acknowledging it. Imo, you should answer all questions to the best of your ability since it's all they have to go on pre-interview. They don't know you've changed unless you tell them.

 

[psychkub]

Received secondaries to UWSOM, and Western U. Top MD and top DO programs for me.

I'm pretty happy right now.

 

[Kmd001]

Wow. Things were a lot faster last year, unless I'm reading it wrong. I submitted on the 4th day (6/8) and am still waiting for verification. It looks like some of the first day submitters only got verified in the last day or two. Last year, the 4th day people were verified in 3 or 4 days.

As for me:
Waiting for AMCAS verification, obviously. TMDSAS verified in May, so I have gotten notice from a couple of the schools already (just saying they have the app).
Still waiting for a couple of letters also....
I'm pretty average. Actually, I think I'm the national average of stats: 32, 3.65. So I'm hoping schools will see something else that stands out. My strongest areas are teaching and non-clinical volunteering.
I would love TX tuition (!), but I'm also interested in being near family. I have a husband and 3 kids (with NO chance of more! 😀), and we have lived 1000 miles or so from family since graduating college. It would be nice for my kids to know their relatives, but would I pay 4x tuition for that? Ignoring the question until I have options in front of me!

Best of luck to us all!

Nice to see another mom of 3! I am in the same boat except I have no state school... Good luck!!

 

[stolen_biscuit]

Nice to see another mom of 3! I am in the same boat except I have no state school... Good luck!!

Good luck to you too! It's unfortunate to be without a state school. No IS tuition possibilities, unless you get TX or OH, right? Maybe there are others....

 

[MedPR]

Application complete (unofficially) at about 70% of the schools I received secondaries from thus far. Trying to get caught up as I am behind with essay writing!

 

[Remy LeBeau]

Hi everyone,

I am 29 years old, married, with no kids. I have a 3.4 cGPA, 3.9 sGPA. My post-bacc GPA is 4.0, but my UG GPA was 3.2. I am worried about how that UG GPA will hurt my app.

I took the MCAT Friday, and I think I made 30-32.

I work in an organic research lab, TA for gen chem and organic, and volunteer at a low-income clinic. I will start as an organic tutor in the fall.

All of my transcripts have been received by AMCAS and AACOMAS. I have one LOR loaded into Interfolio, and I should be submitting later this week once I am happy with my personal statement. It is surreal to see the application process finally starting after having planned and worked for it for so long.

Good luck to everyone!

 

[abolt18]

.

 

[phant0m0o0o]

Hello,

I am 29 and finally making a full application effort. My GPA is a 3.03/3.17 with an MCAT of 31M. 2 years of 4.0 25 credit/semester hard sciences for 2 years. I am applying this year as a hail mary and next year will be using fresh start to increase my GPA to a 3.6. Secondaries suck 🙁 and its taking foreverrrrr to have my transcripts received.

 

[excitedtoapply]

Just a reminder to everyone, check your SPAM box! Found a secondary in mine today (fortunately it has only been sitting there since yesterday)

Good luck!

 

[Girly X]

Just a reminder to everyone, check your SPAM box! Found a secondary in mine today (fortunately it has only been sitting there since yesterday)

Good luck!

Found one in my junk mail today too...have been checking my junk mail just as frequently as regular mail and will probably have to continue doing so for the next year 😱

 

[MedPR]

All but 3 of the secondaries I've received so far have been submitted. Two were received today.

 

[Elevencents]

Hi everyone,

I am 29 years old, married, with no kids. I have a 3.4 cGPA, 3.9 sGPA. My post-bacc GPA is 4.0, but my UG GPA was 3.2. I am worried about how that UG GPA will hurt my app.

I took the MCAT Friday, and I think I made 30-32.

I work in an organic research lab, TA for gen chem and organic, and volunteer at a low-income clinic. I will start as an organic tutor in the fall.

All of my transcripts have been received by AMCAS and AACOMAS. I have one LOR loaded into Interfolio, and I should be submitting later this week once I am happy with my personal statement. It is surreal to see the application process finally starting after having planned and worked for it for so long.

Good luck to everyone!

Very interested to see how you do. My stats are almost identical to yours. Best of luck!!

 

[psychkub]

All but 3 of the secondaries I've received so far have been submitted. Two were received today.

Do you get your secondaries proofread? I know you pre-wrote a bunch of them, but wow, that's a lot of secondaries in a short amount of time. I'm jealous.

I'm currently waiting on 5 secondaries from the 21 schools I applied to, have submitted only 5 🙁 and have 11 to get to, but I'm getting them read by a couple of my friends who are PhDs and some that are involved in admissions, so it's taken forever to get them back.

 

[excitedtoapply]

Starting to get nervous. Haven't gotten a secondary back from my number one pick. I know they actually screen but I have competitive numbers for them...maybe there is something else I am missing...or maybe I should just be patient because I have only gotten 4 out of 8 so far...

I really need to just take a chill pill. Looked up the school specific thread from last cycle, they took about 4 weeks to get secondaries out. I have two more weeks until I hit that mark...

 

[dsoz]

41year old from Oregon.

18 years as a high school science teacher. Burned out and looking for the next chapter in life.

uGPA 3.5
sGPA 3.6
gGPA (Masters in education) 3.97

MCAT 31R

AACOMAS submitted 6/14 last transcripts 6/27 verified 7/13 @11:23 PDT
AMCAS submitted 6/27 last transcipts 6/26 verified -/-

Both my children will be in college starting in 2013, and hopefully I will be in med-school.

Applied to 12 DO and 8 MD programs.

dsoz

AACOMAS verified! Bring on the secondaries next week!!!
Still waiting for AMCAS 🙁

 

[stolen_biscuit]

I really need to just take a chill pill.

Me too. Found that 4 TX schools have already sent out interview invites...but not to me. Trying not to worry as it's early, but I was hoping they would see something they liked in my app.

 

[MedPR]

Do you get your secondaries proofread? I know you pre-wrote a bunch of them, but wow, that's a lot of secondaries in a short amount of time. I'm jealous.

I'm currently waiting on 5 secondaries from the 21 schools I applied to, have submitted only 5 🙁 and have 11 to get to, but I'm getting them read by a couple of my friends who are PhDs and some that are involved in admissions, so it's taken forever to get them back.

No, proofread myself.

If I don't have it pre-written, I write it then proofread it at least 3 hours later, then submit.

 

[elevenses]

Verified Thursday. Received six secondaries so far. Made the terrible mistake of not pre-writing any of my essays. Already burned out. Blergh.

Anyone else in the same boat? How are you all coping with all of these miserable essays?

 

[excitedtoapply]

Bam! And then all is good. When double checking the requirements of another school before sending in more money I realized "shoot, that c- in general physics may actually break me". Instead of giving up I recall, "wait a minute, I am a freaking engineer. I know I took a lot of physics based classes". I looked it up and my thermodynamics counts as 2 semester hours of A- physics and my electrical fundamentals count as 2 B+ physics hours with lab. And life is good again.

 

[impact2d]

26 year old married non-trad. Majored in English and Communications with a minor in Computer Science. Have worked as Chief Technology Officer for a medical group for the last 3 years. Always wanted to be a doctor, but second guessed myself out of high school.

After a few months at work, I realized I couldn't shake the healthcare bug and after volunteering at the clinic and teaching hospital for about a year, I decided to pursue medicine. I didn't do a formal post bacc, I registered as a visiting student part time and took the regular undergrad classes. (They let you take up to 18 credits without formally being accepted into the school, so I took classes at different schools)

B.A. in English and Communications 2008- cGPA :3.9 sGPA (3.9)

Finished my pre-reqs in 1 year to the day (May 2011 to May 2012), sGPA (4.0)

Took the MCAT on July 6th, 2012. AAMC FL average was 34 ranging from 33-36 but AAMC 11 was 33

Submitted on 7/8/2012 to AMCAS

 

[augeremt]

26 year old married non-trad. Majored in English and Communications with a minor in Computer Science. Have worked as Chief Technology Officer for a medical group for the last 3 years. Always wanted to be a doctor, but second guessed myself out of high school.

After a few months at work, I realized I couldn't shake the healthcare bug and after volunteering at the clinic and teaching hospital for about a year, I decided to pursue medicine. I didn't do a formal post bacc, I registered as a visiting student part time and took the regular undergrad classes. (They let you take up to 18 credits without formally being accepted into the school, so I took classes at different schools)

B.A. in English and Communications 2008- cGPA :3.9 sGPA (3.9)

Finished my pre-reqs in 1 year to the day (May 2011 to May 2012), sGPA (4.0)

Took the MCAT on July 6th, 2012. AAMC FL average was 34 ranging from 33-36 but AAMC 11 was 33

Submitted on 7/8/2012 to AMCAS

Love the honestly as to why you edited your post. Haha!

Good luck to you!

 

[impact2d]

Love the honestly as to why you edited your post. Haha!

Good luck to you!

LOL thanks, I hope it goes well. Just hoping I didn't freeze up too bad on MCAT day and my score comes in within 2 points of my average. I really don't have time for a retake this cycle, so it was kind of an all or nothing test day.

 

[wanderedtoolong]

Verified Thursday. Received six secondaries so far. Made the terrible mistake of not pre-writing any of my essays. Already burned out. Blergh.

Anyone else in the same boat? How are you all coping with all of these miserable essays?

verified this evening- received 4 secondaries pre-verification and I fear I might have been a little to casual about my essays for them. whoops. bracing myself for the next 15 or so to come rolling in.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

verified this evening- received 4 secondaries pre-verification and I fear I might have been a little to casual about my essays for them. whoops. bracing myself for the next 15 or so to come rolling in.

I felt the same about the first few I did.

 

[dsoz]

41year old from Oregon.

18 years as a high school science teacher. Burned out and looking for the next chapter in life.

uGPA 3.5
sGPA 3.6
gGPA (Masters in education) 3.97

MCAT 31R

AACOMAS submitted 6/14 last transcripts 6/27 verified 7/13 @11:23 PDT
AMCAS submitted 6/27 last transcipts 6/26 verified -/-

Both my children will be in college starting in 2013, and hopefully I will be in med-school.

Applied to 12 DO and 8 MD programs.

dsoz

AACOMAS verified! Bring on the secondaries next week!!!
Still waiting for AMCAS 🙁

Released from AACOMAS yesterday. Received my first notifications email today. (VCOM and OSU). Still waiting for other DO secondaries, and for AMCAS verification.

dsoz

 

[ItsSettled]

Hello fellow Non-Trads!

I'm sitting in AACOMAS purgatory waiting for secondaries. I'm 29, married, no kids. I'm a southern California native but here in Maryland now because of my husband's job relocating us to DC.
Nice to meet you all! Glad to know there are others like me. 🙂

Hi all non trad as well. Only submitted to MD schools heard about DO's but could use further explanation...

 

[ItsSettled]

Released from AACOMAS yesterday. Received my first notification email today. (VCOM). Still waiting for other DO secondaries, and for AMCAS verification.

dsoz

Cool... best of luck. What prompted the change from teacher to MD?

 

[dsoz]

Cool... best of luck. What prompted the change from teacher to MD?

Being a teacher has been rewarding, to an extent. I work in a school that is high poverty. 80% non-English and 100% free breakfast and lunch. Most families don't have a role-model that graduated from high school, let alone went to college.

What prompted the change... many reasons. Working with such low economic students takes a lot of energy. I am not being supported by the administration, and there are no consequences for misbehavior that I can have stick to these students. The administration over-rules any consequences that I try, and the only thing the administration will do for a referral is lunch detention... Big deal!

Back in my head I wanted to go to med school when I was in college. But a cousin was in medical school at the time, and I was not going to put myself up for failure when the family could see that he was succeeding (I know, it was immature). Also, I got married and had my oldest child when I was a Junior in college. I decided to take the quickest way out of school that would enable me to earn a descent wage with good benefits so I could support my new family. The whole time knowing that there was something bigger and better around the corner that I was missing.

Now my children are grown (youngest will be a senior in high school this year while I am applying). I have the freedom to explore some of the pathways that I abandoned when I became a parent. Although it will be weird to think that I will be graduating med school the same year that my youngest will be graduating college...

Sounds like part of a personal statement. I still need to practice saying some of it so that it is totally natural when interviews come. 🙂

dsoz

 

[dsoz]

Hi all non trad as well. Only submitted to MD schools heard about DO's but could use further explanation...

This could turn ugly quick if it gets into the MD vs. DO thing... So let me head it off if I can.

DO is just like MD, only not. DOs are licensed to practice medicine in all 50 states, just like MDs. There is no field of medicine that an MD can practice that is off limits to a DO.

That being said, DO schools tend to take a larger picture of people as a whole in the application process. Because of this, they tend (on average) to take people with lower GPA/MCAT scores. DO schools will also do grade forgiveness (take the best grade earned for a class instead of averaging the grades).

In med school they teach almost exactly the same curriculum as MD schools, but also include what is called OMM. If you know what a chiropractor does, you have a small sense of what OMM can be. Chiropractors are limited to the spine and nerves. But DOs do the same sort of thing to the entire body, but the focus is more on restoring optimal conditions for health. They work with muscles, joints, fascia, and duct systems to optimize body function.

After med school, a majority of DOs go into primary care (internal medicine, family medicine, OB/GYN, Emergency, etc.) but can also go into any other field (surgery, derm, radiology, etc.). Some say it may be more difficult to get into some advanced fields. Take it as you will.

That is how I see it right now. I know I don't have everything perfect, but it is a good start. Go over to pre-osteo forums for more details.

dsoz

 

[abolt18]

This could turn ugly quick if it gets into the MD vs. DO thing... So let me head it off if I can.

DO is just like MD, only not. DOs are licensed to practice medicine in all 50 states, just like MDs. There is no field of medicine that an MD can practice that is off limits to a DO.

That being said, DO schools tend to take a larger picture of people as a whole in the application process. Because of this, they tend (on average) to take people with lower GPA/MCAT scores. DO schools will also do grade forgiveness (take the best grade earned for a class instead of averaging the grades).

In med school they teach almost exactly the same curriculum as MD schools, but also include what is called OMM. If you know what a chiropractor does, you have a small sense of what OMM can be. Chiropractors are limited to the spine and nerves. But DOs do the same sort of thing to the entire body, but the focus is more on restoring optimal conditions for health. They work with muscles, joints, fascia, and duct systems to optimize body function.

After med school, a majority of DOs go into primary care (internal medicine, family medicine, OB/GYN, Emergency, etc.) but can also go into any other field (surgery, derm, radiology, etc.). Some say it may be more difficult to get into some advanced fields. Take it as you will.

That is how I see it right now. I know I don't have everything perfect, but it is a good start. Go over to pre-osteo forums for more details.

dsoz

I probably couldn't have said it better/more concisely. I think that covers the main points! If I could simply add that most DO schools "focus" (or say they do) on a desire to serve the rural/under-served communities.

 

[Remy LeBeau]

Hi everyone,

I am 29 years old, married, with no kids. I have a 3.4 cGPA, 3.9 sGPA. My post-bacc GPA is 4.0, but my UG GPA was 3.2. I am worried about how that UG GPA will hurt my app.

I took the MCAT Friday, and I think I made 30-32.

I work in an organic research lab, TA for gen chem and organic, and volunteer at a low-income clinic. I will start as an organic tutor in the fall.

All of my transcripts have been received by AMCAS and AACOMAS. I have one LOR loaded into Interfolio, and I should be submitting later this week once I am happy with my personal statement. It is surreal to see the application process finally starting after having planned and worked for it for so long.

Good luck to everyone!

I still haven't submitted, seeing as my personal statement is still not finished. However, I arranged for a week of shadowing at a private practice in August, and a doc I work with at the clinic agreed to write me a strong letter.

 

[wanderedtoolong]

verified last tuesday, have submitted 11 secondaries! waiting on 1 LOR still though, and the prof has gone MIA . .. painful to see interview invites going out from my top choices already without even being complete!

 

[Courtjester8]

Hey guys, fellow non-trad here. I'm 27, worked in finance for a bit and felt like I was selling my soul to the almighty dollar. After a bit of thinking I realized i should have listened to my inner 7 year old and went to med school. so here I am. I've been living in my parents house while I work to be able to afford applications, travel, and other expenses associated with this process. As an undergrad at vanderbilt i ended up with a whopping 2.9 cGPA. My post-bac GPA ended up being 3.9. I scored a 35M on my mcat (12PS, 12 VR, 11 BS). Next year I'm enrolled in a grad program to get my masters in biomedical sciences from umdnj. I'm applying to all allopathic schools totaling 33 schools in all (my bank account is really hurting right now). I've submitted 18 secondaries, I'm still filling out 7, and I'm waiting on the rest. So far I've been rejected from wake forest and offered an interview at pitt.

Its nice to see we've all banded together on here. If anyone wants to chat/vent about their app process, shoot me a PM. Oh and I'm always willing to give anyone's essays a quick read if you want feedback. Best of luck everyone. Lets get it.

-cj8

 

[abolt18]

.

 

[SoWasRed]

Good morning SDN. Thought I would come join the progress thread. Submitted my amcas application on Friday. I have already received 2 secondaries so I am very excited. Final stats are 3.01 cgpa, 3.84 sgpa, 31O MCAT(11 ps, 10 vr, 10 bs), with a 3.89 Post-Bacc through 52 credits. I qualified for the Fee Assistance Program so I was able to apply to 39 schools. I will also be applying to 5 D.O. schools within the next week. I graduated from college in 2005 as a Communication studies major and had never even taken a relevent science class during undergrad. Got exposed to medicine after my elderly father became ill and soon after knew this was a dream I had to chase. I am getting married next month so between work, secondaries, and the wedding I am going to be very busy. Good luck to all!!!

 

[elevenses]

Fifteen secondaries received, ten submitted, one more almost ready to submit. I feel like I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Still no sign of my committee letter, however, despite promises that it would be mailed--yes, mailed--midday Friday. So much for the early bird advantage. And the secondaries that I have left are brutal. Stupid Vanderbilt and its stupid 1200-word autobiography. Sigh. This is going to be a long year.

 

[qwerty2012]

Currently finishing writing on a couple of secondaries I got. lol.

I kind of wish I am taking classes or doing research/volunteering right now. The abundant free time is making me feeling so guilty.