2014 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

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NuttyEngDude said:
It's always been the socks that have done me in. Don't forget the socks! You dont want to show up in white socks with your otherwise superb apparel 😛

Note: i havent done this since junior high
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First year in high school, we had a board with photos of the "gunners" (people with high GPA). They asked us to take a picture in uniform, so there I was, in a white turtleneck and a tie. Still remember one of my teachers foaming at my stupidity. 😀
 
I've seen some truly unfortunate outfits at interviews. People not wearing business attire, others majorly mismatching jackets/pants, some wearing white socks, or wearing sneakers with a suit, etc. Oh, this one woman wore what looked like a prom dress. I guess I tend to feel sorry for people, assuming they couldn't afford anything different. I know that I've made some huge faux pas in the past, but I've tried to avoid them throughout this process...
 
NuttyEngDude said:
Jesus, I could only imagine how bad I'd look in high heels and white gym socks 😛
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You should try it, you might get more attention than you expect. 😛
Amygdarya said:
Be grateful you're not women! Finding a professionally looking pair of shoes you can walk in for a whole day is really something, I can tell you.
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Dress shoes for men can suck equally bad, especially when you have not worn anything but comfy sneakers for the last uhm... 15-20 years.
 
Amygdarya said:
Be grateful you're not women! Finding a professionally looking pair of shoes you can walk in for a whole day is really something, I can tell you.
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Flats ftw. I hate wearing heels to interviews because it makes me tall, and then I feel intimidating.
 
milski said:
You should try it, you might get more attention than you expect. 😛
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Dear "Dashing" applicant, based on your bold fashion sense, we have decided to not only offer you a spot in this year's class but a full tuition covered scholarship! Please being your novel style to our school post haste. PS - between you and me, lol @ the prom queen applicant.

milski said:
Dress shoes for men can suck equally bad, especially when you have not worn anything but comfy sneakers for the last uhm... 15-20 years.
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I've always had bad experiences with dress shoes, but one day I walked into a store and said I wanted shoes that I would be wearing for work in a professional setting and would be wearing them all day long. I stressed I needed comfort and the guy set me up with a pair that were soooo comfortable and they ran me about $100. It was worth it I've had them for at least 5 years now and they are still just as comfortable. In these matters I put my trust completely in the store personnel. So long as they dont go too high in price, I figure it's worth it.
 
Pose said:
I've seen some truly unfortunate outfits at interviews. People not wearing business attire, others majorly mismatching jackets/pants, some wearing white socks, or wearing sneakers with a suit, etc. Oh, this one woman wore what looked like a prom dress. I guess I tend to feel sorry for people, assuming they couldn't afford anything different. I know that I've made some huge faux pas in the past, but I've tried to avoid them throughout this process...
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Haha they're like a train wreck, you can't help but look. My favourites have been from my first and last interviews: at buffalo there was a guy who showed up with a button down, no tie, no jacket, and khakis with boat shoes. We didn't see him again after sign in, i think either he got spoken to or just left on his own.

Then at pitt, there was an international student who was about to finish her phd, but had a cardigan and nice but casual maroon pants, with again nice but casual shoes. She looked like she worked at a library. No one said a word about it, but she didn't seem very self aware, kept asking about opportunities to do a postdoc while at medical school and drawing attention to herself. I think all of us were hopeful that maybe she just lost her luggage or something, but we all kind of suspected it was just a hopeless case.
 
NuttyEngDude said:
Dear "Dashing" applicant, based on your bold fashion sense, we have decided to not only offer you a spot in this year's class but a full tuition covered scholarship! Please being your novel style to our school post haste. PS - between you and me, lol @ the prom queen applicant.



I've always had bad experiences with dress shoes, but one day I walked into a store and said I wanted shoes that I would be wearing for work in a professional setting and would be wearing them all day long. I stressed I needed comfort and the guy set me up with a pair that were soooo comfortable and they ran me about $100. It was worth it I've had them for at least 5 years now and they are still just as comfortable. In these matters I put my trust completely in the store personnel. So long as they dont go too high in price, I figure it's worth it.
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Ned i always assumed you're a dude?
 
Captain Sisko said:
Haha they're like a train wreck, you can't help but look. My favourites have been from my first and last interviews: at buffalo there was a guy who showed up with a button down, no tie, no jacket, and khakis with boat shoes. We didn't see him again after sign in, i think either he got spoken to or just left on his own.
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Omg I think I interviewed with this guy at another school
 
PescadoAmor said:
care to share brand of your shoes? I need a more comfy pair of dress shoes for professional work occasions...
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NuttyEngDude said:
Sure. There's probably better stuff available now, they're really old but they are "Florsheim Comfortech dot matrix system"
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Hey there PescadoAmor, I just did some reading and apparently the company brand has declined a bit since they've started outsourcing 🙁 I would just ask the shoestore guy what he thinks is good and then research it (if you have the time).

Anways, I dont want to lead you down the wrong path.
 
NuttyEngDude said:
Hey there PescadoAmor, I just did some reading and apparently the company brand has declined a bit since they've started outsourcing 🙁 I would just ask the shoestore guy what he thinks is good and then research it (if you have the time).

Anways, I dont want to lead you down the wrong path.
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If I were in your shoes I'd find some dress-heelies. Whee!
 
NuttyEngDude said:
Hey there PescadoAmor, I just did some reading and apparently the company brand has declined a bit since they've started outsourcing 🙁 I would just ask the shoestore guy what he thinks is good and then research it (if you have the time).

Anways, I dont want to lead you down the wrong path.
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hmm 🙁 thanks though!
 
The Men's Warehouse has a decent selection of comfy dress shoes for $100-175, I'm very happy with the ones I bought.

On the app front I received 2 more acceptances over the last week and a half and am up to 5 now (2 MD/3 DO), keep the good news coming in everybody 😀
 
Turning out to be one of the better weeks with two surprise acceptances and a trip up to Milwaukee this evening for mcw tomorrow. Looking forward to some good beer. Also had my interviewer from Minnesota way back in August send me a real nice note imploring me to come there. Raises my hopes for financial aid, but as a whole a really nice gesture.

Anyone else get some good news this morning? Amy weren't you waiting?
 
Captain Sisko said:
Turning out to be one of the better weeks with two surprise acceptances and a trip up to Milwaukee this evening for mcw tomorrow. Looking forward to some good beer. Also had my interviewer from Minnesota way back in August send me a real nice note imploring me to come there. Raises my hopes for financial aid, but as a whole a really nice gesture.

Anyone else get some good news this morning? Amy weren't you waiting?
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Congrats on your latest acceptances! You and surely are killing this process.

Yeah, I was waiting for some good news, got hold status at Case 🙁 I have some updates to send, and I know that some people get into Case from waitlist, but this still doesn't make me optimistic about my chances in general. Not to mention it's nearly impossible not to compare myself to other, more successful non-trads 🙂
 
Amygdarya said:
Congrats on your latest acceptances! You and surely are killing this process.

Yeah, I was waiting for some good news, got hold status at Case 🙁 I have some updates to send, and I know that some people get into Case from waitlist, but this still doesn't make me optimistic about my chances in general. Not to mention it's nearly impossible not to compare myself to other, more successful non-trads 🙂
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Thanks. I'm sorry to hear that- keep your head up and send in those updates. The wait list is going to move- i guarantee it!

I think this is it for a while, the only other places I've interviewed at but haven't heard from publish their notification dates- mid December and the end of January. And just when i was catching up to surely!
 
Amygdarya said:
Congrats on your latest acceptances! You and surely are killing this process.

Yeah, I was waiting for some good news, got hold status at Case 🙁 I have some updates to send, and I know that some people get into Case from waitlist, but this still doesn't make me optimistic about my chances in general. Not to mention it's nearly impossible not to compare myself to other, more successful non-trads 🙂
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hey Amy, I'm rooting for ya. and if it makes you feel any better, you are doing much better than I am!
 
Amygdarya said:
Congrats on your latest acceptances! You and surely are killing this process.

Yeah, I was waiting for some good news, got hold status at Case 🙁 I have some updates to send, and I know that some people get into Case from waitlist, but this still doesn't make me optimistic about my chances in general. Not to mention it's nearly impossible not to compare myself to other, more successful non-trads 🙂
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Amygdarya, I am waiting for your acceptance! With your amazing stats you HAVE to get in somewhere! 🙂
 
Thank you for your support guys!

PescadoAmor, no, the fact that someone is in a worse situations than me doesn't make me feel better 'cause I'm rooting for you guys, too 🙂

CW2010, I still believe I have a strong application (I have some interesting things besides stats, too 😉), but with so many strong applicants there are no guarantees. There are also some (minor) weaknesses in my application, which, depending on adcom, may be completely overlooked or may be the nail into my coffin.

Well, it's not over till it's over. I'll go bikini shopping for my Caribbean school start sending updates/LOIs mid-March if I don't get accepted to any of my other schools.
 
CW 2010 said:
Amygdarya, I am waiting for your acceptance! With your amazing stats you HAVE to get in somewhere! 🙂
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Amygdarya, I'm waiting too! For your *many* acceptances. You're getting into a bunch of good schools for sure!
 
Amygdarya said:
Well, it's not over till it's over. I'll go bikini shopping for my Caribbean school start sending updates/LOIs mid-March if I don't get accepted to any of my other schools.
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Or make a compromise, and apply to Hawaii, like me. 😉 They are terrible though - collected $150 and have not bother to send me a secondary yet. 😡
 
milski said:
Or make a compromise, and apply to Hawaii, like me. 😉 They are terrible though - collected $150 and have not bother to send me a secondary yet. 😡
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For how long have you been waiting? I think I received all my secondaries within 10 days from submitting primaries, most within 1-2 days. (Except for Northwestern, which starts sending out secondaries later than most schools.) Maybe you should contact the school if it's been too long.

While I appreciate your company 😉, I'm not really into the beaches. In fact, I prefer colder weather, so I would like to move from TX up north to Northeast or Midwest.
 
Amygdarya said:
For how long have you been waiting? I think I received all my secondaries within 10 days from submitting primaries, most within 1-2 days. (Except for Northwestern, which starts sending out secondaries later than most schools.) Maybe you should contact the school if it's been too long.

While I appreciate your company 😉, I'm not really into the beaches. In fact, I prefer colder weather, so I would like to move from TX up north to Northeast or Midwest.
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I would glady swap you! I'm already sick of snow and we've barely gotten any.

J/K. I think Texas might be too warm for me. Maybe something in between would be better...
 
Amygdarya said:
For how long have you been waiting? I think I received all my secondaries within 10 days from submitting primaries, most within 1-2 days. (Except for Northwestern, which starts sending out secondaries later than most schools.) Maybe you should contact the school if it's been too long.

While I appreciate your company 😉, I'm not really into the beaches. In fact, I prefer colder weather, so I would like to move from TX up north to Northeast or Midwest.
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It has been 20 days since I paid them. They do screen pre-secondary, so the delay is not that unexpected. It's just that other schools which prescreen have the decency to ask for money when they send the secondary, not before. 😉 I do meet their criteria (a combination of GPA + MCAT + ties to the state) but I they barely take any OOS-ers. I applied in a "challenge accepted" moment, we'll see how far I can make it.

wholeheartedly said:
I would glady swap you! I'm already sick of snow and we've barely gotten any.

J/K. I think Texas might be too warm for me. Maybe something in between would be better...
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Try the Pacific Northwest? It's really mild, to the point that we don't get any significant weather. Forget about snow, we cannot get even a plain old thunderstorm going. After almost 15 years it is actually quite boring not to have some excitement.

Believe it or not, snow was one of the things that I missed the most when I moved here. But if I cannot get an acceptance in the North East, I'll settle for some TSs in Hawaii. 😉
 
milski said:
It's just that other schools which prescreen have the decency to ask for money when they send the secondary, not before. 😉
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Wow, this is unusual. And so, do they keep the $150 if they screen you* out pre-secondary? Pft. (* - "you" not as in you personally; best of luck to you!)

I love the Pacific Northwest, but getting into a medical school as an OOSer is nearly impossible pretty much anywhere on the West Coast. Plus, culturally I'm still a Northeaster (even though I come from another country 😀). Visiting NY and PA even for med school interviews feels soooo good 🙂
 
Amygdarya said:
Wow, this is unusual. And so, do they keep the $150 if they screen you* out pre-secondary? Pft. (* - "you" not as in you personally; best of luck to you!)
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I'll let you guess this one. 😛 It is also the highest secondary I have paid so far!

Amygdarya said:
I love the Pacific Northwest, but getting into a medical school as an OOSer is nearly impossible pretty much anywhere on the West Coast. Plus, culturally I'm still a Northeaster (even though I come from another country 😀). Visiting NY and PA even for med school interviews feels soooo good 🙂
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Same, same and same on the italic items.(Edit: Ok, the bolded items, the whole reply is in italic) 😀 I get to visit NY rather often since my sister lives there. Whether I'll get any love from the schools there is a completely different story. I got emails from two schools this morning that they have received my secondaries and I can expected to be reviewed in the next 6-8 months. Seems that it will be a feast or famine XMass for me. 🙂
 
Last edited:
Well, in a way we're all waiting for 6-8 months 😉

Good luck with your applications!
 
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