2015 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

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Inygma said:
Hi all! I am a non-trad, went to law school straight from college (left after 1.5 years to pursue medicine) went straight into a self-made post-bacc, and just finished the May 8th MCAT!

I will be applying June 10th (the day my MCAT score is released). I am hoping the leaving law school thing won't cripple my applications. I am only applying in Southern California, which is scary...but I would be more than happy to attend a D.O. or M.D. progam (I just want to be a doctor!) I have requested all transcripts (as of today), have notified all letter writers of the deadline, and just really need to write my PS now.

Applying: UCR, UCI, UCSD, UCLA, USC, Loma Linda, Western-UCOMP (pomona), and MAYBE Touro- Henderson (if the wife wouldbe willing to move there)

3.73 Cgpa, 3.83 Sgpa; MCAT coming June 10th (I am guessing anywhere between 27-33), which obviously will hurt/help my application at most of the M.D. schools.

MY ECs are kind of weak - 6 months research (no publish); 150 hours in ER volunteer, 50+ hours of shadowing; but I am hoping that it is understandable since I was pursuing a different career originally.

LoR's from Research, work, volunteer, teacher, and shadowing.

Best of luck everyone!
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Apply the day amcas opens (June 3), you will get your transcripts verified much earlier and your mcat will fill itself in.
 
juliuspepperwood said:
Apply the day amcas opens (June 3), you will get your transcripts verified much earlier and your mcat will fill itself in.
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Awesome, thank you..

DO you know if I need to have my LoR's on file to apply? I feel like those will be the last things trickling in unfortunately.
 
Inygma said:
Awesome, thank you..

DO you know if I need to have my LoR's on file to apply? I feel like those will be the last things trickling in unfortunately.
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No, you don't need them. You can have LoRs submitted later. Ideally, you want to have them in by the time you submit your secondaries or the schools might end up waiting for LoRs before processing your application.

Btw: your GPA and projected MCAT would put you around the median for MD which is not bad at all.
 
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milski said:
No, you don't need them. You can have LoRs submitted later. Ideally, you want to have them in by the time you submit your secondaries or the schools might end up waiting for LoRs before processing your application.

Btw: your GPA and projected MCAT would put you around the median for MD which is not bad at all.
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Good to hear. Thanks for the encouragement, I am hoping to get one acceptance here; I know how cutthroat California is though.
 
MedicalMomma81 said:
I hadn't even thought about not mentioning that I have a daughter.

Should I not? I figured that with my 3.8 gpa I could show that I am obviously a hard worker even though I have a family.

Do some schools discriminate against mothers?
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I'd consider family a strength. I mentioned my wife in passing in my personal statement, but often brought it up in secondaries and interviews. I think one of the reasons I was so successful in the out of state publics was because I talked time and again about how my wife and I wanted to settle and raise our family in xxx area and hopefully stay after training.

I think few would discriminate. Some might ask how you intend to manage your time, balancing responsibilities, which is a fair and legitimate question, assuming you mentioned your daughter before.
 
Inygma said:
Dumb question, but how do we know they received our transcripts?
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When you log on, on the left side there is an Account info panel. At the bottom of it there is a "Transcript and Letter receipt information" with a details link. If you click on the link, it will show you status for each transcript and LOR that you have requested to submit.
 
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One of 4 transcripts received.

Question for people that worked full-time for several years, do you really have to estimate how many hours you worked during that time frame? Fortunately there are enough digits there I guess, but I think that's kind of silly.

Also too, regarding the PS and activities, I know it's best to not overlap, but I mean the PS is more important, it's not like you should leave something really interesting about one of these activities in this section, right? People don't have time to pour over this too, right?
 
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ConsultantMD said:
One of 4 transcripts is received.

Question for people that worked full-time for several years, do you really have to estimate how many hours you worked during that time frame? Fortunately there are enough digits there I guess, but I think that's kind of silly.
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It is but it should not be a big deal - just put some large number there. For what it's worth, 4 digits were not enough for my longest previous job. AMCAS suggests to split it in a repeated activity in that case, but I think that's a bit of an overkill.
 
I just spent an hour working on my PS and it's maybe slightly better. I read it aloud to my husband, and by the end we were both laughing at how terrible it is still.

It's time to step away and let it marinate.
 
Leslie_Knope said:
I just spent an hour working on my PS and it's maybe slightly better. I read it aloud to my husband, and by the end we were both laughing at how terrible it is still.

It's time to step away and let it marinate.
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Hang in there!

Having done two of them I can say this was probably the hardest part for me both times

What you need to think about is what you want your statement to say about you? Pick some sort of underlying theme - my med school PS was focused on a Phoenix rising from the ashes theme with my story and spoke of my determination, the one I used for residency talked about what I valued in a family doc and why that was found in me as well.

Good luck and you are right to let it marinate - do not forget there is always the option to trash and start over as well
 
Another non trad here- just wanted to say good luck to everyone!

I'll be participating in and watching this thread eagerly, so let's get 'em! :highfive:
 
mommy2three said:
Hang in there!

Having done two of them I can say this was probably the hardest part for me both times

What you need to think about is what you want your statement to say about you? Pick some sort of underlying theme - my med school PS was focused on a Phoenix rising from the ashes theme with my story and spoke of my determination, the one I used for residency talked about what I valued in a family doc and why that was found in me as well.

Good luck and you are right to let it marinate - do not forget there is always the option to trash and start over as well
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That sounds really great.

I ended up scrapping what I had and starting all over again. Thanks for the encouragement.
 
Leslie_Knope said:
That sounds really great.

I ended up scrapping what I had and starting all over again. Thanks for the encouragement.
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I completely agree- I spent a lot of time on my first draft, but have scrapped that and written a second brand new one. Now I might scrap that one and rework my first draft again. What I've learned throughout this process is to be sure you have a very strong underlying theme! Once you have that foundation, it's much easier to hone what you're saying!

Keep at it, we'll get there 🙂.
 
I'm lost on PS stuff. I was trying to think of a good opener story because I read in some book that non trads should have like a more linear approach and realized the story I started with was what I use for my college application like 10 years ago. D'oh!! Terrible.
 
crazy87 said:
I'm lost on PS stuff. I was trying to think of a good opener story because I read in some book that non trads should have like a more linear approach and realized the story I started with was what I use for my college application like 10 years ago. D'oh!! Terrible.
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I feel that I made some progress today. What was holding me back was insecurity.

I finally decided to just lay it out. So my PS is only going to talk about the past two years. It's going to mention my husband, our struggle with infertility, and our miracle child. It's going to mention working at a grocery store.

I sort of didn't want to talk about these taboo or non-glamourous topics but they are part of me.

Hopefully this works.
 
canadianinusa said:
How much editing are you guys putting into your activities? Even those seem incredibly awkward to me.
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A fair amount of time. Yeah they feel a bit strange. I got some help with mine and I didn't realize it wasn't supposed to be quite like a resume, but that it should include how each activity was important and formative... "This activity taught me that I can make rainbows for inner city children and that motivated me to enter health care" etc.... awkward for sure.
 
canadianinusa said:
Yeah, it's so much harder than it seems like it should be!

I'm wondering if I should mention that I participated in medical research as a subject. I don't have a lot of clinical experience and this demonstrates that I have a sense of what (some) doctors do! The studies were allergy studies where the subjects were in a room filled with pollen, and we were given test medication or a control.
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I'm finding it challenging as well.

I'll most likely be mentioning the clinical trial I was a subject in, because that is why I have my son. It'll be in my PS though not Work & Activities.
 
Just received my MCAT score and I'm trying to decide when to retake the exam. I got a 29 (8/7/14) and with a low uGPA I want a shot at MD schools. Is mid July a good time or should I delay longer in order to prepare more? I am planning on submitting to AMCAS as soon as my transcripts are verified and sending out primary applications with my first MCAT score.
 
galactoside said:
Just received my MCAT score and I'm trying to decide when to retake the exam. I got a 29 (8/7/14) and with a low uGPA I want a shot at MD schools. Is mid July a good time or should I delay longer in order to prepare more? I am planning on submitting to AMCAS as soon as my transcripts are verified and sending out primary applications with my first MCAT score.
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Sorry about you having to re-take. That really stinks. I would delay as long as you need to in order to get the best score that you can. I think July might be too soon.
 
galactoside said:
Just received my MCAT score and I'm trying to decide when to retake the exam. I got a 29 (8/7/14) and with a low uGPA I want a shot at MD schools. Is mid July a good time or should I delay longer in order to prepare more? I am planning on submitting to AMCAS as soon as my transcripts are verified and sending out primary applications with my first MCAT score.
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I'm sorry, I can definitely understand this-- very similar thing happened to me with the MCAT. Personally, I would delay longer. I think rushing to retake could cause you to end up with a very similar score unless you're sure that there were some unusual factors that played a part in your exam (ie: computers blacked out on your testing day). However, that being said, you should really examine closely what issues you might have had with material, anxiety, etc. to make your decision- you will know best what you're capable of. Either way, you can definitely do it! You'll have a better understanding of the exam now that you've taken it once and can use this knowledge to hit the next one out of the ballpark! Good luck!
 
galactoside said:
Just received my MCAT score and I'm trying to decide when to retake the exam. I got a 29 (8/7/14) and with a low uGPA I want a shot at MD schools. Is mid July a good time or should I delay longer in order to prepare more? I am planning on submitting to AMCAS as soon as my transcripts are verified and sending out primary applications with my first MCAT score.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that you need to submit your AMCAS application to have your transcript verified. The common way to do what you're trying to accomplish is to submit AMCAS as soon as possible, while marking that you expect a new MCAT score. That allows you to get in the queue for verification early but still makes the schools wait until your second MCAT arrives. Some people also suggest submitting to one school only and adding the rest of them later, when you know your second MCAT.
 
milski said:
Keep in mind that you need to submit your AMCAS application to have your transcript verified. The common way to do what you're trying to accomplish is to submit AMCAS as soon as possible, while marking that you expect a new MCAT score. That allows you to get in the queue for verification early but still makes the schools wait until your second MCAT arrives. Some people also suggest submitting to one school only and adding the rest of them later, when you know your second MCAT.
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What is the reasoning behind submitting to only one school until receiving scores for the second MCAT? I was thinking that I would be sending secondary applications around the time that I have my second MCAT score.
 
galactoside said:
What is the reasoning behind submitting to only one school until receiving scores for the second MCAT? I was thinking that I would be sending secondary applications around the time that I have my second MCAT score.
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Failsafe in case you bomb the MCAT. It allows you not to be a reapplicant if you have to delay until the next year and to adjust your school list based on the MCAT score. Most schools don't take much time (a few days) to send you a secondary, so it is not delaying you that much.
 
I was wondering the same thing.
I can submit to one school while waiting for my MCAT Score? I was afraid I wouldn't be able to add more after it was verified.
Also, should I rush to submit on June 3rd? I am not taking the MCAT until August 15th.
 
MedicalMomma81 said:
I was wondering the same thing.
I can submit to one school while waiting for my MCAT Score? I was afraid I wouldn't be able to add more after it was verified.
Also, should I rush to submit on June 3rd? I am not taking the MCAT until August 15th.
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You can add schools at any time before or after your application is verified, as long as it is before the deadline for that school. I think the first batch of deadlines is October 1, so that is more of a theoretical limitation.

It depends. You will get your MCAT results around mid-September, so you want to be done with the secondaries around that time. Assuming that you are going to pre-write it, it is still good to be verified at least a week before that. Last year application verified in early September were submitted in mid-July. That means that for you it does not matter that much when you submit, as long as it is before mid-July. If you think you can add something substantial during that time, delay. Otherwise, submit as early as you can without stressing about it.
 
breakintheroof said:
Hello, nontrads. I just read through this wonderfully supportive thread.

I will have my 5-year College Reunion before I matriculate at a med school (right before, if I'm lucky). I guess that makes me one of you. I'm excited to be in this together.
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Welcome! And now that you brought reunions up... I'll probably have to skip some classes in med school for my 25th high school reunion. 😀 (if I finally get accepted this year)
 
milski said:
You can add schools at any time before or after your application is verified, as long as it is before the deadline for that school. I think the first batch of deadlines is October 1, so that is more of a theoretical limitation.

It depends. You will get your MCAT results around mid-September, so you want to be done with the secondaries around that time. Assuming that you are going to pre-write it, it is still good to be verified at least a week before that. Last year application verified in early September were submitted in mid-July. That means that for you it does not matter that much when you submit, as long as it is before mid-July. If you think you can add something substantial during that time, delay. Otherwise, submit as early as you can without stressing about it.
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Thank you! I think, at most then, I will delay a week or two so it still gets in relativity soon.

Is there any way to figure out what my GPAs will be before my application gets verified? I'm from Massachusetts, so lots of nice med schools. I was thinking that as long as my GPA was in range of the schools I want to apply too that I'd keep them on my list and then hope for the best with my MCAT score.
 
MedicalMomma81 said:
Thank you! I think, at most then, I will delay a week or two so it still gets in relativity soon.

Is there any way to figure out what my GPAs will be before my application gets verified? I'm from Massachusetts, so lots of nice med schools. I was thinking that as long as my GPA was in range of the schools I want to apply too that I'd keep them on my list and then hope for the best with my MCAT score.
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There is a spreadsheet floating around here on SDN where you can enter your grades and it will calcite your AMCAS GPA. I cannot find a link right now - if you cannot find it either let me know, and I will upload a copy somewhere.
 
milski said:
There is a spreadsheet floating around here on SDN where you can enter your grades and it will calcite your AMCAS GPA. I cannot find a link right now - if you cannot find it either let me know, and I will upload a copy somewhere.
Click to expand...

I have a few at home I can link to later as well.
 
MedicalMomma81 said:
Thank you! I think, at most then, I will delay a week or two so it still gets in relativity soon.

Is there any way to figure out what my GPAs will be before my application gets verified? I'm from Massachusetts, so lots of nice med schools. I was thinking that as long as my GPA was in range of the schools I want to apply too that I'd keep them on my list and then hope for the best with my MCAT score.
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I am loathe to rain on anyone's parade, but getting a primary out in mid-September may be way too late. Even if you could turn around your secondaries in <24 hours, you're betting on an unknown MCAT score being strong enough to compete with applicants who had their entire package ready for perusal in July.
 
DrCharlemagne said:
I am loathe to rain on anyone's parade, but getting a primary out in mid-September may be way too late. Even if you could turn around your secondaries in <24 hours, you're betting on an unknown MCAT score being strong enough to compete with applicants who had their entire package ready for perusal in July.
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So move up MCAT date?
 
juliuspepperwood said:
Only if you're prepared and confident.
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Ok, I do feel confident. I am currently in school so it hasn't been so long since I took the material. I just need to study and refresh on things. I have moved it up to July 2nd.

juliuspepperwood said:
I have a few at home I can link to later as well.
Click to expand...

DrCharlemagne said:
PM me for an older excel sheet.
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Thank you! I found a spreadsheet- cGPA 3.79 sGPA 3.61, it will be interesting to see how close it is to what AMCAS says.
 
MedicalMomma81 said:
Ok, I do feel confident. I am currently in school so it hasn't been so long since I took the material. I just need to study and refresh on things. I have moved it up to July 2nd.
Thank you! I found a spreadsheet- cGPA 3.79 sGPA 3.61, it will be interesting to see how close it is to what AMCAS says.
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There should not be any real differences unless AMCAS requalifies any of your classes between BPMC/non-BPMC.
Have you taken any practice MCATs? AAMC 3 is available for free, I would try that before committing to taking the exam so soon.
 
milski said:
There should not be any real differences unless AMCAS requalifies any of your classes between BPMC/non-BPMC.
Have you taken any practice MCATs? AAMC 3 is available for free, I would try that before committing to taking the exam so soon.
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I qualified for the FAP, so I have taken 3 of the 5 practice MCATs I get to use for free.
 
MedicalMomma81 said:
I qualified for the FAP, so I have taken 3 of the 5 practice MCATs I get to use for free.
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That's good, so you have some idea what you are facing and where you stand. Best of luck with the balance between early enough and good enough. 👍
 
I'm back to struggling with my personal statement.

I can't decide how personal to get. Should I include the death of my son and father, within 3 months of each other, and its impact on me?
Or, is it all too cliche to talk about loss leading you to medicine. I don't want my application tossed.

I think I have plenty of other experiences that I can add if I take that out, but I'm feeling stuck.
 
MedicalMomma81 said:
I'm back to struggling with my personal statement.

I can't decide how personal to get. Should I include the death of my son and father, within 3 months of each other, and its impact on me?
Or, is it all too cliche to talk about loss leading you to medicine. I don't want my application tossed.

I think I have plenty of other experiences that I can add if I take that out, but I'm feeling stuck.
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Unfortunately I don't have a good answer to that question. I have a similar dilemma though less tragic circumstances. I'll tell you what I did in case the situation helps.

I was in an accident in 2003 (halfway though undergrad) and had 6 surgeries over the following 6 years with the last one in 2009. In my personal statement I talked about how the time in the hospital and talking to doctors and nurses as well as looking into my own situation and that of patients around affected me. It "intensified" my desire to become a doctor.

I tried to sort of gloss over the hardship part of it without making it sound like I was making excuses for a poor GPA for a couple of semesters (but I was in a wheelchair or on crutches and on narcotics for 9 months...) but it was an important part of my decision to become a doctor...

In short, I don't know what to recommend for you, but personal reasons are personal reasons, and if they helped us get to where we are with respect to our desire, dedication, interest, whatever, I think they're important.
 
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