2016 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

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Yeah! Are we thinking downtown or the 'burbs? Downtown is easier for me. And Wednesday works best.

I know @charlie517 and @Family practice PA are in the Seattleish area, but not so sure how easy it is for them to meet in Seattle.

I'm totally down for wednesday! I was going to hit up the gym 530-630pm but this seems like a legit excuse haha! Any place is fine for me. Woodinville is closer but I usually spend my nights out in seattle area. 🙂
 
Those require some knowledge around javascript/web development. There use to be this: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pimp-your-mdapplicants-profile.839259/ but the site looks to be no longer available.
Do any web-savvy people know how people on MDApps are adding extra expandable sections? (Like in this one: http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=25916 and this one: http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=24817 )

I wanted to flesh mine out like these eventually, but I'm not quite hep enough to figure out how to make those collapsible areas.
 
I knew still being in classes this semester was going to end up turning my hair gray(er). Struggling badly in calculus and having repeated stress nightmares now that my acceptances end up rescinded because I end up with a C (before you tut-tut, there are policies about this...)

I don't think you can get your acceptance rescinded for a C, I think it's if you get anything below a C that can be trouble. At least this is the case for the schools I've gotten into. Also for pre-reqs a C is the generally the lowest acceptable grade (not sure if calculus is required for one of your schools, but I know some schools have it as a pre-req). Anyway, I really wouldn't worry too much if you do get a C, as I can't imagine any school revoking your acceptance for that. I have heard of people getting their acceptances revoked for D's and F's though
 
Got two more acceptance this past Friday! As someone who has always been discouraged from being herself, been told she would never amount to anything, it feels so great to have three schools telling me with their acceptance that they trust me to become a physician!

Now for the torturous part of having to choose between three schools that I thought were all incredible and great fits for me!
 
So my cycle is pretty much all over without so much as an II - but I have a call with the dean of admission at a top 5 MD school this afternoon to just chat about admissions and looking over my app to see where I can make changes for next cycle, and I also have shadowing with the doc who runs the sports med fellowship here, and is also a Seahawks team doctor. Gotta look at the positive things otherwise this whole process will beat you down, which I'm deff feeling right now
 
I'm in the same boat, but I believe in you.

If you're interested, the Deans at Rutgers and Tufts are also really open to speaking with applicants.
 
So my cycle is pretty much all over without so much as an II - but I have a call with the dean of admission at a top 5 MD school this afternoon to just chat about admissions and looking over my app to see where I can make changes for next cycle, and I also have shadowing with the doc who runs the sports med fellowship here, and is also a Seahawks team doctor. Gotta look at the positive things otherwise this whole process will beat you down, which I'm deff feeling right now

I'm in the same boat, but I believe in you.

If you're interested, the Deans at Rutgers and Tufts are also really open to speaking with applicants.

So is the Associate Dean at VCU (Dr. Whitehurst-Cook). She let me send her my transcripts and resume, and met with me in person (she offered to do it over the phone too) to go over them and talk to me in detail about my competitiveness. I really appreciated her candor.
 
So my cycle is pretty much all over without so much as an II - but I have a call with the dean of admission at a top 5 MD school this afternoon to just chat about admissions and looking over my app to see where I can make changes for next cycle, and I also have shadowing with the doc who runs the sports med fellowship here, and is also a Seahawks team doctor. Gotta look at the positive things otherwise this whole process will beat you down, which I'm deff feeling right now

Wow Seahawks team doctor! that's amazing! I wish I could shadow him...great contact! Especially with how competitive slots in Seattle are.
 
So is the Associate Dean at VCU (Dr. Whitehurst-Cook). She let me send her my transcripts and resume, and met with me in person (she offered to do it over the phone too) to go over them and talk to me in detail about my competitiveness. I really appreciated her candor.

Dr. Whitehurst-Cook is awesome, such a nice person who seems to really care about students
 
How did you initiate contact with her? I've only really been in contact with people directly connected to my "people I know" network - always hesitant to cold call that type of person
 
How did you initiate contact with her? I've only really been in contact with people directly connected to my "people I know" network - always hesitant to cold call that type of person

Also curious. Is she willing to talk to any applicant to her school, students in the state, or what?

I actually met her at the Society of Non-Traditional Medical and Pre-Medical Students (aka OldPremeds http://www.oldpremeds.org/) conference in DC in 2014. She was a speaker. We chatted briefly, at which point she told me to go ahead and send my transcripts if I wanted to talk about things.

But I know other folks (Maryland residents) who've never met her that sent her a nice polite email introducing themselves, expressing interest in the school, asking if she could take a look and she's responded to them. When we went in a group to an open house several months later she remembered them by name (!!).

I'd say just go ahead do that, if you're truly interested in VCU. She is a wonderful person.
 
So. If I originally provided parental info on the FAFSA and submitted it (not yet verified, however) due to a misunderstanding, is it possible to amend it and remove it? I spoke with the med school I will most likely be attending and they said it was not needed as I am considered independent. I amended it and removed the information (as I had not verified it and they only gave me estimates because they had not filed taxes yet).

Anyone done this before?
 
So. If I originally provided parental info on the FAFSA and submitted it (not yet verified, however) due to a misunderstanding, is it possible to amend it and remove it? Anyone done this before?

I've amended mine a couple of times since I first submitted it. I didn't have any problems changing what I needed to change.
 
I've amended mine a couple of times since I first submitted it. I didn't have any problems changing what I needed to change.

Ok. I was hoping it didn't send in "Updates" to the schools and they would just use the parental info already present. Appreciate it.
 
Haven't posted in here in a while, but I just wanted to vent about NeedAccess. I don't think I really need to go into detail since y'all probably have the same types of issues I do. Thumbs down.
 
Haven't posted in here in a while, but I just wanted to vent about NeedAccess. I don't think I really need to go into detail since y'all probably have the same types of issues I do. Thumbs down.
What is it?
 
I guess it isn't NeedAccess per se giving me a headache as much as trying to deal with getting my non-custodial parent's financial information...
Oh. Well I have no idea what NeedAccess is, but if its FinAid related, may the odds be ever in your favor.
 
Oh. Well I have no idea what NeedAccess is, but if its FinAid related, may the odds be ever in your favor.
Ah, I misunderstood your question. Some schools use NeedAccess to get a "full view of one's financial situation" (I'm paraphrasing) in order to dole out need-based, non-federal loan aid (and maybe scholarships, not sure). I appreciate the good luck sentiment!
 
I just found out that an important financial aid form was quietly uploaded to one of my top schools' portal sometime last month. On the form, they listed the submission deadline as last Wednesday.

You guys, between limping along financially, preparing my apartment for the move, trying to coordinate all these different kinds of forms at each school, and trying to weigh out how to totally change my life come April 30th, this is all getting pretty freaking stressful.

Also my boyfriend and I broke up last month, as I may have mentioned elsewhere.

I love you. Please hold me. Or at least bingewatch with me.
 
Well I was having a rough day (work is getting almost unbearable), then my wife sent me a photo of our dog at the park. May it bring you snuggle seal comfort as it did for me
IMG_4478.JPG
 
Whatever you do, don't binge watch Fuller House

It's so campy and disappointing

On the flip side, if someone can't handle being with someone who is about to be in medical school, there is only one thing to say to them


giphy.gif


I just found out that an important financial aid form was quietly uploaded to one of my top schools' portal sometime last month. On the form, they listed the submission deadline as last Wednesday.

You guys, between limping along financially, preparing my apartment for the move, trying to coordinate all these different kinds of forms at each school, and trying to weigh out how to totally change my life come April 30th, this is all getting pretty freaking stressful.

Also my boyfriend and I broke up last month, as I may have mentioned elsewhere.

I love you. Please hold me. Or at least bingewatch with me.
 
Whatever you do, don't binge watch Fuller House

It's so campy and disappointing

On the flip side, if someone can't handle being with someone who is about to be in medical school, there is only one thing to say to them


giphy.gif
Okay I love you for that GIF, and thank you for saving me. Claire Underwood's spanx this season were campy enuff.
 
After three weeks of waiting for my department to clear me for graduation, I get an email from the Dean that I'm missing a one-credit seminar class, the requirement for which was buried so deep that not even my adviser caught it when we were planning out this year.

So they may not allow me to graduate. For one credit. That normally isn't offered in summer so unless someone decided to shake it up this year there'd be no way I could take it until the fall, long after I'd have to have had my degree for matriculation this year.

I am so close to tears right now. So much work gone.
 
After three weeks of waiting for my department to clear me for graduation, I get an email from the Dean that I'm missing a one-credit seminar class, the requirement for which was buried so deep that not even my adviser caught it when we were planning out this year.

So they may not allow me to graduate. For one credit. That normally isn't offered in summer so unless someone decided to shake it up this year there'd be no way I could take it until the fall, long after I'd have to have had my degree for matriculation this year.

I am so close to tears right now. So much work gone.

I have nightmares about stuff like this as I am close to graduating. ♡

Is there any petition policy or anything?
 
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Holy crap that is horrifying, Ecce. But! I was literally reading a post this morning from 2004 from someone who actually didn't get their degree but matriculated at Columbia.

This is going to work out! Things can be arranged! There's no WAY all those medical school Deans are going to let you slip through their fingers.
 
After three weeks of waiting for my department to clear me for graduation, I get an email from the Dean that I'm missing a one-credit seminar class, the requirement for which was buried so deep that not even my adviser caught it when we were planning out this year.

Oh, I am so sorry to hear this!

Ideas:
1) Seminar classes are usually meant to either give a broad overview of a discipline, or an in-depth look at one topic. Either way, you might be able to convince your department to give you credit if you do a literature review on your own in early summer. Offer to read X number of papers and write up a report or give a presentation.

2) Call up the places you have been accepted to and inform them of the situation. Ask whether they would allow you to matriculate even though you are missing that class. A lot of them may say yes, and that should alleviate some worries.

3) If none of that works, ask your department whether you could substitute in something else for the seminar class: perhaps a seminar class at the med school you will be attending (if late graduation is an option), or perhaps you could find a conference to attend somewhere soon on a relevant topic.
 
I have an appointment with the Dean in three hours to see whether there's something we can do or whether I'm screwed.

If completely screwed I'll figure out what to do from there (after spending the rest of tonight in full panic mode). We'll see.

I'm going to go stress eat for the next three hours now.
 
...the fact that this is going to be fixable nevertheless *not to discount* how much unnecessary added stress this is at the worst possible time. Plus Calculus.

I send you Care Bear stares for days.
Agreed! As if the stress of applying to medical school, getting in, figuring out finances, plus Calculus isn't enough... I hope you've been stockpiling cookies, ice cream, and donuts.
 
h-h-h-h-holy moses

Fun fact: I actually had something like this happen to me, and you'll be okay. Almost every school has something called "course by application", basically a paper-based, offline version of the class. You just have to get the course administrator to sign off on it and then you fulfill their basic requirements for credit.

After three weeks of waiting for my department to clear me for graduation, I get an email from the Dean that I'm missing a one-credit seminar class, the requirement for which was buried so deep that not even my adviser caught it when we were planning out this year.

So they may not allow me to graduate. For one credit. That normally isn't offered in summer so unless someone decided to shake it up this year there'd be no way I could take it until the fall, long after I'd have to have had my degree for matriculation this year.

I am so close to tears right now. So much work gone.
 
I've found for the most part people are willing to work out situations like this - I got a couple credits waved because of semester to quarter transfers left me half a quarter credit short. So glad it worked out for ya!

Started the process of getting app feedback now - got 2 appointments made. Also got to try my hand at finding a mortons neuroma using ultrasound while shadowing - super cool. By changing the angle of the probe, tendons/ligaments change from light to dark, but neuromas don't. It still amazes me how much you discern using ultrasound. Gah, shadowing can be such a tease sometimes, especially with this doc, he is legitimately amazing - not only in clinical skills, but I don't think I've ever seen someone establish such a report with their patients, and genuinely care as much as he does. Mentor goals right there. Not to mention he likes to take the time to explain everything, always asks if I have questions and walks thru them, and wants you to be hands on (in the appropriate situations obviously).
 
My adviser is a stand up dude and came with me to talk to the Dean. We worked out a course substitution, so I have to take some comprehensive biology exam in May (wish my MCAT score sufficed, lol) and that'll be it.

RETURN TO DEFCON 5
RETURN TO DEFCON 5

*breathe*

I'm so glad this worked out.
 
Ermagerd got into Boston. Now I got 99 problems as I'd been pretty sure I was down to my top three choices but Boston definitely makes it four again.

#firstworldproblems

So I was gonna find a gif to post to say that you're dominating this cycle. And this one here is the second choice on google. It really doesnt fit at all but I'm posting it anyway

8c25826a98be6311db30de16254cc578.gif
 
On an unrelated note, does anyone still have an active MSAR subscription? If so, I would love to know the applicant data for a couple schools. PM me if you're willing to do me this huge favor 🙂
 
On an unrelated note, does anyone still have an active MSAR subscription? If so, I would love to know the applicant data for a couple schools. PM me if you're willing to do me this huge favor 🙂

Mine's expiring very soon but still working. Let me know which you want.

EDIT: j/k it has already expired. Someone else help if possible plz 🙂
 
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On an unrelated note, does anyone still have an active MSAR subscription? If so, I would love to know the applicant data for a couple schools. PM me if you're willing to do me this huge favor 🙂
PM me those schools. Mine's still active
 
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