**2017-2018 URM Medical School Application Thread**

Online Master’s Degree in Medical Physiology
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Sir Alanna Trebond said:
What are people doing to prepare for medical school? Not studying (perish the thought!) but more life preparations? I've started collecting quick and easy recipes. I'm also thinking about buying an Instant Pot.



I filled out my FAFSA (and got the IRS data retrieval to work) but I think some schools require your tax returns regardless.
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Get. a. crock. pot. You set it and forget it! (<--reference might be before your time lmao) but nah foreal..it's clutch. Also coffee maker if you drink coffee.

FlyMissMD93 said:
I'm reading self-help books, exercising more, taking it easy basically.
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Read your ass off - when you start school, you won't want to read anything other than the front of a bottle of Jack/wine as you crack the seal or pop the cork while finding something to watch on netflix...

Ari77 said:
Working full-time trying to save up as much money as I can (still waiting patiently for that acceptance as well)
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Once you get accepted, work your ass off because that money will come in handy but leave yourself at least a month or two to not do anything. Medical school is more than lectures, it's professional development, etc so you'll have a bunch of other things that will consume your time and you'll wish you took time for yourself.
 
teeayejay said:
Once you get accepted, work your ass off because that money will come in handy but leave yourself at least a month or two to not do anything. Medical school is more than lectures, it's professional development, etc so you'll have a bunch of other things that will consume your time and you'll wish you took time for yourself.
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I really appreciate the vote of confidence 🙂
Unfortunately as an international student I won't be able to do any work once school starts unless it's related to medicine somehow (even over the summer months) so I really do need to save as much as I can or I'll be sleeping on library couches before the year is up. Family can barely cover the tuition costs with the loans I'll be eligible for. Such is life though, I'll figure it out somehow 🙂
 
Ari77 said:
I really appreciate the vote of confidence 🙂
Unfortunately as an international student I won't be able to do any work once school starts unless it's related to medicine somehow (even over the summer months) so I really do need to save as much as I can or I'll be sleeping on library couches before the year is up. Family can barely cover the tuition costs with the loans I'll be eligible for. Such is life though, I'll figure it out somehow 🙂
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Ahh I see, sorry for making presumptions - everyone's situation is unique.

I probably also should have read your signature haha.
 
teeayejay said:
Get. a. crock. pot. You set it and forget it! (<--reference might be before your time lmao) but nah foreal..it's clutch. Also coffee maker if you drink coffee.



Read your ass off - when you start school, you won't want to read anything other than the front of a bottle of Jack/wine as you crack the seal or pop the cork while finding something to watch on netflix...



Once you get accepted, work your ass off because that money will come in handy but leave yourself at least a month or two to not do anything. Medical school is more than lectures, it's professional development, etc so you'll have a bunch of other things that will consume your time and you'll wish you took time for yourself.
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How early do you suggest moving to a new state to start medical school if your school starts in August?
 
teeayejay said:
Ahh I see, sorry for making presumptions - everyone's situation is unique.

I probably also should have read your signature haha.
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No worries, the advice is still relevant, just need to find some time for myself in between the long working hours as well. Perhaps I'll take a step back from my other commitments when the time comes 🙂
 
Sir Alanna Trebond said:
What are people doing to prepare for medical school? Not studying (perish the thought!) but more life preparations? I've started collecting quick and easy recipes. I'm also thinking about buying an Instant Pot.



I filled out my FAFSA (and got the IRS data retrieval to work) but I think some schools require your tax returns regardless.
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I bought several cook books lol. Who knew cooking was actually fun hahaha. That clean up afterwards tho....
 
FlyMissMD93 said:
How early do you suggest moving to a new state to start medical school if your school starts in August?
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About a month or so if it logistically and financially works - this gives you enough time to get things in order so you're not running around trying to get settled while classes are in session. You want to have your home in order and any paperwork/on-boarding processing completed. Plus, it gives you a chance to acclimate to a new city if you've moved away. Also many of your classmates may move in relatively early too so you may be able to set up coffee dates/group meet ups so you can get a feel for each other before school starts - our class did this and it was cool.
 
teeayejay said:
I'd be careful with this. I got into 4 MD schools with a 502 (second mcat retake at that - two mid-tiers/two hbcu's). They look at stats but they also consider the whole applicant.
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That makes me feel a bit more relieved... And congrats !!!
 
azolesoul said:
Would a second Bachelor's make sense? I could improve my undergrad profile and I pretty sure second Bachelor's are able to receive financial aid.
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That's what I did. I'm a URM and English is also my second language. I graduated with a BS in biology in 2015, but my struggles in the MCAT kept me from entering medical school, so I went and apply for a BA in Chemistry so I could continue taking classes and get financial aid. It was beneficial because as I was a chemistry major, I was still able to take Bio upper levels. After 5 tries with the MCAT I finally got a 500 score (yea I know disappointing ). Anyway, though I thought my chances were over for medical school in the U.S. because of the MCAT, I took the risk and applied this cycle, and I'm very proud to tell you that I received 10 DO and 1 in-state MD interview invites. Now I'm already seating on 2 DO acceptances. The thing is just like you I live with my parents at 27 years old, and sometimes they would see my struggles, and they'd tell me why don't I do something different like nursing or something. I'd just tell them to be patient with me, and that I'm trying really hard to get in, and I make them understand that many people I've gone through many cycles before actually getting in medical school. Let me tell you that it was all worth it in the end; I'm going to be a doctor.

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lenspx said:
That's what I did. I'm a URM and English is also my second language. I graduated with a BS in biology in 2015, but my struggles in the MCAT kept me from entering medical school, so I went and apply for a BA in Chemistry so I could continue taking classes and get financial aid. It was beneficial because as I was a chemistry major, I was still able to take Bio upper levels. After 5 tries with the MCAT I finally got a 500 score (yea I know disappointing ). Anyway, though I thought my chances were over for medical school in the U.S. because of the MCAT, I took the risk and applied this cycle, and I'm very proud to tell you that I received 10 DO and 1 in-state MD interview invites. Now I'm already seating on 2 DO acceptances. The thing is just like you I live with my parents at 27 years old, and sometimes they would see my struggles, and they'd tell me why don't I do something different like nursing or something. I'd just tell them to be patient with me, and that I'm trying really hard to get in, and I make them understand that many people I've gone through many cycles before actually getting in medical school. Let me tell you that it was all worth it in the end; I'm going to be a doctor.

Sent from my SM-G950U using SDN mobile
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This is just awesome. Like wow. Best wishes to you and yours, & I hope to meet you as a colleague someday.
 
I'm curious to know: When you are asked by your interviewers if you have interviewed at other schools, what do you guys say? Are you honest or do you just say no?
 
FlyMissMD93 said:
I'm curious to know: When you are asked by your interviewers if you have interviewed at other schools, what do you guys say? Are you honest or do you just say no?
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I'm honest. There's actually been times that conversations/experiences from my other interviews have come up and we talk about it and move on
 
FlyMissMD93 said:
I'm curious to know: When you are asked by your interviewers if you have interviewed at other schools, what do you guys say? Are you honest or do you just say no?
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I usually say yeah, then something about how each school has it's own personality, and finally bring it back to the aspects that I appreciate about this one. I don't say any other school's name in particular to admin/interviewers but I do talk about the difference in cities or schools when I'm talking to other applicants. Makes for interesting small talk.
 
FlyMissMD93 said:
I'm curious to know: When you are asked by your interviewers if you have interviewed at other schools, what do you guys say? Are you honest or do you just say no?
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I have been honest. No school has asked me which schools I have interviewed at (I'm not sure if they are allowed to). But they often asked how many schools and whether I applied M.D. and D.O. They also asked why (since I applied both). It has not hurt me any, as those schools that asked did accept me.
 
VillageSweetie said:
I have been honest. No school has asked me which schools I have interviewed at (I'm not sure if they are allowed to). But they often asked how many schools and whether I applied M.D. and D.O. They also asked why (since I applied both). It has not hurt me any, as those schools that asked did accept me.
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I was asked that question at two MD interviews. Just wanted to gauge how folks approached it! It was semi-early in my cycle when I was asked so I lied and said no.
 
FlyMissMD93 said:
I was asked that question at two MD interviews. Just wanted to gauge how folks approached it! It was semi-early in my cycle when I was asked so I lied and said no.
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I feel like it's ok not to divulge that info if you don't want to. It's similar to a job interview where you filter how much info you tell your potential new employer about your previous job experiences, other offers, etc. If you're not cool with it then do what you feel and present your best, professional self (whatever that means to you).
 
Does anyone on this thread that had interviews have community college credits? I'm wondering how many cc credits are "too many" vs uni credits.
 
persistenceofmemory said:
Does anyone on this thread that had interviews have community college credits? I'm wondering how many cc credits are "too many" vs uni credits.
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I would imagine that 2 years worth of credits would be the max that wouldn’t surprise adcoms. Tons of people do two years at community college then go to Uni for the last two. As long as you have shown that you can handle the rigor of university, you should be fine.
 
FlyMissMD93 said:
I'm curious to know: When you are asked by your interviewers if you have interviewed at other schools, what do you guys say? Are you honest or do you just say no?
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I got asked this by one interviewer - I just told him. I don't really see how it would hurt. I think someone brought up a good idea about bringing it back to why you like the school at that interview though
 
To anyone that applied SES disadvantaged, does it help with getting interviews/acceptances and scholarships at particular schools?
 
carterjt47 said:
To anyone that applied SES disadvantaged, does it help with getting interviews/acceptances and scholarships at particular schools?
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I would say no to interviews/acceptances, although it might help with institution need-based aid.

FAP was a tremendous help though, definitely would have not been able to go through the cycle without it.
 
carterjt47 said:
To anyone that applied SES disadvantaged, does it help with getting interviews/acceptances and scholarships at particular schools?
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I’ve had 7 interviews and I’m not sure if it has helped me get any of those interviews, but I think it allows you to tell a complete story. I didn’t mention being low income too much in my personal statement, but it’s still a big part of my life story so I used the disadvantage section to talk about it.
 
applesaucy said:
I got my first acceptance over the weekend, I’m gonna be an MD! I’m obviously super happy and relieved, but at the same time I also feel very frustrated that my other interviews have simply dragged me along with one form of a “deferred” decision or another. This process is sooo not family-friendly. My spouse has had to be so flexible in his job search around this incredibly indecisive process. He has his dream job lined up in a city where I’ve been deferred for months... if they’re going to reject me, why can’t they just rip the band aid off so we can know to move on!
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Yep this process sucks, but you got in so congrats!!!! I'm sure your acceptance is well deserved 🙂
 
This process is so stressful -_- I'm waiting on an interview result and if it's not an acceptance I'll need to start studying for the MCAT again. Everyone says dont be negative, dont start studying for it yet but the school is taking so long with this result... I need to plan my life >.<
 
Ari77 said:
This process is so stressful -_- I'm waiting on an interview result and if it's not an acceptance I'll need to start studying for the MCAT again. Everyone says dont be negative, dont start studying for it yet but the school is taking so long with this result... I need to plan my life >.<
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If you think your MCAT might cause you not be accepted this round then you should start studying now, preemptively. That's what I would do at least (if you wanted to take it early in the year).
 
drgweeds said:
If you think your MCAT might cause you not be accepted this round then you should start studying now, preemptively. That's what I would do at least (if you wanted to take it early in the year).
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My MCAT expires 🙁 sorry I should've been clearer.
 
So, I recently got a wealth of information concerning my potential doctoral program and I was blown away. Everyone I spoke with seemed to be doing really innovative and powerful research and, unbeknownst to me, the program is nicely intermingled with the school's medical program. In addition, I have an interview with SGU medical in a few weeks but I'm just at a loss as to what I should do.

I know SGU is less than ideal but I know myself and I know I could adapt and do well in the coursework and adjusting to Grenada. I'm going to ask my interviewer some frank questions so I can hopefully make a decision. I'm interested in neuro but I don't know how feasible that would be coming from SGU.

I'm so happy for you guys that are getting good news and hope during this process!
 
Ari77 said:
This process is so stressful -_- I'm waiting on an interview result and if it's not an acceptance I'll need to start studying for the MCAT again. Everyone says dont be negative, dont start studying for it yet but the school is taking so long with this result... I need to plan my life >.<
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Do you feel like your GPA could be holding you back from getting interviews ? Is it competitive ? 3.5+
 
Orthopedics101 said:
Do you guys know if it’s possible to negotiate scholarship money with a school that only gives need-based aid and not merit scholarships?
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I've heard it be done. Especially if you have options to use as leverage.
 
carterjt47 said:
Do you feel like your GPA could be holding you back from getting interviews ? Is it competitive ? 3.5+
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My ugpa is not great I'll admit but my graduate GPA is, so its hard to say how medschools view me. If they are into reinvention then I should be good. If not... there is no hope.
 
Ari77 said:
I've heard it be done. Especially if you have options to use as leverage.
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Yeh, I have as well. I'm just wondering, since your need based package gets reevaluated every year, if it's plausible that they give you a need based scholarship to lure you to the school and then take it away after the first year since you lose that leverage?
 
Orthopedics101 said:
Yeh, I have as well. I'm just wondering, since your need based package gets reevaluated every year, if it's plausible that they give you a need based scholarship to lure you to the school and then take it away after the first year since you lose that leverage?
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Oh shoot...that's a thing?!
 
azolesoul said:
So, I recently got a wealth of information concerning my potential doctoral program and I was blown away. Everyone I spoke with seemed to be doing really innovative and powerful research and, unbeknownst to me, the program is nicely intermingled with the school's medical program. In addition, I have an interview with SGU medical in a few weeks but I'm just at a loss as to what I should do.

I know SGU is less than ideal but I know myself and I know I could adapt and do well in the coursework and adjusting to Grenada. I'm going to ask my interviewer some frank questions so I can hopefully make a decision. I'm interested in neuro but I don't know how feasible that would be coming from SGU.

I'm so happy for you guys that are getting good news and hope during this process!
Click to expand...

To be frank and maybe a little harsh, you will NOT be able to match into any neuro residences if you go to SGU or any other Caribbean school for that matter. You WILL be accepted to SGU, I can tell you that 100%, but it won't matter because either you will likely not do well at SGU or you won't be able to match when the time comes. People have told you over and over again that doing a PhD will not help your application because your uGPA and MCAT are the issue, not your research experience. I hate to see that you are going to be making the wrong choice because you want to be a doctor so bad. If you do a DIY post-bacc, get good grades (All A's ideally), and retake the MCAT and get a good score - you will be rewarded with acceptances to DO school and maybe even MD school. I wish you the best with everything but it's so aggravating to see you ask for advice from people, but not take any of it and then believe you'll the exception to the Caribbean rule.
 
Nathan17182 said:
To be frank and maybe a little harsh, you will NOT be able to match into any neuro residences if you go to SGU or any other Caribbean school for that matter. You WILL be accepted to SGU, I can tell you that 100%, but it won't matter because either you will likely not do well at SGU or you won't be able to match when the time comes. People have told you over and over again that doing a PhD will not help your application because your uGPA and MCAT are the issue, not your research experience. I hate to see that you are going to be making the wrong choice because you want to be a doctor so bad. If you do a DIY post-bacc, get good grades (All A's ideally), and retake the MCAT and get a good score - you will be rewarded with acceptances to DO school and maybe even MD school. I wish you the best with everything but it's so aggravating to see you ask for advice from people, but not take any of it and then believe you'll the exception to the Caribbean rule.
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You know what, I’m so sick of all you guys! What makes you think I couldn’t excel academically at SGU?

A PhD will most certainly be an asset. I’m not taking undergrad courses because I already have a Bachelors( i.e. I’m not making a sucker move). Wouldn't a post-bacc just be padding my GPA while graduate work is certainly more difficult and indicative of academic prowess? Your logic and the general logic here is weak. In addition, you're not a PD so how do YOU know that neuro is impossible?

FOH
 
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