2nd- and 3rd-time applicants, PLEASE READ! WISHES DO COME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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gmendese

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Well, I guess the third time IS a charm. I just wanted to let all of you know, that after three years of applying to med school, I got my first acceptance today to Jefferson Medical College. I know that you're going to ask me stuff about my stats, so I'll just tell you now.

I graduated summa cum laude from UMass Amherst in 2000 with a 3.82 GPA. I went to a local college my freshman year and transfered to UMass with a 3.36 GPA (bad year). So, my cum was a 3.70 and my science GPA was a 3.57.

The first time I took the MCAT, I got a 7, 9, R, 9. BUNK!

The next two times I got 7, 10, 10. Improvements, but verbal was still killing me. And it was weird because I did EXTREMELY well on my KAPLAN exams (on the final, I got a 43S). I actually taught the MCAT at Kaplan despite my actual scores and that might have helped my application.

Anyway, I retook the MCAT for the FOURTH time this August and brought up my verbal to a 9.

As far as my prior applications, the first year, I was wait listed at UMass, with no acceptance (obviously). The next year, I was wait listed at UMass again and wait listed at NYMC (with no acceptances, obviously).

This year, I have interviewed at UConn, Mt. Sinai, Jefferson, Temple, and I have one at Tufts next month. I haven't heard from NYMC or UMass yet, though.

During my years off from college, I have waited tables, worked on two novels and volunteered as a Pathologists' Assistant at Salem Hospital.

Anyway, I don't mean to be narcissistic or self-referrential, but I just wanted to let you know that if you're persistent enough, it'll happen.

Now, UMass is definitely my first-choice school, but I am MORE THAN ESTATIC ABOUT JEFFERSON!!!!!!!!!!!! I had tears in my eyes as you can imaging when my brother gave me the good news (by the way, it's been 12 days since my interview).

So, good luck, everyone...DAMNIT, I AM GOING TO BE AN MD AFTER ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HERE I GO AGAIN...the tears are flowing.

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gmendese,

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

WAY TO GO!!! Congratulations, future Doctor.

Your persistence is admirable and I am so happy it paid off.

You are going to be a great doctor.

Good luck as you begin to embark on your new, certain career!

mma
 
Congrats!!!
Thanks for sharing your great news! It definitely gives me hope to know that persistence does pay off.
I'm sure you'll be a great MD! :clap:
 
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Woo-hoo!! Congrats! What a story of true dedication and inspiration :)
 
gmen,

congrats. im very happy for you and share your sense of triumph. i am a second time applicant and got an acceptance to SUNY upstate this year. i worked as an aide and am now doing research. many a days i have felt like i had reached the bottom. i lost a lot of faith in the admissions process. i still have little faith, but im just grateful i have been given a chance.

im glad i went through these past two years. they were tough at times, but humbling and eye-opening. i have learned a lot....a great deal about myself and the person i want to be in the future. there is a reason for everything....and there is a reason it was tough for us....but we are so much better for it. good luck and i commend you on your accomplishment and your dedication. no one can take it away from you. YEAH BABY!!!

tears are good....but tears of joy are the best ones.


later
 
Congratulations from the bottom of my heart. And believe it when I say .. you and people like you are my inspiration!

Thank you for sharing and very best wishes! Remember to be a "good doctor" not just technically but also as a human being!

Shahab
 
Congrats on a much-deserved acceptance! UMass better get their act together or they're going to lose you! Again, congrats!
 
congratulations and I admire you for not giving up on your dreams. Now go out, have some fun and try to relax for the next six months before classes begin.
 
Gmendese:
I can completely relate to you! This is my third time applying as well and up until 2 weeks ago I thought I was going to have to find another career. Here is my story:
Went to University of Miami for undergrad, graduated magna cum laude, 3.8 gpa overall (something like 3.78 for science, don't remember) but POOR MCATS...I am telling you, I don't know what I was thinking back then. I took them first in April 1998...practically no review, pretty much started over Spring Break, and as a result...8,7,8,T. Okay, so I took them again that August, while applying (and of course, procrasinating until deadlines), independent review from textbooks and AAMC tests...7,8,10,R. That first application round, got one interview at Finch/CMS and waitlisted. By that time, I had graduated, and had already put in a second application (I figured my biggest problem was the procrastination, HAH!). Got an early interview at University of Miami but waitlisted...until they sent me a letter next August saying I was obviously rejected because classes had started! AAGGHH!!
Okay, so took one year off from applying, found a job, and got someone to help me pay for a review course (I couldn't afford one). Up until 3 weeks before the April 2001 MCAT, my scores hadn't budged from my previous ones (23-25) so I was beginning to panic. Instead of spending the next 3 weeks in those review courses, I spent my time wisely with lots of questions...still, on MCAT day, I almost voided my test because I had a panic attack during the verbal...I ended up getting 8,14,12,S! This year, got interviews at Duke, Emory, Vanderbilt, Medical College of Georgia, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Tulane, St. Louis University, Chicago Medical School and University of Vanderbilt...accepted to MCG, CMS and St. Louis so far! So it definitely can happen and I am so happy to be able to move on with my life now and never have to go through this admissions ordeal again! Good luck to anyone else going through what I went through!
dlc :clap:
 
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I know you have been flooded with congrats, but please let me add another one to your pile! I would just be echoing other people's sentiments, but I want to say that I bet you will be one of the best docs around, wherever you practice. I admire your determination, persistence, and self-awareness that brought you to this point (hey, are you trying to get your novels published, too? That would be neat!)

Hugs from Chicago, where it's preternaturally warm. :clap:
 
Let me also offer congrats to you gmen! :)

I am taking the MCAT for the fourth time this April...and I was wondering what you did differently in studying? (Especially for the verbal section). ALso, I know that I have to submit a letter to MCAT requesting to take it again, and I was wondering what is required in the letter...any help on that would be appreciated!

Thanks and again, congrats!!!
 
GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENJOY THE FEELING!!!
a friend of mine was on a premed committee at a well known college.....the head of the committee stopped a discussion of various premed students..he actually said "who's kidding who?, you don't need to be brilliant to get into medical school, a lot who get in are truly persistent, dedicated individuals"
 
YEAH!!!!! Congratulations gmendese and dlc!!!!!!
You are both definitely an inspiration to all of us who are applying.



:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
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Originally posted by dlc:
•on MCAT day, I almost voided my test because I had a panic attack during the verbal...•••

Wow Great stories you guys!! dlc, the very same thing happened to me on my second mcat attempt. Though I ended up 9 7 9. After MY third attempt a 12 9 9. I thought I was the only nutcase taking this test 3X.
So glad to hear that it paid off, what perserverance you guys!! Good luck to both of you!!
As a patient I'd certainly want you on my side, you can't buy that kind of persistance and optimism. :clap: :) :clap:
 
good for you. i have two good friends reapplying this year. good to think that your dreams will finally come true.
 
Congratulations, gmendese!!! You'll be an MD in 4.5 years!!!
 
G,
Your determination is admirable, I'm sure you will make a great doctor! I will probably give up after the second time, but you never gave up. I think this resilience rubbed off on your interviewers. Good Luck!
 
Thank you guys so much for your kind words. I can't believe it's actually happening! Don't give up hope! I'm having an MCAT scores-MCAT prep materials-and-previous-applications bonfire. Anyone want to join me!!!!!!! I'm using my scAMCAS application to start the flames!
 
You and I share similar stories gmendese - I recall several months ago your discussing having to take the MCAT a fourth time. Be glad you'll never have a fifth. Congratulations.

Andrew
 
COngrats gmendese..that is really awesome. i am sure that the admissions committees were quite impressed with your perseverence and dedication, and I am sure that Jeff won't be the only one..UMass will wake up soon enough!
Congrats!
 
gmendese,
I'm sooo happy for you! Your dream has come true, and you thought enough of others to share your story and inspire! You'll be a great doctor. Enjoy the rest of your journey. And go ahead and cry--you worked hard for those tears!
 
gmendese CONGRATULATIONS.

You're on top of the world. Enjoy this feeling because you earned every wonderful second of it.

Your hard work paid off...you're going to be an MD. Go celebrate.
 
gmendese,

I truly admire your dedication, determination, and courage. You have the qualities that make a great doctor. This field needs people like you. I am a second-time MCATer and your story brings hope to many premeds out there. I got into UC San Diego even though I took the MCAT twice. Yes folks, dreams do come true if you believe in them enough.
 
To G and Andrew--

Congratulations to your acceptances! Your stories are true inspiration for those of us that are positioning ourselves to undergo this daunting process yet another time.
 
Congrats on your guys acceptances! During my undergrad, an adcom came and told us that if someone applied once, didn't get in, and didn't apply again, they probably shouldn't have applied in the first place. Persistance to get things done and a strong dedication towards the pursuit of medicine are great traits for doctors to have, I hope that you guys never lose the desire to keep learning about medicine during your careers as physicians, it's a never-ending pursuit IMHO.
 
OP is a "porn star" now so I guess it didn't work out. :(
 
I didn't realize until I read the graduated in 2000 thing. It took 16 years to get into med school?!
 
Maybe it did and OP just wanted some extra cash on the side to pay off the debts

Study all day VS. hump and exchange bodily fluids all day?

The latter sounds gooooood to me. Pass me the Viagr@...... its going to be a movie, not movie scene ;)
 
Study all day VS. hump and exchange bodily fluids all day?

The latter sounds gooooood to me. Pass me the Viagr@...... its going to be a movie, not movie scene ;)

anigif_optimized-29941-1427413465-1.gif


/weirdness
 
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