Acceptees, if you could give one piece of advice to this year's applicants...

[mdmom]

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So, if you could give one piece of advice to the Class of 2007 applicants, what would it be?

Here's mine:

Apply early 🙂 ,

hang on 😕 ,

and enjoy the ride !!!

(I guess that's three :wink: )

 

[SarahL]

Apply early, and research the schools you apply to very well.

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[moo]

Don't be arrogant on your interviews, no matter how much of a hotshot you think you are.

Don't miss too many classes going on interviews, if possible.

Don't take a tougher courseload than you need to... enjoy your senior year.

oops i guess that's three.

 

[HanSolo]

The best advice I can give is: read Jailbrek's guide to medschool appl. thread thoroughly---> consider it's your application bible 🙂

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Apply to a wide range of schools even if you have a 4.0 and a 43-45 😛

 

[Mystique]

This is probably posted somewhere, but I would highly recommend that those applying search for previous application questions (most schools' secondaries don't change from year to year), and as soon as you have some time to kill, start brainstorming and preparing your answers. That way when you actually have the application in hand, you can type up your answers and send off your app the next day. Actually, I think that sometime in August or September, there was a thread that listed application questions...(I'm too lazy to do a search.) 🙂

I did a search, and here's a thread listing some <a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002582&p=" target="_blank">schools' secondary app. questions</a>.

 

[mr.annoying]

don't apply

 

[Hopkins2010]

dont go to more than a reasonable number of interviews. I can tell you right now that 18 is way too many.

 

[Dr. Kermit]

I have a couple for each stage of the game.

Before applying- Get recommendations from professors that really know you and don't forget to keep them updated on your application status. Also, send a thank you note.

AMCAS- Send your transcript early and send two copies separately. They will ultimately lose one of them. Always get the name of the representative to whom you speak and see if you can get their personal extension. Document each telephone call.

Secondaries- Make copies of all of your secondaries and the check number you send. Fed Ex or Priority Mail them. You never know if the two days will make a difference.

Pre-interview- Ensure that your committee letter is at each school. Call and confirm that your application is complete

Interview- Try to call schools in the vicinity of any interviews scheduled. Some schools are accomodating, others are not. But, it never hurts to try. Don't forget to send a thank you card to anyone who helped you that day.

Post-interview- Always send an update letter to schools from which you haven't heard. Don't sit around and wait for your rejection, let the schools know you're still interested.

Good luck everyone. You guys have worked hard so don't sit back and assume things will get done.

 

[MTORMENTME]

People have said it before but it needs to be said again....don't take anything for granted.I applied to some upper tier schools and some that aren't bad...but aren't the best. Needless to say I put a lot of effort into the better schools and not much into the others. I got interviews at the good schools and rejected from the others. In other words...take everything seriously and you'll be better off.

 

[shorrin]

take a year off

don't get discouraged

don't take it personally

 

[Assassin]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by baylor21:
•dont go to more than a reasonable number of interviews. I can tell you right now that 18 is way too many.•••••I totally disagree...after a while, you actually begin to enjoy them 🙂
The number of interviews may only become an issue if you have to fly out to them ($$$) or you have to take days off work. Otherwise it's just as much fun as any other travel. (16 interviews for me total, drove to all but 2 of them)

 

[trout]

I think the biggest is do not doubt yourself....and do not get discouraged if it seems like everyone else is getting interviews, early interview does not gaurentee acceptance.

do not interview at your dream school as your first interview, even if you think you are a seasoned interviewer...

ask yourself before applying if you really want to go to a school.

stop worrying about how much it cost (as sad as it is to say this) but acceptance=happiness, school (private) will probably cost $100,000+

 

[BlackPuma]

switch fields...medicine sucks...I wish I had gone to law...so I could the pants out of the AMCAS pple...oh well....

 

[EMTgirl]

make copies of all your secondaries, because some of the questions are very similar from school to school and can easily be adapted and re-used. you will appreciate this when you are sitting in front of your TYPEWRITER pounding out your 21st secondary. 🙂

 

[SMW]

Apply early to a wide range of appropriate schools, stay on top of all details of the application process, make sure your essays are as personal, original and well written as humanly possible, keep copies of everything, and have a system for logging mailings and contacts with AMCAS and individual schools. Read <a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010171" target="_blank">Jalbrekt's new revised official guide to applying to med school</a>, and check SDN frequently for news relevant to your applications.

As you can tell, it's impossible to only give one piece of advice. 😀 But checking SDN frequently is probably the best advice of all. Good luck to all of this year's applicants!!! 🙂

 

[Sammmeyeam]

don't sleep with the Dean's daughter...

 

[UCMonkey]

I agree with everyone else's advice, but I'm suprised nobody's mentioned:

BE PATIENT!!!!!!!!

Getting into medical school doesn't happen overnight, and once you're in somewhere, you're IN and your gonna be a doc. If you've well thought out the schools you applied to, you should be happy anywhere you get in. Anything else is gravy.

 

[izz-ay]

Great advice from all over, but here's my $.02:
-apply early, you'll need all the cards in your favor (and send in secondaries fast)

-follow up with your reference writers because they WILL forget, even if they promise not to

-Give it your all or don't bother...The evil application process should ot be trifled with.

Oh, and I'd like to add an AMEN to whomever posted "don't take it personal" and "try not to miss to many classes for interviews" (some profs aren't as understanding as you'd like...BURNED!) so....AMEN!! 😀 😀 😀

 

[deva]

Relax. Try not to freak out or get overly paranoid and worried.

Applying late isn't as bad as some people think (in my opinion, anyway 🙂 ). I completed AMCAS in October and sent the secondaries off at the last minute - and I still got in. The point is, don't beat yourself up for applying late. I did it (before I got in) and it wasn't worth it.

 

[otter]

1. Apply to MANY schools and increase your options, especially if you're an average candidate. An attempt to spare money by applying to fewer number of schools may end up costing you a whole lot more later in the overall scheme of things.

2. Keep in regular (though not obsessively frequent) contact with the schools. Update letters and interest letters (must be well-timed and in good faith) to schools are important.

3. During the interview, your demeanor is just as important as what you say. By this, I mean: how composed you are, how well you listen, whether/not you're friendly and humble, etc.

4. Accept the fact that it will be a year of uncertainty, that many things will be simply out of your control, and that you may have to apply again the following year.

 

[BlackPuma]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Sammmeyeam:
•don't sleep with the Dean's daughter...•••••wait, I thought that was what u were supposed to do to to get in...

good one though, :wink: u have a great sense of humor 😛 😎