Anyone else with late applications because of a hurricane?

[nolalover]

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just wondering if anyone was in a similar situation? i was living in new orleans and was just completing my AMCAS at the end of august. it certainly wasn't that early in the application process but i was on my way to finishing it when katrina hit.

of course after that mine and everyone else's life in the city permanently changed. i had to move back in with my parents in nj and lost focus or i should say had to deal with other things and even considered delaying my applications for a year. i had already done so much with my application though and i decided i didn't want to lose another year so i managed to finish everything.

the thing is i have been complete at my schools a month or less and haven't heard anything yet. i am very worried because i have the kind of mediocre application (numbers wise) that will be hurt by being so late in the cycle (gpa undergrad 3.1 science, 3.3 ao, gpa grad 3.9 ms in neuroscience, MCAT 30).

anyway, has anyone gone through this, were the admissions committees understanding? on a few of my secondaries i mentioned the delay if there was additional space but for several i didn't mention the hurricane delaying my app at all. i am not looking for any special treatment but if it wasn't for the damn hurricane i would have been complete more like sept/oct instead of dec/jan. should i make more of a point to contact adcoms about this or does that just look bad and won't make a difference anyway. any advice i'd appreciate, thanks.

 

[Rafa]

Not every one goes through a category-5 hurricane that destroys an entire US city during the med school application process. It would have been better if you'd made more mention of it in your secondary apps/interviews, but either way, the adcom should take note. If you're really concerned about it, sending something might be an option to consider, but take care to not sound like you're using it as an excuse (although I can't imagine many excuses more deserving than HKat). Good luck.

 

[drlatina]

I was also delayed by the hurricane and am worried as well. I had just received my secondary from LSU-NO the thursday before and because of Katrina didn't complete until mid Dec. I think the only thing helping is that LSU-NO also got screwed. so, I think they'll understand. Same deal with Tulane. I didn't complete until Jan. 3rd! Still no word from them, but then again, I think they're behind as well. I don't know where you're applying, but I think once schools see you're from NOLA they'll be forgiving on the tardiness of your app. I agree with RAFA, if you're really worried about it, send an update to the schools you didn't mention it too. Just explain your situation and that you don't want it to reflect negatively on your app and I would express your interest and enthusiam for the school your applying too as well. You'll be fine.