Class of 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BU Medical Sciences
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members do not see this ad.
rama kandra said:
i was under the impression that your letters are sent directly to AMCAS itself, and part of the application verification process. is this true? not true?

in my case, i have a composite writer/committee and they are composing one letter. i was certain that they would send it directly to the source and I just do my part (application data, ect)
Click to expand...

For schools using the AMCAS letters pilot program that is true. I'm not sure which schools are on board for this year, but it wasn't a whole lot this cycle. For VirtualEvals, you or your committee/career office/agent/ninja send them the letters which are then made available electronically for schools to peruse at their leisure. Notable exceptions to this are schools that demand things be sent on paper (there are only a handful that do this). I would imagine that Interfolio has a similar system.

Note: Even if made available super-early, it will still take some time for schools to mark them as received.
 
rama kandra said:
i was under the impression that your letters are sent directly to AMCAS itself, and part of the application verification process. is this true? not true?

in my case, i have a composite writer/committee and they are composing one letter. i was certain that they would send it directly to the source and I just do my part (application data, ect)
Click to expand...

It's true, but only for certain schools. Of the ones I applied to, Temple, Penn State, U of I, and a few others I can't think of required me to send the letters to AMCAS. The other schools, my pre-med committee sent them via snail mail.
 
so i just called them and talked the bitchiest prehealth adviser in the world. the one that wrote me a letter previously is no longer working there. aren't prehealth advisers supposed to be helpful?🙁 and she didnt even give me any advice on which letters i should use..she just said its ur decision. i hate being premed sometimes..
 
Simran1031 said:
so i just called them and talked the bitchiest prehealth adviser in the world. the one that wrote me a letter previously is no longer working there. aren't prehealth advisers supposed to be helpful?🙁 and she didnt even give me any advice on which letters i should use..she just said its ur decision. i hate being premed sometimes..
Click to expand...

Oh, how much you have to learn...
 
Simran1031 said:
so i just called them and talked the bitchiest prehealth adviser in the world. the one that wrote me a letter previously is no longer working there. aren't prehealth advisers supposed to be helpful?🙁 and she didnt even give me any advice on which letters i should use..she just said its ur decision. i hate being premed sometimes..
Click to expand...

So I take it that's a no on an updated committee letter?😳
 
the funny thing is having graduated..i completely forgot how mean the prehealth advisers can be..and u are right about me having a lot to learn..and yea no update on the letter..sometimes i dont even know why im doing this to myself. i swear all premeds are pseudo masochists =)
 
im just glad that theyve started a pilot program that lets schools not have to deal with more paperwork/mail stuff. ill be sure to check that out.

also the nice thing about the committee and composite writing system is that its just one letter and i dont have to pick and chose whos letter goes where. thank god, what a mess that would be with 5 or more letters haha.
 
Simran1031 said:
so i just called them and talked the bitchiest prehealth adviser in the world. the one that wrote me a letter previously is no longer working there. aren't prehealth advisers supposed to be helpful?🙁 and she didnt even give me any advice on which letters i should use..she just said its ur decision. i hate being premed sometimes..
Click to expand...

mine told me i would never get into medical school :laugh:
 
sometimes i think tehy are paid to not make us doctors. lol =) but they will fail and we will prevail =) and honestly..anytime someone tells me i cant do soemthing it makes me want to do it and do it well even more!! =)
 
out of the pat games ive seen, cassel has played pretty well. Considering how much our backup guy sucks you guys lucked out!

sorry about all the football talk..and the new york talk!!!!

my school also has a committee that collects the letters and selects which ones they are sending. You have to trust them to be your eyes. But it does make everything pretty easy...not sure what you do if you dont have a committee but im sure plenty of people do.
 
AerobixChica said:
yeh im applying to them all even tho its a waste of my dads money:laugh: I guess ya never know right??
Click to expand...

dad's money= take it and run with it!

my dad is a pain in the a** . . . i sat him down recently and tried to explain how the admissions process works and what it costs, and how more likely than not i'll be needing some financial help from him and my mom come summer. and his response is 'well I can't make any promises, i don't know if we'll have any money, it comes and goes.' (these are my parents who just got home from a cruise.) they 'need to do some remodeling around the house' . . . umm can't it wait til next year?? (they've been putting it off since i was in high school . . .) it would be one thing if they were disapproving of me applying to med school, but no, they LOVE telling people that's what i'm doing.

. . . then he tells me later, 'don't worry, i have a feeling you'll get into four schools.' gee thanks dad, i'm sure i could get into four schools, if i could afford to apply to 25-30!!! I told him I'll be lucky to get into one, since on my own i can probably only afford to apply to 10-15.

sorry for the rant . . . those of y'all with financially supportive parents don't forget to thank them 😛

(and I also had an orgo test today but . . . i'm taking it at CC and either i'm brilliant at orgo, or CC is as easy as everyone says . . . )
 
MaryLennox said:
dad's money= take it and run with it!

my dad is a pain in the a** . . . i sat him down recently and tried to explain how the admissions process works and what it costs, and how more likely than not i'll be needing some financial help from him and my mom come summer. and his response is 'well I can't make any promises, i don't know if we'll have any money, it comes and goes.' (these are my parents who just got home from a cruise.) they 'need to do some remodeling around the house' . . . umm can't it wait til next year?? (they've been putting it off since i was in high school . . .) it would be one thing if they were disapproving of me applying to med school, but no, they LOVE telling people that's what i'm doing.

. . . then he tells me later, 'don't worry, i have a feeling you'll get into four schools.' gee thanks dad, i'm sure i could get into four schools, if i could afford to apply to 25-30!!! I told him I'll be lucky to get into one, since on my own i can probably only afford to apply to 10-15.

sorry for the rant . . . those of y'all with financially supportive parents don't forget to thank them 😛

(and I also had an orgo test today but . . . i'm taking it at CC and either i'm brilliant at orgo, or CC is as easy as everyone says . . . )
Click to expand...

im extremely fortunate to have parents that CAN be supportive financially. So far I have no loans, my dad is even paying for my postbac work at columbia, which is like 1200 a credit😱 If i had to pay for the app process I wouldnt be applying cause im BROKE!!! I know, funny how parents love bragging about what theyre kids do- tell them if they dont help you out then their kid will be flippin burgers at mickidees (not that that isnt a great job or anything..well to me it sounds like a ****ty job- its all relative- NO OFFENSE TO BURGER FLIPPERS- im a waitress myself!!!!)😀

edit- i cant imagine orgo ever being easy...its not my thing! thank god my test wasnt murder yesterday but im sure i still did below average..we got an email saying the class did really well..i hate those..cause that doesnt mean EVERYONE did really well..ugggh...well congrats on being an orgo genius! im truly jealous!
 
it does help to have supportive parents!! when i graduated i just decided to live at home so I was able to save everything I earned the 7-8 months..so I am going to be using that money to apply..and if I run out ask my parents! i am thinking it will all cost around $5000. Do you guys think it would be more than that?
 
How much it cost will depend on the school. Figure $50 per school for primary app, plus $100 per school for secondary. Then $100 to $2000 per interview depending on how far and if you'll fly or drive.
 
aznb0y129 said:
I believe they lost Tom Brady for the season, Anotherface 😀

I dunno, when I went to NYMC for the interview, it looked pretty deserted to me.
Click to expand...
i was referring to their superbowl loss and he was referring to the giant's loss to the eagles in the playoffs.
 
Simran1031 said:
it does help to have supportive parents!! when i graduated i just decided to live at home so I was able to save everything I earned the 7-8 months..so I am going to be using that money to apply..and if I run out ask my parents! i am thinking it will all cost around $5000. Do you guys think it would be more than that?
Click to expand...

Depends how you go about it, $5000 or under is definetly do-able though. How many schools you apply to and how expensive it is to get to them and stay the night basically determines the cost.

I applied to 14 schools, and went on 8 interview. It cost me somewhere between $3000-$3500. Trick was that I drove to all of my interviews.
 
do most interviews try to set you up with on campus stays with current students? or is hotel stuff involved?
 
rama kandra said:
do most interviews try to set you up with on campus stays with current students? or is hotel stuff involved?
Click to expand...

Out the the one's I applied to most had a student host thing set up. For the ones that don't SDN has a yearly SDN hosting thread that goes up early in interview season, no idea how active is. It's also pretty common for them to have a discount rate at nearby hotels.

I actually didn't utilize most of the student hosting programs, so I could have pushed the cost down further that way.
 
Simran1031 said:
so i just called them and talked the bitchiest prehealth adviser in the world. the one that wrote me a letter previously is no longer working there. aren't prehealth advisers supposed to be helpful?🙁 and she didnt even give me any advice on which letters i should use..she just said its ur decision. i hate being premed sometimes..
Click to expand...
I once had to wait three weeks before seeing my adviser and when I finally talked to her she said :shrug: let me know this can be a good learning experience for me.
rama kandra said:
do most interviews try to set you up with on campus stays with current students? or is hotel stuff involved?
Click to expand...
I think every place I have interviewed or gotten an invite has some sort of student hosting program. You should use that resource even if money is not a huge issue because you get to learn a lot about the program and the learning environment by staying with hosts.
 
This might just be me b*tching, but I'm dumbfounded at the Pats going 11-5 and not even making the playoffs. Don't get me wrong: I respect the Giants rushing game with Jacobs and Ward, I just don't like Eli. 'nough said
 
never heard of that, but it sounds fetching. I am into the American Analog Set at the moment. really, as of late, i only can do acoustic and instrumental music. perhaps its b/c of the studying though.
 
tis ok, i mean, we had our first physics class tonight which was pretty good. now im prepping for saturday class which i found out is two full sessions. egh, im just slugging through some gen chem chapters right now.
 
relient k has good sound actually - reminds me of the defunkt taking back sunday or fall out boy.
 
im listening to reggae and jsut did some physics problems!! before i go to bed will prolly take some orgo notes =)
 
oh i dont remember, i played a bunch from last.fm radio
 
lol i guess im also pretty in love with the National myself. they my favrite nowdays!
 
caveat87 said:
This might just be me b*tching, but I'm dumbfounded at the Pats going 11-5 and not even making the playoffs. Don't get me wrong: I respect the Giants rushing game with Jacobs and Ward, I just don't like Eli. 'nough said
Click to expand...
As much as I dislike the Pats I have to agree with you on this point. I wish neither the broncos nor the chargers had been given an opportunity to make it into the playoffs. It is pitiful that two horrible teams had a legit chance of making the playoffs up until their 16th game.

Although, I am not Eli's biggest fan, I support him for he is my QB.
 
all right you crazy kids . . . in the interest of keeping this thread sorta-relevant, how bout some questions?

-how far along are y'all on your PS? done? rough draft? I have a lot of ideas and multiple rough drafts but . . I'm having trouble narrowing it down. My plan is to write a long one that includes everything I want to say (which will be way too long.) Then show it to my advisor, mentors, etc to see what parts they like best and which they hate. And edit accordingly.

-How are you studying for the MCAT? (I apologize if this has already been mentioned but . . . I didn't read all the 15 pages that were here before I jumped on board.) 🙂 Anyway, I can't afford to take an actual prep course so I got the EK complete set + audio osmosis. I also have that big Kaplan book and I'm anxiously awaiting the EK 101 Verbal passages I ordered online. I started the 10 week 'home study' schedule last week (I'm more than 10 weeks out, but i figure there's no point in waiting in case I hit some rough patches.) which i'm sure will happen.

That's it for now . . . have a lovely weekend everyone!😀
 
my PS is a very specific tiny incident that i feel incorporates the best of my personality, character, and interests in medicine. i refined the story several times and it was 3 pages long. over the last few months ive been cleaning up the language and getting it down to two pages. now ive shown it to a lot of people and am taking their ideas one by one and trying them out. its pretty solid, just needs to keep being tuned into something very easy to read and like.

mcat, -princeton review. but if you want to do just as well, buy some books from the internets and study on your own and take practice tests on the computer whenever you feel comfortable with the material.

i just happen to lack any maturity with long term test taking preparation and need to be beaten for it to happen
 
first PS draft is probably 80%. starting to feel anxious that app season is almost here.
 
thus far..
PS- i wish i ocudl i say i have started...i have an old version from 2 yrs back but obvisouly that needs to be changed!! since i just sent out a bunch of LORs requests out I really need to get crackinyg on the PS
MCAT-
I am using EK for content and Kaplan for practice. I am hoping to finsih content in the next two weeks, ideally it would be earlier than this so that i can spend 1 week just reviewing all of the conent that i have gone through in the past month or so because i feel like i am covering all of the stuff but i hope its all sticking!! i also hope i have some time to get to the kaplan content stuff! i actually have an sdn blog that i usually do everyday which should tell u how much i have done! =)
for content review here is my drill..
1. read ek ch..listen to audio osmosis
2. take notes on audio osmosis, reread ch take any notes needed
3. do 1001 series, do 1001 corrections, take notes on corrections( need to go back and figure out how i retain not making same mnsitakes again!)
4. i have a notebook for my weaknesses..usually go on youtube every few days look up videos on action potential..kidney funciton or nething im confused about i draw out extensive diagrams..
5. i am using the kaplan flashcards sometiems..need to use these more.
6. i have bought a bunch of large sized poster board type of things..this is so that i can draw out a big picture for all concepts..i want to be able to take all of these poster boards and connetct all of the concepts..mcats is big on combining subjects and swithcing arund.
7. i want to work harder and work on efficieny it takes me forever to do 1001 questions..i want to find a better way of looking at my mistakes..
8. still need to work on confidence..lately i have been feeling very anxious.but hoping that with more hard work and dedication i will feel better..
9. march and arpil will be practice and strategy! =) yay
so thats where i am =)
 
simran,

i got all panicky when i saw how much mcat you've done already!! then i remembered we don't all take it at the same time. duh. 🙂 i am May 28, i'm guessing you're earlier.

i wish i would have bought the 1001 books when i bought the other ones. I just assumed the 'complete study package' could be complete. not really. hopefully i can get them off the internet or sdn classified for el cheapo cuz i'm out of money and need to start saving for my actual applications!
 
Anotherface said:
As much as I dislike the Pats I have to agree with you on this point. I wish neither the broncos nor the chargers had been given an opportunity to make it into the playoffs. It is pitiful that two horrible teams had a legit chance of making the playoffs up until their 16th game.

Although, I am not Eli's biggest fan, I support him for he is my QB.
Click to expand...

seriously! its a lil sad the highest AFC standings were 8-8 for both the bronco and chargers..but thats the NFL for ya...i guess the west just wasnt meant to play football🙄

gotta admit i was a lil disappointed with eli this year...but then again, ill just say favre and shut up

ON TOPIC:
i didnt start my PS yet..was planning to get it going over spring break. Then im taking a kaplan classroom course that starts end of march for my july 2 date. I started to listen to audio osmosis but i just dont have the time with classes..i dont know how people do it!!
 
MaryLennox said:
all right you crazy kids . . . in the interest of keeping this thread sorta-relevant, how bout some questions?

-how far along are y'all on your PS? done? rough draft?

-How are you studying for the MCAT?
Click to expand...

PS - I have ideas floating around, but nothing started (damn classes)

MCAT - already took it, last August. For those of you who still have to take it: study hard, and its not too bad.
 
working on my PS, not sure which angle to take (really want to make it unique, but not too corny) Its hard to strike a balance. I will definitely incorporate my passion for skiing as it is by and large my favorite pastime.
 
Wow, you guys are nuts... I did not start working on my PS until May.... But then that is the reason why I had to submit on June 23rd rather than June 4th...

Remember if you guys have questions, the 2013ers are in the thread right next to you guys...
 
i'm officially done with my PS. i worked on it throughout college years andd got it edited many times. only need to work on my optional essay now. 🙁
 
rama kandra said:
tis ok, i mean, we had our first physics class tonight which was pretty good. now im prepping for saturday class which i found out is two full sessions. egh, im just slugging through some gen chem chapters right now.
Click to expand...

you got it lucky because you don't have school or work and just have the mcat course. i have school the whole week and then on the weekends go the mcat class from 10-4. 2 sessions per day. keeping up with mcat hw and school work is hard but it's manageable.

i'm almost done with the course ! 7 more sessions!!! but i do miss the people though 🙁
 
RecyclingBinh said:
i'm officially done with my PS. i worked on it throughout college years andd got it edited many times. only need to work on my optional essay now. 🙁
Click to expand...

I applied to TMDSAS in middle of july and just scavenged my secondaries for the optional essays😀
 
You guys are really on top of things. At this time last year I had only just started getting LOR and studying for the MCAT.
 
im taking the exam may 2nd!! =) so u have one more month than me to study..lucky u! =) i reallly need to study and work harder to get this ball rolllig. =)
 
i'm taking mine on April 24. 2 more months!!! YIKES!!! 0_0
 
funkydrmonkey said:
I applied to TMDSAS in middle of july and just scavenged my secondaries for the optional essays😀
Click to expand...

i saw you md app and it's amazing!!!! so where did you decide to go? i really want to stay in TX but if accepted elsewhere i will go there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

hommefatale
Elective Class Pass/Fail
Replies
3
Views
569
Goro
Goro
L
pass/no pass physical education class
Replies
4
Views
328
LizzyM
LizzyM
H
Not taking planned calculus class anymore
Replies
2
Views
606
holajola
H
aprilandaflower
Course classification of design courses
Replies
1
Views
385
wysdoc
wysdoc
A
Marking an audited class as a repeat?
Replies
1
Views
348
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top