Neurotic?

[doinmybest5840]

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Has anybody else become excessively neurotic from this entire application process? I seriously have a huge excel-type data chart of all the schools I'm applying to. It has 10+ columns. Am I the only one who is this crazy? Hahaha I even color coded parts of it. Oy. I also have a list of all the schools I've submitted to, the dates I submitted each, and the list of LORs and date I sent those as well. AND I feel like I'm constantly looking at my MDapps. But I think that's just because I'm so shocked/excited/proud that I received an interview invitation. So, anybody else?

 

[premeddick]

Has anybody else become excessively neurotic from this entire application process? I seriously have a huge excel-type data chart of all the schools I'm applying to. It has 10+ columns. Am I the only one who is this crazy? Hahaha I even color coded parts of it. Oy. I also have a list of all the schools I've submitted to, the dates I submitted each, and the list of LORs and date I sent those as well. AND I feel like I'm constantly looking at my MDapps. But I think that's just because I'm so shocked/excited/proud that I received an interview invitation. So, anybody else?

I think i am your male clone. I have a Google Document with all the schools in the rows and certain data in the columns. "Date secondary received" "date secondary submitted" "picture required?" "fee?" "status link and password." Then to color coordinate I have green highlight meaning I have submitted the secondary, yellowing meaning I have not and red meanining I have not received it. I am not always looking at mdapps but I am always looking at SDN, searching random stuff and looking at my status pages. We even have the similar mcats and similar gpa's. Really... are you my clone?

 

[jochi1543]

I don't seem too neurotic to myself....but I'm also currently distracted by a rather demanding physics class, so that may be the reason. I think it may change once the secondaries start rolling in after I get verified and I feel a lot more pressure. In the meantime, my only "neurosis" (which I think is really an example of foresight instead) is collecting all of my secondary essay responses in a Word file so I can review them later in case I get an interview and also save time by copy/pasting them if similar prompts show up on other secondaries.

I make little notes on my MDapps in regards to LORs and other things I have less control over, but that's about it.

 

[doinmybest5840]

I think i am your male clone. I have a Google Document with all the schools in the rows and certain data in the columns. "Date secondary received" "date secondary submitted" "picture required?" "fee?" "status link and password." Then to color coordinate I have green highlight meaning I have submitted the secondary, yellowing meaning I have not and red meanining I have not received it. I am not always looking at mdapps but I am always looking at SDN, searching random stuff and looking at my status pages. We even have the similar mcats and similar gpa's. Really... are you my clone?

Hahaha I used color coding for two things. I ranked the schools on my list according to "magic number" and then the top 10 are yellow, and 11-20 are red. I also made the screening schools blue. Hahaha. I also refresh SDN all the time and check my status pages regularly. Maybe we are clones! Hahaha.

 

[artaxerxes]

my application has thus been total chaos

 

[skinnylindsay]

I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one OCD enough to make a spreadsheet

 

[SketchLazy]

Has anybody else become excessively neurotic from this entire application process? I seriously have a huge excel-type data chart of all the schools I'm applying to. It has 10+ columns. Am I the only one who is this crazy? Hahaha I even color coded parts of it. Oy. I also have a list of all the schools I've submitted to, the dates I submitted each, and the list of LORs and date I sent those as well. AND I feel like I'm constantly looking at my MDapps. But I think that's just because I'm so shocked/excited/proud that I received an interview invitation. So, anybody else?

I think that is just excellent organization and preparation. For me, the neurosis is visiting SDN multiple times a day.

 

[whoisthedrizzle]

I think of SDN as a channel for my neuroticism

 

[jochi1543]

For me, the neurosis is visiting SDN multiple times a day.

For some of us, it's never logging off.😎

 

[SketchLazy]

For some of us, it's never logging off.😎

That explains your post count....

 

[jochi1543]

That explains your post count....

Seriously, I'm sitting here writing a secondary essay and checking SDN every two sentences. Give me some credit though, it's a difficult essay that will also be high-yield for future secondaries, so I don't want to spit it out in a single breath ("why be a physician").

 

[SketchLazy]

Seriously, I'm sitting here writing a secondary essay and checking SDN every two sentences. Give me some credit though, it's a difficult essay that will also be high-yield for future secondaries, so I don't want to spit it out in a single breath ("why be a physician").

I'm glad that I'm not the only one that uses SDN as a way of gaining fresh perspective for all application related essays.

 

[viciouz]

I think i am your male clone. I have a Google Document with all the schools in the rows and certain data in the columns. "Date secondary received" "date secondary submitted" "picture required?" "fee?" "status link and password." Then to color coordinate I have green highlight meaning I have submitted the secondary, yellowing meaning I have not and red meanining I have not received it. I am not always looking at mdapps but I am always looking at SDN, searching random stuff and looking at my status pages. We even have the similar mcats and similar gpa's. Really... are you my clone?

Thank God I am not the only one. I even have columns for the days I've called, and all emails printed and filed. I am keeping track of everything, and I am doing it excessively.

 

[hp540]

Yes, this experience has completely taken over my life. I find myself refreshing SDN and the Canadian equivalent constantly, and the only thing I think about is writing secondaries and anything associated with it.

This and it's my second time applying. WOW.

 

[MundaneMD]

I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one OCD enough to make a spreadsheet

Ditto. 👍

 

[Inuranic]

I started with a spreadsheet but have found a Word document is easier for me. I just keep track of whether or not I've gotten a secondary, if I'm working on it/done with it, and if I've sent my LOR. I then write "DONE" and record a way for me to check my status. I also have a folder on my desktop called "Secondary Applications" and a sub-folder for each school with all the essays I've written.

I also have two or three folders for hardcopies (check receipts, pictures, extra sheets that came with secondary applications, etc.) of things I need/have used.

Now if only I could have an "interview invite" folder...

 

[punkindrublic]

Yep, I've got a white, red, yellow, green system: not received, received and not started, in progress, and submitted, along with date columns for received, submitted, letters sent, etc.

 

[nka1985]

I gotta laugh at you guys...because I did all of this stuff last year. It's especially bad the first 2-3 months when all the secondaries and the first interview invites roll out. Don't worry, most people obsess like this. Pre-meds tend to be a little obsessive about things anyway, but it's especially bad for the people who REALLY want to get in but don't have a 4.0/44 MCAT. I won't bother telling you guys to relax, just realize that you will calm down eventually. And try to keep yourself busy with non-application related things for at least a few hours a day to give yourself a break from the computer.

Good luck everyone...Applying to medical school is often a long, stressful process...but it's all worth it once you get your first acceptance.

 

[Phoenix.]

Heh. I thought I was bad. My family thinks I'm nuts thinking about applications so much. But I'm feeling better after reading this thread. I just keep track of everything in mdapps, I have a word document with all of my secondary prompts and answers, I check my status pages 1-2 times a day, and check SDN way too much. I can't wait until it becomes stressful approaching the mailbox too. Ugh.

 

[sanchopanza]

Fight the neuroticism. Please.

 

[spospo]

i did it last year too. nice little spread sheet. easy to read. a little color coding here and there. that lasted until about.......mid october. everything went to chaos then. just role with it. do whatever makes you feel better, just don't let it take over your life.

 

[inaminute]

it's all in my nice little binder so my roomies can flip through it, kinda like a scrapbook

 

[Depakote]

Has anybody else become excessively neurotic from this entire application process? I seriously have a huge excel-type data chart of all the schools I'm applying to. It has 10+ columns. Am I the only one who is this crazy? Hahaha I even color coded parts of it. Oy. I also have a list of all the schools I've submitted to, the dates I submitted each, and the list of LORs and date I sent those as well. AND I feel like I'm constantly looking at my MDapps. But I think that's just because I'm so shocked/excited/proud that I received an interview invitation. So, anybody else?

So, did you steal my spreadsheet... or just copy it exactly?

 

[doinmybest5840]

So, did you steal my spreadsheet... or just copy it exactly?

Hahaha I saw it while watching through your window a while ago and took a picture with my hi-def camera lens and then used it to make my own spreadsheet. 🙂

(creepy, eh?)

 

[prettymonkey]

i use green for the ones i submitted, red for the ones i have received and need to do, and black for the ones i have not received. i also have the phone number for each admissions office in another column.

 

[viciouz]

i use green for the ones i submitted, red for the ones i have received and need to do, and black for the ones i have not received. i also have the phone number for each admissions office in another column.

Welcome to the club... After this entire mess I plan on posting my excel file online so others can see what to expect with my stats and residency.

 

[waitforme]

oh my lord. thank god you people exist out there!!! i feel like my spreadsheet is the only thing keeping me sane. it actually brings me lots of joy when i receive a secondary and i can document it on my spreadsheet. of course, writing the actual secondary is a different story.

i didn't think about keeping columns for dates/times i've contacted the school, though! thanks guys!

 

[ssquared]

I think i am your male clone. I have a Google Document with all the schools in the rows and certain data in the columns. "Date secondary received" "date secondary submitted" "picture required?" "fee?" "status link and password." Then to color coordinate I have green highlight meaning I have submitted the secondary, yellowing meaning I have not and red meanining I have not received it. I am not always looking at mdapps but I am always looking at SDN, searching random stuff and looking at my status pages. We even have the similar mcats and similar gpa's. Really... are you my clone?

Hey, somebody else who color coordinates rows based upon status!

But no, OP, you're not alone. I did the whole spreadsheet thing for all of my graduate school apps (with at least 15 columns), and it worked wonderfully.

I think that a spreadsheet alone would not qualify for being totally neurotic. Being on SDN and updatings your mdapps....yes. 😛

 

[Depakote]

Hahaha I saw it while watching through your window a while ago and took a picture with my hi-def camera lens and then used it to make my own spreadsheet. 🙂

(creepy, eh?)

I like the cut of your jib.

 

[MWK]

Early Decision applicant, so just slightly neurotic.

 

[maestro1625]

until you start asking what Carib schools to apply to because you're worried that your 35+ MCAT won't be good enough, you're far from the worst poster on SDN.

 

[mvenus929]

I have a word document with all my secondary essays, and a word document with a page for each school. I collect information on the schools, for review when I get an interview. Also included is the dates my application was complete, and questions I have about the school, and prep for interview purposes. Each school gets completely done when I get my invite.

I also have all my applications printed out (except Cornell... I had issues with my printer at the time, and Mt. Sinai, cause my printer died a few days ago). I update my MDApps continuously, noting every detail that comes to mind, and having a specific system for identifying when I'm complete and such.

 

[Despina]

Me to! Color coded and all. I have one column for the date received, due date, goal date, date actually sent, date LOR sent, interview date, acceptance date, rejection date...and maybe if I get lucky and have decisions to make between schools I will add a "must notify school by date." I have color codes for received secondary, sent secondary, complete (meaning LOR sent), withdrew, etc...

The funny part is, I don't think having this sheet makes me work any faster.

 

[Hyperstudyosis]

Oh my gosh! I still have three more years of undergrad, so that means almost two years before I apply, but I'm already neurotic about it. I'm making lists of all the places I want to apply, making lists of stuff I want to include on my application, practicing my answers to the more common interview questions, and constantly thinking about, obsessing about, dreaming about, and becoming excited about the whole process. I can't imagine how consumed with it I will be in a couple years!