post one (1) helpful tip for people who will be applying....

[Prospero]

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It's been said before, but be yourself in your interviews! The interviewers have done this for long enough, they'll know if you're putting up a front, and it will not reflect well on you.

Oh, and write your essays to tell your own experiences. Don't worry about saying something amazingly original or some such, it's all been said before... unless you go down to Africa and cure the AIDS problem, then by all means flaunt that!

 

[Heimerfink]

Apply Early. Apply to lots of safeties. Apply to 20+ schools. Don't have any "holes" on your app, like lack of volunteer or lack of research of lack of anything.... They look down upon you. All mistakes I made.

 

[Gardenia]

What I have found helpful is to buy a couple of thank you cards and bring them with you when you when you fly to your interview city. After the interview, you can return to your hotel, write your card, and put it in the mail before you leave the city. That way the interview is fresh in your mind when you write your sincere note and it'll get to them fast.

 

[mellifluous]

Just found these forums a couple weeks ago; makes me wonder how the hell I managed to get into my schools of choice because I wasn't anywhere as organized, intense, tedious, etc. about this whole process. Perhaps that also worked in my favor. So, here's my advice:

Don't take this process too seriously. Just chill out. Stay away from these boards (but do check interview feedback). Stop worrying about every little thing and don't stress out with applying months in advance. Relax. Don't let pre-med this and that consume your life- too much pressure. You could be out volunteering or flying planes or doing other interesting things that could help you more in this entire process.

Your job as an applicant is to make yourself memorable. Distinguish yourself. That's the most important thing. Med schools love diversity of interests, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc. Determine what it is that makes you unique and stress this.

Do ECs that you're interested in and not just those that you 'think' could help you in med school. Include a diverse array of activities that will demonstrate your well-roundedness.

Have fun at your interviews. Relax, laugh, ask questions. Be genuine, honest, and relatable. Don't give robotic answers; this should be a conversation.

Know the relevance of your research and be able to defend it and explain it to a Ph.D. and a 12 year old.

Write a memorable and compelling PS. Don't waste words with quotes. An intriguing PS is key.

Don't be afraid to apply to your dream schools.

 

[GujjuNo1]

I would like to reemphasize....Don't underestimate your achievements.

Make sure to talk to the right people. Get right guidance. (And, look at my signature...Don't give up. No matter what your advisor, friends or anyone else says).

Good Luck

 

[silas2642]

stay away from sdn

 

[prana_md]

stay away from sdn

Ha ha ... yeah, at least until you've submitted your amcas.

Don't write about chronic illnesses of your own in your personal statement. I am a reapplicant, and I am convinced that this is what sunk me the first time around. Too bad, because often it is what drives you to pursue medicine. As crappy as it is, adcoms don't want "sick" medical students. Discrimination? Yes. Reality? Yes. Stick to your strenghts.

And don't take it too seriously. It sucks, and it's arbitrary. Burn your rejections and celebrate each success. But it *will* happen, eventually. I promise.

Good luck! 😍

 

[dabigv13]

Did anybody say apply early?

 

[CavalierMD]

bumping for the paranoid masses. hang in there, guys.

 

[DoctorEmDee]

GPA, GPA, GPA, GPA, GPA, GPA
get the point?

and if your GPA is hurting, do a post-bac or masters, please don't think your EC's and PS and other non academic factors will totally make up for it.
You have to be solid in all aspects of your application.

 

[LO281OK]

Buy really cool shirts!! Put something on that will keep a smile on your face during the app. process. 😀

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[DropkickMurphy]

Xanax.

 

[tifa]

7. Find a religion and pray.

most def.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

most def.

Personally I prefer to sacrifice farm animals to my chosen invisible man in the sky. I seem to get better results that way.

 

[Anastasis]

Xanax.

Or at the very least, a bit of therapy from Mr. Daniels.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Or at the very least, a bit of therapy from Mr. Daniels.

Actually I discovered that a combination of Madeira wine and Country Time Lemonade, served over crushed ice is a very interesting mixed drink.

 

[Anastasis]

Actually I discovered that a combination of Madeira wine and Country Time Lemonade, served over crushed ice is a very interesting mixed drink.

My MCAT release drink of choice was bushmills with green mountain decaf coffee and a bit of brown sugar. Really good.

 

[camelcamel]

bump

 

[werd]

dress conservatively for interview. memorable dress is usually remembered negatively.

 

[Tikka36]

relax. be yourself. chill out.

 

[want2succeed]

I think dressing memorably is actually a good thing.. I made sure to wear something that wasnt the usual black suite... I wore something that was a little more stylish... fitted... and a nice subtle yet trendy looking grey color.. Of course you have to look professional.... I just have been given good advice that wearing something that can help you stand out a little from the rest of the others being interviewed could make a differnce in an admin remembering who you were. =)

best of luck to all of you!

 

[Depakote]

When writing your essays... don't shoot yourself in the foot. Your personal statement is the time to tell them about your positives and let them get to know you. If they want to know specific negatives, let them ask directly on the secondaries or in the interview. When it does come time to discuss issues you have had, explain the problems and the context, accept responsibility and don't make excuses.

 

[boaz]

At the start of the season, chuck your iphone, blackberry, etc. in the trash, and commit to checking your email just once a day.

Also, take a vacation from SDN until you're accepted and know where you're going to med school. A great way to accomplish this is to do something that gets you banned.

That's my prescription for sanity.

 

[Melicopter]

It takes longer to fill out the application than you think. Don't set aside a week or a weekend - I'm thinking plan on 2 weeks. Granted, I was doing other things (going to work, planning a vacation, etc.), but the 15 activities are like 15 perfectly worded mini-essays. That's on top of the perfect PS. It took so much longer than I expected it would, and added to the stress of the whole mess.

Leading to point number two, which is to please try not to stress out too much. It's difficult, I know. Just try.

 

[kia ora]

be optimistic! if you look at the numbers, the odds are against you getting into med school, but there is no point in going through the expense and headache of applying if you don't believe that you will get in (of course, you have to be realistic given your numbers and overall app, but one can be optimistic and realistic at the same time)

 

[Ok2Panic]

Mdapps is not the bible. I don't care how many people you find with stats exactly like yours who got accepted/rejected from school X, it is not the bible.

 

[JokerMD]

exercise and do non-application stuff (read: no SDN) in your free time to maintain your sanity.

also, keep a light course load for fall semester cause you'll be writing essays/traveling for interviews.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Timing is everything:

prereqs

research

clinical

MCAT

primary

secondaries

interviews

letters of interest

letters of intent

 

[flip26]

Do some mock interviews. Research schools where you get interviews, study the interview feedback. Don't memorize answers to questions, but give thought especially to "why medicine, why our school" and have a good answer that is not over rehearsed.

There is a learning curve for interviewing - don't let your first interview be at a med school - gain some experience prior to med school interview season.

 

[camelcamel]

bump