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- Nov 5, 2011
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Hey everyone. This is going to be a long post, sorry in advance.
Most of you here on SDN are familiar with my story. I will be starting medical school in a few weeks and I just wanted to share some thoughts I had while reflecting on this past application year, as well as some of my own perspective looking forward.
I realize nothing I am going to say is really new or groundbreaking in any way, but as a poster who enjoys SDN for entertainment as well as the useful knowledge it provides, I want to give back in some small way. If what I say here can help anyone during their application cycle then it will be well worth it.
2 disclaimers;
1- I realize that I was very fortunate this past cycle, and that many on SDN are still struggling to get into medical school. This post is for a specific group of applicants, so please do not be offended if it doesnt apply to you.
2- I know that I am not a very good writer. I am not trying to post some amazing piece of literary gold. Please judge on the content and not quality 🙂.
A brief description of my application, and how things turned out for me;
I am an Indiana resident with significant ties to Illinois (non-URM). I attended a good university on the east coast for four years. For various reasons I will not mention here, I wanted dearly to attend one of the 6 MD schools in (or around) the city of Chicago.
I had a lower than optimal GPA because I did not try that hard my first 2 years of college. I applied with a cGPA of 3.58 and a sGPA of 3.48. I thought that my upward trend would help admissions committees look past my GPA a bit.
Here is my science GPA upward trend:
First two years:
Gen Chem I, II----- B+, B
Calc I, II, III-------- C, C+, B-
Orgo I, II------------ B, B
Orgo Lab------------ B+, A
Linear Algebra----- A-
Last Two Years:
Bio I, II, Labs------ A, A, A, A
Biochem, Lab------ A, A
Analytical Chem--- A
Physics I,II Labs------ A, A, A, A
Physical Chem I,II--- A-, A-
My application was pretty much cookie-cutter and is summarized below;
-200 hrs volunteering at 2 different hospitals over the span of 2 years
-Shadowing experience
-Independent Research at school as well as a summer REU program at a good university.
-Biology Lab TA
-Work Experience in Industry
-Musician, member of school bands, recreational bands and instructor.
-Member of school's chemistry club
-My committee letter contained plenty of good LORs and I had a good PS.
-Some other good generic ECs
I thought that I was in a good position to apply pending a solid MCAT. I truly felt that despite my early GPA struggles, I had turned everything around in time to salvage a borderline GPA, and I was all set up to realize my medical school dream.
Then came the MCAT
I used ExamKrackers to study for the MCAT for several months (no prep course) and I felt that I had learned many of the subjects well enough in class so that I wouldnt need too much reviewing in order to do well. I took all the AAMC online practice tests and I was ready to take the MCAT. I took the test last April and was completely blind-sided when I got a 29--PS:11 VR: 8 BS: 10.
I was very depressed after getting my score. All the hard work I put in rectifying my GPA seemed like it was all for naught. See this thread for all the details http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=910858
Long story short I took the MCAT again in August and I pulled out a 35. I was super happy, and thought that with a 35 on my record Id be sure to get into a bunch of solid MD programs. I was wrong.
My AMCAS was verified in July and once my MCAT score came in August I had all my secondaries done soon after. My first interview invite rolled in in September (my state school IU), and I thought many more were soon to follow. I got accepted to IU (a solid back up school I thought) in October and I was awaiting the mass of other schools to start sending me invites. They didnt.
I was spending my application year doing clinical research at a medical center (with a medical school on campus, one that I wanted to go to badly). I spent my days neurotically checking SDN and all of the school-specific application threads constantly, wondering where my interview invites were. I sent update letters and called admissions offices every couple weeks inquiring about my status.
November came and went, December came and went, January, nothing.
I finally got my second interview invite from a school in Chicago in February I was over the moon!!! I attended the interview and then -- silence. More silence. Waitlisted in March.
It was like a tease. I had grown so bitter over the course of the year, and I had become very cynical towards the entire process. I was cynical towards friends who were getting into better schools, pre-meds, admissions offices I hated the players AND the game! I complained on SDN and people complained about me complaining even though I had been accepted to medical school. People just didnt understand, I thought.
Then things started to change.
I began thinking about where I had been and where I had come from. I started to think about why I even applied to medical school and about my goals. I thought about all the people out there who try, try, and try again and still cant make it.
I began to realize just how fortunate I truly was. I got bad grades. Lots of them. I received a less-than-desirable MCAT score. And after all that, all I wanted to do was to become a doctor. Well, it is now July 11th, 2013 and I know that I am going to be doctor. I will be attending a good medical school in a couple of weeks and I will be beginning my life-long journey in medicine.
Perspective. The medical school application cycle can be EXTREMELY stressful. There is so much to do, so much waiting, so much anxiety. It is easy to get lost in it all. It is easy to look at other peoples successes, and to become jealous, resentful and cynical.
At the end of the day, we all want to become doctors. Sure, certain schools will offer benefits that other seemingly do not. Sure, we would all love full scholarships to top schools. But when all is said and done, just remember why you decided to fill out your AMCAS. Why you spent the hours volunteering, the time doing research, the long nights studying.
In retrospect, did I act silly? Probably. Do other people have it worse? Oh yes, definitely. I know some people will post I got accepted to medical school, wah wah. Believe me, I now understand how silly it looks to complain despite being accepted. I really do. But while I was going through this roller-coaster of a year I didnt think it was silly at all. I know what I felt, and what I felt was real. The unfortunate thing is that I dont think Im the only one who experiences this on SDN.
If I could give one piece of advice to those who are about to embark on their application season, and specifically to applicants who have hopes of attending specific schools (either by ranking or location or whatever), it is this; Goals are good. Dreams are good. They are necessary to achieve great things. But perspective is important. Perhaps you know this already. Perhaps I was the one idiot who got so immersed in it all that I couldnt see it clearly. But just know that if healing people to the best of your ability is what you really want do, then dont forget it! At the end of the day, thats all that matters. Be positive. Be gracious. Become what you set out to become.
I would also like to thank everyone on SDN who helped me through this year, whether through their encouraging posts, constructive criticism, and of course all the humorous entertainment.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
Irish
Most of you here on SDN are familiar with my story. I will be starting medical school in a few weeks and I just wanted to share some thoughts I had while reflecting on this past application year, as well as some of my own perspective looking forward.
I realize nothing I am going to say is really new or groundbreaking in any way, but as a poster who enjoys SDN for entertainment as well as the useful knowledge it provides, I want to give back in some small way. If what I say here can help anyone during their application cycle then it will be well worth it.
2 disclaimers;
1- I realize that I was very fortunate this past cycle, and that many on SDN are still struggling to get into medical school. This post is for a specific group of applicants, so please do not be offended if it doesnt apply to you.
2- I know that I am not a very good writer. I am not trying to post some amazing piece of literary gold. Please judge on the content and not quality 🙂.
A brief description of my application, and how things turned out for me;
I am an Indiana resident with significant ties to Illinois (non-URM). I attended a good university on the east coast for four years. For various reasons I will not mention here, I wanted dearly to attend one of the 6 MD schools in (or around) the city of Chicago.
I had a lower than optimal GPA because I did not try that hard my first 2 years of college. I applied with a cGPA of 3.58 and a sGPA of 3.48. I thought that my upward trend would help admissions committees look past my GPA a bit.
Here is my science GPA upward trend:
First two years:
Gen Chem I, II----- B+, B
Calc I, II, III-------- C, C+, B-
Orgo I, II------------ B, B
Orgo Lab------------ B+, A
Linear Algebra----- A-
Last Two Years:
Bio I, II, Labs------ A, A, A, A
Biochem, Lab------ A, A
Analytical Chem--- A
Physics I,II Labs------ A, A, A, A
Physical Chem I,II--- A-, A-
My application was pretty much cookie-cutter and is summarized below;
-200 hrs volunteering at 2 different hospitals over the span of 2 years
-Shadowing experience
-Independent Research at school as well as a summer REU program at a good university.
-Biology Lab TA
-Work Experience in Industry
-Musician, member of school bands, recreational bands and instructor.
-Member of school's chemistry club
-My committee letter contained plenty of good LORs and I had a good PS.
-Some other good generic ECs
I thought that I was in a good position to apply pending a solid MCAT. I truly felt that despite my early GPA struggles, I had turned everything around in time to salvage a borderline GPA, and I was all set up to realize my medical school dream.
Then came the MCAT
I used ExamKrackers to study for the MCAT for several months (no prep course) and I felt that I had learned many of the subjects well enough in class so that I wouldnt need too much reviewing in order to do well. I took all the AAMC online practice tests and I was ready to take the MCAT. I took the test last April and was completely blind-sided when I got a 29--PS:11 VR: 8 BS: 10.
I was very depressed after getting my score. All the hard work I put in rectifying my GPA seemed like it was all for naught. See this thread for all the details http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=910858
Long story short I took the MCAT again in August and I pulled out a 35. I was super happy, and thought that with a 35 on my record Id be sure to get into a bunch of solid MD programs. I was wrong.
My AMCAS was verified in July and once my MCAT score came in August I had all my secondaries done soon after. My first interview invite rolled in in September (my state school IU), and I thought many more were soon to follow. I got accepted to IU (a solid back up school I thought) in October and I was awaiting the mass of other schools to start sending me invites. They didnt.
I was spending my application year doing clinical research at a medical center (with a medical school on campus, one that I wanted to go to badly). I spent my days neurotically checking SDN and all of the school-specific application threads constantly, wondering where my interview invites were. I sent update letters and called admissions offices every couple weeks inquiring about my status.
November came and went, December came and went, January, nothing.
I finally got my second interview invite from a school in Chicago in February I was over the moon!!! I attended the interview and then -- silence. More silence. Waitlisted in March.
It was like a tease. I had grown so bitter over the course of the year, and I had become very cynical towards the entire process. I was cynical towards friends who were getting into better schools, pre-meds, admissions offices I hated the players AND the game! I complained on SDN and people complained about me complaining even though I had been accepted to medical school. People just didnt understand, I thought.
Then things started to change.
I began thinking about where I had been and where I had come from. I started to think about why I even applied to medical school and about my goals. I thought about all the people out there who try, try, and try again and still cant make it.
I began to realize just how fortunate I truly was. I got bad grades. Lots of them. I received a less-than-desirable MCAT score. And after all that, all I wanted to do was to become a doctor. Well, it is now July 11th, 2013 and I know that I am going to be doctor. I will be attending a good medical school in a couple of weeks and I will be beginning my life-long journey in medicine.
Perspective. The medical school application cycle can be EXTREMELY stressful. There is so much to do, so much waiting, so much anxiety. It is easy to get lost in it all. It is easy to look at other peoples successes, and to become jealous, resentful and cynical.
At the end of the day, we all want to become doctors. Sure, certain schools will offer benefits that other seemingly do not. Sure, we would all love full scholarships to top schools. But when all is said and done, just remember why you decided to fill out your AMCAS. Why you spent the hours volunteering, the time doing research, the long nights studying.
In retrospect, did I act silly? Probably. Do other people have it worse? Oh yes, definitely. I know some people will post I got accepted to medical school, wah wah. Believe me, I now understand how silly it looks to complain despite being accepted. I really do. But while I was going through this roller-coaster of a year I didnt think it was silly at all. I know what I felt, and what I felt was real. The unfortunate thing is that I dont think Im the only one who experiences this on SDN.
If I could give one piece of advice to those who are about to embark on their application season, and specifically to applicants who have hopes of attending specific schools (either by ranking or location or whatever), it is this; Goals are good. Dreams are good. They are necessary to achieve great things. But perspective is important. Perhaps you know this already. Perhaps I was the one idiot who got so immersed in it all that I couldnt see it clearly. But just know that if healing people to the best of your ability is what you really want do, then dont forget it! At the end of the day, thats all that matters. Be positive. Be gracious. Become what you set out to become.
I would also like to thank everyone on SDN who helped me through this year, whether through their encouraging posts, constructive criticism, and of course all the humorous entertainment.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
Irish
. Learn from your mistakes and try again if it doesn't work out!
