Who's applying in 2010?

[LingoLaine]

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Hi everyone!

I've posted before a few times but am mostly a lurker. I'm ramping up to apply this summer and was just wondering which other non-trads here are in the same application cycle and what you're all working on? I'm currently taking Physics II (have already finished Bio, Chem, and Ochem) and just started studying for the MCAT. I'm planning to take the 5/21/2010 test and submitting my application in June.

I took my first full-length MCAT practice test today and the results weren't pretty... BS 8, PS 7, VR 10. I feel like I have a LOT of studying to cover before my test date and don't know how I'm going to fit it all in.

I shadowed an ob/gyn for about 50 hours and volunteer at the local hospital doing newborn hearing screens. I'm planning to do a bit more shadowing this summer (after the MCAT). I still need to request LORs from my professors, former employer, etc.

Haven't decided how many schools to apply to yet... My first choice is University of Colorado (my state school) and realistically I don't know whether I'd be willing to move my family anywhere else as early as next year. (If I can't get in there, I would definitely go elsewhere but probably not any sooner than 2012 given some issues with my husband's career.)

What are your plans?

 

[ckl81]

Also applying this cycle, I can't believe that it's taken so long just to get to this point! Started thinking about the switch about 2 years ago, and will be almost 2.5 by the time my application gets in.

Right now I've finished all my pre-reqs plus biochem, and I'm planning on taking the MCAT the same day as you (good luck!). I have yet to take a FL test yet, but am still reviewing. Finishing up chem review now, then will try and hit orgo, then bio, then physics. (I heard physics is best fresh.) A current med student told me that the best advice she can give was to do lots of practice tests, so I'm planning to do 5 total practice ones, starting 5 weeks before the actual exam.

I've probably done about 25-30 hours of shadowing between ED, neurosurgery, long-term in-patient rehab, and a lymphoma specialist.

Try to start tracking down LORs ASAP. I talked to someone who said he'd be happy to write one for me, but has been unresponsive for a few months. It's a tough balance to strike since you can't bug them too much, but you need to be firm, and not to leave a bad taste in their mouth.

Probably going to apply to schools at all the major cities in the Northeast. It's going to be crazy though, I feel like application season is going to creep up really fast.

 

[Schemp]

I'm applying this coming cycle, hopefully sending all my apps out the day they open up.

I took the MCAT last August, but since I didn't get my scores til early September, and did pretty well, I decided to take this year (my senior year) to improve my GPA and extracurriculars so they matched up a little better. I'm basically ready to go except for my personal statement, which I'm mostly brainstorming right now, shadowing, and hopefully a non-science letter of recommendation. I got one last year from a graduate student TA, but would really prefer a faculty member to write one, for obvious reasons. Unfortunately I have no non-science classes this year, haha.

I'm excited to send everything out and see what happens though. I'm also mostly focusing on the Northeast, although I'll apply to some Cal schools and the one in my home state of Washington as well, and probably some reach schools in Chicago, Minnesota, etc.

 

[LingoLaine]

Hi there, nice to "meet" you both!

Yes, I need to get going on my LORs. I've got two science professors I'm planning to ask for a recommendation but I haven't taken a non-science college course since 1993! I talked to an admissions counselor at my state school who said the letter from my former employer could count as the "non-science" letter so hopefully that will be okay. I'm also planning to ask one or two of my personal physicians for letters.

What have you guys done about actually collecting the letters? Are you using a filing service (like Interfolio) or is it possible to submit them to AMCAS before the June 1st date?

I actually wrote my personal statement about three years ago. (I needed to write it to convince MYSELF that I had valid reasons before starting down this crazy road!) I'd say it's probably 95% done but I haven't looked at in in a long time.

Good luck to you both!

 

[Schemp]

Hi LingoLaine,

I've had my letter writers mail the letters they write to my school's career center, where they store them for some extended period of time (several years at least) and you pay a fairly small fee to have them sent to AMCAS whenever you want. I imagine if you have your writers send them directly it shouldn't be too much of a hassle. The problem is they don't hold them over for the next year if you decide not to apply or don't get in. I think that's the drawback to it, anyway. I could be mistaken.

 

[mstp2011]

I am applying this cycle, been out of college for 4 years, working as a research tech, now deciding to give MD/PhD programs a try. My plan is to start on the essays next month, I've already taken my MCAT.