I've been working on my personal statement, which sucks, but I thought I'd throw some advice out there for some good karma tomorrow when MCAT scores come out.
I applied to medical school last year with one interview, no acceptances, so maybe I shouldn't be giving out advice, but this is more "general process of applying" type stuff.
1.) Triple the amount of time you think you need for AMCAS. Last year, I was going to submit when I took the MCAT in mid-June, but then I ended up waiting for my not so great scores...July...and then by the time I submitted...August. Not to say it would have made a difference, but seriously, start early.
2.) Start Early, part 2. Ask your letter writers waaaaay in advance of when you need your letter and plan for hernias. My wonderful wonderful (cannot use this word enough) English teacher who ended up writing me a lovely letter suffered from a hernia riiiiight before I needed my letter. What could I say? The woman had a hernia. Ask early, get them early, send out early reminders and follow up.
3.) About follow up: I've been emailing all my letter writers this year periodically updating them on my life. Asking them to update my letters was CAKE.
4.) About letter writers: A professor's reaction says a lot about how their letter will go. One of my professors said, "I would love to. I would imagine all your professors are falling all over themselves to write you a letter." Another said, "Sure, just tell me where to send it." I'm betting the first professor wrote me a much much much better letter.
5.) Have a bunch of people read your personal statement. This. Hurts. I had my parents read my statement and surprise, surprise, they LOVED it. That's because they've been on the pre-med journey with me and they know the struggles I've been through, oh and my mom gave birth to me, so really not too much help. I sent my statement to my professor who is a real stickler for grammar and who really liked me, but he hated my essay. Ouch. At first I was defensive, then pissed, then I was sad, then I started incorporating his suggestions. I also sent it to two of my best friends because you need to have someone read it who knows you well and can say, "why don't you talk about this?" Sometimes you don't know your best qualities. Caveat: make sure your friends are not illiterate.
6.) Make nice with your pre-med advisor if you have one, it makes everything go so much more smoothly.
7.) Many committees won't start writing your letter until you've submitted your AMCAS. This is why its important to start early.
8.) Transcripts. Start here. This should be one of the first things you do. As soon as AMCAS opens, request your transcripts. Things happen. Stuff gets lost in the mail. Mail these ASAP so you can cross it off your list.
9.) Thank EVERYONE. Thank your letter writers, your pre-med committee, your registrars, your references (if you have them), and DEFINITELY thank your essay editors. These people are doing a huge service to you and "Thanks, couldn't have done this without you," goes a LONG way. (I know because someone said this to me the other day, and I practically swooned.)
This advice is probably a bit too late for those applying now, but for those thinking of applying next cycle or if you read this down the line, Best of Luck!
