Free Advice!!

I submitted my application to AMCAS yesterday!!  Last year I submitted it mid-July...maybe even late July because well first of all, I took the MCAT in June, and then thought I had to wait for my scores to come in.   I didn't get my scores until mid-July, and then my letter writer got a hernia so I had to wait for her letter...I didn't know that once you submitted it wasn't presto-bamo, schools automatically got your application; AMCAS has to verify it, so I wasn't "complete" until August something or other.  That and a bad MCAT kept me out of med school last year.

THIS time, I have a better, but still on the mediocre side, MCAT.  I submitted the AMCAS application on the very first day so that I can get verified ASAP, and start working on the joys that are secondaries.  While applying, the AMCAS started coming back to me, so here's some more free advice, which is kind of like "free air" at the gas station--take it for what it is.

1.) Start by requesting transcripts, a copy for you and a copy for AMCAS.

2.) Plan on spending as much time on the work/activities section as you do on your essay.

3.) Submit early,  but don't forgo quality in order to do so, if you need an extra couple of days, take it.

4.) For your school list, invest in the MSAR online, it's $15 for a year subscription, it's up to date, searchable, you can make a favorites list, and it's useful.

5.) Make a list of schools you would LOVE to go to, schools you could get into, and schools you SHOULD get into barring a meltdown of epic proportions then trim it based on which schools are best fits for what you want out of your education.

6.) Stay off SDN.

Wish me luck.  Lets hope this is the year I get in, otherwise I'll have to change the title of my blog.