Hello to all those applying! I'm part of the inaugural class and I wanted to drop in and leave some advice/info for those applying this cycle. Though it seems like it was forever ago, I was in your shoes and so I understand your stress and anticipation. That being said, try to relax as much as possible and still enjoy life. Most of you already finished the crazy beast that is the MCAT and you're so close to the next step, acceptance to med school.
So this is definitely a school that's driven by a specific mission. Make sure you know what that is and if this school fits YOUR desires. It's as much of an interview for them as it is for you. You'll spend a significant chunk of cash wherever you end up (unless it's a dirt cheap state school, in which case I envy you), so make sure that you're 100% comfortable with YOUR decision. I emphasize you, because on these forums, and your life in general, people will steer you a certain way with their comments and opinions. That's not always a negative thing but remember, at the end of the day the person who has to be happy and comfortable with the outcome is you.
Our initial class is full of some really phenomenal, kind, funny, caring people. Luckily I've had the chance to meet a handful of them in person and so I make this comment with that knowledge and also from what I've seen on our FB page. I don't get any sense of people being cut throat towards each other or mean spirited in any way. We are the polar opposite of that and already, before class has even started, we've been proactive in helping each other out. I'm bringing this up because it's the culture that you'll potentially be entering into. I personally despise people who put others down or gloat about their success in order to make others feel bad so our culture is something that really really makes me happy. It's nice to know that my colleagues are people that I can learn and grow with, comfortably.
Las Cruces is beautiful! I came from upstate NY so it was a major change, but I can tell you that after being here for 2.5 months I'm loving it. It's a great area because of the cultural mix of people, the abundance of outdoor activities, and the FOOD! The people here are super friendly. The community itself is growing and already live with local events like Farmer's markets, art shows, doggy events, etc. It's sunny every day (super mood lifter).
So in terms of your secondaries, getting an interview, success for interviews etc...
We had a more "traditional" style secondary last year, but even still, they asked more provocative questions than most schools did (I should know, I filled out about 30 secondaries). This year they're going even farther down the creative/unique path and I personally think this is great. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and so this method will appeal to strengths from different walks of life. Take your time, pick what you think will best represent you and give it all you have. Isn't it nice to know that you're not just being judged on a set of essay questions that 500 + other people are answering as well?
When you're selected for an interview, and you're done shouting, laughing, rolling on the floor, or in my case solo salsa dancing around your living room while your dogs are barking at you, take a deep breath, and start working on your interview skills. Some of us are naturals at this and some of us need practice so that we're not a sweating pile of nerves. Either way, I can say my practice beforehand definitely helped me to feel less nervous on interview day.
Prior to the interview- take a drive over to the location and familiarize yourself. It just makes everything go smoother for the actual day. Dress professionally, but comfortable. Don't overdo perfume or make up or jewelry. Everyone says this but try to really embody it; be yourself. Remember that if someone is asking you to come interview at their school, they've already decided they have interest in you and potentially want you to be there. Just take your time and answer questions from the heart. You'll spend 100 hours stressing over 20 minutes so try and even that imbalance out.
Start saving money now! This goes for any school that you'll end up at. There are so many costs that could pop up, moving, DMV registrations if you end up in another state, rent, deposits, the list goes on an on. If you start saving even $100 a month from now till then it will help you immensely. PAY OFF YOUR DEBTS STARTING NOW. Remember that even if you have a nice cash flow now, that'll likely cease once school starts so plan, plan, plan. You don't want to be struggling to pay off credit cards or whatever debt payments while you're trying to focus on school. In addition, we are still required and likely will be for years 1 & 2, to obtain private loans. Now this process takes some effort but it's not impossible. My best piece of advice? Make sure that you pull a copy of your credit report and review for any wrong info. Is there a late payment listed that was never paid late? DISPUTE IT! This happened to me and by disputing my credit score went up 30 points, no joke. Even if you don't attend here this is something that will be beneficial for you in general so why not. You can get a free copy of all three bureau reports per year. Do this early, and then when it comes time to apply for a loan you'll be in great shape. I ended up at 7.24 fixed for my private loan but I know of classmates that got into the 6 point ranged fixed. This solid considering the federal undergrad plus is at 6.8 fixed.
Our staff here are AMAZING. I mean truly just nice, caring people. Our financial aid rep has been going to bat for us feverishly from the start and our student affairs rep may actually be the nicest person in the world. He receives multiple phone calls a day and is always cheery and nice on the phone. He e-mails back within hours. The school has been flexible and extremely responsive to our needs which is really great. We wanted a bigger venue for our white coat ceremony so that each student could invite more family and within a week they granted our request. We asked for an increase in COA to cover living expenses and boom, done. The community is excited for the school. I've met doctors who are excited about the program and regularly cross paths with hikers and other members of the community that are really excited as well. It's nice to know that the community around us supports us too since we'll be working closely with them.
I wish you all nothing but the best. Enjoy this next year as much as you can. Travel, spend time with friends and family, enjoy life. Hopefully I will see some of you here soon!
Stephanie
