Hey everyone,

I just got an interview invite for LECOM Erie (the asynchronous video one).

Before I start recording, I'd really appreciate insight from anyone who has taken it recently!

• Once you start, can you take a break between questions to step away (or even pause for a couple of minutes), or does the platform force you straight through all prompts back-to-back?
• Is it strictly 30 seconds prep / 1:30 to speak per question? Can you manually stop recording early if you finish speaking?
• For anyone who has interviewed recently or found updated SDN threads/lists with the current questions, could you share what specific questions or topic themes they asked please?

Any tips or advice would mean a lot. Thank you so much, and good luck to everyone!

Hi everyone! I have my first-ever in-person interview on the 21st in Bradenton, FL and I’m nervous/excited!
For anyone who interviewed there (especially this cycle), what was it like? What kinds of questions were you asked, and what do you think the school is looking for?
Current students, I’d also love to know how you prepared and what you think helped you get accepted!
Also, if anyone has an upcoming in-person interview and wants to do mock interviews together, I’d be so down to practice and help each other 🥹🤞

Edit: For some context, I’m a 24 yo F, have a 501 MCAT, 3.9 GPA, and ~5.1k clinical hours as a scribe, so I’d especially love to hear from anyone with a similar profile!

Looking for people who want to lock in and get through secondaries together. I have ~40 schools and need the accountability.

Thinking of making a CSW where we can hop in, write, and keep each other accountable. Cameras are completely optional, we don't even have to talk.

Everyone's welcome! We all have different schedules, so just join whenever you're working.

I'm 24F applying this cycle. If you're serious about finishing your secondaries, comment or DM me!

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate some honest school list advice now that I have my MCAT score. My goal is to apply strategically and avoid throwing money at schools that are likely to screen me out, especially because of my CARS score.

A little context: I graduated in December 2024 (a semester earlier). I had hoped for a higher MCAT, but 2025 was honestly a rough year for my family. We moved, my father lost his job, developed health issues, family passing, and I spent a significant amount of time helping my family navigate everything while still working as a scribe and remotely volunteering. I'm still committed to applying and would really appreciate honest feedback on where I realistically have a chance.

New Jersey resident (Newark) | U.S. citizen

Background: Immigrated from Ecuador at age 15 (almost 16). English is my second language, and I spoke very little English when I arrived.

Stats

• cGPA: 3.91 Summa Cum Laude
• Estimated sGPA: ~3.78
• MCAT: 501 (124/122/127/128)  C/P; CARS; B/B; P/S (first time taking it, recieved score today)
• Casper: Taken (awaiting results)
• PREview: Will register

My biggest concern is the 122 CARS. My highest AAMC FL was also a 501, so I performed at the top of my practice range. I know schools won't adjust scores because English is my second language, but I am especially interested in schools that review applicants holistically and don't heavily screen based on subsection scores.

Clinical

Emergency Department Medical Scribe — 5,100 hours (Most Meaningful)

• ~4 years
• Frequently interpreted for Spanish-speaking patients
• Worked closely with doctors and PAs
• Chosen as most meaningful because it solidified my desire to become a physician and exposed me to the challenges many Spanish-speaking patients face when navigating healthcare

Emergency Department Shadowing — 112 hours

Research

Wet-lab cell biology (GABARAP) research — 350 hours

Field biology research — 60 hours; assisted with roadkill data collection at a swamp, didn't interpret or presented, it was for a herpetology aka amphibian research)

Research presentations (wet-lab)

• 2 oral presentations at New Jersey City University (NJCU; public school I graduated from)
• 2 poster presentations at NJCU
• 1 poster presentation at William Paterson University
• First author on all presentations
• No publications

Leadership

Acting Scribe Manager — 102 hours

Pre-Med Club Ambassador / Public Relations Officer + Pre-PA Club Treasurer — 246 hours (Most Meaningful)

• Chosen as most meaningful because it helped me overcome my fear of public speaking in a second language while mentoring and building community among students with similar interests.

 

Peer Mentor — 44 hours

Service

• Crisis Text Line (Bilingual Crisis Counselor/remote) — 210 hours
• Saint John's Soup Kitchen (still doing it, i love it)— 88 hours
• Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador (first exposure to volunteering in college as freshman)— 60 hours
• ENGin Conversation Partner (conversation partner for Ukranian female)— 42 hours

Other Experiences

Family Caregiving — 108 hours

• Assisted my father following health issues and lifestyle changes

Competitive Swimming & Fitness — 2,256 hours (Most Meaningful)

• Started after a near-drowning experience when I was young
• Became a source of discipline and stability through immigration, college, and other major life transitions
• No formal team in college (there was no team)

Letters of Recommendation

• 1 DO physician
• 2 MD physicians
• Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry II professor
• Organic Chemistry I professor
• Sociology professor

I worked closely with the physicians for several years in the Emergency Department and expect those letters to be strong. I also have a good relationship with professors.

Personal Statement

My personal statement focuses on immigrating from Ecuador, learning English, translating for my parents, working as an ED scribe, and advocating for Spanish-speaking patients who are afraid to speak up because of language barriers. I've received consistently positive feedback on it from reviewers some say it's one of the stronger parts of my application.

School Interests

My dream school is USUHS. Part of that interest comes from the service mission, my brother currently serves in the Army and is about to complete AIT (the one that comes after basic training), and I am personally interested in military medicine. I would also strongly consider HPSP if accepted.

I am absolutely willing to attend a DO school, and DO is currently my priority, though I would appreciate MD recommendations as well.

Any advice is genuinely appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to help. I know MD may be an uphill battle with a 501, but I'd love to hear any thoughts before I start sending applications.

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate some honest school list advice now that I have my MCAT score. My goal is to apply strategically and avoid throwing money at schools that are likely to screen me out, especially because of my CARS score.

A little context: I graduated in December 2024 (a semester earlier). I had hoped for a higher MCAT, but 2025 was honestly a rough year for my family. We moved, my father lost his job, developed health issues, family passing, and I spent a significant amount of time helping my family navigate everything while still working as a scribe and remotely volunteering. I'm still committed to applying and would really appreciate honest feedback on where I realistically have a chance.

New Jersey resident (Newark) | U.S. citizen

Background: Immigrated from Ecuador at age 15 (almost 16). English is my second language, and I spoke very little English when I arrived.

Stats

• cGPA: 3.91 Summa Cum Laude
• Estimated sGPA: ~3.78
• MCAT: 501 (124/122/127/128)  C/P; CARS; B/B; P/S (first time taking it, recieved score today)
• Casper: Taken (awaiting results)
• PREview: Will register

My biggest concern is the 122 CARS. My highest AAMC FL was also a 501, so I performed at the top of my practice range. I know schools won't adjust scores because English is my second language, but I am especially interested in schools that review applicants holistically and don't heavily screen based on subsection scores.

Clinical

Emergency Department Medical Scribe — 5,100 hours (Most Meaningful)

• ~4 years
• Frequently interpreted for Spanish-speaking patients
• Worked closely with doctors and PAs
• Chosen as most meaningful because it solidified my desire to become a physician and exposed me to the challenges many Spanish-speaking patients face when navigating healthcare

Emergency Department Shadowing — 112 hours

Research

Wet-lab cell biology (GABARAP) research — 350 hours

Field biology research — 60 hours; assisted with roadkill data collection at a swamp, didn't interpret or presented, it was for a herpetology aka amphibian research)

Research presentations (wet-lab)

• 2 oral presentations at New Jersey City University (NJCU; public school I graduated from)
• 2 poster presentations at NJCU
• 1 poster presentation at William Paterson University
• First author on all presentations
• No publications

Leadership

Acting Scribe Manager — 102 hours

Pre-Med Club Ambassador / Public Relations Officer + Pre-PA Club Treasurer — 246 hours (Most Meaningful)

• Chosen as most meaningful because it helped me overcome my fear of public speaking in a second language while mentoring and building community among students with similar interests.

 

Peer Mentor — 44 hours

Service

• Crisis Text Line (Bilingual Crisis Counselor/remote) — 210 hours
• Saint John's Soup Kitchen (still doing it, i love it)— 88 hours
• Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador (first exposure to volunteering in college as freshman)— 60 hours
• ENGin Conversation Partner (conversation partner for Ukranian female)— 42 hours

Other Experiences

Family Caregiving — 108 hours

• Assisted my father following health issues and lifestyle changes

Competitive Swimming & Fitness — 2,256 hours (Most Meaningful)

• Started after a near-drowning experience when I was young
• Became a source of discipline and stability through immigration, college, and other major life transitions
• No formal team in college (there was no team)

Letters of Recommendation

• 1 DO physician
• 2 MD physicians
• Biochemistry/Organic Chemistry II professor
• Organic Chemistry I professor
• Sociology professor

I worked closely with the physicians for several years in the Emergency Department and expect those letters to be strong. I also have a good relationship with professors.

Personal Statement

My personal statement focuses on immigrating from Ecuador, learning English, translating for my parents, working as an ED scribe, and advocating for Spanish-speaking patients who are afraid to speak up because of language barriers. I've received consistently positive feedback on it from reviewers some say it's one of the stronger parts of my application.

School Interests

My dream school is USUHS. Part of that interest comes from the service mission, my brother currently serves in the Army and is about to complete AIT (the one that comes after basic training), and I am personally interested in military medicine. I would also strongly consider HPSP if accepted.

I am absolutely willing to attend a DO school, and DO is currently my priority, though I would appreciate MD recommendations as well.

Any advice is genuinely appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to help. I know MD may be an uphill battle with a 501, but I'd love to hear any thoughts before I start sending applications.'

Updatea: Someone also told me it'll be helpful to use admit.org I don't know if this helps and not sure how it works either, it mainly asked for stats.

https://preview.redd.it/r3tdc2bfdw7h1.png?width=1212&format=png&auto=webp&s=f2b736bc46c9f9d5625e13407c08a86856a18165

https://preview.redd.it/473nldipdw7h1.png?width=1284&format=png&auto=webp&s=41948b03f351413954e827fd4b62f7e69a018eea

https://preview.redd.it/wy6jnrcqdw7h1.png?width=1328&format=png&auto=webp&s=78983104bd30ecb0272b31e4baf0d076de7a81c4

Looking for advice on one MD school to add for AMCAS verification.

I'm a NJ resident, first-generation immigrant from South America, and graduated from a public university with a 3.91 GPA in Biology. My experiences include ~5,100 hours as an ED medical scribe, ~350 hours of wet-lab research with multiple presentations/posters (no pubs), physician shadowing, Crisis Text Line volunteering, peer mentoring, community service (soup kitchen/conversational english partner for Ukranian female/red cross), long-term swimming, and leadership positions. I'm also bilingual in English and Spanish.

The biggest unknown is my MCAT. My practice scores were mostly in the high 490s, but I have not received my official score yet. I know MD may be a long shot depending on the score, and I'm applying broadly to DO schools as well (some advice here would be greatly appreciated as well 😄 ).

I'd like to submit AMCAS now for verification and add schools later once my MCAT is released. I don't want to use NJMS, RWJMS, or Hackensack as my initial verification school if I can avoid it in case I need to reapply in the future. Basically on that is out-of-state friendly if possible, but I would genuinely attend anywhere if accepted lol

Given my GPA, experiences, and uncertain (possibly low) MCAT, which out-of-state-friendly MD school(s) would you choose as an initial AMCAS school and why?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for someone reliable (or a referral) who can help edit my work & activities section for DO school applications. I’ve already written my entries (all under 600 characters), so I mainly need help with polishing, clarity, and overall impact. I’m also very open to feedback—whether that’s rewording, restructuring, or even splitting/combining activities if needed.

Timeline is tight — I’m aiming to finalize everything before May 4th, when applications open. Because of this, I’m looking for someone who can commit to a quick turnaround and clear communication.

Preference for someone with experience reviewing medical school applications. I’m happy to pay, just hoping to keep it reasonable as I’m on a tight budget. I’d really appreciate any help or recommendations—thank you so much!