Profile Link: https://acceptedtogether.com/consultants/Karen-qgTUW

Q1:What is your position and at which school?

Medical Student, University of British Columbia

Q2: Tell us a bit about yourself!

My name is Karen and I am a third year medical student at UBC in the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP). I am originally from Toronto and completed my undergrad in Psychology at York University before making my way to the West Coast. I am a huge foodie and coffee snob! I love to travel, go to concerts, read, be active, and spend time by the water.

Q3: What’s one thing that others may not know about you? 

I am a HUGE Harry Potter nerd.

Q4: If you didn’t go into the field you are in right now, what field would you have gone into?

I would have loved to go into luxury real estate or something in the travel industry, but realistically I would have explored other healthcare fields (e.g. dentistry).

Q5: What is the most difficult interview question in your opinion?

Tell me about yourself!

Q6: What do you think contributed the most to your success?

Mentorship from others who also went through this process and support from family and friends.

Q7: What was your application journey like? 

I really struggled with the MCAT and had to write it 3 times, twice in one year. I applied to Canadian medical schools twice; in my 3rd and 4th years of undergrad. I received 0 interviews in my first attempt and 2 in my second. I was then waitlisted at both UBC and uOttawa (which made for a really stressful summer) but was thankfully accepted to UBC.

Q8: Would you like to share some statistics with us? (This can be in the form of GPA/MCAT/Casper scores, the number of schools you applied to and got accepted, etc.)

First application – applied to 5 Ontario schools, 0 interviews
Second application – applied to 8 Canadian schools, 2 interviews, 2 waitlists, and 1 acceptance
MCAT (most recent) – 128/126/127/128 = 509

Q9: What services do you offer? 

General consults, application editing, interview prep

Q10: What’s your biggest tip for students applying to your field? 

Focus on your uniqueness! Many pre-meds are pressured to have certain prerequisites or experiences on their CV because they may have heard that “med schools are looking for that”. Medical students are so diverse and unique! Be true to yourself and do things you enjoy. Not only will this make you stand out more from “cookie cutter applicants” but it will also make for better reflections and interview responses when the time comes!

Q11: Why should students choose you as their consultant?

I am passionate about mentoring others (both with the application process and in other capacities) because I was once in your shoes and really believe in paying it forward. I didn’t have “outstanding stats” when I was applying and I try to use my experiences to encourage people who may not believe they have a shot. I am honest, thorough, and try to be relatable. The most rewarding feeling is when people I helped reach out to tell me they got accepted 🙂

Q12: Any other information you would like to share with students?

Best of luck with your applications and interviews! I look forward to hopefully working with you!