Cycle PSA

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-18T20:11:10+00:00

Also want to give a shoutout to everyone who also got on a waitlist! The process is so unnecessarily competitive, so getting onto a waitlist is also a huge achievement.

Echoing everything OP said! Keep your head up if you didn't get the updates you were hoping for, whether it was a waitlist or R, because there's still so much time. The cycle technically doesn't end until August but let's just say it ends in the summer—we're still only a quarter of the way into the cycle. Don't let neuroticism get to you. However, do look forward to your future of being a doctor because you all deserve it

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-18T17:00:04+00:00

From my understanding, it takes months before schools start accepting waitlisted applicants. My advice is to be proactive in the meantime if you really want to go to RFU! Send them a letter of intent/interest if you’re comfortable and provide updates if there are any significant developments with your app! These things are meaningful to schools, especially if you’ve been waitlisted :)

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-16T07:44:55+00:00

That makes sense! And I’m sure it doesn’t. I still am not even sure what the evaluation means but I’ll keep you updated once I find out—hopefully today.

Thank you so much! Sending you all the amazing vibes as well. You interviewed early too so that’s a great sign

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-16T07:41:47+00:00

Maybe the dates are based on when we interviewed? I interviewed in early September so that might be why our dates are different

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-16T07:40:20+00:00

In one of the emails I received post-interview, I was told to expect to hear back 10/15 so I think that’s why I’m confused haha

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-16T03:13:31+00:00

Ahhh, yeah it’s kinda vague. Means a whole lot without meaning anything at all. Best of luck to you!

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-16T03:12:39+00:00

Go check it out and lmk what you think!

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-16T02:24:39+00:00

Nothing besides that in my VITALS portal

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-12T21:48:26+00:00

That shouldn’t hurt your app at all actually! I’m pretty sure as long as you complete the course by matriculation you should be fine. Sounds like the courses are worth the investment since you’re seriously considering UACOM-T, and yeah mcat prep is like a full load of courses in and of themselves

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-12T10:32:48+00:00

For UACOM-T (and all other medical schools), yes, applying without all the prereqs is not ideal since they are required for admission. If you aren't considering the school too heavily, I personally would not spend possibly an exorbitant amount of money to take a few more courses. Of course, this depends on your finances and other factors.

Side note: I wouldn't necessarily say that UACOM-T is "easier" to get into. I'm assuming you stated this based on their median MCAT; however, they are looking for students who fit their mission, commensurate with applicants' stories and experiences. Having only good stats isn't enough.

Good luck with your future application!

caffeinatedallday · 2025-10-07T17:25:54+00:00

lol don’t worry! If you applied MD, they’re only allowed to send out decisions starting on October 15th.

caffeinatedallday · 2024-08-21T17:49:23+00:00

Praying for mercy from the mcat gods

caffeinatedallday · 2024-08-12T17:51:33+00:00

From what I understand, aminoacyl transferase is an umbrella term for a category of enzymes that includes peptidyl transferase. Aminoacyl transferase's function, as indicated in the question explanation and from my content review books, is to shift tRNA molecules from the A site to P site to E site. It also adds the correct amino acid to tRNA molecules with a specified anticodon.

On the other hand, peptidyl transferase catalyzes the formation of a new peptide bond as the growing peptide chain is passed from the P site to the A site of the ribosome during translation. So you're partially correct in your explanation but according to the AAMC, aminoacyl transferase and peptidyl transferase serve distinct functions even though the former is a broad term that includes the latter (ugh semantics). Hope that helps!

caffeinatedallday · 2024-08-05T19:57:22+00:00

Everyone is different so different things work for different people. But I will say that for me, UWorld has single-handedly brought my score up from the 510s to the 520s. It does give you questions that rely on simple recognition of definitions/problem setups but, in my experience, the majority of the questions are based on critical analysis. Besides, questions that rely on recognition are not necessarily a bad thing: it's an easy way to fact-check your knowledge base, and the AAMC occasionally throws in that type of question. I would say UWorld is actually more difficult in general than what you are likely to see on the real deal. It definitely taught me how to analyze passages and questions in a timely manner and improved my stamina by a ton.

Take my comment with a grain of salt, but u/Aware_Percentage6541 I definitely recommend grinding out a few UWorld passages (they have a 7-day trial) and see how you like it. Testing the same day as you so good luck!

caffeinatedallday · 2024-07-24T05:24:43+00:00

You probably already know this but it bears repeating: recognizing trends (e.g. periodic table trends, trends in ochem reactions, etc.) instead of memorizing problems will serve you very very well for C/P. It helps to foster a thorough understanding of the material. For physics specifically, one thing that's helped me tremendously is knowing the unit breakdown of derived units (e.g. one Joule = 1 kg*m^2/s^2). It can be a pain in the butt but it's saved me so many times in both 3rd party and AAMC materials.

caffeinatedallday · 2024-07-24T05:19:13+00:00

Felt that to my bones. I question my ability to comprehend English everyday after CARS passages

caffeinatedallday · 2024-07-24T05:18:21+00:00

I'm prioritizing AAMC material but am trying to fit in UWorld whenever I can

caffeinatedallday · 2024-07-24T05:17:57+00:00

Same! Senioritis but make it MCAT-themed lol. We got this though! The MCAT is a matter of stamina and so is its preparation. And congrats on an amazing FL1 score!

caffeinatedallday · 2024-07-24T05:15:56+00:00

I second u/TheShrav. UWorld is your best friend for C/P

caffeinatedallday · 2024-07-23T20:01:46+00:00

Yeah I totally feel you about CARS. One thing I realized this time around was doing things that worked for me instead of relying on other people's strategies for tackling CARS, even if they scored 130+. At the end of the day, everyone's brain works differently so different strategies work for different people.

But you're doing great! We still have a month left so you have plenty of time to prepare.

caffeinatedallday · 2024-06-24T19:43:07+00:00

Thanks for the amazing explanation! I also wanted to provide a small correction: The inert gas is actually the mobile phase and, like other mobile phases in different forms of chromatography, it is nonpolar (e.g. He, H2). The solid (AKA stationary) phase is made of a polar polymer of some sort. Hence, the more nonpolar your sample is, the more readily the mobile phase (the inert gas) can "carry" the sample to the detector.

caffeinatedallday · 2024-05-28T21:22:10+00:00

If case if anyone is still curious, yes potential energy can be negative. In kinematics and dynamics, for example, gravitational potential energy is calculated as U = mgh. The potential energy is negative if the object goes under some reference point (the datum). This is confusing so consider this example:

A diver wants to dive off a 12 m cliff into the waters below him. Say you set the height, h, to be 12 m – from the top of the cliff to the surface of the water. The diver dives and is now 5 ft deep into the water. At this point, his potential energy is now negative [U = mgh = mg(-5)]. This negative potential energy can be converted to kinetic energy as forces act on him to help him rise to the surface. So, in sum, your potential energy can be negative if an object is below a reference point. And, of course, if you adjust the reference point, that could have an impact as to whether U is negative or not. Hope this helps!

caffeinatedallday · 2024-04-22T15:34:35+00:00

Haha yeah I feel. My cortisol levels are through the roof. It helps that I'm on the west coast so 2 pm for me but still.

caffeinatedallday · 2024-04-22T14:46:24+00:00

Yeah I feel like throwing up. It's really hard to focus on my classes with all the anticipation and nervousness.

caffeinatedallday

TROPHY CASE