I submitted my AMCAS early this cycle and applied to about fourteen schools: everywhere in NM (my home state), AZ, CA, and NV. I only received three IIs:
UNM - Rejected
University of Arizona - Rejected
USC - WL
The purpose of this thread is to determine where I went wrong and if I should reapply or look into alternate career paths. I am an older non-trad with a child and can't move much further east, so I'm fairly limited in where I can apply. If I do apply again, it will have to be in WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, and NM.
Below is a very brief summary of the AMCAS application I submitted last June. Feedback is appreciated.
Academic
Major: Exercise Physiology
GPA: 3.6 (strong upward trend; 4.0 for past two years with straight A's in pre-req courses)
MCAT: 38 (13/13/12)
Volunteering
300 hours as patient companion for MS charity organization
300 hours at community clinic in underserved area of NM
Shadowing
30 hours - primary care and neurology
Research
50 hours in exercise physiology lab (funding pulled and lost position midway through project)
Poster presentation at small conference
Work Experience
1000s of hours as physical therapy aide
1000s of hours as tech support for software company
(Self-supported throughout college)
Miscellaneous
Hobbies - writing (published in several major magazines)
Honors - Dean's List and award for community service
LORs - very strong; knew my professors very well
PS - went through 8-10 drafts; one interviewer said that it was one of the best he had seen
Since submitting my application, I have volunteered at a hospice (~400 hours) and shadowed several more physicians (48 hours). However, I have failed to secure a position in a laboratory and still have very limited research experience. I am still working full-time in tech support.
Considering that I have not improved my application much since last year, should I reapply? Consider a different career? Take another year off? I'm just a few months shy of my 30th birthday and I really need to figure out what I am going to do with my life. Failing to land an acceptance this cycle has been deeply disappointing. I knew that my application was fairly mediocre, but I thought that I had an excellent shot at my state school considering my LizzyM is well above their average.
Thank you for any advice.
UNM - Rejected
University of Arizona - Rejected
USC - WL
The purpose of this thread is to determine where I went wrong and if I should reapply or look into alternate career paths. I am an older non-trad with a child and can't move much further east, so I'm fairly limited in where I can apply. If I do apply again, it will have to be in WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, and NM.
Below is a very brief summary of the AMCAS application I submitted last June. Feedback is appreciated.
Academic
Major: Exercise Physiology
GPA: 3.6 (strong upward trend; 4.0 for past two years with straight A's in pre-req courses)
MCAT: 38 (13/13/12)
Volunteering
300 hours as patient companion for MS charity organization
300 hours at community clinic in underserved area of NM
Shadowing
30 hours - primary care and neurology
Research
50 hours in exercise physiology lab (funding pulled and lost position midway through project)
Poster presentation at small conference
Work Experience
1000s of hours as physical therapy aide
1000s of hours as tech support for software company
(Self-supported throughout college)
Miscellaneous
Hobbies - writing (published in several major magazines)
Honors - Dean's List and award for community service
LORs - very strong; knew my professors very well
PS - went through 8-10 drafts; one interviewer said that it was one of the best he had seen
Since submitting my application, I have volunteered at a hospice (~400 hours) and shadowed several more physicians (48 hours). However, I have failed to secure a position in a laboratory and still have very limited research experience. I am still working full-time in tech support.
Considering that I have not improved my application much since last year, should I reapply? Consider a different career? Take another year off? I'm just a few months shy of my 30th birthday and I really need to figure out what I am going to do with my life. Failing to land an acceptance this cycle has been deeply disappointing. I knew that my application was fairly mediocre, but I thought that I had an excellent shot at my state school considering my LizzyM is well above their average.
Thank you for any advice.