Potentially Reapplying for the Third Time - Chances and Advice?

[PsychoPass987]

Hello all. I am a MA resident, seeking advice on how to potentially applying again for this upcoming cycle 2015-2016. This will be my 3rd try at this application process if I had to do it again. I applied this cycle for Fall 2015 as a re-applicant, and am currently sitting on 3 rejections, 1 hold, and no news/any interview invites from other MD programs that I applied. I applied for the first time last year (2013-2014) to MD programs with a 3.9 GPA and 3.9 sGPA but a 26 on the MCAT with all rejections. My current GPA is still the same at this point.

Prior to applying this cycle (2014-2015), I had planned to just take the July exam after prepping and studying for the MCAT for the exam for ~ 1.5 months and submit the released score in August along with my primary around the same time. Going into the exam, I had AAMC practice exam scores ~34, but received a 29 (PS 12/VR 6/ BS 11). I was absolutely devastated with my verbal score, and retook in September after having prepped for all sections especially verbal, but received a 26 again (PS 10/VR 6/BS 10). Long story short, I still submitted secondaries to all schools on my list except for four of them since I knew I would be labeled a re-applicant just for having the primary verified at all schools. My application was not complete to schools until October because I notified them I was taking the September MCAT.

Because I knew that there was a huge discrepancy between my MCAT practice scores (~34) and what I was getting on the real exam, I decided to identify my deficit (mainly verbal reasoning), and re-took the exam on Dec. 6 and got a 32 (PS 12/VR 8/BS 12). (I had not notified schools of this score coming in on the AMCAS application). I sent updates of this to all schools that accepted them when I first received the scores at the beginning of January. At this point, I have received 3 rejections already.

My other ECs are listed below

2 years hospital volunteering - ~210 hours hospital volunteering (60 hours in ER, 150 hours hospital escorting)
20 shadowing hours with ER physicians
3 years research in biochemistry laboratory - 1400+ hours (had a few posters and presentations, wrote an honors thesis, no publications)
a summer in a biology REU program - 400 hours
4 years as a member of chess club (was vice president for 1 year)
a semester as a biochemistry TA - 75 hours

volunteer academic tutor for economically disadvantaged high school students (will be starting very soon)


I also have 3 LORs. I assume all of them to be strong.


Here is my school list for the 2014-2015 cycle:

Brown*
Boston University*
Dartmouth
George Washington
Albert Einstein
Rochester*
University of Vermont
Drexel
Albany*
New York Medical College*
Penn State
Quinnipiac*
Temple
Tufts*
UMass*

* denotes the schools that I am considered a reapplicant



With everything that has gone on through my application to MD programs, I am depressed, demoralized, frustrated, and disappointed. I'm trying to re-group and proceed with this process, because I know my interest lies in medicine.

So I have a few questions...

1. Do I have any chances at any II at this point in the cycle? I realize chances are slim, but I'm wondering if all schools will receive my new MCAT score even though I have not notified them. I did notify schools who accept updates about my new score, but I'm wondering if the ones who don't receive updates will know about it.

2. Will taking the MCAT 4 times eliminated my chances at just about all MD programs if I were to apply a 3rd time? What are my chances at ANY MD programs? My major issue was the verbal reasoning section which I managed to raise up to an 8 in the most recent attempt, but I fear that schools will think my potential is really a 6-7.


Any other constructive advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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[Faha]

There is a small possibility you could receive an interview in March or April but even if you have one interview your chances are low for an acceptance. Did you interview at Drexel ? With 4 MCAT's and an average of 28 you will basically be evaluated as an applicant with a MCAT of 28. Some schools have a policy of considering only the most recent MCAT but all your scores are available so that is how you will be seen as-an applicant with an MCAT in the upper 20's. In looking back at your previous posts from last year several advised applying to DO schools. That would be your best option but your odds would improve if you apply to at least 12 DO schools. It would be worth applying to MD again but only to schools where an MCAT average in the upper 20's would give you a chance. Since you are a MA resident apply to UMass as well as Tufts and BU (they give some MA preference). Other schools worth a try would be Quinnipiac, New York Medical, Albany, Commonwealth (PA), Penn State, Drexel, Temple, Jefferson, Oakland Beaumont, Western Michigan, Rosalind Franklin, St. Louis, Creighton, Tulane. Also apply to any new private MD schools that open in 2016 and there may be 2 or 3 of those. Apply in June for both MD and DO and submit all your secondaries by July.

 

[zzxxzz]

2. Will taking the MCAT 4 times eliminated my chances at just about all MD programs if I were to apply a 3rd time? What are my chances at ANY MD programs? My major issue was the verbal reasoning section which I managed to raise up to an 8 in the most recent attempt, but I fear that schools will think my potential is really a 6-7.

During the pre-med overview presentation at my school, we were told that applicants get three shots at the MCAT, and that if you can't get the score you want within three tries, you should consider other options. As you point out, it's difficult to say whether your improvement was due to simple good luck on your most recent test. ADCOMs on this forum have said that they expect an improvement on any MCAT re-take, and the 26 on your third attempt doesn't look great.

Being a re-applicant doesn't help you much either. If you don't get in anywhere this cycle, apply to a bunch of DO programs next year. Your GPA is high, and your only issue appears to be verbal.

 

[PsychoPass987]

There is a small possibility you could receive an interview in March or April but even if you have one interview your chances are low for an acceptance. Did you interview at Drexel ? With 4 MCAT's and an average of 28 you will basically be evaluated as an applicant with a MCAT of 28. Some schools have a policy of considering only the most recent MCAT but all your scores are available so that is how you will be seen as-an applicant with an MCAT in the upper 20's. In looking back at your previous posts from last year several advised applying to DO schools. That would be your best option but your odds would improve if you apply to at least 12 DO schools. It would be worth applying to MD again but only to schools where an MCAT average in the upper 20's would give you a chance. Since you are a MA resident apply to UMass as well as Tufts and BU (they give some MA preference). Other schools worth a try would be Quinnipiac, New York Medical, Albany, Commonwealth (PA), Penn State, Drexel, Temple, Jefferson, Oakland Beaumont, Western Michigan, Rosalind Franklin, St. Louis, Creighton, Tulane. Also apply to any new private MD schools that open in 2016 and there may be 2 or 3 of those. Apply in June for both MD and DO and submit all your secondaries by July.

No. I did not interview at Drexel. I received a hold in that school.

I do wonder about schools that consider the most recent score. In reality, do they usually just average scores or is it mostly dependent on the adcom member who reviews the application? Are these claims from schools supposedly used to entice applicants to apply?

If I were to apply again, I will definitely reapply to some of the MD schools again with an addition of several more MD and DO schools.

 

[PsychoPass987]

During the pre-med overview presentation at my school, we were told that applicants get three shots at the MCAT, and that if you can't get the score you want within three tries, you should consider other options. As you point out, it's difficult to say whether your improvement was due to simple good luck on your most recent test. ADCOMs on this forum have said that they expect an improvement on any MCAT re-take, and the 26 on your third attempt doesn't look great.

Being a re-applicant doesn't help you much either. If you don't get in anywhere this cycle, apply to a bunch of DO programs next year. Your GPA is high, and your only issue appears to be verbal.

I always knew that multiple re-takes should be avoided whenever possible, but never really realized the limit set at 3. I hope that this bearing has no effect for most of the schools I apply to.

 

[zzxxzz]

I always knew that multiple re-takes should be avoided whenever possible, but never really realized the limit set at 3. I hope that this bearing has no effect for most of the schools I apply to.

Not saying it's a hard-and-fast rule, just what I was told. Know plenty of people who got in with a retake, but no one with three...

On the plus side, your scores were fairly consistent, e.g. your verbal score always held you back. Schools might interpret that as a weakness with a certain section, as opposed to a general weakness with standardized tests (which is the big issue).

 

[gyngyn]

I always knew that multiple re-takes should be avoided whenever possible, but never really realized the limit set at 3. I hope that this bearing has no effect for most of the schools I apply to.

Every MCAT score increases the complexity of the application.
Sometimes a re-take is necessary.
More than a single re-take opens the door to speculation regarding your judgement
There is no actual limit to the number of re-takes but each additional score changes the strategy that must be employed to increase the odds of success.
More than three MCAT scores stands out in an undesirable way when compared to those who took it fewer times, independent of the highest score.

 

[PsychoPass987]

Every MCAT score increases the complexity of the application.
Sometimes a re-take is necessary.
More than a single re-take opens the door to speculation regarding your judgement
There is no actual limit to the number of re-takes but each additional score changes the strategy that must be employed to increase the odds of success.
More than three MCAT scores stands out in an undesirable way when compared to those who took it fewer times, independent of the highest score.

I understand it from your standpoint in that various interpretations can be made. For MD prospects, I do think it was necessary for that retake given that my scores were 26, 29, 26, with a 7, 6, 6 on verbal respectively. Now, it's up to a 32, but the verbal is still at an 8, which is in 10% of many MD schools. I'm just wondering if the reapplication/multiple MCAT stigma is so strong that all hope is pretty much lost in the MD direction?

 

[gyngyn]

I understand it from your standpoint in that various interpretations can be made. For MD prospects, I do think it was necessary for that retake given that my scores were 26, 29, 26, with a 7, 6, 6 on verbal respectively. Now, it's up to a 32, but the verbal is still at an 8, which is in 10% of many MD schools. I'm just wondering if the reapplication/multiple MCAT stigma is so strong that all hope is pretty much lost in the MD direction?

You need to target the schools that might interview you and find out.
This time add DO as well.

 

[midweststudent1]

And I would apply broadly to DO schools. Several of the 5 listed are some of the best DO schools, and it would surprise you how many good applicants don't even get interviews to them. Apply to around 10 DO schools. Also, make sure to get our applications in the first month of the cycle. It's one of the biggest things you can do to improve your chances

 

[PsychoPass987]

And I would apply broadly to DO schools. Several of the 5 listed are some of the best DO schools, and it would surprise you how many good applicants don't even get interviews to them. Apply to around 10 DO schools. Also, make sure to get our applications in the first month of the cycle. It's one of the biggest things you can do to improve your chances

Understood. Would this be a sufficient DO list?

UNECOM
NYITCOM
Touro NY
PCOM
LECOM
CUSOM
LMU-D COM
UP-KY COM
VCOM- VC
CCOM

 

[PsychoPass987]

In terms of the ECs, is it enough to get into either MD or DO?

 

[Faha]

You have a good list for DO schools. However, given your lack of success for MD schools for the past 2 cycles you should add another 5 or 6 DO schools just to be on the safe side. I also recommend shadowing a DO before you apply so it will be on your application. It would be worth reapplying to MD schools but delete the reach schools such as Brown and Dartmouth and add any new private MD schools that open in 2016.

 

[Oncogenes]

Having no experience in the matter, I have no advice to give, but I just wanted to say that people like you, who are so passionate about becoming physicians that you would be willing to work this hard and apply this many times, are an inspiration to me. It doesn't matter where you end up going in the end, but I do believe that wherever you end up you will be a rock star. Any schools, MD or DO, that reject you do it at their own loss.