- Joined
- Jan 31, 2012
- Messages
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Hi everyone,
I'm gonna go ahead and join the othrers in making a reapplicant thread since I'm still trying to debate whether I should reapply now or wait a year. Here are my circumstances.
Verified
9/8/12, complete at schools around mid-sept to early oct.
Numbers
cGPA = 3.85
sGPA = 3.81
MCAT: 11PS/11VR/12BS = 34Q
ECs *At the time of application in 2012*
100 hrs clinical volunteering in the ER and ICU
100 hrs non-clinical volunteering assisting paralyzed ALS patient in his home
3 yrs of research - no publications, one minor poster
Various research grants. 4 for $500 and 3 for $50.
Supplemental Instruction Leader for one semester.
Outcome
I received 5 interviews total - attended 2 in November/December and 3 in Feb. I got 4 waitlists and one rejection.
So, the question is whether I should reapply given that I don't have many changes to my application this time around. I will have the same LORs and I will try to rewrite my essays. My PS mostly focused on how I wanted to be a scientist and my process of switching over to medicine to become a physician scientist. If anyone would like to read it, I am happy to send it to readers that I recognize (forum regulars).
New additions
I'm still in the same research lab, the experience will go from 3 years of research to almost 4 years of research. I may or may not have a first author publication by June. We have submitted the manuscript and I should hear back in about one month.
I just started shadowing an orthopedic surgeon this week and will likely have about 10 hours shadowing by the time I apply.
Started a community service experience with OC Parks cleaning and maintaining the hiking trails of SoCal. Might have around 10 hours by the time I apply.
Hobbies - I did not include these in my application, I am still not sure just how important they are. This time I'll just have a generic section for my hobbies including hiking, fishing, and physical fitness/weightlifting.
***********************************************
So, I am worried that I do not have enough changes to my application. Something that I am particularly worried about is that I stopped my clinical volunteering as soon as I applied which makes me look like a box checker.
There are some pros and cons that I have considered with reapplying this year.
Pros
-Maybe I'll get in and potentially save a year.
-If I wait one year and then reapply, I might not get in and my MCAT score will expire,
leaving me to take the newer and unfamiliar one.
-Cost will be lighter, I can qualify for FAP which I did not know existed last year.
Cons
-Being a third time applicant carries a stigma.
-Burnout if I get rejected again.
-Harder to find gap year employment if I only have one year to commit.
There we have it. I'm happy to divulge details about my application and even more to forum regulars and the adcoms/faculty of this forum. Thank you in advance!
I'm gonna go ahead and join the othrers in making a reapplicant thread since I'm still trying to debate whether I should reapply now or wait a year. Here are my circumstances.
Verified
9/8/12, complete at schools around mid-sept to early oct.
Numbers
cGPA = 3.85
sGPA = 3.81
MCAT: 11PS/11VR/12BS = 34Q
ECs *At the time of application in 2012*
100 hrs clinical volunteering in the ER and ICU
100 hrs non-clinical volunteering assisting paralyzed ALS patient in his home
3 yrs of research - no publications, one minor poster
Various research grants. 4 for $500 and 3 for $50.
Supplemental Instruction Leader for one semester.
Outcome
I received 5 interviews total - attended 2 in November/December and 3 in Feb. I got 4 waitlists and one rejection.
So, the question is whether I should reapply given that I don't have many changes to my application this time around. I will have the same LORs and I will try to rewrite my essays. My PS mostly focused on how I wanted to be a scientist and my process of switching over to medicine to become a physician scientist. If anyone would like to read it, I am happy to send it to readers that I recognize (forum regulars).
New additions
I'm still in the same research lab, the experience will go from 3 years of research to almost 4 years of research. I may or may not have a first author publication by June. We have submitted the manuscript and I should hear back in about one month.
I just started shadowing an orthopedic surgeon this week and will likely have about 10 hours shadowing by the time I apply.
Started a community service experience with OC Parks cleaning and maintaining the hiking trails of SoCal. Might have around 10 hours by the time I apply.
Hobbies - I did not include these in my application, I am still not sure just how important they are. This time I'll just have a generic section for my hobbies including hiking, fishing, and physical fitness/weightlifting.
***********************************************
So, I am worried that I do not have enough changes to my application. Something that I am particularly worried about is that I stopped my clinical volunteering as soon as I applied which makes me look like a box checker.
There are some pros and cons that I have considered with reapplying this year.
Pros
-Maybe I'll get in and potentially save a year.
-If I wait one year and then reapply, I might not get in and my MCAT score will expire,
leaving me to take the newer and unfamiliar one.
-Cost will be lighter, I can qualify for FAP which I did not know existed last year.
Cons
-Being a third time applicant carries a stigma.
-Burnout if I get rejected again.
-Harder to find gap year employment if I only have one year to commit.
There we have it. I'm happy to divulge details about my application and even more to forum regulars and the adcoms/faculty of this forum. Thank you in advance!
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