2025-2026 Re-app Advice

[lwade318]

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Hey all!

Reapplying this cycle after having been rejected from everywhere I applied to last cycle, would like some feedback on my recommendation, what areas I need to improve, and schools I have a reasonable shot at getting into. Thank you!

Scores:
GPA: 4.0
MCAT: 520
PREview: 3 🙁

EC:
Clinical (non-volunteer): 280 hr. + 1920 expected working full-time as a medical assistant.
Shadowing: 8 hr. in-person, 15 hr. virtual.
Volunteering (non-clinical): Assorted programs totaling 73 hr. + 500 expected.
Research: 970 hr. in biomedical engineering with a publication and presentations at three symposiums/conferences.
Teaching: 552 hr. of teaching/tutoring during undergraduate.

I'm also wondering if it would be worth it to retake the PREview. I did well on the CASPer last year but just struggle with the formatting of the PREview exam.

 

[Faha]

Did you receive any interviews? Your low non clinical volunteering hours (some schools screen at 150 hours) and low shadowing hours (only 8 as virtual shadowing has no value) were a major factor in your poor application cycle
What is the breakdown of your 73 hours of non clinical volunteering? Where is your state of residence ?

 

[stew_md]

To answer your preview question, I don't think you should retake unless a high percentage of the schools you are applying to require it., or if your score is expiring. Even then, it's hard to say exactly how the preview test factors into you getting an interview or acceptance. Perhaps some ADCOM members could chime in. It would be a much better use of your time to do some more shadowing and volunteer at your local food bank or homeless shelter.

I think I got 2nd quartile on the casper, a different test but a test that is supposed to measure similar qualities, and I still got one interview from a school that requires it.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Most schools don't factor in Preview or Casper into their final decisions, its just more money out of premed pockets. That is not gatekeeping you from interviews or A's.

Your stats are amazing, but you have no volunteering (clinical or otherwise). A lot of schools don't consider expected hours in their screening, with most setting it at 150 hours for non-clinical and clinical. Do you have any clinical volunteer hours? You only listed a paid position. Also, assorted hours for non-clinical means nothing if you got it from various 5 hours stints are different organizations. Lock down something and aim to get 100+ hours at one spot.

You might have luck this cycle with your stats carrying you at mid tier programs, but if you are applying to top programs that don't count "expected" hours you will struggle. I look at your app and wonder why you aren't doing a PhD since your hours are in teaching and research instead of clinicals. If you want the best chance of success take another year to build those clinical hours. You can probably still find success, but with your stats you can shoot for the best programs and just need the hours to match.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What was your Casper result last cycle? Will you retake it? You probably should retake PREview, but...

We have our Casper/PREview/SJT forum.

We also have our HPSA/SDN SJT Experience Survey reports. Basically, they don't measurably impact your chances for an A.

Your clinical experience was too brief. Your non-clinical experience doesn't show service orientation. You actually don't show a lot about being engaged with your campus except in research.