3.6 GPA 509 MCAT. Reapply or wait another year?

[CloggedHawk9]

Hello everyone,

I applied in the 2016-2017 cycle, got 1 interview and currently on waitlist. I am deciding whether or not to apply for the 2017-2018 cycle right away or wait another year. I'm a California resident, and non-URM.

My stats:
~3.6 cGPA
~3.5 sGPA
MCAT score of 509 (129/126/126/128).

My main EC's:
2 years of non-medical research (230 hours) - no publications
~4000 paid clinical experience - ED scribe and medical assistant
Several leadership positions in several clubs
~360 hours working in public health company (paid)
~72 volunteering (non-medical)

I applied to: (36 secondaries turned in mostly in July/August/early September)
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Stony Brook University's School of Medicine
NYU School of Medicine
Drexel College of Medicine
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson
Keck School of Medicine - USC
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
USF Morsani College of Medicine
Tufts School of Medicine
SUNY Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine
UC Davis
New York Medical College School of Medicine
Rush Medical College
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
University of Washington School of Medicine
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Tulane University School of Medicine
UCLA
UCSD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
Albany Medical College
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
California Northstate University College of Medicine
UCI
UC Riverside
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
UCSF
Creighton University School of Medicine
Ohio State University College of Medicine
University of Utah School of Medicine
University of Louisville School of Medicine

What's new:
This next year I plan on doing clinical research and adding more volunteer hours (clinical and nonclinical). I felt like my essays were not that compelling, so I would definitely write better essays next time I apply.

What does everyone think? Can/should I reapply right away for the 2017-2018 cycle, or should I take the next year retake MCAT then reapply...

What should I do about my gpa? Do I need to retake the MCAT?

I am also mainly interested in MD programs, not DO.

Thanks in advance!

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[DrHart]

Any medical volunteering? You had some top tier schools in your list that you had very little chance at. You also had some state schools that take very little OOS. Good plan. Add more clinical and non clinical volunteering. Write new essays. You might get mixed advice about an MCAT retake. If you think you could do better, consider retaking. It would help bump your stats because your GPA is on the lower side.
Also, make a new school list with less reach schools. Also do some research on schools that are favorable to OOSers.
Personally, I would take a year off and then reapply.

 

[carrots28]

You would have to think about what you would have changed since your previous app. If it is near exactly the same as your current app, then it may not go over as well if you are applying to the same schools. I would suggest you get an additional letter of rec, build on your clinical experiences.