3rd Time Applicant (516 MCAT 3.94 GPA)

[Oarsman1864]

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Hi Everyone!

I'm a long time lurker on SDN and am currently on four waitlists this cycle. I realize that the chances of getting in this year are very slim and I am prepared to re-apply for a second time (third time applicant). A little background about my app. Applied the first time with a 505 MCAT and was rejected without an interview. I ended up retaking the exam and scoring a 516 (128 Chem, 129 CARS, 132 Bio, 127 Psych). The rest of my app is as follows:

-Eastern European first gen immigrant
-3.94 GPA in Mol Bio/Biochem (Summa Cum Laude)
-Division I Rower
-Four-year man award recipient (presented to oarsman that have rowed for all four years of college)
-Two year academic excellence award and scholarship recipient (school award)
-1,100 hours working as a patient transporter at a hospital. Involved in direct patient care and contact
-2 years (full time job) academic research in a basic science lab
~~~~~two first author publications and one publication that is currently in review
-Volunteering is about 100 hours from helping organize an annual charity 5k to coaching rowing to high school kids
-3 years undergrad research in a Marine Biology Lab
~~~~~taught and guided other undergrads proper lab technique
~~~~~Wrote an honors thesis on my two year project (received highest honors)
-Attended and presented a poster at the international ASCB/EMBO conference last year
-Presented a poster at two other small gatherings
~~~~~One for the university I worked at
~~~~~The other at an American Chemical Society Grad Student Career Fair
-Currently work an industry job in a CRO GMP facility that participates in pre-clinical and Phase 1-3 trials.
-Also have a side math tutoring business for middle/high school math
-play in a men's ice hockey league during my free time

As a side note, I very foolishly reused my personal statement from my first applicant when applying my second time. Could this have been a red flag? Please let me know if you have any advice for applying a third time as I am significantly at a disadvantage for it. Thank you all for reading my post, and I appreciate any advice!

 

[Oarsman1864]

I also forgot to add my shadowing experience. I had shadowed a primary care physician for 50 hours. Thanks

 

[Faha]

Where is your state of residence? Which schools did you apply to this past cycle ? Where are you on the wait list ?

 

[Oarsman1864]

Where is your state of residence? Which schools did you apply to this past cycle ? Where are you on the wait list ?

My state of residence is NJ.
I applied to:

Temple
Drexel
UPenn
Jefferson
RWJMS
NJMS
Hofstra
WVU
Tufts
Penn State
Columbia
Harvard
TCMC
University of Florida
U Miami
GW
USC
UCLA

I currently am on the waitlist at:

NJMS (priority alternate list)
RWJMS (alternate list)
Hofstra (2nd tier waitlist; chances are slim here so pretty much viewed it as a rejection)
Temple
WVU

Thanks!

-O

 

[Faha]

You have a good chance of coming off the wait list at NJMS and Temple in the next month so you do not need to make a decision on reapplying until mid June. If you do reapply I suggest these schools:
Temple
Drexel
Jefferson
RWJMS
NJMS
Hofstra
WVU
Tufts
Penn State
TCMC
U Miami
GW
Cooper Rowan
Seton Hall
Boston University
Vermont
Quinnipiac
New York Medical College
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Georgetown
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Duke
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
Cincinnati

 

[Oarsman1864]

You have a good chance of coming off the wait list at NJMS and Temple in the next month so you do not need to make a decision on reapplying until mid June. If you do reapply I suggest these schools:
Temple
Drexel
Jefferson
RWJMS
NJMS
Hofstra
WVU
Tufts
Penn State
TCMC
U Miami
GW
Cooper Rowan
Seton Hall
Boston University
Vermont
Quinnipiac
New York Medical College
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Georgetown
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Duke
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
Cincinnati

Thank you for the suggestions! Regarding some of these suggestions, I would be a third time applicant to their particular school. Is it worth the application fees to apply to these schools? And is there anything I should include or do different in my application?

-O

 

[Faha]

It is worth reapplying to any school where you were interviewed and put on the waitlist.

 

[Oarsman1864]

It is worth reapplying to any school where you were interviewed and put on the waitlist.

Thank you for the advice!

-O

 

[Goro]

Work on your interview skills and rewrite ALL essays.

 

[Oarsman1864]

Work on your interview skills and rewrite ALL essays.

It is worth reapplying to any school where you were interviewed and put on the waitlist.

Thank you both for the advice! I do have a question about early decision application. Would it be worth while to apply to NJMS's early decision program if the time to hear back about an acceptance is in July instead of the normal October deadline that other schools have? I'm looking at it through a financial standpoint as applying for a third time is rather costly. Thanks again.

-O

 

[Goro]

Thank you both for the advice! I do have a question about early decision application. Would it be worth while to apply to NJMS's early decision program if the time to hear back about an acceptance is in July instead of the normal October deadline that other schools have? I'm looking at it through a financial standpoint as applying for a third time is rather costly. Thanks again.

-O

The wise @gonnif can better advise on early decision