A hard decision

[ncguy2005]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Well.. I had an unsuccessful application year. I am still on a waitlist, but I doubt there will be much more movement.

I've spent the last few weeks reflecting on what I should do and this has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.

I have decided that instead of reapplying next year that I'm going to take a year off and retake the mcat (I got a 29 10/10/9 M the first time i took it) and also try to gain as much EC experience in the medical field as possible.

Knowing that I'm going to be out of school for two years has made this a very hard choice and I'm wondering how many of you have done this or something similar in this whole process?

I think I've pretty much made up my mind, but I'd like to hear how this has worked out for others...

Thanks for the input ahead of time.

 

[buffywannabe]

I was told to take a year off by the dean at my medical school of choice but I know that I can't handle that. I am applying this year anyway. She said that most times you can't improve that quickly to reapply the next year. You are a lot stronger person than I am!

 

[eleven eleven]

Hey ncguy,

I definitely feel your waitlist pain. I think buffy has a good point; if you were to take a year off (meaning starting to fill out AMCAS again right now), it would be hard to improve your app, since you have been in school since you applied and probably haven't had a whole lot of medically or volunteer-related ECs. But if you are planning to take an extra year off (meaning applying for the class of 2015), I think the wait will definitely be worth it. You can certainly improve your app at that time, especially since you won't be in school.

I think you are a strong person for waiting to reapply, but in the end, I think you will be greatly rewarded. The only risk you take is that you don't end up applying at all, and if you really want this, that won't happen.

In terms of advice, I think even if you can get your MCAT up a few points it will make a world of difference, especially if your apps are in early. I got the same score the first time around and no luck, and retook it and resubmitted my apps later in the season (only did a couple points better) and got a few interviews and an acceptance at a DO school. My friends mostly got 30-31s and had several interview offers and acceptances.

Best of luck, I'm rooting for you🙂

 

[Mattabet]

I was sitting right where you are a year ago, OP. I'll be starting medical school in August. I had always planned on going straight from undergrad to medical school, but I'll tell you know that this year off has been FANTASTIC.

I had a chance to visit old friends across the country (actually, I'm not quite done with that yet), gain some great experiences (medical and non-medical), I got to teach undergrad math, help out in a Teach for America classroom, and about a hundred other little adventures. I'm sure that in the end it will be good for you too.

I think it's hard for us in the premed culture to accept that there's no prize for beating everyone else and being the youngest to graduate into residency. You start to look at your education as a prerequisite to life. This year has given me great perspective on what is important to me, and where my education fits in (it's still important, but it's not the whole deal). And with just a bit of effort, you're going to have some great life experiences and blow the door off any undergrad application yours comes up against.

Good luck. Shake it off and have some fun, learn something important. That's the point of it all anyway.

 

[lostsoul2007]

there's nothing wrong with your plan. that's exactly what i did. i think you should apply more smartly next time. you applied to too few schools.

 

[DaBlackRose]

Hey,

I think the best way to make this decision is based on your rejection schools. I would recommend calling them and specifically asking them why they told you no and what you could do better. Most schools are thrilled to tell you this information even if you have to be transferred to like 8 different people.

If this is something you can fix easily and quickly, do it and reapply. sometimes its not the MCAT score that was the turn off. I've had friends apply three years in a row to find out it was his crappy personal statement. for one girl it was her lack of EC and 'world experience'.

I also think that you should honestly consider what you will do in that extra year you take off. Consider what is possible and what is just hoping. Are you going to spend the year on your mom's couch and work at Walmart while studying the MCAt book 2 weeks before the test again? How much can you do to improve your application? If its significant enough do it, but taking an extra year off may NOT help as much as you might think.

I don't know much about your situation, but I can say that your MCAT score isn't really bad unless you're trying to get into hopkins. Just be sure you think about it before you go through with it. I'd hate for you to waste a year.

 

[ncguy2005]

Hey,

I think the best way to make this decision is based on your rejection schools. I would recommend calling them and specifically asking them why they told you no and what you could do better. Most schools are thrilled to tell you this information even if you have to be transferred to like 8 different people.

If this is something you can fix easily and quickly, do it and reapply. sometimes its not the MCAT score that was the turn off. I've had friends apply three years in a row to find out it was his crappy personal statement. for one girl it was her lack of EC and 'world experience'.

I also think that you should honestly consider what you will do in that extra year you take off. Consider what is possible and what is just hoping. Are you going to spend the year on your mom's couch and work at Walmart while studying the MCAt book 2 weeks before the test again? How much can you do to improve your application? If its significant enough do it, but taking an extra year off may NOT help as much as you might think.

I don't know much about your situation, but I can say that your MCAT score isn't really bad unless you're trying to get into hopkins. Just be sure you think about it before you go through with it. I'd hate for you to waste a year.

Well... I'm going to take three/four months at the end of this year (around Oct-January) to work through the MCAT books again... Last time my biggest problem was my lack of practicicing MCAT style problems... after having a while to think about my scores I realized that cramming my studying into less than two months last year really affected my score negatively.

I've also contacted several research groups (A huge biotech campus just moved into my town) about starting research. I'm also talking with a local hospital about starting to shadow.

Besides all this, I'm trying to look at this as a blessing. I get to live next year... no more worrying about getting that A in orgo, or trying to cram for a calculus exam... I get to go out and experience things without tests and assignments hanging over my head... don't get me wrong, I'd rather be in med school this August, but I really am trying to look on the bright side.

 

[Dulcina]

hey ncguy, i was in a slightly different situation, but 2 yrs ago, i considered applying for the first time. I looked at my app compared to other ppl's and decided to take time off so i a)had more time to study for the mcat, b) got some work experience, and c)got more time volunteering.

I graduated in december 2006, and i'm matriculating sept 2009. I think its totally fine to take 2-3 yrs off to get your application to where you want it to be. After all, if you apply again and don't get in, youre forced to take another yr off. Good luck with everything!

 

[Podalarius]

Like the average matriculant at my school, I will be 24 when classes begin (meaning that the median student has taken two years off from the standard academic path before starting their MD. My two years off (one doing research and one living abroad) were incredibly important experiences for me, and were also important parts of my medical school application. Enjoy the opportunity to do something different - there's no rush to get to med school.

 

[ncguy2005]

Like the average matriculant at my school, I will be 24 when classes begin (meaning that the median student has taken two years off from the standard academic path before starting their MD. My two years off (one doing research and one living abroad) were incredibly important experiences for me, and were also important parts of my medical school application. Enjoy the opportunity to do something different - there's no rush to get to med school.

Thanks... Its good to know that so many of you have done the same thing.

 

[CoolWhipp]

Taking time off sounds like a great idea. I'm going to do it, what is 2 years anyway.

Good luck.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Smartest decision you could possibly make.

Two years seems like a lot now, but when you look back on it later it will seem like nothing. And you will have great experiences during those years. Too many premeds look at everything as preparing for life. These two years ARE part of your life. Make the most of them and enjoy them.

You'll be much better doctor for it. Good luck.

 

[flip26]

Looking at your mdapps, it appears that you had very little clinical exposure, and all of it came through limited shadowing. Even your volunteering activities, none of them clinical, were minimal.

Your lack of success could be more attributable to your lack of clinical exposure than to your 29, but clearly the 29 didn't help matters.

Use the year to substantially boost your clinical exposure AND your volunteer activities. Kill 2 birds with one stone: volunteer in a clinical setting.

 

[chillyphilly]

I did the same thing. I was on a few waitlists in 2007, but decided to withdraw for an awesome job opportunity I couldn't pass up. In the past two years I made lots of money, improved my ap with interesting ec's that I really enjoyed doing, and generally had fun with life. I'm a week away from my 24th birthday, and will be starting school in August! I truly believe it was the best decision I could have made!
Take the two years now! It's really not a lot of time, and trust me it will FLY!
Also consider this- I work in a job that I love, with people that I adore and I still can't wait to start school. Some time off will make you sure that medicine is really what you want to do.

 

[lackli]

Hey ncguy, I didn't get in anywhere the first time I applied so I know how much it sucks. I know it can make you question your self worth and motivations(at least it did for me). Don't let it! The only way you 100% don't go to med school is if you don't apply and don't try. Not getting in the first time has definately been a blessing in disguise. Like many others in this thread I've learned so much about myself and matured so much these past couple years that I couldn't imagine going to medical school as someone just out of college.

Hopefully what the next couple years will do is give you context. It gives you time to formulate your future plans and goals. As an undergrad sometimes it's hard to get that much exposure to medicine, but if you get a job in healthcare or dedicate more time to volunteering you get to live breath and feel medicine. Can I imagine doing ANYTHING else anymore? heck no! Come med school you'll be able to relate what you're learning to real life experiences you've already had and it'll do wonders for your motivation.

Definately do these things to improve your application like retake your mcat and get some more clinical exposure, but moreover do some things that will make you a better doctor! Get out there and learn about the world! This is one of the last times that you'll have enough time to pick up another langauge (spanish is SO necessary in some parts of the country).

Good luck! You have already have a solid GPA which is usually the hardest thing to fix so you're in a good position. Get some ECs in your belt, apply early early and broadly in a year and you'll get in next year!