Advice for a first-time re-ap

[erawka]

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Hello all,

So I know this is a super self-involved post, but if you feel like being charitable, here's my information:

Undergrad GPA 3.3, science probably like a 3.1-3.2
Grad GPA currently a 3.3 as well, but I'll be getting 8 credits of A following my thesis, which will bring be to a little over a 3.4. My grad program is a special masters, so those grades are from first-year med courses

MCAT: 30R

LORs: Solid, and I will be able to add one from my PI/MD that I've worked with/shadowed for a year. So they will improve.

Experience: Shadowed an MD for a year, year of grad research (clinical), year-long work experience as a nurse assistant, two years experience volunteering at a rape crisis center.

I was given 4 interviews this year...3 Allopathic and 1 osteopathic. I'm waitlisted twice and waiting to hear (thinking it might be bad news) from the other two.

My current plan is to retake the MCAT. I was getting 11s-12s on each section in practice tests but bombed physical science on test day and only got an 8. Ideally, I should have a 33-36 next time around, espeically with more practice.

My second idea is to push back my masters grad date and take 4-6 credits over the summer. I figure boosting my grad GPA can only help.

Third idea is to apply early. I think my biggest problem was that I didn't get AMCAS in until late august, and secondaries in until late October last year.

Specific questions: Do you think it's a good idea to recycle old LORs? Specifically my committee letter and a letter from a faculty member from last semester.

If my plan is to apply as soon as AMCAS opens...is that bad? I might still be on the waitlist for the schools that I want to apply to. Should I wait for a final decision?

Anything else I should do to amp up my application? I'm considering doing a semester abroad next spring, but I won't really be able to talk about that in my application. Volunteer work this summer? Really any suggestions are helpful.

Sorry if this is totally boring.

 

[flip26]

In your case, I think an MCAT retake makes sense.

So you are in an SMP now? That 3.3 is going to hurt you...what will it be after you get those As? You really need to raise the SMP GPA to the 3.7+ area...is that possible?

Your volunteer work in a medical/clinical setting seems very light (non-existent?). Even for people with lots of clinical exposure, if it is all "work" related, it doesn't fulfill the unwritten requirement of volunteer work. In your case, you could volunteer at just about anyplace you want - would not have to be clinical necessarily - could be a homeless shelter, or animal rescue, or Habitat...

Apply to a lot of schools, probably 30+...don't waste much time and money on any of the Top 30 programs unless they are your state schools...

Good luck.

 

[erawka]

So you are in an SMP now? That 3.3 is going to hurt you...what will it be after you get those As? You really need to raise the SMP GPA to the 3.7+ area...is that possible?

Probably not...I think It'll be around a 3.46 ish with the 8A, and if I took one or two more courses this summer I could maybe jam it up to a 3.5, but 3.7 is probably not possible within the bounds of my program. Do you think a 3.5 would be solid enough given it's an uber-competitive SMP?

Volunteer work I could definitely improve. I have done loads of non-clinical volunteer work (2 years at the rape crisis center as a volunteer), but I definitely have access to hospital/clinical volunteering. Good suggestion.

I also definitely didn't apply to enough schools this year, and that's definitely something I plan on fixing.

 

[dragonfly99]

I would definitely apply early.
Volunteer experience in a hospital could only help your application, never hurt it, so I'd try to fit that in.
It would help if you could raise the MCAT score. I hope you are studying already.
Your GPA is low, which is the biggest problem I see with your application, that and the MCAT is borderline for MD schools. Anything you can do to raise the GPA would be good.
Would think you have enough right now to get into osteopathic schools...if you really want in next year, would cross-apply to MD and DO, especially if you think you want to do primary care, psych or neurology, something not really competitive as a specialty.

 

[flip26]

Probably not...I think It'll be around a 3.46 ish with the 8A, and if I took one or two more courses this summer I could maybe jam it up to a 3.5, but 3.7 is probably not possible within the bounds of my program. Do you think a 3.5 would be solid enough given it's an uber-competitive SMP?

Volunteer work I could definitely improve. I have done loads of non-clinical volunteer work (2 years at the rape crisis center as a volunteer), but I definitely have access to hospital/clinical volunteering. Good suggestion.

I also definitely didn't apply to enough schools this year, and that's definitely something I plan on fixing.

Hard to say, but my impression is that the SMP is a last chance / high risk path to prove you are capable of doing the work, and a 3.4 to 3.5 in an SMP, following a poor UG, may not help you, and might even hurt you...someone else should chime in here, though, because this is a bit out of my area.

Does your SMP have any linkages? If so, do you qualify for any? How do your SMP grades compare to your peers? What kind of stats does your SMP have RE past luck for prior grads, with grades like yours? What do they tell you about where you stand in the class? I have a feeling your SMP grades are going to be a problem, not a help, but I will let others weigh in on it.

 

[olemissbabydoc]

applying the day amcas opened was one of the biggest things I did to improve my chances this year. even if you are still on waitlists, it can only help!

 

[CycloneDO]

.I was given 4 interviews this year...3 Allopathic and 1 osteopathic. I'm waitlisted twice and waiting to hear (thinking it might be bad news) from the other two.

Just a question...if you were waitlisted after the interview doesn't this guarantee you a seat for the next cycle if you don't get off the waitlist for this year?

 

[flip26]

Just a question...if you were waitlisted after the interview doesn't this guarantee you a seat for the next cycle if you don't get off the waitlist for this year?

No guarantees in this game. If you don't get in off of a waitlist this year, the game starts all over again.

What do you mean?

 

[CycloneDO]

No guarantees in this game. If you don't get in off of a waitlist this year, the game starts all over again.

What do you mean?

At one school I interviewed at, the adcom told us that if we were waitlisted and didn't get a seat for this year we would be guaranteed a seat for the next class. I was just wondering if this was the norm or the exception.

 

[mvenus929]

At one school I interviewed at, the adcom told us that if we were waitlisted and didn't get a seat for this year we would be guaranteed a seat for the next class. I was just wondering if this was the norm or the exception.

Definitely the exception. I got waitlisted at NYU last year, and ultimately got rejected from it (well, I withdrew about 2 weeks before school started, because I knew I wouldn't be able to afford to move out to NYC in two weeks).

 

[flip26]

At one school I interviewed at, the adcom told us that if we were waitlisted and didn't get a seat for this year we would be guaranteed a seat for the next class. I was just wondering if this was the norm or the exception.

What school? I never heard of anything like that...

 

[LaTortuga]

Specific questions: Do you think it's a good idea to recycle old LORs? Specifically my committee letter and a letter from a faculty member from last semester.

I'm a little leery about the idea of recycling old LORs. When I began the re-application process, my letter writers asked for an updated list of activities/experiences and they submitted new letters to my school's letter service. You might want to consider getting them updated rather than recycling 'em.

Regarding volunteering, like others have suggested, you might want to mix in non-clinical volunteer work. It'll give you something different to talk about, and set you apart from the crowd.

Good luck!

 

[link2swim06]

A retake for the MCAT makes alot of sense

 

[travelingdoc]

if you're on a waitlist, then you probably can't resubmit AMCAS for the following cycle. You need to have ZERO active applications before you can resubmit your AMCAS. Check with AAMC.

I'm not sure if jumping up from a 30 to a 32 with a decent gpa will help alot. blow the MCAT out of water with a 35+ and have great interviews, especially at your state schools.

and volunteer more - it's a good thing to do and will certainly help your chances at getting into med school.

 

[travelingdoc]

What school? I never heard of anything like that...

me neither...that means they only waitlist a very small number of people....unless it's a Caribbean school...

 

[Krisss17]

What school? I never heard of anything like that...

Some of the osteopathic schools (i.e. Nova), does this.