Advice for a Re-applicant

[Snufkin_24]

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Hi! I am reapplying after an unsuccessful 24-25 cycle. I graduated in May of 2022 and spent two years in Helsinki, Finland studying, doing research, and traveling. It was an incredible experience; however, living in a country where healthcare is accessible and in most cases free really changed the way I view healthcare delivery in the US. I determined that I don’t want to solely pursue research or an MD/PhD (and then spend most of my time in the lab, not in the clinic), so I applied to MD programs. However, I had this realization “too late” for this cycle and my application and PS were research heavy. Since returning home from Finland I focused on community service and gaining new clinical experiences. As I work on crafting my application for the 25-26 cycle, I would love feedback from successful applicants and re-applicants about framing my journey.

A little about my stats/demographics and experiences:

GPA: 4.0 (undergrad)
MCAT: 512
Demo: F, ORM, NH resident (so no in state schools)
Research: 4000+ hrs, 2 pubs
Clinical Experience: 400 hrs as Medical Assistant (not including spending this year, starting in Feb, as medical assistant)
Community Service: 200+ hrs with program for young adults with neurodevelopmental conditions working on life skills like cooking, and since returning from Finland volunteering with Meals on Wheels
Non-Clinical/Hobby: 700+ hr working as a gymnastics instructor both coaching competitive gymnasts and teaching young children
Leadership: President of Mentorship Organization for 2 years (undergrad), Student Board Member of Graduate Program (1 year)
Awards/Posters/Pub: Fully-funded master’s, 3 posters, 2 pub (both second author)
Shadowing: 90 hr over 5 different specialties
Recs: PI from master’s, PI from undergrad (will exchange with a rec from supervisor at Meals on Wheels), Clinician (I plan to update with someone I’ve worked with more recently), 2 science professors and 1 humanities professor
Previous cycle’s school list (received 0 II):
(I plan to shadow a DO doc and apply to DO schools this time around)
Albany
Albert Einstein
Warren Alpert
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine
Duke
Geisel
Larner
Medical College of Wisconsin
Quinnipiac
Tufts
UConn *attended for undergrad
UMass
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
University of Rochester
Hofstra/Zucker


I appreciate anyone who has read this far. Please feel free to share constructive feedback on what may be lacking in my application, my school list, or general suggestions, thank you!

 

[deleted1130898]

Looks like you are a fellow member of the good research, not good enough MCAT for research schools club. It's okay to have a third of your list be reaches, but it looks like more than 2/3 of your list had MCAT averages above your score. At the end of the day, it's a numbers game and I think you just need to apply to more schools. I cannot speak to DO application process. I suggest:
Temple
Cincinatti
Vermont
GW
VCU
New York Medical College
Wake Forest
Rosalind Franklin

Keep doing what you're doing. Be very clear and cohesive with your narrative so that the reviewer can say this x, y, z is why they want to be a doctor and these x, y, and z experiences are what led them here. I benefited immensely from having a clear narrative in my second cycle rather than having several interests.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums. And welcome back to the US.

What is your purpose as a physician? What value does your experience abroad bring to a medical school discussion with your future peers and faculty? When did you do everything you list on your profile, especially highlighting what you did after graduation before Finland and since returning from Finland? 700 hours as a gym coach... after returning or before going???

Anticipated hours will not help you, so what you bring to the table on submission is what will be evaluated.

I would consider DO as a reapplicant to avoid going through this a third time. Does this mean you will not be retaking the MCAT?

 

[Snufkin_24]

Welcome to the forums. And welcome back to the US.

What is your purpose as a physician? What value does your experience abroad bring to a medical school discussion with your future peers and faculty? When did you do everything you list on your profile, especially highlighting what you did after graduation before Finland and since returning from Finland? 700 hours as a gym coach... after returning or before going???

Anticipated hours will not help you, so what you bring to the table on submission is what will be evaluated.

I would consider DO as a reapplicant to avoid going through this a third time. Does this mean you will not be retaking the MCAT?

Thank you for your thoughtful response. One point I did not emphasize in my last application, and plan to highlight in my PS this time around is the trust Finns place in their government and healthcare system. This trust was earned over years of gradual reform first by introducing universal healthcare, then by integrating health and social services, and more recently by increasing funding and healthcare access to rural regions. These investments paid off during the pandemic. My Finnish peers shared that their strong sense of community and open dialogue between the Finnish public and health authorities eased skepticism surrounding masking and vaccination. Conversely, the US struggled to contain SARS-CoV-2, illustrating how peer-reviewed research about social distancing and vaccination was not enough to convince disenfranchised individuals. In my own experience working in a pediatric clinic during the pandemic, I saw patients and their families often differed to their friend groups’ or cultural community’s opinion of the pandemic even if they contraindicated medical recommendations. Finland and community-based health centers like [the organization I will be joining next month] serve as case studies for investing in building trust and good faith between local communities and health professionals to improve long-term health outcomes and preparedness for future public health crises. I want to do everything in my power to be a part of the grassroots movement integrating healthcare and social services into historically forgotten communities. **This all sounds a bit radical but I’m convinced that improving our standing as the country spending the most on healthcare with modest patient-outcomes starts by physicians building social currency and influence in the communities they serve.**

700+ sounds absurd but it is a combination of hours gained in undergrad and after I returned from Finland.

I was not planning to retake the MCAT, but I will reconsider applying to schools that are research focused with high average MCAT scores. However, your comment is making me question this opinion…

Looks like you are a fellow member of the good research, not good enough MCAT for research schools club. It's okay to have a third of your list be reaches, but it looks like more than 2/3 of your list had MCAT averages above your score. At the end of the day, it's a numbers game and I think you just need to apply to more schools. I cannot speak to DO application process. I suggest:
Temple
Cincinatti
Vermont
GW
VCU
New York Medical College
Wake Forest
Rosalind Franklin

Keep doing what you're doing. Be very clear and cohesive with your narrative so that the reviewer can say this x, y, z is why they want to be a doctor and these x, y, and z experiences are what led them here. I benefited immensely from having a clear narrative in my second cycle rather than having several interests.

Thank you, this is useful feedback. I'll take a look at the schools you recommended. Thanks🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. One point I did not emphasize in my last application, and plan to highlight in my PS this time around is the trust Finns place in their government and healthcare system. This trust was earned over years of gradual reform first by introducing universal healthcare, then by integrating health and social services, and more recently by increasing funding and healthcare access to rural regions. These investments paid off during the pandemic. My Finnish peers shared that their strong sense of community and open dialogue between the Finnish public and health authorities eased skepticism surrounding masking and vaccination. Conversely, the US struggled to contain SARS-CoV-2, illustrating how peer-reviewed research about social distancing and vaccination was not enough to convince disenfranchised individuals. In my own experience working in a pediatric clinic during the pandemic, I saw patients and their families often differed to their friend groups’ or cultural community’s opinion of the pandemic even if they contraindicated medical recommendations. Finland and community-based health centers like [the organization I will be joining next month] serve as case studies for investing in building trust and good faith between local communities and health professionals to improve long-term health outcomes and preparedness for future public health crises. I want to do everything in my power to be a part of the grassroots movement integrating healthcare and social services into historically forgotten communities. **This all sounds a bit radical but I’m convinced that improving our standing as the country spending the most on healthcare with modest patient-outcomes starts by physicians building social currency and influence in the communities they serve.**

Your purpose sounds great. In your opinion, why did schools not interview you or give your an offer? Why not MPH or MPP?

 

[Snufkin_24]

Your purpose sounds great. In your opinion, why did schools not interview you or give your an offer? Why not MPH or MPP?

Reading over my application months after I submitted with fresh eyes, I focused too much on the positive impact of research moving clinical practice in the direction of personalized care and expanding the clinical toolbox. While all of this is true, I made the mistake of concluding my PS on this note because research was my most recent experience and an important component of my journey to recognizing that I want to be a clinician (I realized that I was not close enough to the patient experience--for me!). A more compelling way to end my PS would have highlighted how a clinical experience confirmed that medicine was the path forward and not a PhD. Which brings me to your second question. Like basic science research, public health and public policy are vital components of evidence-based care and healthcare delivery, however for me the most meaningful moments have been working and connecting with people, despite the stress and unpredictability of clinical work. And maybe it's taken me a little longer to admit that to myself because I see the immense value researchers and public health experts bring to the table.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Reading over my application months after I submitted with fresh eyes, I focused too much on the positive impact of research moving clinical practice in the direction of personalized care and expanding the clinical toolbox. While all of this is true, I made the mistake of concluding my PS on this note because research was my most recent experience and an important component of my journey to recognizing that I want to be a clinician (I realized that I was not close enough to the patient experience--for me!). A more compelling way to end my PS would have highlighted how a clinical experience confirmed that medicine was the path forward and not a PhD. Which brings me to your second question. Like basic science research, public health and public policy are vital components of evidence-based care and healthcare delivery, however for me the most meaningful moments have been working and connecting with people, despite the stress and unpredictability of clinical work. And maybe it's taken me a little longer to admit that to myself because I see the immense value researchers and public health experts bring to the table.

Without having read your PS and going only by what your profile is, highlight the experiences that support your statement that the connection with others drives you, even if it is for research purposes. You have many experiences (clinical and non-clinical, including anticipated) where you can delve into how your connection inspires you not just as a caregiver but also an advocate. You may not have made a "mistake" if it was your mindset at the time, but I don't think it's necessarily "wrong."

What I wasn't sure is how realistic it is to compare the ideals of Finland with a plan to move US healthcare closer to them... how would this happen? It's great that you can speak glowingly of how Finland "got it right" when it came to COVID-19 or a sense of happiness among its populace, but there's historically little traction to having such a system here (now that the Administration has decided to drop out of WHO).

 

[Join Pulse]

I think giving the MCAT another shot will serve you well, especially if you're planning on reapplying to some of the same schools you did before, but to give you broader options in general. And applying DO is a good choice this time around.

 

[Snufkin_24]

Without having read your PS and going only by what your profile is, highlight the experiences that support your statement that the connection with others drives you, even if it is for research purposes. You have many experiences (clinical and non-clinical, including anticipated) where you can delve into how your connection inspires you not just as a caregiver but also an advocate. You may not have made a "mistake" if it was your mindset at the time, but I don't think it's necessarily "wrong."

What I wasn't sure is how realistic it is to compare the ideals of Finland with a plan to move US healthcare closer to them... how would this happen? It's great that you can speak glowingly of how Finland "got it right" when it came to COVID-19 or a sense of happiness among its populace, but there's historically little traction to having such a system here (now that the Administration has decided to drop out of WHO).

Your comment about emphasizing connection and collaboration is great advice, thank you!

I hear you about recognizing Finnish and American values do not align and drastic changes to our healthcare system are unlikely; however, before living in Finland, I didn’t realize how much stress and confusion I tolerated when it came to navigating health insurance, lack of price transparency, and difficulty transferring medical records from one hospital to another. Sometimes Americans are stuck in the rut of American exceptionalism and it's hard to imagine adopting alternative solutions even when costs and patient outcomes are significantly better elsewhere. With that said, point taken in regards to setting goals within the constraints of our system and current administration.

Is the link posted in your footnote, your consulting service through SDN? I can see that Dr. Chuck helps students identify their purpose and finalize school lists, but does he (you) also review PS and activity descriptions?

 

[eforest]

You sound awesome! I applied to more schools than you and retook the MCAT- can you consider retaking? I went from 27 to 38 and I think it opened doors. The prior MCAT was out of 45 if I recall correctly. I applied once and was successful thank goodness. Consider DO schools and overall apply more broadly

Blog

 

[Snufkin_24]

You sound awesome! I applied to more schools than you and retook the MCAT- can you consider retaking? I went from 27 to 38 and I think it opened doors. The prior MCAT was out of 45 if I recall correctly. I applied once and was successful thank goodness. Consider DO schools and overall apply more broadly

Blog

That is very kind. At this point I'm not interested in retaking the MCAT. I have taken it once before and got a 507 and then improved to a 512. For whatever reason the MCAT was challenging for me. While I agree a higher MCAT would open doors and standardized tests are important, I think my competitive GPA and average MCAT score should not hold me back. Are there any DO schools you recommend in the Northeast area or MD schools beyond those already recommended?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Is the link posted in your footnote, your consulting service through SDN? I can see that Dr. Chuck helps students identify their purpose and finalize school lists, but does he (you) also review PS and activity descriptions?

I can, preferably as part of the Becoming a Student Doctor framework. I also encourage access to SDN volunteer readers team too.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

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