Advice for Possible Reapplicant

[Passi0nFruittts]

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[Faha]

Which schools did you apply to? You should receive interviews with your stats and your MCAT scores and GPA are good.

 

[Goro]

If you want to stay in CA, there's always Western or Touro-CA.

Hi all, I’m currently having no luck this cycle (0 II, 2 R, 1 pre-II hold). Only completed 23 secondaries due to $$ restraints, with most of them being complete early to mid August. Since Thanksgiving is approaching, I would like to get some feedback on what’s holding me back from an II & what I can improve on should I need to reapply next cycle.

Year in school - Graduated in 2016
Country/state of residence - CA
Cumulative GPA - 3.85-3.90
Science GPA - 3.75-3.80
MCAT Scores I feel like this is a big deal breaker in my app. Took the mcat and got a 512 (128/127/128/129); then retook it because I wanted to stay in CA. Unfortunately, I got a 511 (129/127/129/126). I really don’t want to retake the mcat again...

Research

• Wet lab in undergrad, 2 years: No pubs; 1 poster (1st author) @ my university conference. Had my own project. Received Research Fellowship in my senior year
• Community health research for my gap year: Volunteer for 1 year, Research Assistant since August 2017. After submitting my AMCAS, I now have 1 poster (2nd author), 1 acknowledgement for a paper currently being submitted, and I’m currently writing for a future paper

Volunteering (clinical) Primary care / low-income clinic during senior year - 120 hours. BUT this was a mix of clerical work, shadowing, and working on a side project for the clinic (the clinic only kept track of the hours, not what I was doing)

• I'm about to start another volunteering at a hospital, but I was told it would be mostly clerical work as well. Should I still go through with it?

Physician shadowing – 40 hours in one year (4 h per month) at another primary care clinic

Extracurricular activities

• Religious student association: Music lead - 3 years. Teaching Assistant/ “camp” assistant for 1 summer (working with low-income students)
• Pre-med student group - 1 year: This is part of the side project I mentioned earlier for the clinic.

Employment history

• Tutor working with low-income students in my community (gap year)
• Research Assistant (gap year)
  
• Work study at a museum in undergrad - 1 year

Specialty of interest: Primary Care, Research in Primary Care

Other things to note:

• Southeast Asian; immigrated late childhood (can speak the language and a dialect)
• Made my app centered around public health (given my research experience + personal experience + my major was public health-based)
  
• Schools I applied to: 13 schools w/ median MCAT at 511 or below; 4 @ 512; 6 at 513-515.
• LOR issues. I wanted to apply to places like Drexel, Penn State, etc. but they ask for a non-science prof letter which I don't have.
  
• QUESTION: I was thinking of becoming a scribe to increase my clinical experience. Should I start applying now or wait a bit in case I get an II? I know most companies expect a 1-2 year commitment.

Thanks!

 

[Passi0nFruittts]

Which schools did you apply to? You should receive interviews with your stats and your MCAT scores and GPA are good.

I’m still waiting to hear from: Keck, UCLA, UCI, UCD, UCR, GW, Rochester, Tufts, SUNY Downstate, Quinnipac, Loyola, Sidney Kimmel, Oakland, VCU, Albany, Rosalind Franklin, Utah, Cooper Rowan, Wake Forest, CA Northstate, Virginia Tech

I already received rejections from Georgetown and Tulane.

 

[Passi0nFruittts]

If you want to stay in CA, there's always Western or Touro-CA.

Yeah, I’m thinking of applying to DO schools soon. Do you think I still have a chance at MD schools though?

 

[Faha]

I see at least 10 schools on your list where you could receive interviews. Remember the interview season lasts until February or March at most schools.

 

[Goro]

Yeah, I’m thinking of applying to DO schools soon. Do you think I still have a chance at MD schools though?

Oh yeah.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Your stats are great. I think you'll hear back from more MD schools soon.

 

[Passi0nFruittts]

I see at least 10 schools on your list where you could receive interviews. Remember the interview season lasts until February or March at most schools.

Oh yeah.

Your stats are great. I think you'll hear back from more MD schools soon.

Thank you all for your replies! I’ll try to be more patient & hopefully the IIs come. 🙂

 

[Passi0nFruittts]

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