Advice on improving for 2015 cycle

[socialcriticism]

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I finished my secondaries around 09/15, and was able to get 2 interviews - in-state and private. I've been waitlisted for the private school, and have been rejected for my state school. Supposedly I can get feedback after 05/01, but am trying to find avenues of improvement now. Throughout the gap year, I've worked significant hours as a scribe trying to increase my understanding of medicine, and will look for additional opportunities as well.

When I self-evaluate, I feel that I have the appropriate clinical/research experience. I also do not feel that I can really improve my stats without going into significant danger of reducing my numbers. It could be my essays, but I did go through a good amount of revisions/feedback, and I felt my responses were coherent/compelling. Perhaps it is my interviewing ability, but I did obtain significant advice and mock interview opportunities through my scribe program/family.

Of course, all my self-evaluation is useless if the appropriate authorities don't interpret me in the same way. Is there a particular gap in my application materials that I should be aware of? Does it come down to simply just the late application/late IIs? I can give dedicated individuals a copy of my personal statement/secondaries if they would like. My stats are as mentioned in the quote below.

If my problem is truly just an issue of timing, how do I exactly alter my personal statement to the schools I'll be reapplying to? (state school for instance)

Thanks for any help!

Pertinent information includes

• Minnesota resident
• MCAT 31 (10V/10B/11P)
• GPA: 3.7
• Biochemistry Degree and Philosophy minor

Extracurriculars include

• Around 500 hours of academic research
• Around 500 hours of biotech research with presentation
• Around 700-800 hours of coordinating surgical pathology with tissue needs of scientists
• Around 2000 hours of scribing in the ED, with 3600+ patients seen/charts made.
• Around 150 hours of volunteering with Shriners hospital interacting with patients, parents, siblings and helping staff events
• Around 20 hours of teaching basic 1st aid not including planning of events
• A semester as treasurer of new student organization that attempts to bring scientific literature into layman terms (Not sure if fluff)
• misc. things like being in the university technology committee, classical guitar, fashion, computer building, etc

 

[JPSmyth]

what were the schools you applied to? I would apply to the least competitive MD schools possible with a 31 MCAT. Your ECs look good, but try to do more non-clinical volunteering.

 

[Danny McBride]

Do not take this offensively but even the way you formulate your sentences describing yourself, you seem a bit calculated, robotic and not relaxed. Your ecs and grades look excellent. Focus on interpersonal stuff and perhaps seem more relaxed during interviews.
You can pm me your essay if you want thoughts on that. I was a non trad applicant and will be starting med school this fall.

 

[socialcriticism]

Do not take this offensively but even the way you formulate your sentences describing yourself, you seem a bit calculated, robotic and not relaxed. Your ecs and grades look excellent. Focus on interpersonal stuff and perhaps seem more relaxed during interviews.
You can pm me your essay if you want thoughts on that. I was a non trad applicant and will be starting med school this fall.

Thanks for this.

I write like this as I get annoyed when people ask for help on this forum without being comprehensive or understandable in their own details. My past academic philosophical experiences have influenced my diction and prose significantly - probably to a fault. I understand that this can make my writing seem sterile, but I really like the easy to follow logical progression. My voice does become casual in areas I don't perceive as formal - like reddit, with friends, etc.

I'm at work right now, but I'll try sending you a copy of when I get some time.

 

[Old&InTheWay]

I would get some shadowing in primary care, submit your AMCAS on day 1 and have your secondaries back to schools within a week. Also, you might ask for some advice on SDN regarding your list of schools to which you plan to apply.

I was a reapplicant and think the early submission and careful targeting of schools made the difference for me.

 

[Goro]

We can help you if you let us know what schools you applied to.