MD & DO Advice plz

[idkkuz]

Hey guys,

(Reposting in this forum)

I’m trying to best improve my application for next cycle and would really appreciate any advice you may have. This medical cycle has definitely been humbling so feel free to be as honest as possible. Thanks in advance!

Really though, you can be as honest as possible I don't mind. Just want to improve my app

3.8s and cGPA
Balanced 507(retake)
Not URM

UCF recent grad summer 2016 : Fl Resident

-250 hours clinical volunteering over 2 years
-2 years + research with publication submitted in review (co-author) and poster
-Microbio TA 3 semesters
-President and VP of a Sports Club
-25 hours shadowing two different primary care docs (i’ll try to get more hours)
-100 hours ish hours non clinical volunteering (special olympics, humane society, etc.)
-Employment: Medical Records, Working with kids w/ disabilities (few summers), Working for a nonprofit for underserved (gap year)
-Some other stuff but don’t want to get too detailed

My school list consisted of all florida schools, a handful out of state (Tulane, Rosalind Franklin, Oakland, Quinnipac) and only two DO schools in late october. I submitted the MD programs by late August/mid September. I also had my PS/Secondaries revised several times.

I’m wondering what would be best to improve my application for next cycle. I feel like I have a lot of meaningful ECs (especially employment) that aren’t just cookie cutter/things I actually enjoyed. I am really interested in that aspect of serving others and probably need my application to show it even more.

Options

-MCAT Retake again? It would be my 3rd time. I feel like I could improve by a few points but not a ridiculous amount.

-Employment: Clinical like scribe or whatnot.

-Employment: Volunteer based such as City Year/Americorps

I think I would really enjoy something like Americorps BUT it is kinda similar to what I’m doing this year so don’t know if it would benefit my app that much. Also, if I do something like Americorps do you think I should add more clinical volunteering hours? I don’t know how much time id have if I did such/if I have enough clinical hrs.

Next cycle I’m planning to submit my application ASAP and apply to more DO programs. (I'd love to get into a FL MD school for tuition purposes).

Thanks again!

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[idkkuz]

I feel like I might study to re-take my MCAT and do something like Americorps. Does this sound like a good plan? Or would scribing look better for my app.

I definitely won't retake the MCAT if my practice scores aren't reflecting a decent increase.

 

[candbgirl]

What was your other MCAT score? What have you done this year to significantly improve your application?


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[idkkuz]

It was lower 500s and a few jobs (one that was on my app thats meaningful and one that wasn't), a little bit of volunteering and hopefully some shadowing. Not a huge change unfortunately.

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

What did your publication entail? I noticed that you stated it as a "publication in review", do you mean you published a literature review? Also, if you're going for DO programs I think your 507 should suffice.

 

[idkkuz]

What did your publication entail? I noticed that you stated it as a "publication in review", do you mean you published a literature review? Also, if you're going for DO programs I think your 207 should suffice.

I phrased that really poorly and i meant to say manuscript submitted and should hear back somewhat soon (not a pub quite yet but hopefully). Ideally i'd like to go to a Florida MD program but beggars can't be choosers