Advice - Re-apply or Not

[Lati3]

Hey y'all! Wanted to seek advice on my situation from people who have experience with re-applying. I applied on the later side last cycle (LoRs/committee letter wasn't submitted until end of August/beginning of September) and got three interview invites at DO schools. I got accepted at one of those schools, but I am interested in more competitive specialities so I was wondering if reapplying would make sense to try for an MD program that has better research and networking opportunities.

Here are my stats

Grades:

cGPA: 3.68 - three C's, two of them being my last semester (oddly enough ended up getting a very strong LoR out of it). sGPA: 3.4.

MCAT: 509

Research:

1200 hours of research in a neuroimaging lab: name on a poster, completed an honors thesis, no publications.

Completed an independent honors research thesis in political science (second major).

Clinical Shadowing/Volunteering Experiences:

100 volunteer hours at hospital (ED and Acute Trauma Dept)

100 Clinical shadowing hours

Non Clinical ECs/Leadership:

Founded student service organization working with food insecurity (and volunteered at organization over the summer).

Vice President of another student org for 1 year.

Gen Chem TA for 2 years.


Since Graduating:

150 hours - Worked at a clinical research center as a PCT



My plan if I decided to re-apply would be to take upper level science classes postbac at my state university to demonstrate an upward trend and retake the MCAT. While I'm doing that I would volunteer more at hospitals and shadow to up my clinical experiences. I would then do a one year MPH program abroad (I'm really interested in global health). And once I finish that I would re-apply.

 

[lumya]

You’re taking a gamble of giving away your guaranteed spot this year for a chance at a later time. It’s hard to tell if applications will be more competitive then, and no guarantee everything you’re planning will pan out the way you want. Obviously if you have become very anti-DO you should give up your seat to someone who actually wants it, but it is a risk and you’re losing out on 2+ years of a physician’s salary.

 

[dial1010usa]

I would suggest you to take your DO acceptance and run, as your sGPA is low and MCAT is just about an avg for MD.
Are you URM? maybe then you have chance otherwise don't waste your time.

 

[Sky138]

“My plan if I decided to re-apply would be to take upper level science classes postbac at my state university to demonstrate an upward trend and retake the MCAT. While I'm doing that I would volunteer more at hospitals and shadow to up my clinical experiences. I would then do a one year MPH program abroad (I'm really interested in global health). And once I finish that I would re-apply.”

Don’t waste your time. Let’s be real, even if you pull your plan off, you’ll still be instantly rejected because of your lack of nonclinical volunteering. If you don’t like being DO now, I can only imagine how ****ty you’d feel if and when you’re lucky enough to get back into another DO program.

 

[Osteosaur]

Take the acceptance and run.

I had better ECs than you (more non-clinical volunteering, way more clinical volunteering, more hours, actual publications) and got rejected from MD two years in a row with a 3.6/515. Even if you do miraculously pull your GPA up you are still competing against people who are not re-applicants and did not have to repair anything. The people I saw at MD interviews had started non-profits and businesses, and were 3.7+ 512+ without your baggage. I don't mean to sound harsh, I just think this is a poor decision and you are overestimating your own competitiveness.

Keep in mind the economy is not doing so great right now either. Applications will be up. The absolutely worse case scenario as a DO, assuming you make it through school, is you end up as an FM doc somewhere which is not a bad life.

What makes you apprehensive about the school you are attending? Are the rotations sites terrible? Are you sure you can't network your way into research?

 

[red_tangoes]

Coming from a re-applicant, take the DO.

You'll be kicking yourself in the ass two years from now if you end up spending all this time and money and not get a MD acceptance and have to do a THIRD cycle. It's not worth the risk.

 

[ERinspired]

This is a terrible idea. And, on any reapplication, you would have to disclose that you turned down an acceptance. (Remember that yes/no question you answered about having ever been accepted to medical school before?) This is a major red flag as it demonstrates that you are not committed.


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