Adviced needed. Potential Reapplicant

[jeffreylei]

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So clearly I have gotten rejected to almost all of the schools that I have applied to including my IS school. This cycle I have applied to 16 schools with only 2 interviews and currently I am waiting for an OOS post-interview decision. However, I am not optimistic about it and starting to prep for next cycle. The stats below includes the things that I have done this year after my application as well. Please leave comments and suggestions to my stats and any input is greatly appreciated.

(the ones with * are updates from last application)

Institution: University of Utah (expected: May 13)
Major: Biomedical Engineering (University Honors and Departmental Honors)
Minor: Chemistry
cGPA/ BCPM GPA: 3.76/3.94
MCAT: 31Q (12/7/12) retaking it this year 7/2 to boost VR

Extracurricular:
Came to America in 2008, got my citizenship 2012 (maybe that explains the low VR)
Research lab- 2.5 years (15hrs/wk) in 2 labs
Publications- 3* (1 new this year)
Poster/powerpoint presentations/conferences- 4* (1 new this year)
Tutor at free drop in tutoring center- 1 year
Tutor (paid)- 1 year
OChem 2 TA- 1 year
Refugee teacher- 1 year
ER volunteering- 1.5 year*
Orientation leader- 1 year (40hr/wk during summer, 5hr/wk during school)
Service learning leader (plan big service projects)- 1 year*
Piano recital every year- 4 years (2/year)
Competed in table tennis for my university and won state
Several scholarships from state school and Kaplan
Composed and defended honor thesis and senior project thesis

Clinical experiences:
AED honor society membership (active, many 1 time volunteering event)
participated in many leadership building conferences
Shadowing- 80 hrs (2 anesthesiologist*, 1 OBGYN, 1 internalist)
Clinical internship- 10hrs/wk in summer
Biodesign project - 1 yr (entered student competition)*
BLS*, Radioactive material use, Animal use certified

LOR: (strong in some and I dont know about the others)
last year: 1 non science, 1 science, 1 advisor, 1 MD, 1 research, 1 volunteering
this year: 1 non science*, 2 science*, 1 clinical*, 1 volunteering, 1 research

Self assessment:
In my opinion, I was lacking clinical hours, a solid MCAT score and strong personal statement. This year I am hoping to improve all those. After last year's application, I have started taking graduate level courses regarding medical system physiology, anatomy and anesthesiology from the state SOM. Volunteered about 4-8 hrs/wk in an ER. Did a student innovation design project. Facilitated service learning projects. Finished my thesis and degree and shadowed some more doctors.

Also, in case I don't get in again. During this gap year I am think about doing an internship at the state artificial heart program, biomedical device design project, EMT certification (basic) and possibly another Bachelor in chemistry (maybe not). I am planning on submitting my primary on 6/4 as soon as it opens, get my 7/2 MCAT about early August and submit all the secondaries as soon as I receive the score.

I know this post is long but I am humbled during this process and hope that someone may shed some light onto my application because i truly aspire to become a physician.

Sincerely,
Jeff

 

[SilverCat]

I think you've pretty much figured out where you can improve. Lack of clinical experiences, MCAT VR, and applying to too few schools probably was the problem. Did you apply late? Did you apply to too many reach schools?

Unless you really want to do it, I wouldn't do a Bachelor in Chem, since your grades look good. I'd focus in on the clinical work in the gap year- maybe you could find a job as an EMT after you get certified?

 

[DrMidlife]

If you got interviews then there's nothing wrong with your app. You bombed your interviews. Utah should have information available to you on what went wrong. Go get that info.

Yes you should break at least 8 on verbal before you reapply. There are no other real issues here. 1.5 years in an ER is plenty of clinical exposure.

You need to find people to teach you how to carry on an adult conversation about serious issues when you're nervous. Find old people to interview you as practice. Friends and family are useless. See my further comments on this in the stickies.

Best of luck to you.