Am I on the right track?

[hopeful4medschool]

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Hi guys,
I posted on SDN in July and asked for advice as a reapplicant. Here is the thread if anyone wants to see it

Got rejected from 18 med school. How should I improve my application? Feeling very lost..

I was given the advice that I should focus more on service-oriented volunteering. At that time, I was signed up to take the MCAT on August, so I focused all my time on MCAT. By the time August came, I ended up voiding my MCAT because I was not scoring where I wanted to be. I feel like I wasted two months. I am retaking the MCAT on January now. I just started my volunteering for the local food bank and I have another volunteering opportunity that does not start until October. I am also looking around for DO shadowing, but haven't had any luck. I did manage to find a MD shadowing that is waiting on approval. I feel so behind right now and I am afraid I will look like I am checking the box because all my experiences will be recent. Currently I am doing my CNA job, studying for the MCAT and volunteering at my two old places in addition to foodbank. Even with doing all these, it feels like I am just doing a whole lot of nothing. What else should I be doing right now to make myself competitive? Am I doing the right things? I plan to apply in May 2026.

Thank you for your advice. I have been very stressed lately, so I don't know if this is just my anxiety making me feel like I am behind.

 

[chilly_md]

Currently I am doing my CNA job, studying for the MCAT and volunteering at my two old places in addition to foodbank. Even with doing all these, it feels like I am just doing a whole lot of nothing.

Why? That sounds like a good number of commitments. Gain substantial hours at the food bank and ensure with the extra time that you see a significant jump in your practice MCAT scores.

 

[Goro]

Hi guys,
I posted on SDN in July and asked for advice as a reapplicant. Here is the thread if anyone wants to see it

Got rejected from 18 med school. How should I improve my application? Feeling very lost..

I was given the advice that I should focus more on service-oriented volunteering. At that time, I was signed up to take the MCAT on August, so I focused all my time on MCAT. By the time August came, I ended up voiding my MCAT because I was not scoring where I wanted to be. I feel like I wasted two months. I am retaking the MCAT on January now. I just started my volunteering for the local food bank and I have another volunteering opportunity that does not start until October. I am also looking around for DO shadowing, but haven't had any luck. I did manage to find a MD shadowing that is waiting on approval. I feel so behind right now and I am afraid I will look like I am checking the box because all my experiences will be recent. Currently I am doing my CNA job, studying for the MCAT and volunteering at my two old places in addition to foodbank. Even with doing all these, it feels like I am just doing a whole lot of nothing. What else should I be doing right now to make myself competitive? Am I doing the right things? I plan to apply in May 2026.

Thank you for your advice. I have been very stressed lately, so I don't know if this is just my anxiety making me feel like I am behind.

Marathon now, not a sprint.

Mad schools aren't going anywhere, and by the time you apply, more will have opened their doors, or have increased their class sizes

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi guys,
I posted on SDN in July and asked for advice as a reapplicant. Here is the thread if anyone wants to see it

Got rejected from 18 med school. How should I improve my application? Feeling very lost..

I was given the advice that I should focus more on service-oriented volunteering. At that time, I was signed up to take the MCAT on August, so I focused all my time on MCAT. By the time August came, I ended up voiding my MCAT because I was not scoring where I wanted to be. I feel like I wasted two months. I am retaking the MCAT on January now. I just started my volunteering for the local food bank and I have another volunteering opportunity that does not start until October. I am also looking around for DO shadowing, but haven't had any luck. I did manage to find a MD shadowing that is waiting on approval. I feel so behind right now and I am afraid I will look like I am checking the box because all my experiences will be recent. Currently I am doing my CNA job, studying for the MCAT and volunteering at my two old places in addition to foodbank. Even with doing all these, it feels like I am just doing a whole lot of nothing. What else should I be doing right now to make myself competitive? Am I doing the right things? I plan to apply in May 2026.

Thank you for your advice. I have been very stressed lately, so I don't know if this is just my anxiety making me feel like I am behind.

Maybe you aren't learning from the small wins because you're too focused on "getting into medical school." How are you doing on MCAT prep? If you don't do +10 above your last MCAT (my imposed goal on you), then I suspect you would consider the retake prep as "nothing." Are you journaling and writing down what you are observing and feeling about your CNA position? How many asks have you made to get the shadowing?

You can't change the timing of your efforts because you waited until you got 18 rejections to see why. Build your application profile and your preparation for medical school the right way now. If you want to overcome feelings that you are just checking boxes, you may want to defer your application to May 2027 submission to address looking like your efforts are "too recent." If you don't agree, silence the doubters and make it work.

 

[hopeful4medschool]

Why? That sounds like a good number of commitments. Gain substantial hours at the food bank and ensure with the extra time that you see a significant jump in your practice MCAT scores.

I have heard this saying a lot and it perfectly describe my situation "comparison is the thief of joy." I was feeling down and anxious because time seems to be passing so quickly and the next cycle is coming closer and closer. I have always wanted to be a doctor, and seeing my friends being able to live their dreams while I am doing the application all over again just made me doubt myself. Even though I am doing all I can, there is always this doubt that maybe I am not working hard enough or smart enough. I feel better now and I definitely needed to just take a little breather.

 

[hopeful4medschool]

Maybe you aren't learning from the small wins because you're too focused on "getting into medical school." How are you doing on MCAT prep? If you don't do +10 above your last MCAT (my imposed goal on you), then I suspect you would consider the retake prep as "nothing." Are you journaling and writing down what you are observing and feeling about your CNA position? How many asks have you made to get the shadowing?

You can't change the timing of your efforts because you waited until you got 18 rejections to see why. Build your application profile and your preparation for medical school the right way now. If you want to overcome feelings that you are just checking boxes, you may want to defer your application to May 2027 submission to address looking like your efforts are "too recent." If you don't agree, silence the doubters and make it work.

I know you probably did not intend it to be this way but I found your words comforting and realistic. I really cannot do anything at this point other than making the best out of the situation.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I know you probably did not intend it to be this way but I found your words comforting and realistic. I really cannot do anything at this point other than making the best out of the situation.

FWIW, I'm glad my advice helps. 🙂