Application Service

[amikhchi]

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I'm dwindling on my 3rd application cycle and now i'm pretty much at the point where I can't afford to just apply willy nilly again to 30+ schools... i've already racked up nearly 10k in debt just from applications/mcat prep over the past 3 years...

Can anyone recommend a good professional application service that will help my chances? I am not down and out yet in this 3rd cycle, but i'm about as discouraged as possible and IF i'm going to apply a 4th time, I need some sort of boost or *cheat-code* if you will...

 

[ShyRem]

I think we could better help you if we knew what your application stats were, ECs, etc. Application services don't usually do very well unless they have something to work with.

Also, where did you apply? Are you dead set on MD or would you consider DO? When did you apply (early? late?)? Offshore?

 

[amikhchi]

3.47 sgpa from a cal-state univ (biology)
31p and 36q
plenty of volunteer shadowing physicians (like 200 hrs)
other community service (around 100 hrs)
there are also other smaller ECs

applied everywhere that was in my range (statwise according to latest MSAR) that would take a decent amount of OOS residents (referring to non-CA schools), also applied to all CA schools, and a few DO schools, didn't apply carib because i was already accepted there last year (2nd cycle) but i assumed a new mcat (36) would at least buy me some interviews, so far (aside from last year's SGU app) i have 3 cycles with 30 schools each cycle and only 1 interview (this cycle) and i've been put on post-int hold.

I would do DO over a foreign MD, but i kinda applied a bit later for the DOs (around september/octoberish) as for MDs, i sent in amcas first day available, along with 2ndaries

 

[ShyRem]

So your GPA is on the low side for MD schools and approaching average for DO schools.
Your MCAT is decent.
Your shadowing hours are adequate
Your other community service and ECs are minimal.

What was your PS like?

Personally, I think "shadowing" is totally overrated. You might have been better off to do community service for half those hours and show community commitment.

Your other problem is you're in California. Tough state. Your GPA doesn't cut it there, and your major is commonplace. I'm not seeing anything that sets you apart from the crowd.

Your other problem is your late applications for DO. EARLY IS SO KEY for BOTH MD and DO. In looking where you applied, Yale? Penn State? And your application doesn't have anything that screams "unique" "interesting".

You need to write a total kick-butt PS that is totally true. No lying (not saying you have, but plenty try). You need some decent ECs. And in these past few years of applying while being out of school, you should have had plenty of time to do things that set you apart and make you interesting. Are you doing any medical research? Chemical or pharmaceutical research? Working at a poison control center?

You're applying to medical school with the rest of the top 5% of college graduates. You need to have something that sets you apart and makes them want to interview you because your stats aren't (but you do have a nice MCAT).

Sorry if that sounds harsh. I'm not known much for sugar-coating. Take a good look at your application and if it's not ready to apply, wait another year and get some good interesting experiences under your belt for your application. Ones you care about, can be passionate about in your interviews.

 

[amikhchi]

I don't mind being straightforward, but i thought my 31P was decent, i thought a 36Q was great...

Sure I applied to Yale and stanford, etc... but i also applied to GWU, nymc, slu, creighton, toledo, tulane, rosalind franklin, and a bunch of other similar schools...

I didn't apply to just reach schools, I applied to a bunch of schools that many people would deem *safety* schools... I'll go anywhere really, i just didn't want to go to a foreign school until i was absolutely sure i had to...

 

[Go Ducks]

I got help from a professional named Judy Colwell. It made a huuuuuuge difference, especially since I had basically no pre-med advisor, had no concept of how to apply (esp what to write in the applications), didn't know where to apply to, and was overall batting blind. She had great advice.

 

[illegallysmooth]

I feel like there's something here you're not telling us. The GPA isn't THAT low, and the MCAT is great. 90 applications, including DO schools, and only one interview? Doesn't add up. Hell, I got an interview at NYMC with a 3.23 undergrad GPA (2.95 sGPA) and a 34.

 

[ShyRem]

I would agree - either there's something funny in the app, or even worse, it's forgettable. You want that app that says "I'm INTERESTING - I'm more interesting than those other folks who applied - you want to get to know me!"

 

[MiniMoo]

Have you gotten any feedback from schools that have rejected you in the past? Might help clue you in to what exactly is wrong with your application. I suspect a red flag somewhere, because besides a slightly low-ish GPA, everything else looks fine on the surface.

 

[Morsetlis]

It looks to be on the low side, and he is applying from CA so he's completely failing out of every single CA MD school already with that GPA.

I would suggest a Caribbean MD, more DO schools, post-bacc programs, or SMP programs, depending on how much money/risk you're willing to take.

Personally, in your position, I'd do a Caribbean MD.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

It looks to be on the low side, and he is applying from CA so he's completely failing out of every single CA MD school already with that GPA.

I would suggest a Caribbean MD, more DO schools, post-bacc programs, or SMP programs, depending on how much money/risk you're willing to take.

Personally, in your position, I'd do a Caribbean MD.

His GPA isn't that low and his 36 MCAT is average for the Top schools. OP did you call the schools on why you were rejected?

 

[MiniMoo]

It looks to be on the low side, and he is applying from CA so he's completely failing out of every single CA MD school already with that GPA.

I would suggest a Caribbean MD, more DO schools, post-bacc programs, or SMP programs, depending on how much money/risk you're willing to take.

Personally, in your position, I'd do a Caribbean MD.

The GPA is on the low side, but it's not that terrible. True, might be harder to get into CA schools with it, but he's applying pretty broadly to 30+ schools each time. I would think he should've gotten way more interviews if not a few acceptances already. Something's fishy.