Applying this Year, Go all out? Or hold back in case??

[johnwandering]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm really crunching the time I have and trying to make things work. All in all, I think I will have a good application by mid-July to send.

I had a question though. I am a NY resident and don't really care where I go.


Should I apply to ALL of the NY schools now??
Or save a few just in case I don't get in this year (so that I can send my apps there next year without the ominous black listing)

 

[morning]

I'm really crunching the time I have and trying to make things work. All in all, I think I will have a good application by mid-July to send.

I had a question though. I am a NY resident and don't really care where I go.


Should I apply to ALL of the NY schools now??
Or save a few just in case I don't get in this year (so that I can send my apps there next year without the ominous black listing)

If you don't care where you go and you have enough money, I'd just blitz as many places as I could with my application and try to really nail the interview(er).

What're your stats?

 

[Pedie Packs]

There's really no use in holding back. Also, I think it's to your advantage to have the "black listing". Some schools give special consideration to applicants that made it far in their process the previous year and just missed the cut...

Do this application just once and do it thoroughly... aka apply to all your state schools and NY privates

 

[NotAsking4Much]

I'm really crunching the time I have and trying to make things work. All in all, I think I will have a good application by mid-July to send.

I had a question though. I am a NY resident and don't really care where I go.


Should I apply to ALL of the NY schools now??
Or save a few just in case I don't get in this year (so that I can send my apps there next year without the ominous black listing)

Go all out. It's silly, waste of time, and expensive not too. Also the blacklisting is really only when they accept you and you don't end up going.

 

[johnwandering]

My stats are fairly weak
=(


I actually was in the process of making another topic to ask about medical schools that employee GPA formulas to favor later semesters.

I have a 3.55 cGPA 3.49 sGPA
However, that is not the complete picture. I came out of sophmore year with a 3.08. For the last two years and a summer I averaged a 3.9 while Acing classes including Biochem1 and 2, Parasitology, Comparative Anatomy, MicroBiology, Cell Biology, Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Bio, Research Biology, stats, etc. (I didn't receive lower than a A- in over 2 years). I also retook Orgo 2 (which I had a C- on) and hit an A-.
My GPA has gone up every semester...


I'm taking MCAT practice tests right now (June 17th date) and have been hitting in the ~33-34 range.
But I am confident I can hit higher

My extracurriculars are fairly strong.
However, I only have 18 hours of shadowing over 2 doctors (do you think I must have more?). I also only have 8 months of research (Dr. Larry Young of Yerkes Research Center).

My recommendations are very strong as well (3 professors I am close to, one doctor who is a friend), along with a "hopefully" strong composite letter from Emory University.




All in all, it is a rather weak application.
I am confident I can get more shadowing hours and volunteer hours over the next year, But I don't think my ECs will improve over the next year.

The biggest problem I have is that because I am short on time, the application itself and MCAT score may not be the best they can be. If I don't get in this year, I will apply next year improved in those categories.




Do you believe I should waste all of my aces now??
Or should I save some NY schools for next year??

 

[NotAsking4Much]

My stats are fairly weak
=(


I actually was in the process of making another topic to ask about medical schools that employee GPA formulas to favor later semesters.

I have a 3.55 cGPA 3.49 sGPA
However, that is not the complete picture. I came out of sophmore year with a 3.08. For the last two years and a summer I averaged a 3.9 while Acing classes including Biochem1 and 2, Parasitology, Comparative Anatomy, MicroBiology, Cell Biology, Organismal Biology, Evolutionary Bio, Research Biology, stats, etc. (I didn't receive lower than a A- in over 2 years). I also retook Orgo 2 (which I had a C- on) and hit an A-.
My GPA has gone up every semester...


I'm taking MCAT practice tests right now (June 17th date) and have been hitting in the ~33-34 range.
But I am confident I can hit higher

My extracurriculars are fairly strong.
However, I only have 18 hours of shadowing over 2 doctors (do you think I must have more?). I also only have 8 months of research (Dr. Larry Young of Yerkes Research Center).

My recommendations are very strong as well (3 professors I am close to, one doctor who is a friend), along with a "hopefully" strong composite letter from Emory University.




All in all, it is a rather weak application.
I am confident I can get more shadowing hours and volunteer hours over the next year, But I don't think my ECs will improve over the next year.

The biggest problem I have is that because I am short on time, the application itself and MCAT score may not be the best they can be. If I don't get in this year, I will apply next year improved in those categories.




Do you believe I should waste all of my aces now??
Or should I save some NY schools for next year??

Here's my advice. Apply when you think you have the best app you can reasonably muster. But when you do apply, apply to everything.

 

[kjv0924]

If you want every chance to start Med School next year you should apply to as many schools as you can afford. There is no disadvantage to being a reapplicant. Many entering classes are halfway filled with reapplicants.

And you should definitely get more shadowing hours.

 

[boaz]

There's really no use in holding back. Also, I think it's to your advantage to have the "black listing". Some schools give special consideration to applicants that made it far in their process the previous year and just missed the cut...

Do this application just once and do it thoroughly... aka apply to all your state schools and NY privates

This

 

[JJMrK]

I'd suggest either applying to as many schools as possible now, or waiting until next year to begin the process.

 

[JmanDO]

Your scores are avg, not weak. You definitely stand a chance at several SUNY's and potentially the privates; you could easily be waitlist-accepted.
I also applied to all NY schools and did well, and I'm no 40/4.0.

However, if you go into the process thinking you're weak and already creating a backup plan, then, most likely, you'll wind up needing to use that back up. Think more highly of yourself, you can get at least one.

 

[Superman DO]

Go big, or go home! =)

 

[greenbean09]

If you don't care where you go and you have enough money, I'd just blitz as many places as I could with my application and try to really nail the interview(er).

What're your stats?

Yes do this. Definitely do this.