Assistance in reapplying

[mctan]

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Hey SDN'ers,

I am re-applying for the upcoming cycle and would truly appreciate any advice/opinions/criticisms you may have for me. Here's my situation:

I have applied the past 2 cycles, and have one more year left for my MCAT score to be usable (I do not want to take it again!).

GPA: 3.79
MCAT: 35R (14BS, 12PS, 9V)

My extra-curricular/activities include three quarters of research as a sophomore undergrad, various job shadows (about 110 hours), three summers involved as a volunteer and head counselor at a summer camp for kids from Children's Hospital, work as a biology tutor and a teaching award to go along with it, two years as an officer in a pre-health honor society.

My first application cycle I submitted mid-way through the application season, and was very slow in returning my secondaries (I was going through a tough break-up, bleh). Result: Applied to 25 schools, got 1 interview. No acceptance.

My second application cycle I told myself all I needed to do was apply in a more timely fashion. I had my primary app submitted much earlier, end of June, but because of working at a summer-camp I was still hit and miss on responding to secondaries (about 1 month turnaround time). After summer-camp I spent the next 7-8 months working as a medical technician for a Vitreo-Retina specialist (ophthalmology). Result: Applied to 20 schools, got 1 interview (same school as last time), 1 re-interview (same school). No acceptance/no wait-list.

I just received my last rejection letter sealing the deal on starting school in the Fall, and have decided to do something to make me "stand out" and something I have wanted to do for a long time. I am taking 3-months to go to the Philippines and shadow my Aunt, an oncologist, on rounds, and subsequently bounce around to a number of specialties throughout my stay (Internal medicine, orthopedics, dermatology, etc., etc.). I will also have the chance to do service/volunteer work for the rural/urban poor.

I was thinking when I return from my trip I would discontinue working as a medical technician (it was a great experience but it feels as if I have learned everything I can from it), and work in my parent's deli. This would help out my family a lot, and would give me some flexibility in volunteering with the rural/underserved populations around my community. Thoughts?

My questions are:
1. Opinions on what I'm not doing right?
2. Suggestions on getting it right this time? (My dream school has a "3 strikes and you're out policy," this will be my third application [This is the school that I have interviewed at the past two cycles].)
3. When I return from my trip to the Philippines it will be the end of July/beginning of August. Should I submit my application on June 1st, while overseas? Or should I wait till I get back having had this new experience under my belt? How should I incorporate this into my personal statement/application?
4. How do I go about picking schools? (Most I applied to where within my GPA/MCAT range. My fall-back schools rejected me the fastest too... Confused...)

EDIT: I forgot to mention that over the past 7 months I have been working as a medical technician for an ophthalmologist. My job allows me to work one-on-one with patients everyday giving basic eye exams and collecting histories and vitals.

 

[Dice456]

My questions are:
1. Opinions on what I'm not doing right?
2. Suggestions on getting it right this time? (My dream school has a "3 strikes and you're out policy," this will be my third application [This is the school that I have interviewed at the past two cycles].)

1. Have you had your personal statement reviewed by anyone on this site?

2. I have never heard of a "3 strikes and you're out policy". Has anyone else ever heard of this policy? I thought that rule applied to baseball and the justice system, not people interested in learning about medicine.

 

[cabinbuilder]

It has to be your essay. Been reading some really bad, long, boring, saying nothing type of material lately.

Also, I wonder what is in your LOR's? Did you choose wisely those profs or bosses who agreed with your medical school venture and supported your efforts???


Send me your essay, I can let you know if it's killing your application.

 

[angldee24]

Well, I am a firm believer that if you want good results you need to set aside time for things you are passionate about. Easier said than done, I know. But, most schools are in the habit of rolling admissions these days...meaning, acceptance as the application packages are completed. It could be a multiple reasons why your application is being rejected. Good grades and great MCAt is not always the 'IT' factor...trust me, I know. If you are planning to take time and work at your parent's deli, then you should consider taking a few years to figure things out. I think their is always something new to learn...and it seems that you are becoming a bit discouraged. Hold your head up, and take some time to figure out where your application is weak, consider researching the schools that you are applying to, get your application in quickly as possible, have people other than your close friends, family or even work associates give you a mock interview, revise your personal statement, compare your CV to other medical students, and so forth. More importantly, figure out the reason that you want to go to medical school. Out of everything that you wrote, you never gave a reason why you're interested in medical school. Once you know why, the rest will come. Finally, if you have had enough of working at your family's deli, consider working at a hospital on the mental health ward, volunteer (more than a year) in a clinic in your neighborhood, etc. Work in areas that are considered underrepresented areas...

 

[mctan]

1. Have you had your personal statement reviewed by anyone on this site?

2. I have never heard of a "3 strikes and you're out policy". Has anyone else ever heard of this policy? I thought that rule applied to baseball and the justice system, not people interested in learning about medicine.

To answer your questions:

1. No, I haven't had my personal statement reviewed by anyone on this site. This is an oversight I do not plan on repeating.

2. If you are wondering the school in question, the University of Washington has a limit of 3 tries before they will no longer consider your application.

It has to be your essay. Been reading some really bad, long, boring, saying nothing type of material lately.

Also, I wonder what is in your LOR's? Did you choose wisely those profs or bosses who agreed with your medical school venture and supported your efforts???

Thanks cabinbuilder, I PM'd you a copy and paste of my PS (I am unaware of how to send an attachment via PM if a way does exist).

My LOR's came from Prof's whose classes I did well in, although I had only gotten to know a few of them well, and for only a quarter or two at the most. I also submitted LOR's from a prof I was assisting for to some schools, but she was in another department (American Ethnic Studies). My strongest LOR's were submitted months after my application, and even my secondaries. These LOR's were from the Camp Director of the summer camp I had worked for (as mentioned above the camp serves medically complex children), and my employer/mentor, a Vitreo-Retina specialist.

Well, I am a firm believer that if you want good results you need to set aside time for things you are passionate about. Easier said than done, I know. But, most schools are in the habit of rolling admissions these days...meaning, acceptance as the application packages are completed. It could be a multiple reasons why your application is being rejected. Good grades and great MCAt is not always the 'IT' factor...trust me, I know. If you are planning to take time and work at your parent's deli, then you should consider taking a few years to figure things out. I think their is always something new to learn...and it seems that you are becoming a bit discouraged. Hold your head up, and take some time to figure out where your application is weak, consider researching the schools that you are applying to, get your application in quickly as possible, have people other than your close friends, family or even work associates give you a mock interview, revise your personal statement, compare your CV to other medical students, and so forth. More importantly, figure out the reason that you want to go to medical school. Out of everything that you wrote, you never gave a reason why you're interested in medical school. Once you know why, the rest will come. Finally, if you have had enough of working at your family's deli, consider working at a hospital on the mental health ward, volunteer (more than a year) in a clinic in your neighborhood, etc. Work in areas that are considered underrepresented areas...

angldee24, thanks for the encouragement. Currently, I don't feel too discouraged. I'm looking forward to this time off and having the opportunity to really make this a year to enjoy beginning with my adventure to the Philippines which should immerse me in various medical settings with differing patient populations.

I am planning on volunteering at a number of local clinics that serve underrepresented populations upon returning. Working for my parents provides twofold benefit, firstly allowing me to help them out and secondly, providing the flexibility to volunteer significant hours at these clinics. As a medical technician I do not have the time during the week to do so.

As for my desire to become a physician, I believe doctors are called to be educators as well as problem solvers. These are two things I greatly enjoy. I hope to gain the skill set and training needed to help others improve their lives in an avenue that provides me great satisfaction.

 

[MedReckoning]

Let my tell you my story and see if I can help. I am actually in a similar situation and could use some similar advice. I applied to VCU, UVA (state schools) and U Mich. I was counting on being a shoe-in for my in state schools and didn't even want to apply broadly - why would I? I have a 38R and a 3.6/3.4 at William and Mary which I finished in 2 years. I have research and upcoming papers. I'm working in an clinic. I tutor and tutored a lot in college. Everyone told not to worry. So, I totally discounted the advice of academic physicians in my family who told me exactly what to write on my personal statement - long story short - Rejected post-interview (on the very last possible notification date from VCU (after some unpleasant back and forth). Waitlisted at U Mich (lower tier - no chance) and UVA (don't know my rank yet, but they overbooked the class last year so chances are slim).

I'm fairly sure your problem, like mine apparently, was lame personal statement. I don't think, however, that there is much to improve in your experiences beyond continuing clinical work. Please consider other opinions, and please correct mine, but I think the key is make yourself sound like their ideal doctor through your clinical and patient interactions revealed in your personal statement. I think the adcoms are a rather peculiar bunch in the way they see themselves and the world and are looking for some specific characteristics. Having proven your intellectual abilities in college and the MCAT, they want to see workaholism, a desire to serve and follow the rules, and a stable, reliable psychological makeup (just look at the depression stats at medical school (~20% of women at U Mich)! In your case, I think you need to frame yourself in the proper stereotype for them to remember your well. It should be a stereotype they want to accept, but they should be able to tuck you away in the hierarchy they are building in the House of Medicine. Sounds cynical, but insiders tells me they really are like that in academia... It isn't so much about what you do, but how you leverage/market/frame your experiences to hit on points the adcoms want to see. I learned that the hard way myself. At least I think that is the lesson I should draw from my app experience.