Best course of action?

[Girfaroo]

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I go to a top 15 school, but didn't do super well in intro science courses, so my science GPA was a 3.36 when I applied and my cGPA 3.64, but my MCAT is a 35S (12BS, 12 PS, 11V). I applied REALLY broadly to 29 schools (25 on my original AMCAS, 4 more added in early September), and received 5 interviews (1 early, 3 in the middle, 1 super late). I am on the waitlist at two of those schools, but just found out that I'm in the bottom part of the waitlist at one, and I'm still waiting to hear back from one school. Obviously, I need a plan b.

I applied to 5 SMP programs recently (maybe a lot, but I was afraid of not getting in anywhere... again) and just got in to 1. I have a phone interview for another coming up and am waiting to hear from the other 3.

The question is, what to do about reapplying? My stats have gone up slightly; if things go as planned this semester, my science GPA will probably be a 3.42, my cGPA a 3.7. I have one new letter, and two of my original letters have been updated. I've continued all of my original activities and added one more clinical volunteering position. But are my higher stats good enough to reapply right away, or should I wait until whatever SMP program I end up doing (barring a mysterious MD acceptance) has started so I can use letters from them too? And how high should I aim schoolwise?

 

[jslo85]

With a 3.42 sGPA and a 3.7 and a 35S MCAT, you don't need the SMP if you apply early and broadly enough for allopathic schools.

Which SMPs are you still waiting on/accepted into, just curious? Since it's a phone interview and this late, maybe Drexel? Either way, an SMP is what you need at all if your projected stats fall through.

With the updated/new letter(s) and added clinical experiences and your projected stats you should have no problem getting your fair share or looks.

 

[Girfaroo]

[Which SMPs are you still waiting on/accepted into, just curious? Since it's a phone interview and this late, maybe Drexel? Either way, an SMP is what you need at all if your projected stats fall through.
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I got into Cincinnati, and you guessed right, my phone interview is with Drexel. I'm waiting to hear back from EVMS, Georgetown, and BU.

 

[jslo85]

Yeah.

I'm a big fan of UCinn and EVMS MedMasters for SMPs but you really don't need either of them if you have your current stats and apply early. UCinn and EVMS are both small class sized and high linkage back into their program which are big plusses for SMPs and I guess I might be biased against Drexel but I really dislike their programs for the poor efficacy that they show for the money.

 

[Food]

Re-apply without the SMP, but make sure you spend a lot of time working on volunteering projects, working, and maybe shadowing. Working on some research project etc. would also be a good idea. Just stay active with something and re-apply, you should be fine. Make sure your essays, etc stress all the new stuff you're doing.

 

[Girfaroo]

bumping... hoping for a few more answers.

 

[catswym]

It certainly doesn't seem like numbers are your problem.

Looking at your mdapps it looked like you have very little research, which may or may not matter, and also very little non-hospital volunteering.

What about your LORs? Do you feel they were strong?
When did your initial 25 schools go in?

 

[Girfaroo]

It certainly doesn't seem like numbers are your problem.

Looking at your mdapps it looked like you have very little research, which may or may not matter, and also very little non-hospital volunteering.

What about your LORs? Do you feel they were strong?
When did your initial 25 schools go in?

I only had one summer of science research, but I had one year of independent research for my Spanish thesis, which also should count.

I didn't think to add non-clinical volunteering experiences to my profile, but I do have some, just not as much as my clinical experiences.

My original 25 schools went in as soon as possible. I started getting secondaries at the end of July when my committee letter was finally written, and I got all of them in within two weeks of receiving them, usually sooner.

 

[indianjatt]

How were you interview skills?

Try to practice that as well with mock interviews and advice.

 

[ronaldo23]

First, theres hope you'll get in off one of the two waitlists you are on. I'm sure you're on top of sending updates/letter of intents to show interest. Second, WUSTL is one of the best med schools in the country and they interviewed you-I think next cycle, you could add some mid-tier schools that you missed here and throw out some of those schools that don't interview many OOS. I suggest: Albany, all 4 of the SUNYs (they barely give NYS residents preference vs OOS), NYMC, Vermont, Tulane, Drexel, FIU, Commonwealth, Oakland (new school), Eastern Virginia Med. An SMP is IMO a waste of money if you apply broadly/early, adding these schools and removing some of the upper-tier ones. Also, seeing as how you had 4 interviews and 2 rejections from them, have either your parents, your schools career services conduct a mock interview and really prep for the questions (assuming you feel that aspect could be improved).

 

[Bernoull]

Honestly what's the rationale behind an SMP, i really don't get it?

I think the issue you had last cycle is be a combination "poor school selection" and interview skills.

I like the thirds approach (1/3 reach, 1/3 competitive, 1/3 safeties) for school selection. Secondly do a bunch of mock interviews b4 the interview cycle begins this year. Statistically, one gets an acceptance for every 2-3 interviews.

Lastly, please don't do an SMP, you don't need one. Simple fixes to your reapplication strategy should land you multiple acceptances.

Best of luck!