Can med schools see if this is your second cycle applying?

[abcdpremed]

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And all the schools you're applying to/have applied to? I'm not referring to being a re-applicant at the specific school just in general like if I were to apply to a school I had not applied to in the first cycle, would they know this is my second cycle?

 

[Kingsmen2018]

Yes they will know, and care

 

[Goro]

Yes they will know, and care

They care to a degree. The bias that SDN has against reapplicants is mostly hype, based upon reports here from SDNers. I've seen tons of posts from people who applied late in one cycle, had to reapply, and then got in on the 2nd try with an earlier app.

Can they tell though? An Adcom (@LizzyM?) once stated that it was possible to figure it out from something in the AMCAS numbering.

DO schools have no way of knowing what cycle you're on.

 

[Chelsea FC]

I think couple secondary prompt ask about if this first time applying to medical school and if so what improved from that time.

 

[shortcoatdream15]

Schools that you submitted your primary to last time will see you as a reapplicant. Schools that you never sent your primary to will see you as a first-time applicant. Some of those schools have secondary questions asking "Have you ever applied to medical school before?" That's pretty much it

 

[DameJulie]

A very useful thread. I also think most schools would ask you if you have applied to any med school and if you applied to their school before.

For DO schools, I vaguely remember some schools also ask that in the secondary, but not in AACOMAS.

Don't lose your hope; I am trying to stay positive as well. I suspect a handful of accepted students each cycle are re-applicants (since more than half of the applicant pool were not accepted anywhere). If you improved your application and showed your commitment in reinventing yourselves, one day an adcom will see through and reward you.

That's the magical moment I wish for. But before that, must improve improve and improve your app!

 

[impendingdoom]

n=1 re-applicant/second time applying and I have 10 interviews with about 1/2 being from schools I applied to last year and 1/2 new ones. Only 2 schools asked if I had applied before on the secondary, and only one brought it up in the interview.

Being a re-applicant isn't a death sentence unlike what people on this website think; esp if you substantially improve an area you're weak in

 

[Dr. Stalker]

3rd time reapplicant here (MD only all 3x).

Schools CAN and WILL know if you're a reapplicant. While you don't necessarily disclose this on your AMCAS, almost every secondary I completed either asked a yes or no question if you've applied before. Most asked "if you have applied before, tell us what cycle, and how you've changed your application since then?"

I got in. My biggest hindrance was my MCAT score. I retook it a whopping 3 times, got myself a masters degree, and continued my research throughout this time. In fact, the school I'm accepted at pre-II rejected me my first cycle. I reapplied not my 2nd cycle but my 3rd. I wrote that essay saying "how my application changed." The odds were all stacked against me. AND during the interviews, the interviewers even asked me about all of my prior cycles. I discussed how I was immature when I first applied and was half-assing my application but today, I'm a different man, a man ready to begin his medical education. Low and behold, accepted. 👍