CO Reapplicant. Did late applications kill me, or is it just me?

[elle1993]

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I am terrified to post this-- I hope that not too many heads will be shaking reading this.

I applied to 25 medical schools (MD) last summer and didn't get a single interview invite. *Big breath* I submitted my primary application in mid-August and the majority of my secondaries in December. Irresponsible, absolutely. Excusable, no.

So my question is, were late applications the kiss of death? (Nothing looks more irresponsible than taking four months to return a secondary application, I'm embarrassed. Got a moderate concussion soon after submitting and got behind in school.) Would I be a candidate who would be considered more favorably early on in the application cycle? I don't have stellar stats, but I'm well rounded and I finished my undergraduate degree (Biomedical Sciences) in three years.

GPA: 3.58
sGPA: 3.5
MCAT: 30 (9, 10, 11)
EC's:
Urgent Care Volunteer for 6 mos: 100 hours (began after first rejection)
Food Bank Volunteer for 6 mos: 100 hours (began after first rejection)
Physician Shadowing: 60 hours (many docs and specialties)
Recently Retired Third Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do: 1000's of hours over 9 years (benched due to injury)
Animal Research for 2 years: 200 hours
Leukemia Research for 2 years: 300 hours
Microbiology Laboratory TA for 1 year: 400 hours
I am graduating this May and have secured a job in a local Dermatology Office for the year assisting the four doctors in the practice, the clinical researcher, and patients.
Outstanding LOR's from volunteer coordinators, research mentor, and professors.

I realize I'm lacking in clinical experience, but do I stand a chance of gaining acceptance this year? If not, should I be considering DO schools?

Thank you so much for your time!

 

[solitarius]

If I were to do a post-mortem on your app, I'd say that 1) your numbers are just marginal for MD, and 2) you applied with no clinical or volunteering experience. The late app certainly hurts, but I wouldn't see a successful result with an earlier submission.

Yes, you should add DO schools to the next app cycle and you should build up your clinical and volunteering experience.

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

Bummer on the late apps. Glad to hear you are focused on looking forward.

Definitely apply DO if you are interested in that. If you are set on being in CO, Rocky Vista is a good option. I know a bunch of people who went there from CU and they all seem happy. Apply very broadly and day one. Make sure your application is refined and that you rewrite your personal statement. Throw in some schools that you didn't apply to last year.

Lack of clinical experience will hurt you at CU is you apply there. Especially if you applied there last cycle.

Do you think your application is much better than the one you submitted this last cycle? You definitely don't want to apply with the exact same app.

Good luck!

 

[elle1993]

Thank you for the responses-- I will absolutely be applying to both DO and MD and will do so early and hope for the best. I will continue working on my volunteer/clinical experience, too.

Does it help/make a difference that the leukemia research was volunteer work?

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

Thank you for the responses-- I will absolutely be applying to both DO and MD and will do so early and hope for the best. I will continue working on my volunteer/clinical experience, too.

Does it help/make a difference that the leukemia research was volunteer work?

Not as long as you got something out of it, like experience-wise, not necessarily publications or posters. If you had a project and actually did research and can talk intelligently about it, that's all that matters.

 

[BrawnsNBrain]

Thank you for the responses-- I will absolutely be applying to both DO and MD and will do so early and hope for the best. I will continue working on my volunteer/clinical experience, too.

Does it help/make a difference that the leukemia research was volunteer work?

To my understanding most of my undergrad colleagues did research voluntarily so no it doesn't make a difference IMO. Unless you're writing a thesis, research is typically voluntary to my understanding.