Feedback on my re-application strategy?

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johnnytest

johnnytest

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Although I know the application cycle is not over but with no IIs I want to start preparing now in case I have to re-apply. My GPA is >3.8 and my MCAT is >30 so I think academically I am fine. I want to try to improve the rest of my app and I would appreciate feedback. I've listed what I believe I did wrong this application cycle versus what I plan to do for next cycle.

For next cycle:
1. I was complete Mid-Sept for most of my schools. Next cycle I will be complete July 1st.
2. I do not have any formal shadowing experience. I do have ~150 hrs of clinical volunteering. I am looking to shadow some doctors in the NYC area. I intend to shadow >40 hours.
3. Write better experience descriptions and secondaries.
4. Apply more broadly. This cycle I stuck close to the east coast area, ~16 schools. Next time, I'll explore applying to many more schools across US.
5. Call schools I've been rejected from and inquire how to improve.

Here are some of my concerns

1. One of the reasons I was complete in September was because my committee sent out the letter in late August. I was on the fence whether I should use my committee letter due to how late it was. I opted to go with the committee because I didn't know what my explanation would be to not use the committee other than to be complete early. Also, I didn't think I would meet the individual letter requirements, such as science letters from BCPM. My degree is in biomedical engineering (BME) so I obtained letters from those in engineering. For next cycle, I am worried if I use the committee letter to fulfill the letter requirement I will end up being complete late again. If I decide to go with individual letters then I will call each school and see if they accept letters from BME. A July complete date is much more important to me. In my defense, BME should count as as a core science.

2. How much of my application should be different? I definitely plan on changing my secondaries to be more specific about the schools. But, I'm not sure about my PS. I feel through my PS I really described why I want to be a doctor. I feel I can just change or add the experiences I had but I don't think I can change the main story. What about LORs? Since I graduated, I don't think the letters from my engineering faculty would change much since I am not interacting with them as much. Besides, there isn't anything new they could say which I can't in my AMCAS app. Is this a bad thing?

3. I have not taken a sociology course. I have taken psychology, philosophy, and economics. I know some schools are changing their premed requirements to match the new MCAT by including sociology and psychology. So, if med schools require this then what should I do?

New things to add to next app
1. New job as a research assistant
2. Working to start a business and participated in a 8-week business development bootcamp program.
3. Shadowing experience.
4. New Hobbies: learning to play piano. I did not mention any hobbies on my app because I thought no one really cares or it's not relevant to medicine but I am hearing many people say it's good to put hobbies as it shows diversity.
5. If I have the time, I am considering volunteering in an underserved community in NYC to tutor students or provide some other service. This is important to me because I grew up in an underserved community and volunteered in one before and it was a great experience for me.

Things I am continuing to do

1. Clinical Volunteering. I should have about 300 hours by next summer.
 
Your plan sounds similar to what mine was, except your GPA is way better than mine. I had no shadowing also, so definitely get those hours in.
 
That's a tough break for you with your stats not getting any II this year. Good luck next cycle, and as you already stated, apply early and broadly!
 
I think you are doing a great job at planning for next year and identifying any weaknesses from this cycle. I know a few people who focused on one thing as the reason they didn't get in and end up failing to get in after a second cycle. An earlier app with more robust activities and clinical experience will probably help your chances significantly.

My thoughts:
-If you think your personal statement is solid I don't see a reason to dramatically revise it. Sure maybe revise it slightly with more updated info if applicable. Never hurts to have others look it over just to make sure it conveys the story you want to tell.
-Most schools I saw that had the psychology/sociology requirement listed it as psychology OR sociology, not both. Having one would probably be fine. Just check the schools you are interested in. I had neither and most schools were fine with my upper division course that had a psychology component counting as psychology.
-Taking a good hard look at your experience descriptions may be very helpful. A poorly written description could really drag down an otherwise excellent experience.
-I don't think hobbies are necessary unless they truly are significant to you. I didn't have any, but did talk about what I do for fun in my interviews.
 
I think your plan is excellent, well-planned, and definitely able to set you up for success next cycle if needed. I strongly believe the one thing that killed your app this cycle is your lack of shadowing. Out of all the de facto or unwritten premed requirements, shadowing is arguably the one thing you cannot lack whatsoever (in addition to clinical volunteering/exposure/experience) because how else are you going to convince adcoms that you know what you're getting yourself into? Other than that, you are doing yourself a huge favor by planning out a reapp cycle with this much effort and thought. You've also inspired me to start planning my own reapp cycle too!
 
Although, I won't quote everyone, I greatly appreciate the feedback from everyone. Receiving no IIs has been a real wake up call for me that if I really want this I have to earn it. Thanks everyone and I would love to hear more comments from fellow SDN users.
 
ridethecliche said:
I think it's great that you're planning ahead but don't count yourself out yet. What was your school list like? Relatively balanced or not?
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm still hoping to receive an II, which may change everything but the extra activities I plan on doing may add about 6-8 hours per week to my workload, which I can handle. So I feel there's no harm in pursing them. In retrospect, school list was not very balanced which may be why I'm in the position that I am. But, definitely plan on changing that next cycle.
 
johnnytest said:
Yep, I'm still hoping to receive an II, which may change everything but the extra activities I plan on doing may add about 6-8 hours per week to my workload, which I can handle. So I feel there's no harm in pursing them. In retrospect, school list was not very balanced which may be why I'm in the position that I am. But, definitely plan on changing that next cycle.
Click to expand...
MSAR online is your best friend! lololol

Also, what is your state of residence? Sometimes that can play into your chances too.
 
Ace Khalifa said:
At least you're not in Cali. You also have a very good selection of schools in your home state.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's a blessing. But, when I received two holds from two NY state schools where my stats were above or on par I realized something may be wrong. I'm going to meet with my pre-med advisor and see if there are any red-flags. Right now, I would say there could be many things with my app but that's not being objective just neurotic.
 
Yeah I think being complete in mid-September hurt you the most because unless you're a super star applicant, it's hard to stand out when they've already reviewed thousands of applications. Your plan looks good, but there's still time left in this cycle, so hope you get some interviews!
 
Afford said:
Yeah I think being complete in mid-September hurt you the most because unless you're a super star applicant, it's hard to stand out when they've already reviewed thousands of applications. Your plan looks good, but there's still time left in this cycle, so hope you get some interviews!
Click to expand...

I concur and thanks!
 
I was in a similar boat tbh, since my school doesn't release letters till mid august. I had everything in right before they released the letters so I think that helped a bit. I've honestly been pretty surprised as I haven't heard back from many schools I expected to yet. I have a feeling that if I won't hear back in the next 2-3 weeks, then things will ramp up again in jan/feb.

Hello drag race :/
 
ridethecliche said:
I was in a similar boat tbh, since my school doesn't release letters till mid august. I had everything in right before they released the letters so I think that helped a bit. I've honestly been pretty surprised as I haven't heard back from many schools I expected to yet. I have a feeling that if I won't hear back in the next 2-3 weeks, then things will ramp up again in jan/feb.

Hello drag race :/
Click to expand...

I hope so too. But, I rather be on the safe side than just leave it to speculation. Both Goro and gyngyn have said interviews are almost gone. I feel everyone's experience applying to medical school is different and you''ll hear almost every possible scenario. Of the acceptance anecdotes you hear, I believe most fall into one of the following:

1. Apply early, receive IIs early, accepted early
2. Apply early, receive IIs late, accepted late
3. Apply late, receive IIs relatively quickly, accepted relatively quickly
4. Apply late, receive IIs late, accepted late.

#2 and #4 produce the most stress.
 
I think 2 is more stressful than 4 because the wait is what kills ya.

And while I think that most interviews are taken up, most candidates have also been reviewed. The primary closes in less than a month and secondaries are due at most places sometime in december or early jan. I'm guessing that close to 75-80% of applications are already in, so it makes sense that only 15-20% of spots are left.

Think about it this way: most of the people that are applying this late probably don't have their crap together.
 
ridethecliche said:
I think 2 is more stressful than 4 because the wait is what kills ya.

And while I think that most interviews are taken up, most candidates have also been reviewed. The primary closes in less than a month and secondaries are due at most places sometime in december or early jan. I'm guessing that close to 75-80% of applications are already in, so it makes sense that only 15-20% of spots are left.

Think about it this way: most of the people that are applying this late probably don't have their crap together.
Click to expand...

I agree. For #2, you basically did everything right by applying early. With #4, it's almost expected you will hear later than others.

What I would like to know is at this stage of the cycle, what weighs the most or causes the adcoms to pull the trigger on the II?
 
I think the stat-monsters have a better shot at this stage of the cycle. Either that, or having a great story+good experiences will be more helpful.

It's hard to speculate that honestly, but I feel like you have to be more 'put together' at this point.

I sent secondaries to 42 schools between mid august (like almost all of them) and then did a few in late august/early sept. I still have to hear back from 30. I've received 3 II's, but haven't heard back from school in the same or even lower tier.

/me scratches head
 
ridethecliche said:
I think the stat-monsters have a better shot at this stage of the cycle. Either that, or having a great story+good experiences will be more helpful.

It's hard to speculate that honestly, but I feel like you have to be more 'put together' at this point.

I sent secondaries to 42 schools between mid august (like almost all of them) and then did a few in late august/early sept. I still have to hear back from 30. I've received 3 II's, but haven't heard back from school in the same or even lower tier.

/me scratches head
Click to expand...

Holy **** 42 schools?
 
baxt1412 said:
Holy **** 42 schools?
Click to expand...
'

Well, 45. I didn't get secondaries from Vanderbilt, UCLA, and SUNY Downstate told me my MCAT was too old (lulz?).

I got FAP so I took a week off work and spent as much as I would have applying for 10 schools to apply to way more. Sadly, I should have edited some of my stuff more, but so it goes. I'm going to write up a thread when I'm done this cycle. Should be interesting.

Anyway, back to the OP's thread.
 
OP, I like your plan. I actually went into this cycle planning a reapplication just in case. Now I have quite a bit of new things to update and talk about at interviews.

One thing I would suggest you reconsider is forgoing the committee letter. Depending on your undergraduate school, this can be something adcoms expect. So it could be more of a hindrance to forgo it.
 
You could try updating schools with any new activities you're doing. I got 2 IIs from schools where I had updated my application within the last couple of weeks. I'm not sure why - maybe it brings you to the top of the pile again?

My best friend applied late last cycle (in September) and didn't start getting IIs until December. She ended up with 3 interviews and is now very happy at a great med school. I don't think here numbers were as good as yours. I think it's good that you're planning ahead, but don't count yourself out yet. You applied late, so maybe schools just haven't gotten to your application yet.
 
G_Marker said:
You could try updating schools with any new activities you're doing. I got 2 IIs from schools where I had updated my application within the last couple of weeks. I'm not sure why - maybe it brings you to the top of the pile again?

My best friend applied late last cycle (in September) and didn't start getting IIs until December. She ended up with 3 interviews and is now very happy at a great med school. I don't think here numbers were as good as yours. I think it's good that you're planning ahead, but don't count yourself out yet. You applied late, so maybe schools just haven't gotten to your application yet.
Click to expand...

Yeah I am starting to consider that. I sent an update to one school recently so I'll see how that goes. I only plan on sending updates to schools that are receptive to it. The question is when to send it exactly. My worry is what if they have not reviewed my file yet and sending the update before they review would have a negative effect. I imagine an update is useful to adcoms after they reviewed your application at least once rather than not at all.
 
Leslie_Knope said:
OP, I like your plan. I actually went into this cycle planning a reapplication just in case. Now I have quite a bit of new things to update and talk about at interviews.

One thing I would suggest you reconsider is forgoing the committee letter. Depending on your undergraduate school, this can be something adcoms expect. So it could be more of a hindrance to forgo it.
Click to expand...

Do you mean less of a hindrance?

I almost wish I'd done that this year...
 
ridethecliche said:
Do you mean less of a hindrance?

I almost wish I'd done that this year...
Click to expand...
No I mean it is less of a hindrance to use the committee letter. More of a hindrance to not use it. It is expected from most undergraduate schools that issue it is my (limited) understanding.
 
Leslie_Knope said:
No I mean it is less of a hindrance to use the committee letter. More of a hindrance to not use it. It is expected from most undergraduate schools that issue it is my (limited) understanding.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, I get what you mean.

Yeah, I feel like you have to have a good reason not to use it if your school pushes one as mine did.
 
If a Wash U student does not have the Wash U committee letter, adcoms will look on that very unfavorably and question why that applicant didn't have the committee letter. I agree that it's likely to be expected.
 
Yeah. I agree. Many schools specifically ask for an explanation if you do not use a committee letter when you had the option to do so
 
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