Getting rejected by jobs during gap year

[music2doc]

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With the exception of a poor school selection the first time around (which seems more common than I would have expected from looking at some failed MDApps...)

Agree this type of job won't hurt you though.

True, although I would argue that even then, adcoms are going to be skeptical of you as a reapplicant. I know I would be. That "reapplicant" box being checked means 100% of the schools this applicant applied to unanimously said "NO!" That's a pretty strong consensus, so what would it take to make me feel I should be the one person to give this individual a chance? What did others see in him/her that made them so quick to press the "Reject" key? As a result, I think you really do have to strengthen your app regardless -- even if it was due to a late app or poor school selection. You bear the "reapplicant" stigma/mark regardless.

 

[Loveless]

Because a lot of people want their children to be successful and it is well-known that college grads (on average) make more money. The problem is that when everyone and their mother tries to take advantage of that opportunity, the market becomes saturated. It's basic economics, supply and demand. 20 years ago, a college degree mattered. Now everyone has one.

According to Wiki (I know, I know), only 30% of the population has a bachelors. So we're to assume that the percentage of jobs that require a BA/BS is < 30% of the total jobs available in the country?

The problem, I think, is that A. schools do a piss poor job of integrating real world problems and experience into their degree programs, and B. our society seems to put a fear factor on coveted degrees like C.S. and engineering. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree that just having any degree isn't as impressive as it was 20 years ago and u.g. degrees are quickly becoming the new H.S. diploma, but I still see plenty of demand for educated students; it's just, as I said earlier, they either have the wrong degree or their school didn't do **** to make them competitive right out of the gate.

 

[Planes2Doc]

Not to take any of the attention off of the OPs post but I am applying this year and got a job in a real estate office with a salary thats decent enough for me to support myself. Will an office job be frowned upon while I interview? I am a re-applicant btw.

It won'tbe frowned upon, but make sure you're volunteering in the meantime. Four hours a week in a hospital is the way to go since the commitment is minimal. Plus the office job pays more than entry-level clinical work and is more unique than the massive number of pre-meds with entry-level clinical jobs that ADCOMs see over and over again.

As was mentioned before, I think employers are looking for career-minded people, not pre-meds.

 

[aspiring20]

It won'tbe frowned upon, but make sure you're volunteering in the meantime. Four hours a week in a hospital is the way to go since the commitment is minimal. Plus the office job pays more than entry-level clinical work and is more unique than the massive number of pre-meds with entry-level clinical jobs that ADCOMs see over and over again.

As was mentioned before, I think employers are looking for career-minded people, not pre-meds.

welcome back planes2doc

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

True, although I would argue that even then, adcoms are going to be skeptical of you as a reapplicant. I know I would be. That "reapplicant" box being checked means 100% of the schools this applicant applied to unanimously said "NO!" That's a pretty strong consensus, so what would it take to make me feel I should be the one person to give this individual a chance? What did others see in him/her that made them so quick to press the "Reject" key? As a result, I think you really do have to strengthen your app regardless -- even if it was due to a late app or poor school selection. You bear the "reapplicant" stigma/mark regardless.

Not at schools you did not apply to last cycle. Greater than 120 schools in this country. If at all possible, pick a bunch that you didn't try last time and unless they specifically ask about previous applications, a scarlet letter (R) wearer you are not.

Apply to the same ones too. Improve your application for those.

 

[music2doc]

Not at schools you did not apply to last cycle. Greater than 120 schools in this country. If at all possible, pick a bunch that you didn't try last time and unless they specifically ask about previous applications, a scarlet letter (R) wearer you are not.

Apply to the same ones too. Improve your application for those.

Sure you do, even at the ones where you haven't already applied. Even though didn't apply there, you're still classified as a reapplicant and must answer those questions on secondaries unless they specifically state on the secondary to ONLY answer IF you applied to that specific school. AMCAS marks "YES" for reapplicant status on the primary. I'm not saying you won't get in, but the reality is that only some 1/3 of reapplicants get in (vs. nearly 1/2 the first round). This makes sense, of course, but if you are simply throwing darts at the same target over and over w/o making significant changes, other schools are going to take notice. AMCAS also notifies schools exactly in which years you've already applied so they can tell whether you took a year or two off before reapplying or are likely submitting the same application, and if you're probably submitting an identical application, why wouldn't another school be skeptical? I mean...they've already received a consensus recommendation from numerous other medical schools that you're not well-qualified.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Sure you do, even at the ones where you haven't already applied. Even though didn't apply there, you're still classified as a reapplicant and must answer those questions on secondaries unless they specifically state on the secondary to ONLY answer IF you applied to that specific school. AMCAS marks "YES" for reapplicant status on the primary. I'm not saying you won't get in, but the reality is that only some 1/3 of reapplicants get in (vs. nearly 1/2 the first round). This makes sense, of course, but if you are simply throwing darts at the same target over and over w/o making significant changes, other schools are going to take notice. AMCAS also notifies schools exactly in which years you've already applied so they can tell whether you took a year or two off before reapplying or are likely submitting the same application, and if you're probably submitting an identical application, why wouldn't another school be skeptical? I mean...they've already received a consensus recommendation from numerous other medical schools that you're not well-qualified.

Not sure if we're talking past each other, but this is straight off of AAMC.org:

Am I a reapplicant to all schools or only the ones I applied to before?

You are only a reapplicant to schools that previously received an AMCAS application from you. For example, if you applied to School A and School B last year, you would be considered a reapplicant at both of those schools if you apply to them this year. You would not be considered a reapplicant at School C since you did not previously apply to that school.

You will indicate your reapplicant status per school in the Medical Schools section of your application.

 

[music2doc]

Not sure if we're talking past each other, but this is straight off of AAMC.org:

Am I a reapplicant to all schools or only the ones I applied to before?

You are only a reapplicant to schools that previously received an AMCAS application from you. For example, if you applied to School A and School B last year, you would be considered a reapplicant at both of those schools if you apply to them this year. You would not be considered a reapplicant at School C since you did not previously apply to that school.

You will indicate your reapplicant status per school in the Medical Schools section of your application.

Interesting, did that change recently? I was pretty sure it applied across the board when I applied (although I admittedly didn't pay much attention to those rules since they didn't apply to me).

 

[cBlock420]

I agree with the previous posts about becoming a CNA, EMT, or something similar. A relative of mine took a 2-3 week course a couple months ago and is working pretty much whenever she wants as a 'certified CNA.'

Also dude, I'd just hang in there and keep applying. I applied for between 50-60 jobs, at least 40 were hospital related. I finally got hired as a lab assistant and am about to start training in phlebotomy. Not to mention I'm 28 and have no experience at all. Best of luck.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Interesting, did that change recently? I was pretty sure it applied across the board when I applied (although I admittedly didn't pay much attention to those rules since they didn't apply to me).

Maybe it has changed. Now when you select a specific school on AMCAS, you indicate whether you have applied there in the past. Other schools would not be notified about past applications unless their secondary includes some question like "have you applied to medical school anywhere ever?" Otherwise, it seems like you're treated as a fresh applicant to places that haven't received your AMCAS before.

 

[music2doc]

Maybe it has changed. Now when you select a specific school on AMCAS, you indicate whether you have applied there in the past. Other schools would not be notified about past applications unless their secondary includes some question like "have you applied to medical school anywhere ever?" Otherwise, it seems like you're treated as a fresh applicant to places that haven't received your AMCAS before.

Interesting. That's a nice change. I know LizzyM stated awhile back (maybe a year or two) that whenever she gets someone's AMCAS primary it states the years they had applied. I think I recall the Director of Admissions at CUSOM making a similar comment.

 

[dnovikov]

No, but you need to do something else in addition that makes you a viable applicant since you're reapplying. You're not going to get in this yr if you failed to get in last yr without some significant changes. If you didn't make those changes 6-12 months ago, you should probably need to take a year off before reapplying.

Well I applied last cycle, had 6 interviews that lead to 6 wait lists. Since my last application, I was voluntary clinical research assistant full time and start a not-for-profit. I re-wrote my personal statement (hopefully for the better) and did a MUCH better job reflecting on my work and activities. I don't think my stats held me back last time so I didnt bother retaking my MCAT or starting an SMP/Postbacc. I did apply fairly late last cycle (submitted primary July 27th) so I am hoping it was just a late application and bad interviewing? I am relieved to hear that my office job won't look bad as I re-apply. I am however working full time, do hospitals have volunteer slots on the weekends in NYC?