Help me

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If anything, you aimed too low, rather than too high. Also, your premed advisors are idiots.

Rutgers was a donation unless you're from NJ. The bolded schools below are service oriented schools, and tend to shy away from high stat candidates because from historic norms, thye know candidates like you are more likley to go elsewhere. VA Tech seems to like people from that part of rural VA.

Your essays may be lacking, despite having a compelling story, and you also may have a bad LOR.

At the end of the cycle, see if you can get feedback from these schools on your rejections.



Every school in VA, Gtown, Tufts, carle illinois cincinati, Rosalind, Stritch, Albany, Rochester, Einstein, Rush, Wayne, boston u, creighton, rutgers, some others I'm forgetting;
 
Goro said:
If anything, you aimed too low, rather than too high. Also, your premed advisors are idiots.

Rutgers was a donation unless you're from NJ. The bolded schools below are service oriented schools, and tend to shy away from high stat candidates because from historic norms, thye know candidates like you are more likley to go elsewhere. VA Tech seems to like people from that part of rural VA.

Your essays may be lacking, despite having a compelling story, and you also may have a bad LOR.

At the end of the cycle, see if you can get feedback from these schools on your rejections.



Every school in VA, Gtown, Tufts, carle illinois cincinati, Rosalind, Stritch, Albany, Rochester, Einstein, Rush, Wayne, boston u, creighton, rutgers, some others I'm forgetting;
Click to expand...

Hi Goro,
Thanks for the reply. Except for the clinical research coordinator, all the recs were vetted by my school's fellowship advising office prior to applying to fullbright, so I'm unsure if that's the issue. If essays were an issue, would it be worth paying for one of those services I see online where people from test prep companies read your essays and give feedback? Maybe this is outside of the scope of SDN, but I have a very low opinion of myself, so maybe that came through in my essays? I'm really just guessing at this point and feel demotivated about having to retake a very high mcat score.
 
sb247 said:
Did someone review all your essays before they went out?

Do you still have them?
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Hi sb247,
Thanks for the reply, my parents reviewed them but that's it. I'm at a point in my life where I'm out of school and so I have no friends. Also I'm in a toxic work environment for now although I'm pretty sure I'm getting fired soon with nowhere to go which is terrifying.
 
doglova said:
Hi Goro,
Thanks for the reply. Except for the clinical research coordinator, all the recs were vetted by my school's fellowship advising office prior to applying to fullbright, so I'm unsure if that's the issue. If essays were an issue, would it be worth paying for one of those services I see online where people from test prep companies read your essays and give feedback? Maybe this is outside of the scope of SDN, but I have a very low opinion of myself, so maybe that came through in my essays? I'm really just guessing at this point and feel demotivated about having to retake a very high mcat score.
Click to expand...
Rewrite all your essays and have multiple eyeballs vet them. Your parents were, in actuality , poor choices as proofers. At a the minimum, your pre-med advisers should have done so.

There are SDNers who will look at them for free.

Why should you retake your MCAT???

Thus, I don't see a need for a gap year. But as a reapplicant, add some DO schools to your list if you don't hear anything by end of October.
 
Goro said:
Rewrite all your essays and have multiple eyeballs vet them. There are SDNers who will look at them for free.
Why should you retake your MCAT???
Click to expand...

Hi Goro,
It's past the 3 year point so I was told that I have to :-(.
 
doglova said:
Hi sb247,
Thanks for the reply, my parents reviewed them but that's it. I'm at a point in my life where I'm out of school and so I have no friends. Also I'm in a toxic work environment for now although I'm pretty sure I'm getting fired soon with nowhere to go which is terrifying.
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Get the premed office and an english major to look over all your old essays (which should illuminate any errors to avoid next year)

Granted I had applied to DO schools as well but I got an interview at every single place that offered me a secondary. I applied day 1 in the season though, turned around all secondaries in less than 2 weeks (most in 1). But I had a system in place. I have significant speech writing experience, lined up 2 english/creative writing majors and an academic (nonmedical) dept head to look over my stuff. All secondaries were written first draft in 48hours and sent to review by all three who turned them back within 48 with minor notes. If writing is not a strong suit, you may need more time or in person review of your essays

My gpa and mcat were literal crap compared to you. Your problem is eleswhere
 
sb247 said:
Get the premed office and an english major to look over all your old essays (which should illuminate any errors to avoid next year)

Granted I had applied to DO schools as well but I got an interview at every single place that offered me a secondary. I applied day 1 in the season though, turned around all secondaries in less than 2 weeks (most in 1). But I had a system in place. I have significant speech writing experience, lined up 2 english/creative writing majors and an academic (nonmedical) dept head to look over my stuff. All secondaries were written first draft in 48hours and sent to review by all three who turned them back within 48 with minor notes. If writing is not a strong suit, you may need more time or in person review of your essays

My gpa and mcat were literal crap compared to you. Your problem is eleswhere
Click to expand...
Isn't med school getting more competitive too? So it may not be the same stats as when we applied?
 
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the encouraging words. Other than essays, are there any ECs I could have been lacking or which is understood as necessary from an adcom perspective? I took gap years originally to bulk out my clinical experience and publish papers but it seems that didn't help :-(
 
Also, could having double engineering majors and not the conventional basic science majors hurt me? I'm not sure if I could fix that, I'm just shooting bullets into the dark.
 
Send me your essays next time you apply.

I will give my thoughts.
 
When you reapply I suggest these schools(assuming you are a Virginia resident)
UVA
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Duke
Emory
Vanderbilt
Miami
USF Morsani
Boston University
Brown
Harvard
Yale
Hofstra
Einstein
Mount Sinai
NYU
Cornell
Columbia
Rochester
Pittsburgh
Case Western
Cincinnati
Ohio State
U Michigan
Northwestern
U Chicago
Carle
Washington University
Mayo (both schools)
USC Keck
Kaiser
 
@Faha thanks for the encouraging list but certain numbers need to be retaken due to expiration which will determine what I can try for which is scary. I kind of wish I applied the earlier cycle so I could try twice with the same stats. Also, thanks for the private messages, I was advised to tag @LizzyM who may be able to shed light on how everything is going so wrong and what else could be wrong other than essays, LORs, and potentially a non-ideal list.
 
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I think that you had a bad list. With that MCAT and the research portfolio, many of the schools thought you were out of their league and going to a top 10 so why would they waste an interview slot on you... Along with every school in Virginia (if that is your home state) you should have applied to Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, NYU, Penn and Hopkins. It couldn't have been worse than the cycle you had with the school list you drew up with your advisor.
 
LizzyM said:
many of the schools thought you were out of their league and going to a top 10 so why would they waste an interview slot on you...
Click to expand...

Are medical schools able to see which schools you've applied to? My primary app document lists them.
 
Following other's excellent responses, I just wanna summarize by saying your story is classic for high stat reapplicants.

Deviation from application best practices (e.g. parents reading essays) tends to get one in trouble. I knew a lad back in the day who had a 42 MCAT (I am old) but only ended up with waitlists because he applied too late.

Your stats are that of a rockstar. Spend a few bucks and get someone who is an expert in this area to manage, edit, screen, and organize your application and it's components. It doesn't need to be anything too fancy, but someone who has been through a few cycles with students in the past few years. When I applied, there was a guy at Rutgers who basically wrote the book for the entire University's premed advising program. He retired after like 30 years and opened up a little side business mentoring premeds for like $30 an hour, wildly reasonable rates because he actually enjoyed working with students.

And again to echo others, work on yourself. Get into therapy and be the best version of yourself because Med School isn't known for improving the mental health of its students. My alma mater has now lost a student now in three consecutive classes, yikes. In addition, a friend of mine from med school once said "If you have a heartbeat, you can benefit from therapy"

Good luck!

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutors
Med School Tutors
 
doglova said:
Hi sb247,
Thanks for the reply, my parents reviewed them but that's it. I'm at a point in my life where I'm out of school and so I have no friends. Also I'm in a toxic work environment for now although I'm pretty sure I'm getting fired soon with nowhere to go which is terrifying.
Click to expand...

Find another job before they fire you. Just my 2 cents there. Not specifically med school admission advice, but learning to head off problems at the workplace / school is an important life skill.
 
MedSchoolTutors said:
Following other's excellent responses, I just wanna summarize by saying your story is classic for high stat reapplicants.

Deviation from application best practices (e.g. parents reading essays) tends to get one in trouble. I knew a lad back in the day who had a 42 MCAT (I am old) but only ended up with waitlists because he applied too late.

Your stats are that of a rockstar. Spend a few bucks and get someone who is an expert in this area to manage, edit, screen, and organize your application and it's components. It doesn't need to be anything too fancy, but someone who has been through a few cycles with students in the past few years. When I applied, there was a guy at Rutgers who basically wrote the book for the entire University's premed advising program. He retired after like 30 years and opened up a little side business mentoring premeds for like $30 an hour, wildly reasonable rates because he actually enjoyed working with students.

And again to echo others, work on yourself. Get into therapy and be the best version of yourself because Med School isn't known for improving the mental health of its students. My alma mater has now lost a student now in three consecutive classes, yikes. In addition, a friend of mine from med school once said "If you have a heartbeat, you can benefit from therapy"

Good luck!

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutors
Med School Tutors
Click to expand...


Tangentially related question, but isn’t there some sort of way residencies can find out if you’re in therapy and use that against you? This totally goes against pt privacy, but for some reason I recall reading stories about this happening...
 
Went through your post history and must agree w the above advice to make sure you have your anxiety and self worth issues under control, take some time to work on that and retake the MCAT (but do double check that your score is for sure not gonna be accepted, I recall being surprised at some schools earliest acceptable MCAT test date) and rewrite essays.

It seems many advised you on school lists around this time last year, and they also recommended a lot of what they are saying now, i.e. apply to T20s, which you for whatever reason did not.

I understand being nervous and having low self esteem but in this case it might have had direct consequences on your app cycle. We ask others for advice and to evaluate us because we aren't the best judge of ourselves, it only makes sense to at least consider what the unbiased opinion says over your own warped self perception.

Wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide. Most likely a future reapp will require a lot of self reflection to write a strong PS/secondaries, it's never too early to start on that process. I noticed in one of your previous posts you also mentioned thinking that getting into med school will solve all your problems, and I would also warn you against that kind of thinking...Med school is just the beginning, there's much more ahead of you. Getting in isn't the end goal and you won't find happiness or peace just from getting an acceptance. You really have to want a career as a physician, not just to get in.
 
premed1875 said:
Tangentially related question, but isn’t there some sort of way residencies can find out if you’re in therapy and use that against you? This totally goes against pt privacy, but for some reason I recall reading stories about this happening...
Click to expand...

Would be wildly against federal law. If you are considering therapy, and you should (we all should) I would encourage you to divorce your school from your therapy. Especially if you are 26 or younger, stay on your parent's plan and do therapy through them.

Again, it is unlawful for a school to disclose that, but why even let them know the information. It is your privacy.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors
 
doglova said:
Hi friends,
I applied this cycle and although I got secondaries everywhere I did not receive an interview anywhere. I'm feeling very demotivated and worried. In addition the strongest part of my app expired and if I want to reapp next cycle I have to retake before may and I forgot literally everything and I'm definitely not going to do anywhere close to as well. I thought I had a decently okayish app and I really don't know what's wrong with my application. I tried to stay off sdn due to anxiety during the process. But at this point it is what it is. I was wondering what's wrong with my app which I summarized below, since there must be something I'm not seeing. Let me know if I can share anything else. @Goro @Faha @whoever else

Undergrad: T5
Major: bioengineering and math
cGPA: 3.81; sGPA: 3.89; MCAT: 527: 132/131/132/132
Clinical volunteering: about 300 hrs
Paid clinical experience: about 1500 hrs
Non-clinical volunteering: about 150 hrs
Research: 2000 hours, 4 publications mid author, 5 business plan competition awards, ~10 posters, multiple poster competition awards
Leadership: president of 2 premed clubs during undergrad, leadership positions in service groups
Shadowing: About 200 hours:
Gap year: Fullbright
Recs: Bio prof, math prof, humanities prof, engineering prof, healthcare consulting internship boss, clinical volunteering coordinator
Other activities: healthcare consulting internships within MBB firm, tech internship with well known company, tutoring, volunteering within large organizations
Ethnicity: Mixed non minority
Special circumstance/ context: Diagnosed and treated for cancer during undergrad which resulted in bad semester jr year followed by a year off + rebuilding period followed by 4.0 entire sr year. I thought I demonstrated resilience by maintaining a decently okayish gpa while being treated for cancer following by getting better and doing perfectly following my return and so I wouldn't be judged negatively. But I guess not.


School List: Every school in VA, Gtown, Tufts, carle illinois cincinati, Rosalind, Stritch, Albany, Rochester, Einstein, Rush, Wayne, boston u, creighton, rutgers, some others I'm forgetting; My strategy was to have a shortish list of schools with potentially the highest chance of getting in based on advisor help.

Edit: I don't use this forum a lot, so I apologize in advance if anything doesn't follow the rules. I'm just feeling very hopeless rn. But looks like things are going further downhill yikes.
Click to expand...
You are obviously a smart and hard-working individual. Rejection happens to everyone, although I know it is hard to accept. The important thing is to pick yourself up and carry on. I was waitlisted my first year applying, a lot of people are waitlisted or rejected their first year, and sometimes second/third year. In a lot of ways getting into med school is about luck, there is so much competition, and a lot of deserving people get passed over.
Get your confidence from your past accomplishments. Know that you are deserving. Confidence not arrogance with get you in. If you are a very anxious person, you are in good company, a lot of med students are. But it is not a healthy way to deal with stress. Try to find books for self-growth, meditation, exercise, find something to channel the anxiety. 🙂 Keep your head up, good things are ahead.
 
If you prepare well, I suspect you’ll be able to pull another 520+. With that, the Fulbright and everything else, you have to apply high. Lower ranked schools will not interview you.

You should apply to every school with a median MCAT of 519 or higher.

Certain schools crave high MCATs in particular: U Chicago, NYU, Northwestern, Wash U, Vanderbilt are among these.

You should definitely apply to the powerhouses: Harvard, Stanford, Hopkins, Penn, Yale, Columbia, Cornell.

Among lower ranking schools, search for those with high MCAT medians. Case Western and Mt Sinai come to mind.

Now you’re probably facing cheduled MCAT cancellations like the rest of us due to the pandemic. Not sure what to do about that.
 
Definitely work on your essays as others have said, consult people outside family to review it. If that means asking people on here, paying a professional, asking old profs, etc. Your essays and your ability to portray what med school means to you is most likely what's holding you back. Good luck getting in!
 
I feel like you got yield protected and some of the schools you listed are huge on service. You should probably have way more higher tier schools on your list with your stats (which are incredible btw).
 
doglova said:
Hi friends,
I applied this cycle and although I got secondaries everywhere I did not receive an interview anywhere. I'm feeling very demotivated and worried. In addition the strongest part of my app expired and if I want to reapp next cycle I have to retake before may and I forgot literally everything and I'm definitely not going to do anywhere close to as well. I thought I had a decently okayish app and I really don't know what's wrong with my application. I tried to stay off sdn due to anxiety during the process. But at this point it is what it is. I was wondering what's wrong with my app which I summarized below, since there must be something I'm not seeing. Let me know if I can share anything else. @Goro @Faha @whoever else

Undergrad: T5
Major: bioengineering and math
cGPA: 3.81; sGPA: 3.89; MCAT: 527: 132/131/132/132
Clinical volunteering: about 300 hrs
Paid clinical experience: about 1500 hrs
Non-clinical volunteering: about 150 hrs
Research: 2000 hours, 4 publications mid author, 5 business plan competition awards, ~10 posters, multiple poster competition awards
Leadership: president of 2 premed clubs during undergrad, leadership positions in service groups
Shadowing: About 200 hours:
Gap year: Fullbright
Recs: Bio prof, math prof, humanities prof, engineering prof, healthcare consulting internship boss, clinical volunteering coordinator
Other activities: healthcare consulting internships within MBB firm, tech internship with well known company, tutoring, volunteering within large organizations
Ethnicity: Mixed non minority
Special circumstance/ context: Diagnosed and treated for cancer during undergrad which resulted in bad semester jr year followed by a year off + rebuilding period followed by 4.0 entire sr year. I thought I demonstrated resilience by maintaining a decently okayish gpa while being treated for cancer following by getting better and doing perfectly following my return and so I wouldn't be judged negatively. But I guess not.


School List: Every school in VA, Gtown, Tufts, carle illinois cincinati, Rosalind, Stritch, Albany, Rochester, Einstein, Rush, Wayne, boston u, creighton, rutgers, some others I'm forgetting; My strategy was to have a shortish list of schools with potentially the highest chance of getting in based on advisor help.

Edit: I don't use this forum a lot, so I apologize in advance if anything doesn't follow the rules. I'm just feeling very hopeless rn. But looks like things are going further downhill yikes.
Click to expand...
Honestly, with those stats and extracurriculars, I have to agree with what a lot of people here are saying: the problem must be your personal statement, interviews, and list. Did you receive many interviews and if so, how do you think they went?
 
bruh... I think the problem here was that you are too OVER-qualified for the schools you applied to.... they must've thought "this person is probably going for bigger and better names" and rightfully so, because I bet had you applied to more T-20s you're success would've actually been GREATER
 
Sorry you’re in this situation. Don’t lose hope though. If you got 527 the first time around, I can’t exactly see you bombing it this next time (that was a joke-hell you might get that 528!).
A year is nothing in the grand scheme of things—don’t forget that. NOTHING.
 
@doglova
Did you end up getting accepted anywhere last cycle?

By the way, regarding your comment on needing to take the MCAT again...you don't. There are a bunch of schools this cycle taking MCAT scores 2015 onward. Due to covid-19
 
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