How do I prepare for reapplication?

[carson16666]

I hear people say this all the time but I can't really figure out what it means specifically. Am I supposed to just mentally prepare or do I have to actually do something specific? Sorry if it's a dumb question lol, I'm in a gap year right now and I just plan on continuing working and volunteering. Thanks!

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[Rachapkis]

Carefully reevaluate each aspect of your application, identify where you think it was wanting, and do what you can to improve those areas. I would NOT simply resubmit substantially the same application and expect different results.

 

[Goro]

Carefully reevaluate each aspect of your application, identify where you think it was wanting, and do what you can to improve those areas. I would NOT simply resubmit substantially the same application and expect different results.

This, 10000%

Also, rewrite all essays and have multiple eyeballs with them

 

[AJS59]

There is both a mentality aspect to it and also some time you need to reflect. In the event you need to apply, here are the questions you need to ask yourself (and it would be helpful to get others perspectives here):
-Did you apply to a good list of schools?
-Is your writing (PS, secondaries, and activity descriptions) reflective of your mission and purpose as a future physician, and do they convey the points well? I.e. do you show mission fit for certain programs?
-Are your LORs demonstrative of your good character?
-Do you have sufficient hours and activities to demonstrate your desire to go into medicine, your understanding of the profession, your ability to work on a team/as a leader, and your interest in helping those from different backgrounds?
-Finally, are there any glaring red flags you forgot to account for? Incorrect hours for activities, copy/paste errors in essays, IAs or courses you may have forgotten about, etc.?

Once you're able to answer all these questions (again, with the help from others) you can go from there.

While you reflect, continue to accumulate your existing hours and seek out new activities if you identify any deficits — commonly, that's in the realm of non-clinical service work.

 

[LindaAccepted]

I hear people say this all the time but I can't really figure out what it means specifically. Am I supposed to just mentally prepare or do I have to actually do something specific? Sorry if it's a dumb question lol, I'm in a gap year right now and I just plan on continuing working and volunteering. Thanks!

Preparing for reapplication means some thinking, but mostly doing. The previous posts in this thread provide a lot of guidance, but it boils down to:

1. Analyze weaknesses in your qualifications both academic and experiential for the programs you applied to last time. Grades? MCAT? Hours of clinical exposure? community service? research for some programs?
2. Address and improve in those areas and/or change the schools you are applying to.
3. Examine your presentation of your qualifications via your primary and secondary applications. Did you just list activities and provide very little reflection on them? Did your personal statement provide your activity history in prose? Did you secondaries basically repeat the primary and fail to answer the questions and/or show fit with the individual programs? Did you balance specifics and analysis of those specifics? You need to be able to answer "no" to all these questions next time around.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

All of the above advice is true. I will add, you do need to reflect strategically about your last cycle. Here's a SWOT-like analysis.

1) What went well with your application experience? What were some successes in reaching your goals?
2) What mistakes held your application progress back, in your opinion? Where should corrections in your assumptions, focus, or process be made?
3) How much did you value or disregard information or advice from others, including about your school list? It's okay if you disregarded advice, but do you know why? What assumptions did you make?
4) What concerns do you anticipate will prevent you from having the best possible profile? Financial? Expired scores or grades? Letters of recommendation?

 

[carson16666]

Thank you for your advice everyone! I will definitely be coming back to this thread if I end up having to reapply. 👍

 

[purpledoc1]

I hear people say this all the time but I can't really figure out what it means specifically. Am I supposed to just mentally prepare or do I have to actually do something specific? Sorry if it's a dumb question lol, I'm in a gap year right now and I just plan on continuing working and volunteering. Thanks!

Agree with all of the above and I would also add that you need to significantly improve things, i.e. add something outstanding in comparison to your previous app--so that it stands out.

Good luck!

 

[carson16666]

I just went unmatched in TMDSAS so it looks like I'll have to reapply. Again, I really appreciate all your advice.

So far I've picked back up with an old volunteering job, gotten officially published, and have been working as an MA (really amazing experience so far). I plan on significantly revamping my writing style as well. Would this be enough or do I need a huge improvement as @purpledoc1 mentioned? Thanks 😊

 

[stew_md]

I just went unmatched in TMDSAS so it looks like I'll have to reapply. Again, I really appreciate all your advice.

So far I've picked back up with an old volunteering job, gotten officially published, and have been working as an MA (really amazing experience so far). I plan on significantly revamping my writing style as well. Would this be enough or do I need a huge improvement as @purpledoc1 mentioned? Thanks 😊

It sounds like you are on the right track. Were you lacking in clinical experience and volunteering hours when you applied? As others have mentioned increasing hours will help you but ideally, it is with the intent of addressing a deficit in your application. Did you get any interviews this cycle? If so, reach out to those schools for feedback if they allow it.

 

[carson16666]

It sounds like you are on the right track. Were you lacking in clinical experience and volunteering hours when you applied? As others have mentioned increasing hours will help you but ideally, it is with the intent of addressing a deficit in your application. Did you get any interviews this cycle? If so, reach out to those schools for feedback if they allow it.

My hours were all pretty good, I don't think I addressed "why medicine?" very well. I'll definitely reach out for feedback as well. Thanks 🙂

 

[flextape]

I hear people say this all the time but I can't really figure out what it means specifically. Am I supposed to just mentally prepare or do I have to actually do something specific? Sorry if it's a dumb question lol, I'm in a gap year right now and I just plan on continuing working and volunteering. Thanks!

Complete side note sorry, but I love the pfp, rewatched the movie for a third time last night. Good luck with your cycle!

 

[LindaAccepted]

My hours were all pretty good, I don't think I addressed "why medicine?" very well. I'll definitely reach out for feedback as well. Thanks 🙂

I looked at your old WAMC from last year. it would be helpful if you updated it, but here are a few questions:

1. Have you increased your non-clinical volunteering.
2. Did you shadow primary care doctors or other kinds of physicians?
3. How many schools did you end up applying to?
4. Where did you apply?
5. Since your WAMC was posted in March, I'm guessing that you didn't apply late, but is that assumption correct?

 

[carson16666]

I looked at your old WAMC from last year. it would be helpful if you updated it, but here are a few questions:

1. Have you increased your non-clinical volunteering.
2. Did you shadow primary care doctors or other kinds of physicians?
3. How many schools did you end up applying to?
4. Where did you apply?
5. Since your WAMC was posted in March, I'm guessing that you didn't apply late, but is that assumption correct?

I've done both the first 2 questions, I ended up applying to 24 schools, the vast majority were realistic schools that were OOS friendly. And I applied relatively late, submitted most secondaries in late August/September. From what I can tell, timing and writing were my two biggest issues. I've never really got many complaints about the content in my application.

You're always very helpful and definitely pointing me in the right direction, thanks Linda!! 🙂

 

[carson16666]

Complete side note sorry, but I love the pfp, rewatched the movie for a third time last night. Good luck with your cycle!

Lol thank you, I love me a good Gyllenhaal movie 😀

 

[LindaAccepted]

I've done both the first 2 questions, I ended up applying to 24 schools, the vast majority were realistic schools that were OOS friendly. And I applied relatively late, submitted most secondaries in late August/September. From what I can tell, timing and writing were my two biggest issues. I've never really got many complaints about the content in my application.

You're always very helpful and definitely pointing me in the right direction, thanks Linda!! 🙂

you're most welcome. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[purpledoc1]

I just went unmatched in TMDSAS so it looks like I'll have to reapply. Again, I really appreciate all your advice.

So far I've picked back up with an old volunteering job, gotten officially published, and have been working as an MA (really amazing experience so far). I plan on significantly revamping my writing style as well. Would this be enough or do I need a huge improvement as @purpledoc1 mentioned? Thanks 😊

You will need to delineate why you would prefer to be a physician rather than a MA. What is your publication about?