How should I proceed forward in preparing for the next application cycle?

[bekind123]

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I have yet to receive any interview invites. Here is a summary of my application:

State: CA ORM (but attended school on the east coast and still live/work there)
Undergrad: Liberal arts college in MA (Graduated in '16); Major: Neuro
MCAT: 507 (2017); 509 (2019)
cGPA: 3.88 sGPA: 3.86

-Verified 7/10
-Secondaries turned in July-September; Added some schools last-minute and turned those in October/November

-Had my PS and Secondaries read by a physician + pre-health advisor + friends

Activities:

Currently, I'm a Clinical Research Coordinator (3000+ hours) - this experience was marked as most meaningful

Other research:
-Postbac IRTA Neuroscience Fellow (3500 hours)
-Senior Thesis in Neuroscience (450 hours)
-Two summer research programs: one pre-clinical research-based and another clinical research-based (~400 hr/each)

Publications:
-1 paper in Nature Neuro (4th author, 2018)
-1 paper pending publication (did very little analysis for this, towards the end of the author list)
-Presented at 2 conferences

Clinical Volunteering
-Child-Life Volunteer (200+ hours) - this experience was marked as most meaningful
-Patient Care Volunteer (200 hours)

Non-clinical volunteering
-Community Health Educator in Transitional Housing Facility (230 hours)
-Mindfulness Meditation Facilitator at local Ronald McDonald House (80 hours) - marked as most meaningful
-Street Outreach Team for individuals experiencing homelessness (recent, ~30 hours)

Shadowing: 100 hours (mostly EM but some peds)

School List

Rejections: Indiana, USC, Pitt, UCSF, Mayo, Vanderbilt, UCLA
Holds: Tulane, GW, Rochester, UCSD, NYMC

Yet to hear back from
1) Target schools: Penn State, Rush, UCR, Albany, Wake, Rosalind Franklin, \, UVM, UCD, Wayne, Netter, Creighton
2) Somewhat reach: Rutgers (interned here), Kaiser, NYU LI, SUNY Downstate, Temple, VTC, U of Iowa (interned here), Jeff, Tufts (volunteer here), Emory, UMD, Dartmouth, Einstein, Cinci, Stony Brook
3) Out of my league: Yale, Columbia, Sinai, Stanford

Here's what I'm working on right now:
1) Sending updates to schools
2) Masters Programs in Medical Humanities
3) Gearing up for an MCAT retake on 5/29/20 - For both of my prior attempts, I worked FT. Planning to quit job to study FT.

Other things that I'm considering:
1) Americorps Health Corps (specifically, building on my volunteering experiences with the homeless community)
2) Staying in clinical research but moving back to Cali

Of note, I'll also be applying DO next cycle since I'm mainly interested in peds!

Other than that, are there any gaps in my application that I can improve upon before next cycle? Are there any glaring gaps in my application that could take 1+ years to rectify?

Thank you, in advance, for your helping me out!

 

[deleted850921]

So what’s your state of residence? Was it CA or the state on the east coast?


Given that MCAT median for ORMs is about 514 now (and general as 511) I do think that may have hurt you as well BUT don’t take it a third time if your scores aren’t consistently high.

Other than that, I personally think your app is very solid (if anything maybe a little research heavy?).

 

[bekind123]

So what’s your state of residence? Was it CA or the state on the east coast?

California since MA required 7 years of continuous residence (excluding college)

Given that MCAT median for ORMs is about 514 now (and general as 511) I do think that may have hurt you as well BUT don’t take it a third time if your scores aren’t consistently high.
Given that MCAT median for ORMs is about 514 now (and general as 511) I do think that may have hurt you as well BUT don’t take it a third time if your scores aren’t consistently high.

If I’m not averaging in the 515-518 range, I don’t think I’d take it again. Is that fair?

Other than that, I personally think your app is very solid (if anything maybe a little research heavy?).

Thank you for your input!

 

[Davidfromcali]

I think the mcat may have held you back. Either that or a bad LOR. Your overall app besides your mcat is competitive. Scoring a 515+ is gonna be pretty crucial here.

 

[GreenDuck12]

I agree the MCAT may be a factor. Is your score even or is one section significantly lower than others? Given that your two scores are incredibly similar, any other attempts must be significantly better. It seems like your school list is also a bit skewed towards reach programs. Depending on the outcome of a retake, I would remove some schools that seem like donations and add some schools with lower MCAT ranges.

 

[bekind123]

I agree the MCAT may be a factor. Is your score even or is one section significantly lower than others? Given that your two scores are incredibly similar, any other attempts must be significantly better. It seems like your school list is also a bit skewed towards reach programs. Depending on the outcome of a retake, I would remove some schools that seem like donations and add some schools with lower MCAT ranges.

So, I improved by 2 points in B/B and C/P but fell two points in PS 🙁

 

[GreenDuck12]

I was more asking if one section was significantly lower than another like 128/124/129/128 or if they all were in the same ballpark like 127/127/128/127? Having one section be significantly lower may trigger an auto screen.

 

[bekind123]

I was more asking if one section was significantly lower than another like 128/124/129/128 or if they all were in the same ballpark like 127/127/128/127? Having one section be significantly lower may trigger an auto screen.

No, it was pretty even on both attempts:
125/127/126/129 (507 in 2017)
127/127/128/127 (509 in 2019)

 

[GreenDuck12]

Awesome, so it's not a lopsided score issue. I think a lopsided score can be more challenging to address in some ways. Given that you were working FT during the previous two attempts, I think you'll be in better shape to improve your score by not working.


Here's what I'm working on right now:
1) Sending updates to schools
2) Masters Programs in Medical Humanities
3) Gearing up for an MCAT retake on 5/29/20 - For both of my prior attempts, I worked FT. Planning to quit job to study FT.

Other things that I'm considering:
1) Americorps Health Corps (specifically, building on my volunteering experiences with the homeless community)
You've got some decent community service experience already. I think this could add to your application, particularly if you relocate back to CA so you can be more familiar with current issues there. Since you grew up there, it wouldn't be strange to an adcom to reestablish residency there.

2) Staying in clinical research but moving back to Cali
I would definitely move out of MA. I was there for a time and getting residency is a long road. Additionally, their MCAT score range is quite high for a public medical school and the competition for an interview/acceptance is quite high. While CA is also quite tough, at least you would be considered an IS applicant.

 

[bekind123]

Awesome, so it's not a lopsided score issue. I think a lopsided score can be more challenging to address in some ways. Given that you were working FT during the previous two attempts, I think you'll be in better shape to improve your score by not working.


Here's what I'm working on right now:
1) Sending updates to schools
2) Masters Programs in Medical Humanities
3) Gearing up for an MCAT retake on 5/29/20 - For both of my prior attempts, I worked FT. Planning to quit job to study FT.

Other things that I'm considering:
1) Americorps Health Corps (specifically, building on my volunteering experiences with the homeless community)
You've got some decent community service experience already. I think this could add to your application, particularly if you relocate back to CA so you can be more familiar with current issues there. Since you grew up there, it wouldn't be strange to an adcom to reestablish residency there.

This is what I'm leaning towards as well if masters programs don't work out, thanks!!

2) Staying in clinical research but moving back to Cali
I would definitely move out of MA. I was there for a time and getting residency is a long road. Additionally, their MCAT score range is quite high for a public medical school and the competition for an interview/acceptance is quite high. While CA is also quite tough, at least you would be considered an IS applicant.

 

[Faha]

Most of the schools you applied to were unrealistic with your MCAT scores of 507 and 509. I suggest these schools if you reapply with those scores:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
TCU-UNT
California University
Kaiser
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Riverside (if from that region)
Loma Linda
Also apply to at least 6 DO schools

 

[bekind123]

Most of the schools you applied to were unrealistic with your MCAT scores of 507 and 509. I suggest these schools if you reapply with those scores:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
TCU-UNT
California University
Kaiser
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Riverside (if from that region)
Loma Linda
Also apply to at least 6 DO schools


Thank you! I applied to most of these schools this current cycle but will definitely add the ones I missed if I end up reapplying with these scores.

 

[Goro]

I have yet to receive any interview invites. Here is a summary of my application:



Here's what I'm working on right now:
1) Sending updates to schools
2) Masters Programs in Medical Humanities
3) Gearing up for an MCAT retake on 5/29/20 - For both of my prior attempts, I worked FT. Planning to quit job to study FT.

Other things that I'm considering:
1) Americorps Health Corps (specifically, building on my volunteering experiences with the homeless community)
2) Staying in clinical research but moving back to Cali

Of note, I'll also be applying DO next cycle since I'm mainly interested in peds!

Other than that, are there any gaps in my application that I can improve upon before next cycle? Are there any glaring gaps in my application that could take 1+ years to rectify?

Thank you, in advance, for your helping me out!

Well, for starters, the following were donations. The next cycle needs to have a more realistic school list (see below).

Indiana, USC, Pitt, UCSF, Mayo, Vanderbilt, UCLA
Rochester, UCSD, Rutgers NYU LI, SUNY Downstate, U of Iowa Jeff, Emory, UMD, Dartmouth, Einstein, Cinci, Stony Brook
Yale, Columbia, Sinai, Stanford

Rewrite all essays and have multiple professional eyeballs vet them. Your friends, unless they're in med school, aren't providing you good feedback.

Your app is very research heavy. Your other ECs are lovely, but I worry that you spun your app in too much of a research focus, especially when you write that being a clinical research coordinator was your most meaningful experience.

And as a teaching moment, just because one did an internship at a particular place, that's not a tie to the place.

Here is a more realistic list:
U VM
U Toledo
Rush
NYMC (maybe)
Creighton
Albany
Rosy Franklin
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
MCW
SLU
WVU
Wayne State
Tulane
Loyola
Wake Forest
Loma Linda (only if you are SDA or a very devout Christian)
VCU
Netter
Seton Hall
EVMS
Oakland-B
Gtown
GWU
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
Nova MD
UCD
UCI
UCR IF you are from the Inland Empire
Kaiser
Cal U Med
Any DO program. I can't recommend Touro-NY, Nova, Wm Carey, LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM? Read up on Larry Nasser and you decide. LMU has an accreditation warning, which concerns me. CalHS is too new and appears to be too limited in rotations sites.

 

[bekind123]

@Goro Thank you for your input and for the detailed school list! I was pretty worried about coming across as research-heavy so I tried to bring things back to patient care where it seemed appropriate. For example, this was my description for the CRC position:

"Seeking to leap from the bench to the bedside, I joined a lab focusing on the interplay between human pain disorders and neuroinflammation. I work closely with pain specialists to manage a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of minocycline in modulating neuroinflammation in patients with low back pain. My responsibilities include screening patients, compiling their medical histories, and guiding them through visits. I communicate regularly with our patients and view myself as an advocate for their well-being. As a coordinator, I strive to prioritize patient comfort and was deemed a finalist for the center’s SPARK award, which formally recognizes outstanding patient care. "

Was this the right way to think about things?

Thank you for your help!

 

[deleted859689]

@Goro Thank you for your input and for the detailed school list! I was pretty worried about coming across as research-heavy so I tried to bring things back to patient care where it seemed appropriate. For example, this was my description for the CRC position:

"Seeking to leap from the bench to the bedside, I joined a lab focusing on the interplay between human pain disorders and neuroinflammation. I work closely with pain specialists to manage a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of minocycline in modulating neuroinflammation in patients with low back pain. My responsibilities include screening patients, compiling their medical histories, and guiding them through visits. I communicate regularly with our patients and view myself as an advocate for their well-being. As a coordinator, I strive to prioritize patient comfort and was deemed a finalist for the center’s SPARK award, which formally recognizes outstanding patient care. "

Was this the right way to think about things?

Thank you for your help!

Hey, my Mom forced me to take minocycline when I was in high school because she didn't want me to get acne lol. I guess I never really broke out now that I think about it...

In response to your above post, you state that you do all these cool things and communicate with patients regularly, but do not really give solid examples. You talk about how you "strive to prioritize patient comfort" and "communicate regularly with [...] patients," but you never really give any solid tangible examples of how you did this.

I'm a non-trad with heavy research background and my personal statement really hit the nail on the head on why medicine resonated more with who I am as a person and what I actually want to do in life. It focused more on expressing my humanistic side and why it was stifled during my career in research. I'm guessing maybe your POS and ECs etc sounded too cookie cutter. GJ being a co-author on a Nature paper though - kudos.

Edit: and congrats on getting an interview!

 

[bekind123]

Hey, my Mom forced me to take minocycline when I was in high school because she didn't want me to get acne lol. I guess I never really broke out now that I think about it...

In response to your above post, you state that you do all these cool things and communicate with patients regularly, but do not really give solid examples. You talk about how you "strive to prioritize patient comfort" and "communicate regularly with [...] patients," but you never really give any solid tangible examples of how you did this.

I'm a non-trad with heavy research background and my personal statement really hit the nail on the head on why medicine resonated more with who I am as a person and what I actually want to do in life. It focused more on expressing my humanistic side and why it was stifled during my career in research. I'm guessing maybe your POS and ECs etc sounded too cookie cutter. GJ being a co-author on a Nature paper though - kudos.

Edit: and congrats on getting an interview!

No way! A couple of younger patients in our study were on minocycline as well and also said the same thing!

So I gave an example in the longer description portion for the MME. I also structured my PS in a similar manner - focusing on humanism in medicine. I'm guessing the low stat CA ORM combo is what has kept me from getting interviews early on. Anyways, I appreciate your input!! Best of luck this cycle and thank you for the advice/encouragement 🙂