How to make myself competitive for round 2...?

[HaveHope]

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Hi everyone! So as January is passing by and I have yet to receive a single interview I am starting to think about Plan B. I want to reapply next cycle but would like opinions on what I can do to be more competitive. You can look at my MDApps to see what I've got right now. I just also switched jobs this month and am starting as a clinical research associate for a biotech company. Any suggestions/feedback is welcome! Thanks!

 

[Mobius1985]

You have some very nice extracurriculars, which could still overshadow the slightly-low cGPA. Don't lose all hope yet. Your primary flaw is residing in the state of California which has too many extremely-competitive applicants. The only improvements I can suggest are to raise your sGPA with more science classes, and consider retaking the MCAT if there's a chance of a higher score. *(Moving to Ohio, Florida, or Texas wouldn't hurt either.)* Also apply early, if your application didn't get in until later in the cycle.

You could consider calling admissions offices of schools that rejected you to ask for some feedback. It would be nice to get reassurance that your PS and LORs are sterling.

If you haven't considered it, why not add some osteopathic schools to your list for the next application cycle?

 

[fizzle]

Rewrite your essays. Choose some different schools to apply to. Those two are all I did between last year and this year (plus some minor things such as continuing existing activities), and I have a 700% increase in interviews over last year 😀 In case you didn't catch on, I'm a re-applicant this year.

I looked over my essay from last year, and frankly, it makes me cringe (even though I thought it was awesome last year). Maybe you will get the same reaction?

 

[HaveHope]

Thanks guys! Always nice to hear input from others.

 

[RecyclingBinh]

You have some very nice extracurriculars, which could still overshadow the slightly-low cGPA. Don't lose all hope yet. Your primary flaw is residing in the state of California which has too many extremely-competitive applicants. The only improvements I can suggest are to raise your sGPA with more science classes, and consider retaking the MCAT if there's a chance of a higher score. *(Moving to Ohio, Florida, or Texas wouldn't hurt either.)* Also apply early, if your application didn't get in until later in the cycle.

You could consider calling admissions offices of schools that rejected you to ask for some feedback. It would be nice to get reassurance that your PS and LORs are sterling.

If you haven't considered it, why not add some osteopathic schools to your list for the next application cycle?

whoa Mobius...don't push everyone into Texas. We Texans are having a tough time as it is. Since Hurrican Ike strike Galveston Island, UTMB-Galveston have been hit hard. This will definitely affect the admissions # so the other UT schools will have an increase in applicants.

btw...it's just my two cent.

 

[202781]

Hi everyone! So as January is passing by and I have yet to receive a single interview I am starting to think about Plan B. I want to reapply next cycle but would like opinions on what I can do to be more competitive. You can look at my MDApps to see what I've got right now. I just also switched jobs this month and am starting as a clinical research associate for a biotech company. Any suggestions/feedback is welcome! Thanks!

It is at least a little bit due to your slightly low gpa. (maybe an informal post-bac to get the gpa up...just take a bunch of classes that will pad both the science and total gpa.)

Also I think it may have been your personal statement or LOR because everything else looks fine and I am sure that you should have gotten some interview love had those been decent... I would really get people who are not friends/family to read your personal statement...pay someone to critique it (seriously...make it a business transaction) and then take it to an advisor to make sure that it still retains the essential characteristics of what they think the PS should be.


Good luck (you still have a little time to get love from one of the schools though so keep ya' head up kiddo)


WAIT...Just took a look at the MDapps, and I did not see that you volunteered in a hospital or a clinic, I would think that might be the red flag right there... I know you did the whole spanish translation thing but that might not have come through that you were actually at a clinic as reported on the AMCAS

 

[ilubse7en]

question!!
i'm thinking about informal postbac, is it okay to take some science courses at city colleges and some at universities?
in university, its 8x more expensive than college?
would that look bad on application?

 

[202781]

question!!
i'm thinking about informal postbac, is it okay to take some science courses at city colleges and some at universities?
in university, its 8x more expensive than college?
would that look bad on application?

It does not matter what school you go to as long as it is a 4 year institution. My advice save your money go to the cheaper one

 

[MadEvans]

I looked over my essay from last year, and frankly, it makes me cringe (even though I thought it was awesome last year). Maybe you will get the same reaction?

I read mine tonight and got that reaction.