How would I make myself a better application the second time around?

[everythingsurgical]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone, I'm new to SDN and applying on the current cycle. I have a handful of schools left to hear from, but things haven't been looking that favorable (2 holds, 16 pre-interview rejections so far) and I would like to have a solid plan in place should I have to re-apply on a forthcoming cycle. I've been reading through these threads and have been encouraged by the great advice and the general community support, so here it goes!

A bit about me:

Academics
-Double major in political science and molecular biology; AMCAS cGPA 3.29 and sGPA 3.45 (grades uptrended as I progressed through school)
-I wasn't able to get all my physics requirements done while still at my university (molecular bio degree only required 2 quarters of physics and I had come to the end of my 5 years of enrollment eligibility), so I took the last remaining class at a JC while working this gap year
-Studied abroad
-MCAT: 32

Extracurriculars
-I've been drumming for ~15 years in ensembles ranging from school jazz band to a World Class Drum and Bugle Corps
-Founding member of a fraternity chapter at my university; I held multiple leadership roles within the organization and participated in philanthropic events frequently

Research/Employment
-Lab support technician for the Chemistry department while in undergrad
-Around 2.5 years of bench science (chemical biology, immunology, and at a biotech firm), with 1 paper currently under review. While working in the chemical biology lab, I received an award for excellence in undergraduate research from the Chemistry department
-Currently employed as a clinical research assistant (more on this below) for a neurocritical care specialist at a teaching hospital in Silicon Valley; I currently serve as study coordinator for 3 clinical trials (with more on the way) and have 2 publications in the works. Our big focus is regenerative medicine in the context of paralysis.

Clinical Experience
My current employment is essentially a hybrid unpaid internship and paid research assistant position; the internship part of my job is designed to introduce me to the field of medicine (clearly) and develop my skills as an aspiring physician. I pre-round and round on patients daily, and so far I've logged around 1400-1500 hours of clinical experience and direct patient contact.

My boss has a clinical professorship appointment at the hospital, so I get to spend 2-week stretches with internal medicine and critical care teams periodically. I have also leveraged this opportunity to gain OR shadowing experience with general/trauma surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery.

Volunteering
-Philanthropic efforts as a member of the fraternity; there wasn't a single cause we focused on so it's kind of scattered
-Organization of an acute care symposium at my hospital
-Support staff at a hospital fundraising gala

Letters of Rec/Personal Statement
-2 MDs, 2 science professors (both of whom I did research with), a political science professor, and a non-clinical hospital employee who works closely with my employer
-My employer (MD) helped review my PS

I applied broadly (~35 schools) and got most of my secondaries in within 2-3 weeks of receiving them. I submitted my primary application 3 days after the filing period opened.

By my own evaluation, my big 3 areas of improvement are the MCAT, GPA, and volunteering. I'm willing to retake the MCAT, but I'm still wavering on whether post-bacc grade augmentation would be worth the time and money, and I'm unsure of what else I could do to improve my application.

Any help is greatly, greatly appreciated. And please feel free to ask me further questions!

Also, I apologize for the embarrassing grammar in the title...

 

[DrMidlife]

You shouldn't retake a 32 unless it expires.

Your GPA plus California equals almost a wasted app year. It's really too late to do anything before June. You should be applying to good SMPs now, or possibly looking at a serious traditional thesis masters.

Unfortunately most people see "world class drum corps" and they either think military or marching band. Assume they don't care. Just say you're a drummer and wait to be asked if it's of interest. (I aged out of BD before you were born. And I marched in another corps with this guy.)

Best of luck to you.

 

[Indianarn]

Hi everyone, I'm new to SDN and applying on the current cycle. I have a handful of schools left to hear from, but things haven't been looking that favorable (2 holds, 16 pre-interview rejections so far) and I would like to have a solid plan in place should I have to re-apply on a forthcoming cycle. I've been reading through these threads and have been encouraged by the great advice and the general community support, so here it goes!

A bit about me:

Academics
-Double major in political science and molecular biology; AMCAS cGPA 3.29 and sGPA 3.45 (grades uptrended as I progressed through school)
-I wasn't able to get all my physics requirements done while still at my university (molecular bio degree only required 2 quarters of physics and I had come to the end of my 5 years of enrollment eligibility), so I took the last remaining class at a JC while working this gap year
-Studied abroad
-MCAT: 32

Extracurriculars
-I've been drumming for ~15 years in ensembles ranging from school jazz band to a World Class Drum and Bugle Corps
-Founding member of a fraternity chapter at my university; I held multiple leadership roles within the organization and participated in philanthropic events frequently

Research/Employment
-Lab support technician for the Chemistry department while in undergrad
-Around 2.5 years of bench science (chemical biology, immunology, and at a biotech firm), with 1 paper currently under review. While working in the chemical biology lab, I received an award for excellence in undergraduate research from the Chemistry department
-Currently employed as a clinical research assistant (more on this below) for a neurocritical care specialist at a teaching hospital in Silicon Valley; I currently serve as study coordinator for 3 clinical trials (with more on the way) and have 2 publications in the works. Our big focus is regenerative medicine in the context of paralysis.

Clinical Experience
My current employment is essentially a hybrid unpaid internship and paid research assistant position; the internship part of my job is designed to introduce me to the field of medicine (clearly) and develop my skills as an aspiring physician. I pre-round and round on patients daily, and so far I've logged around 1400-1500 hours of clinical experience and direct patient contact.

My boss has a clinical professorship appointment at the hospital, so I get to spend 2-week stretches with internal medicine and critical care teams periodically. I have also leveraged this opportunity to gain OR shadowing experience with general/trauma surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery.

Volunteering
-Philanthropic efforts as a member of the fraternity; there wasn't a single cause we focused on so it's kind of scattered
-Organization of an acute care symposium at my hospital
-Support staff at a hospital fundraising gala

Letters of Rec/Personal Statement
-2 MDs, 2 science professors (both of whom I did research with), a political science professor, and a non-clinical hospital employee who works closely with my employer
-My employer (MD) helped review my PS

I applied broadly (~35 schools) and got most of my secondaries in within 2-3 weeks of receiving them. I submitted my primary application 3 days after the filing period opened.

By my own evaluation, my big 3 areas of improvement are the MCAT, GPA, and volunteering. I'm willing to retake the MCAT, but I'm still wavering on whether post-bacc grade augmentation would be worth the time and money, and I'm unsure of what else I could do to improve my application.

Any help is greatly, greatly appreciated. And please feel free to ask me further questions!

Also, I apologize for the embarrassing grammar in the title...

Looks like you have it all. Only thing I can say is continue to volunteer. I think you need more clinical exposure. Volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. Get at least a 100 hours. Another thing I will say, it might not be your thing or it may be, show an Osteopathic physician and get a LOR from him too. Shadowing a couple of more MDs wont be bad either, but they should be different specialties. It will show you want it by heart and you are working for it. Secondly, you can also apply to Osteopathic Medical schools. Finally, apply early and apply broad along with some DO schools. Good luck.

 

[QofQuimica]

Your MCAT is fine. Your volunteer experience and GPA aren't amazing, but they're not so bad that you should be getting zero invites if you apply broadly and strategically enough. Agree with prior posters to forget retaking the MCAT. But it won't hurt to take some postbac classes if you wish, shadow a DO, and continue volunteering. Also consider rewriting your PS, or whether one of your LORs might not be the most glowing. Finally, when you reapply, focus your efforts on schools in the Midwest, not the coasts.

 

[everythingsurgical]

@DrMidlife @Indianarn @QofQuimica thank you all so much for your advice, it's very helpful! I've started looking into volunteer opportunities and places I can take post-bacc classes that fit with my work schedule.

 

[jlescher]

GPA is likely your main problem. Did you ever get a 3.5+ GPA. If you had an upward trend, but failed to clear that mark it does't matter much. Demonstrating you can get As in a SMP or post-bac classes would help.

Don't consider re-writing the PS, do it! 1) If you reapply to a school and don't rewrite you will look lazy. They will check. 2) It didn't work the first time, why do you think it will work the second time? Einstein's quote is very applicable here.

You seem like you have a lot of experience. Try talking yourself up more. You might be selling yourself short.

Good luck!

 

[everythingsurgical]

@jlescher I did get above a 3.5, just not enough times to prevent the necessity of this thread (heh).

Regarding the PS - if I have to reapply, I most definitely will be - as I wait for my remaining schools to get back to me, I'll be putting rough drafts together. I certainly do appreciate the emphasis you placed on that part of the application, as I think it's pretty easy to overlook when GPA and MCAT scores are concerning.

I can also do a better job talking myself up. I try to be pretty modest (one pulmonology attending I've spent time with put it best: "Be humble. No matter what you've accomplished, there's more for you to do and there's probably someone who's done more than you anyways"), and as a result, I do end up underselling myself often. But for all the value modesty brings, it doesn't help when you have to show why you deserve to be admitted to medical school.

 

[jlescher]

I was a lot like you the first time I applied. Although I'm confident, I was very modest in my essays. I thought my experience would speak for itself. Modesty gets you nowhere in admissions. Save your modesty for third year and residency. Find the happy medium between being modest and cocky. If you don't get in this year, you will next year. Schools love it when you get knocked down and come back even better.