I don't want to make the same mistakes again...

[danimastani]

Hi,
Let me recap my previous and present scenario. I had a 3.68 GPA last year, an MCAT score of 25, volunteering as physical therapist for a year, volunteer as a research asstt for a year, paid research position of undergraduate lab tech for a year, volunteer tutoring for the summer and paid volunteering in Biology, Chemistry, Organic chem and physics. I applied very late for the AMCAS, actually one day before the deadline and I applied very late for AACOMAS as well. I was just not very motivated last year because I was not sure if I should go ahead with medicine. However, as I started getting rejections naturally from all the schools, I realized that I was just being lazy and I had always wanted to be a doctor all my life. I am very motivated now, have to still hear from UMDNJ-SOM but I want to reapply and do all the rights things this time.
I am just frustrated that AMCAS is available now because I was thinking of doing some more research and possibly publishing my work and gain some clinical experience since I have none. I am planning to take my MCAT in August again. So should I still submit my app on June 1 without having to add anything in my ECs? I know that I was at a great disadvantage because I applied so late in the process. I just graduated now and my GPA now is 3.717. So please tell me how should I go about it. Any help from you will be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[TRUE]

For starters, I would wait another year. Get all your things in order before you proceed. Taking the august MCAT will set you back a bit time-wise (why didn' you take the april?). As for the EC's, it sounds like you've done a lot. I'm not sure that's the main issue with your application.

Your grades are solid, but you're going to need to pull up the MCAT score to match your grades. Do you think you could do significantly better on the MCAT than you previously did? Say 30+?

Think it over.

 

[danimastani]

Thanks a lot for your reply. Yes, I think I will be able to pull up my MCAT scores because the first time, I did not study enough. So would applying this year be utterly foolish? I cannot possibly wait to apply for 2006.

 

[TRUE]

If you can't wait until 2006, then I think you have your answer right there. If you raised your MCAT to the 30+, and sent in your AMCAS early (sometime in June), then you should have a solid chance at getting in somewhere I would think. Remember to apply to a wide-array of schools and never take anything in the process for granted.

 

[Fusion]

Dani, I say go for it. You have a 3.7 GPA and great research experience. Have your transcripts sent to AMCAS and submit it ASAP. Then focus all of your attention on the August MCAT. Make that your number one priority, and put everything off that you possibly can afford to for the next three months while you prepare for the exam. Once the MCAT is over, get your secondaries and recs in to the schools as soon as possible. I think that improving your MCAT score at least a few points along with 20+ applications to high, mid, and lower "tiered" schools will get you in somewhere.

I am in a similar position as you. I applied this past cycle to no avail, mainly b/c of my mediocre MCAT score along with my late apps (I wasn't complete at schools until mid Nov-Dec). I am determined to do everything right this time around, which is why I'm nearly done w/ my AMCAS and just waiting to submit in a couple weeks. I'm retaking the MCAT in August as well, but am doing everything that I possibly can to get my stuff in early. No excuses this time. If you decide to apply, go all out. Good luck.

 

[Lochmoor]

I agree with all the replies above. A score of 30+ will definately bump you application up significantly. It's definately possible to jump from a 25 to a 30+. I did last year. My score was around yours and I increased my score by 6 points--4 in verbal, 2 in phys. Also, if you scores are lopsided, you should try to even them out--I think 10's across is looked upon more favorabley than say a 12,8,10.

Good luck.

 

[beriberi]

I would make sure you don't say that you volunteered as a Physical Therapist unless you are one. That is a skilled profession which takes years of post graduate training. I doubt you have done that. Sloppiness in how you describe your ECs makes you look unreliable and sloppy.

 

[danimastani]

Thank you so much for your help. I am even more motivated now. I just had one more question. Are med schools going to look at my personal statement of last year's because I did not do that well on it, e.g., I wrote about how I was not motivated before but an incident changed my life to become motivated. However, people have told me that you should not have written this because med schools don't like wavering attitudes. Anyhow, this time, I am only going to write about my motivation. Is that going to create any problems?

 

[danimastani]

I am sorry beri, that was a mistake. I meant physical therapy aide; I try my best not to show such sloppiness in applications. Thanks for the correction though.