I may have to reapply - best course of action

[tunicaexterna]

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Hi everyone,

I took the July MCAT and got a 503. I applied to MD and DO schools. I'm in purgatory at several MD schools, and I'm still waiting to hear at most DO schools. I applied to MD schools in late August. No II's so far.

I submitted my DO secondaries in late October. I didn't get DO shadowing/letter until early September, so that was the delay on my app. Although I haven't heard from many schools, I am reconciling the fact that I may have to reapply next year. I may get lucky and score interviews/acceptance, but I want to prepare for the worst at this point.

First off, should I retake the MCAT? I am open to MD and DO schools.

cGPA: 3.6
sGPA: 3.6
MCAT: 503

This is my current list of activities:

250 hours research
100 hours non clinical community service
200 hours clinical volunteering
non traditional - paid employment over the years
2o hours shadowing
leadership position at my university
TA at my university
not urm
IL resident with MI ties

I'm planning on getting more community service and research exposure this winter, as well as taking a class. I also work ~40 hours a week right now. I feel like full time work, as well as taking a class and research/volunteering WITH MCAT study might be a bit much. If I am going to retake the MCAT I want to be able to focus on it with minimal distractions (I would continue to work, but nothing else).

My main question is should I retake the MCAT? Or just keep accruing more volunteer experiences and apply to a few select MD's and DO's day 1 next cycle?

EDIT: I understand that most MD schools are out of range for my mcat score. That being said, I'd still like to give a few lower tier md's/state schools a shot. I also realize that I may be worrying for no reason (as I may get interviews/acceptances), but I don't want to have to reapply and not be prepared.

 

[GrapesofRath]

You're fine for DO programs. I would expect you to nab a couple IIs. If you applied fairly broadly to DO's and still don't get any love, that indicates there is perhaps a problem beyond your stats.

3.6/27 is just too low for MD programs in most states. Unless you are from the southern part of Illinois(and even then it's still iffy), you don't live in a state where a 503 will be enough in all likelihood. If you get shut out this cycle and want to gun for the MD a re-take is in order. 510+ has to be the goal at the minimum.

 

[tunicaexterna]

@GrapesofRath

Yeah, I'm not from Southern Illinois, unfortunately.

I applied to 10 DO schools:

RVU - Rejected
CCOM
DMU
KCUMB
KCOM
UNECOM
LMU
LECOM
MUCOM
PCOM

I haven't heard from any of them but RVU. I'm worried my late app to these schools burned me. I am confident most of my LOR's are solid. The only LOR I would worry about is the DO shadowing LOR, as the DO and I didn't spend a lot of time together and it may be formulaic. Going to a DO school would be perfectly fine, and if I could get into a DO school this cycle or next, I would be ecstatic with that.

I know being a reapplicant at MD schools can hurt - does being a reapplicant at DO schools have the same effect?

 

[GrapesofRath]

Many DO schools don't require a letter from a DO.

Submitting early September is fine for the DO cycle. Give it some time for the DO's and see what happens; your stats aren't the issue. I don't know how DO schools view re-applicants honestly.

 

[jwilliams1993]

We have incredibly similar stats. I think you're definitely competitive for DO schools and probably some MD schools. The best thing you can do is apply as early as you possibly can. If you truly believe you have the time to dedicate to really improving your MCAT, it is probably worth it. In my opinion, having the applications submitted at the beginning of the cycle would be more beneficial.

 

[tunicaexterna]

@jwilliams1993 3

Yeah, I think getting my secondaries out later kind of burned me. Not that I'd be a shoe in if I had applied earlier (not by a LONG SHOT), but applying later did not help.

My main hesitation with retaking the mcat is the lack of accurate practice material right now...I used TPR the first round and I didn't find their practice tests to be similar to the real thing at all.

 

[Goro]

These are the only MD schools I can recommend with your MCAT. You're fine for any DO school. If you're boning for that MD, you will need to retake the MCAT and definitely add some ECs that improve your cookie cutter status.


Loma Linda (but read their list of don'ts)
Oakland U Beaumont
Albany
Rosalind Franklin
WVU
Your state school(s).
Any DO school.


Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Service need not be "unique". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.

Hi everyone,

I took the July MCAT and got a 503. I applied to MD and DO schools. I'm in purgatory at several MD schools, and I'm still waiting to hear at most DO schools. I applied to MD schools in late August. No II's so far.

I submitted my DO secondaries in late October. I didn't get DO shadowing/letter until early September, so that was the delay on my app. Although I haven't heard from many schools, I am reconciling the fact that I may have to reapply next year. I may get lucky and score interviews/acceptance, but I want to prepare for the worst at this point.

First off, should I retake the MCAT? I am open to MD and DO schools.

cGPA: 3.6
sGPA: 3.6
MCAT: 503

This is my current list of activities:

250 hours research
100 hours non clinical community service
200 hours clinical volunteering
non traditional - paid employment over the years
2o hours shadowing
leadership position at my university
TA at my university
not urm
IL resident with MI ties

I'm planning on getting more community service and research exposure this winter, as well as taking a class. I also work ~40 hours a week right now. I feel like full time work, as well as taking a class and research/volunteering WITH MCAT study might be a bit much. If I am going to retake the MCAT I want to be able to focus on it with minimal distractions (I would continue to work, but nothing else).

My main question is should I retake the MCAT? Or just keep accruing more volunteer experiences and apply to a few select MD's and DO's day 1 next cycle?

EDIT: I understand that most MD schools are out of range for my mcat score. That being said, I'd still like to give a few lower tier md's/state schools a shot. I also realize that I may be worrying for no reason (as I may get interviews/acceptances), but I don't want to have to reapply and not be prepared.

 

[Seth Joo]

Hi everyone,

I took the July MCAT and got a 503. I applied to MD and DO schools. I'm in purgatory at several MD schools, and I'm still waiting to hear at most DO schools. I applied to MD schools in late August. No II's so far.

I submitted my DO secondaries in late October. I didn't get DO shadowing/letter until early September, so that was the delay on my app. Although I haven't heard from many schools, I am reconciling the fact that I may have to reapply next year. I may get lucky and score interviews/acceptance, but I want to prepare for the worst at this point.

First off, should I retake the MCAT? I am open to MD and DO schools.

cGPA: 3.6
sGPA: 3.6
MCAT: 503

This is my current list of activities:

250 hours research
100 hours non clinical community service
200 hours clinical volunteering
non traditional - paid employment over the years
2o hours shadowing
leadership position at my university
TA at my university
not urm
IL resident with MI ties

I'm planning on getting more community service and research exposure this winter, as well as taking a class. I also work ~40 hours a week right now. I feel like full time work, as well as taking a class and research/volunteering WITH MCAT study might be a bit much. If I am going to retake the MCAT I want to be able to focus on it with minimal distractions (I would continue to work, but nothing else).

My main question is should I retake the MCAT? Or just keep accruing more volunteer experiences and apply to a few select MD's and DO's day 1 next cycle?

EDIT: I understand that most MD schools are out of range for my mcat score. That being said, I'd still like to give a few lower tier md's/state schools a shot. I also realize that I may be worrying for no reason (as I may get interviews/acceptances), but I don't want to have to reapply and not be prepared.

I got good news and bad news.

First the bad news, unless you retake the MCAT and get at least a 510 or better, its going to be tough to get into an MD school. You applied late for DO so that is probably why you did not hear back from the DO schools.

The good news if you apply early and widely there are plenty of DO schools that will consider you. Apply early in Spring.

 

[tunicaexterna]

@Seth Joo

That's about what I suspected. I feel like I am risking my chances at DO schools by taking it over again - what if I do the same/worse? And I don't want to put DO schools in jeopardy, so I'm tempted to just keep the score and reapply almost entirely DO next year (if this year doesn't work out).

 

[Seth Joo]

@Seth Joo

That's about what I suspected. I feel like I am risking my chances at DO schools by taking it over again - what if I do the same/worse? And I don't want to put DO schools in jeopardy, so I'm tempted to just keep the score and reapply almost entirely DO next year (if this year doesn't work out).

Well if you want to do well, take a professional prep course such as Kaplan at put in 200 percent effort into getting a great score, if you get 510+ then you may be in the running for MD schools, with your current GPA and MCAT if you apply widely and early you should get into a good number of DO schools.

There are some people who talk about "new age" prep courses like "Khan academy" but lets be real, the MCAT is an exam that can make or break you, so try a path that really works and has worked for students for decades than use some new age nonsense.

 

[Swebb6]

Well if you want to do well, take a professional prep course such as Kaplan at put in 200 percent effort into getting a great score, if you get 510+ then you may be in the running for MD schools, with your current GPA and MCAT if you apply widely and early you should get into a good number of DO schools.

There are some people who talk about "new age" prep courses like "Khan academy" but lets be real, the MCAT is an exam that can make or break you, so try a path that really works and has worked for students for decades than use some new age nonsense.

I made my own schedule and did khan academy videos out the wazoo. It's whatever works with your budget and schedule.

Got a 31

 

[YaTuSabes]

I am actually in the same exact boat as you. No joke, like literally identical (with slightly higher GPA and MCAT).

While this cycle is not over, i totally feel you regarding having the whole back up plan just in case.
I think that if you really don't want to take the mcat, then like others said, a wider net for DO schools and an earlier app would be best next year. We will apply together!

Or who knows, this cycle may just work out for us

 

[tunicaexterna]

@YaTuSabes

Woo almost identical stat twin haha!

I really hope the current cycle does pan out and that I don't have to do this again. I still haven't heard from 9/10 DO schools, so at least they didn't find my app so repugnant that they insta rejected me.

I think if I have to reapply, I will avoid retaking the Mcat and apply mostly DO, and spend the remainder of this cycle beefing up my Ecs.

 

[Ad2b]

[QUOTE="Seth Joo, post: 17187966, member: 577381"There are some people who talk about "new age" prep courses like "Khan academy" but lets be real, the MCAT is an exam that can make or break you, so try a path that really works and has worked for students for decades than use some new age nonsense.[/QUOTE]
Let's be real, shall we?

You are a med student.
Khan Academy was in it's infancy whenever you took your MCAT

Right?

AAMC has partnered WITH Khan to prepare students. It's not new-age anymore, and you don't get scented incense or Yanni music with it either 😉

 

[YaTuSabes]

@YaTuSabes

Woo almost identical stat twin haha!

I really hope the current cycle does pan out and that I don't have to do this again. I still haven't heard from 9/10 DO schools, so at least they didn't find my app so repugnant that they insta rejected me.

I think if I have to reapply, I will avoid retaking the Mcat and apply mostly DO, and spend the remainder of this cycle beefing up my Ecs.

I wish i had applied to DO schools this cycle as well @tunicaexterna
I've heard plenty of stories where people get interviews in jan-march and get an outright acceptance (granted they interview well)
Im hoping it pans out as well
Would you consider taking the MCAT again and skip out on the next cycle altogether ?

 

[tunicaexterna]

I wish i had applied to DO schools this cycle as well @tunicaexterna
I've heard plenty of stories where people get interviews in jan-march and get an outright acceptance (granted they interview well)
Im hoping it pans out as well
Would you consider taking the MCAT again and skip out on the next cycle altogether ?

If I took the Mcat again it would be in April, which would give me 4 months to study, so if I did take it again I would try and pursue next cycle.

That said, there's just not a ton of practice material that was similar to the real thing and I'd be hesitant to retake unless the AAMC released more practice tests.

 

[W19]

If I took the Mcat again it would be in April, which would give me 4 months to study, so if I did take it again I would try and pursue next cycle.

That said, there's just not a ton of practice material that was similar to the real thing and I'd be hesitant to retake unless the AAMC released more practice tests.

If you are OK with DO, don't retake the MCAT...

 

[Seth Joo]

If you are OK with DO, don't retake the MCAT...

The OP's MCAT is fine for DO, not good for MD.