I'm sure you get this alot, but I need some help and advice.

[neembo]

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So I about a week ago I got waitlisted from the last school (Temple) I thought I might have a chance in, so I'm thinking I might need to reapply. Two of the schools (Tufts and Jefferson) I applied to haven't even got back to me about interviews, so I'm going to assume the worst right now. I only had two interviews (NJ Med and Temple), so I'm not sure what the hell I did wrong.

A little bit of background: I graduated from Rutgers School of engineering in 2008 with a degree in Electrical Engineering, cum gpa 3.3 (meh). I worked for about a year and half at Lockheed Martin, and then started a post-bacc program at PSU Brandywine, which I finished with all A's and A-'s (woo hoo), with a GPA of 3.8. Offhand, I believe my cum GPA (both undergrad at rutgers as well as psu postbacc) is around 3.4, so still not too great. My science GPA is around 3.6. I took the MCAT last year in june, and got a 32R, which is not too great, but I thought I might have a shot. I have over a hundred hours of volunteer experience at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (from which I received a LOR), and I also have a number of hours of volunteering experience at the Drueding Center, a sort of halfway house for single mothers and their families. I was a tutor/homework helper for the kids in the house, and I got a LOR from the volunteer coordinator there. I have some research experience at the A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital, but I had to leave before I finished writing the paper due to family issues. I should mention I got a LOR from my manager at Lockheed as well.

I think I had a pretty solid app, but I know theres definitely room for improvement. Last app cycle I sent in my primaries by end of July, and sent in my secondaries by mid October, so I was def a little late on those. I know at least one of my friends already in med school didn't get his in until sometime in November, so I thought I was in OK shape. I guess my question is (I hope people have read this far) what should I do? I've only recently started looking for jobs at hospitals, for something like a research assistant, but i haven't heard anything positive (sigh), and I want to take the MCAT again, but I'm a little worried my score will drop (32 isn't bad, and there is def room to do worse). I haven't done a whole lot (just that short research stint) since I sent in my apps, so I'm worried that my re-app will not be that much improved. I'll also apply to DO schools this year, where I feel I have a good chance.

please help a brother out. I just want to stop freaking worrying so much.

 

[ppappui]

Your application is not great, but not terrible. Your MCAT is pretty solid, yet your GPA is on the low side, especially for MD schools. Considering that, your application is way late. Only those with great credentials (above 3.8 GPA and 36 MCAT) can really get away with submitting secondaries in late October.
I suggest that you broaden your choice of schools to around 20+ after researching the schools thoroughly. Submit your primary before end of June (they start sending out primaries to schools around June 20th most years). Work on your secondaries even before they come by looking at previous years' posts, since secondary questions vary little by year for each school. As soon as you receive the secondaries, finish them within a week, and send all of them by mid-August. Then you will be one of the earliest candidates they will screen for interviews, and thus have a better chance for an interview than you submitting later in the cycle.

Trust me, I am a 3rd time reapplicant who received 0 interviews my first 2 cycles. I really went hardcore this past cycle because I treated it like my last and went through that agenda I mentioned above, and received 3 MD interviews.

I also suggest that you apply to at least several DO schools as your MCAT is very competitive for DO schools. You will more than likely receive interviews in DO schools and have a great chance of acceptance unless you bomb the interview.

Good luck

 

[neembo]

Whoa thanks for the quick reply, and you def confirmed my suspicions, haha. Should I take the MCAT again? Also, lets say I send in my primary apps, and take another MCAT after I send in those primaries ( I really need to study for this, so I probably won't take it till June), will schools still see that second MCAT?

 

[ppappui]

Unless you're 1) applying to top schools or 2) insecure about your application and want to improve it, I would honestly go with the scores there because I personally would not want to study for it again 😛
However, if you're sure 1) you can improve the score, and 2) you're willing to put the studying time in, there is no reason for you not to do it.
I would also recommend starting (assuming you haven't started yet) or continuing clinical activities and any other ECs that will help your application. I did research my first gap year and hospital volunteering and internship at another hospital the second gap year. Also, re-write your personal statement and activity list on the AMCAS/AACOMAS.
If you do all these, there is no reason for schools to invite you for an interview.
However, there is a chance that you still see no love from MD schools whether it is by not receiving interviews or by not being accepted post-interview because there are so many competitive applicants for those schools. MD schools are fickle and they will not guarantee anything

Anyway, that's how I perceive the application cycle 😎

Good luck fellow reapplicant

 

[alexrgross]

Whoa thanks for the quick reply, and you def confirmed my suspicions, haha. Should I take the MCAT again? Also, lets say I send in my primary apps, and take another MCAT after I send in those primaries ( I really need to study for this, so I probably won't take it till June), will schools still see that second MCAT?

That MCAT is above the average of those accepted at 80 percent of schools, and the MCAT is difficult - as you know. As for that MCAT, if you receive the scores after you send in the primary, they could possibly review your app with only the first scores - that depends on when you submit secondaries and are complete. This is an executive decision on your part in terms of if you want to risk taking the test again, and scoring above or below, or equal to, 32 again...I have that scores, and a very similar GPA/ academic trend and I opted to pass on a re-take.

 

[Buzz Me]

I only had two interviews (NJ Med and Temple), so I'm not sure what the hell I did wrong.

(1) You have to apply early - as early as possible
(2) Your GPA is below the mean for MD matriculants (around 3.65)
(3) You didn't apply to DO schools
(4) You graduated almost 4 years ago

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I graduated ~15 years ago. Time isn't the issue.

1. Time was against you when you applied, I already had 4 interview invites by the end of Oct. Apply June 1.
2. Apply broadly, DO/MD both, it will be expensive, it is a drop in the bucket.
3. Make sure you have the personal statement readers go over yours, it may be only 'iffy'.
4. See if you can find another applicant to 'trade' secondary help with, these are just as important, another applicant may be willing to help you write/rewrite if you're willing to do the same with theirs.
5. Shadowing? Any? If not, get some. It's important to get 20+hrs
6. Do you have a LOR from a physician? If you're going to apply broadly and DO, you'll need at least an MD letter, and a DO letter (many DO schools require a DO letter, some will replace with an MD)

Hope this helps!

 

[Helen Wheels]

According to current AMCAS data the average MCAT of matriculated students is 31.1 and the average science GPA is 3.61.

https://www.aamc.org/download/161690/data/table17.pdf

The problem is that you are a very "average" applicant for MD programs.

1) Apply early. Seriously. Get those transcripts in to AMCAS (and AACOMAS) in May and be ready to click submit in early June the day it opens. Get the secondaries out as quickly as possible.

2) Yes to DO - you are very competitive for DO.

3) Graduating four years ago is nothing. Most applicants in this day and age have taken a year (or a few) after undergrad to work or do research, etc. I graduated from undergrad 16 years before I started med school. 16 years since graduation adds some twists to the app process but four years is nothing.

Best of luck!