In need of advice

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jerfer

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Hi guys!

So as this cycle comes to a close, I'm wrestling with the disappointment of not being accepted to an MD program this cycle. I'm not entirely shocked, as my MCAT was certainly the weakest part of my application, but its tough to stomach the idea of facing the MCAT and working through the app process once again.

For those of you who were reapplicants and for whatever reason and ended up being accepted, what would be the best piece of advice you can give? For the last year (my first gap year; this past cycle was my first app cycle) I have been working as a research assistant. I have a ton of hospital volunteer hours in addition to 2.5 years of research and 2.5 years as a medical scribe among other extracurricular as an undergrad.

As of right now, I have registered to retake the MCAT, and I selected a date in June. I think I have pin pointed my weak areas and plan on doing MUCH more practice testing this time around. Anyone who has retaken the MCAT and increased their score significantly (especially with VR/CARS) I would very much appreciate any advice on that as well. I plan to submit my primary as soon as AMCAS opens for submission, and see how it goes this time around. Thanks guys!
 
Also, info on my stats: first time i took the MCAT, got a 27 (BS 11, CP 10, VR 6) and a 501 the second time. not quite sure the individual scores, but verbal was again, my lowest by far. my cGPA is a 3.8, and science is a 3.7.
 
jerfer said:
Also, info on my stats: first time i took the MCAT, got a 27 (BS 11, CP 10, VR 6) and a 501 the second time. not quite sure the individual scores, but verbal was again, my lowest by far. my cGPA is a 3.8, and science is a 3.7.
Click to expand...
Get a higher MCAT or apply DO.
 
jerfer said:
Hi guys!

So as this cycle comes to a close, I'm wrestling with the disappointment of not being accepted to an MD program this cycle. I'm not entirely shocked, as my MCAT was certainly the weakest part of my application, but its tough to stomach the idea of facing the MCAT and working through the app process once again.

For those of you who were reapplicants and for whatever reason and ended up being accepted, what would be the best piece of advice you can give? For the last year (my first gap year; this past cycle was my first app cycle) I have been working as a research assistant. I have a ton of hospital volunteer hours in addition to 2.5 years of research and 2.5 years as a medical scribe among other extracurricular as an undergrad.

As of right now, I have registered to retake the MCAT, and I selected a date in June. I think I have pin pointed my weak areas and plan on doing MUCH more practice testing this time around. Anyone who has retaken the MCAT and increased their score significantly (especially with VR/CARS) I would very much appreciate any advice on that as well. I plan to submit my primary as soon as AMCAS opens for submission, and see how it goes this time around. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
For verbal, time yourself. I think while doing practice questions, I gave myself 8 minutes per passage.
 
jerfer said:
Hi guys!

So as this cycle comes to a close, I'm wrestling with the disappointment of not being accepted to an MD program this cycle. I'm not entirely shocked, as my MCAT was certainly the weakest part of my application, but its tough to stomach the idea of facing the MCAT and working through the app process once again.

For those of you who were reapplicants and for whatever reason and ended up being accepted, what would be the best piece of advice you can give? For the last year (my first gap year; this past cycle was my first app cycle) I have been working as a research assistant. I have a ton of hospital volunteer hours in addition to 2.5 years of research and 2.5 years as a medical scribe among other extracurricular as an undergrad.

As of right now, I have registered to retake the MCAT, and I selected a date in June. I think I have pin pointed my weak areas and plan on doing MUCH more practice testing this time around. Anyone who has retaken the MCAT and increased their score significantly (especially with VR/CARS) I would very much appreciate any advice on that as well. I plan to submit my primary as soon as AMCAS opens for submission, and see how it goes this time around. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Did you get any interviews this cycle?
 
It's really simple: if you're boning for the MD degree, then retake the MCAT and fix whatever deficits are in your app. Contact Admissions deans for feedback on your rejection.

You're competitive for most DO programs. I can't recommend LUCOM.



jerfer said:
Hi guys!

So as this cycle comes to a close, I'm wrestling with the disappointment of not being accepted to an MD program this cycle. I'm not entirely shocked, as my MCAT was certainly the weakest part of my application, but its tough to stomach the idea of facing the MCAT and working through the app process once again.

For those of you who were reapplicants and for whatever reason and ended up being accepted, what would be the best piece of advice you can give? For the last year (my first gap year; this past cycle was my first app cycle) I have been working as a research assistant. I have a ton of hospital volunteer hours in addition to 2.5 years of research and 2.5 years as a medical scribe among other extracurricular as an undergrad.

As of right now, I have registered to retake the MCAT, and I selected a date in June. I think I have pin pointed my weak areas and plan on doing MUCH more practice testing this time around. Anyone who has retaken the MCAT and increased their score significantly (especially with VR/CARS) I would very much appreciate any advice on that as well. I plan to submit my primary as soon as AMCAS opens for submission, and see how it goes this time around. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
 
@CyrilFiggis I did, I got one at a DO school in FL. I'm currently waitlisted which I'm definitely comfortable with at this point. I wasn't totally in love with the school, and wasn't quite sure it was the right fit for me
 
jerfer said:
@CyrilFiggis I did, I got one at a DO school in FL. I'm currently waitlisted which I'm definitely comfortable with at this point. I wasn't totally in love with the school, and wasn't quite sure it was the right fit for me
Click to expand...
I would agree with Goro. Since you got zero MD II's, you need to get your MCAT score up to be competitive. Frankly, it wouldn't hurt to take the next whole year off. Priority 1 is killing the MCAT, but priority 2 is getting keeping your application competitive. It seems you don't have much in the way of meaningful community service. Wether it's Habitat for Humanity, a shelter, an after-school program, many med schools want to see a dedication to community work.
 
I second the above advice. Be disciplined about mcat prep and find the help you need to improve your score. Check out khan academy (website) for some additional free mcat prep if you haven't. Take time to learn about interviews before you get there so you can think about how you present yourself. Also get your apps in EARLY. Good luck
 
Thanks guys. yeah i think this time around i definitely submitted too late so I plan on submitting when AMCAS opens this year. the MCAT is a given, plan on starting to study the end of this month for a test date in mid june.

i have over 300 hospital volunteer hours, i've shadowed several physicians in multiple specialties, 3 years of research, 2.5 years of scribing, an internship in sports medicine/biomechanics, and I've working in a research lab currently as a research assistant/coordinator. we just closed out a project and my PI is wanting me to write up some of the data and possibly be published as a first author, so that should be good. but that process likely won't begin until post MCAT.

I've applied to begin volunteering at the local crisis center, and for a program that counsels senior citizens on Medicaid enrollment. anything else you guys would recommend as far as community service goes? i think non-medical volunteering is probably one of the biggest areas i was deficient in besides the mcat. thoughts?
 
thank you guys for the input, by the way. its much appreciated
 
jerfer said:
@CyrilFiggis, do you mean not applying this coming cycle and waiting until the next?
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Correct. You're taking a June MCAT which means you have to study and re-do your primary at the same time. You also won't know until July how you did, and by that point you will have already submitted your primary. If it were me, I would feel pressured in that situation. But if you can do it, all the more power to you. Also, if your application year only yielded one additional EC, you're more or less applying with the same application, just a new score. Again, I defer to the wisdom of @Goro and the other AdCom folks on here, but my MO for re-applicants (esp those without a prior interview) is slow and steady.
 
CyrilFiggis said:
Correct. You're taking a June MCAT which means you have to study and re-do your primary at the same time. You also won't know until July how you did, and by that point you will have already submitted your primary. If it were me, I would feel pressured in that situation. But if you can do it, all the more power to you. Also, if your application year only yielded one additional EC, you're more or less applying with the same application, just a new score. Again, I defer to the wisdom of @Goro and the other AdCom folks on here, but my MO for re-applicants (esp those without a prior interview) is slow and steady.
Click to expand...

yeah. i suppose that's my debate at the moment. If i dont end up getting an interview from the rest of the schools i applied to (which i find unlikely given that we're this far into the interview season) i think my next step would be to contact schools and figure out if there were any other deficiencies in my app aside from MCAT and hopefully just make a decision from there. but i appreciate the insight
 
jerfer said:
yeah. i suppose that's my debate at the moment. If i dont end up getting an interview from the rest of the schools i applied to (which i find unlikely given that we're this far into the interview season) i think my next step would be to contact schools and figure out if there were any other deficiencies in my app aside from MCAT and hopefully just make a decision from there. but i appreciate the insight
Click to expand...
If you haven't, and the schools allow it, send them updates as to what you've been doing this year.
 
CyrilFiggis said:
If you haven't, and the schools allow it, send them updates as to what you've been doing this year.
Click to expand...
for the schools i've remained interested in, I have already done this. For my top choice, I'm having my PI write me an additional LOR per suggestion of the admissions office in hopes of a possible interview.
 
Hi Jerfer, I was in your exact position last year. 3.65 GPA both ways. My MCAT - verbal specifically - was a big red flag on my application. I improved my MCAT from 30 (12P 11B 7C) to a 515 (130P 129V 128B 128Psych) after studying during the summer. In retrospect, I should have started studying sooner so that I could take the test before september, but I didn't give up hope last year to start planning when I should have. It is good that you are taking it in June so that you can still apply in the early part of the cycle.

In addition to my MCAT improvement, I have been volunteering at my church, leading the High school ministry and planning service projects throughout the SF area. I have also volunteered on the weekends at UC Davis Medical Center as a chaplain (They just recently rejected me this year). I have been working for a pharmaceutical company and just recently published an abstract on my work (after submitting my secondaries unfortunately).

I applied much more broadly this year (to only MD schools) and received 5 II this year in comparison to the 0 I received last year, including one to UCSD.

Work hard on your MCAT, keep up the extracurriculars, and reapply. For me the year off was one of personal maturation, wherein I redefined my motivations for purusing a career in medicine. Although the extra year feels like a long time, I think it has been good for me.

Good luck!
 
sfgiants23 said:
Hi Jerfer, I was in your exact position last year. 3.65 GPA both ways. My MCAT - verbal specifically - was a big red flag on my application. I improved my MCAT from 30 (12P 11B 7C) to a 515 (130P 129V 128B 128Psych) after studying during the summer. In retrospect, I should have started studying sooner so that I could take the test before september, but I didn't give up hope last year to start planning when I should have. It is good that you are taking it in June so that you can still apply in the early part of the cycle.

In addition to my MCAT improvement, I have been volunteering at my church, leading the High school ministry and planning service projects throughout the SF area. I have also volunteered on the weekends at UC Davis Medical Center as a chaplain (They just recently rejected me this year). I have been working for a pharmaceutical company and just recently published an abstract on my work (after submitting my secondaries unfortunately).

I applied much more broadly this year (to only MD schools) and received 5 II this year in comparison to the 0 I received last year, including one to UCSD.

Work hard on your MCAT, keep up the extracurriculars, and reapply. For me the year off was one of personal maturation, wherein I redefined my motivations for purusing a career in medicine. Although the extra year feels like a long time, I think it has been good for me.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thank you for this, definite encouraging to hear this. congrats on your interviews, glad the cycle went well for you 🙂 Yes! i forgot to mention actually, i will be going on a mission trip to Columbia at the end of this month also, definitely excited for the experience. hoping to get more experiences like these in before the next cycle.

Also, my verbal is obviously a red flag for my app as well. what did you find most helpful for improving your score? I plan on studying just over 3 months (starting when i get back from Columbia). I feel like I'll burn out if its any longer than that just based on past experience. and how much time total did you end up taking off?

Goro said:
I think that you've got it planned out quite well.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

thank you, @Goro!
 
You're welcome, but the mission trip will be viewed as "medical tourism". Go on it to learn something, but don't expect Adcom members to be impressed.


jerfer said:
Thank you for this, definite encouragement there. congrats on your interviews, glad the cycle went well for you 🙂 Yes! i forgot to mention actually, i will be going on a mission trip to Columbia at the end of this month also, definitely excited for the experience. hoping to get more experiences like these in before the next cycle.

Also, my verbal is definitely a red flag for my app. what did you find most helpful for improving your score? and how much time total did you end up taking off?



thank you, @Goro!
Click to expand...
 
Goro said:
You're welcome, but the mission trip will be viewed as "medical tourism". Go on it to learn something, but don't expect Adcom members to be impressed.
Click to expand...
Sure. I actually committed to this trip about 4 months ago, so i really didnt have my app in mind at that time. I love travel so I'm honestly just excited for a change of scenery/new perspective, but im sure there will be a lot to learn. like I mentioned before, i plan on pursuing adcoms from each of the programs i applied to to find if my MCAT was what was the only thing holding me back, or if there are any other deficiencies that need to be corrected before reapplying. but thank for noting that
 
jerfer said:
Thank you for this, definite encouraging to hear this. congrats on your interviews, glad the cycle went well for you 🙂 Yes! i forgot to mention actually, i will be going on a mission trip to Columbia at the end of this month also, definitely excited for the experience. hoping to get more experiences like these in before the next cycle.

Also, my verbal is obviously a red flag for my app as well. what did you find most helpful for improving your score? I plan on studying just over 3 months (starting when i get back from Columbia). I feel like I'll burn out if its any longer than that just based on past experience. and how much time total did you end up taking off?



thank you, @Goro!
Click to expand...
It's ColOmbia. You might want to get the place correct if you plan to actually go there and then talk about it in apps.
 
jerfer said:
Thank you for this, definite encouraging to hear this. congrats on your interviews, glad the cycle went well for you 🙂 Yes! i forgot to mention actually, i will be going on a mission trip to Columbia at the end of this month also, definitely excited for the experience. hoping to get more experiences like these in before the next cycle.

Also, my verbal is obviously a red flag for my app as well. what did you find most helpful for improving your score? I plan on studying just over 3 months (starting when i get back from Columbia). I feel like I'll burn out if its any longer than that just based on past experience. and how much time total did you end up taking off?



thank you, @Goro!
Click to expand...

You need to get some help with respect to the VR section on the MCAT. The VR section, as you probably know, is very different from the BS and PS sections. With BS and PS, you can improve your score just by learning more concepts in the respective sciences, but VR tests your logical reasoning and reading skills. Those are concepts that have been ingrained in you for a much, much longer time and will therefore be harder to improve upon. Get a reliable tutor or at the very least take a test prep course on the VR section.

With that said, I took the old version of the MCAT and only took it once, so I am not sure how applicable my advice would be in your situation. I can say that the VR section gave me the most trouble out of the three by far and I worked extensively to try to improve my score. I just wish I had tackled the VR section earlier and gotten a tutor sooner.

Good luck!
 
rogernadal said:
You need to get some help with respect to the VR section on the MCAT. The VR section, as you probably know, is very different from the BS and PS sections. With BS and PS, you can improve your score just by learning more concepts in the respective sciences, but VR tests your logical reasoning and reading skills. Those are concepts that have been ingrained in you for a much, much longer time and will therefore be harder to improve upon. Get a reliable tutor or at the very least take a test prep course on the VR section.

With that said, I took the old version of the MCAT and only took it once, so I am not sure how applicable my advice would be in your situation. I can say that the VR section gave me the most trouble out of the three by far and I worked extensively to try to improve my score. I just wish I had tackled the VR section earlier and gotten a tutor sooner.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

thank you!
 
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