Is delaying my application the right decision for me?

[fd25]

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Hi everybody, just looking for some feedback to make sure I am choosing the right decision for me 🙂

This previous cycle, I had 3II, resulting in 3 WL (NYMC, NYULI, and Stony Brook). I did undergrad in NY, but I am moving back to GA, where I am originally from, this July. I have a 3.63cGPA and 511 MCAT. I have a lot of research hours, and about ~400 clinical hours. I am lacking in significant volunteering hours, and I also studied objectively poorly my first time taking the MCAT.

I was originally planning to apply right away for this cycle, but I felt like I might be rushing into it without putting my best foot forward. I already have some volunteering lined up for when I arrive in GA, but this is obviously not on my primary app. I think it might be best to withdraw my AMCAS application this year and reapply next May. My plan this year would be to retake my MCAT in January and volunteer until January. In January, I would then consider seeking a research fellowship or paid clinical work while continuing my volunteering.

Is delaying my application until next year objectively the best decision? I feel it would significantly approve my application, but sometimes it‘s nice to get confirmation from random internet strangers who have no need to make me feel better. 🙂 thanks in advance!

 

[KnightDoc]

Objectively, more is always better than less, so we all are always better off waiting. The problem with that is, followed to its logical conclusion, we never end up applying, so we all have to subjectively decide when good is good enough. Any MCAT lower than 528 can always be improved, but it's a waste of time and effort if your score is good enough and the likelihood of significant improvement is low. I don't how high you can score on a retake, but 511 is fine for most people, as evidenced by your 3 IIs and by the fact that 511 is the national average for matriculants.

What, if anything, have you been doing to improve your application since submitting last year? If the answer is nothing, than taking a break is probably a good idea. Volunteering is apparently a gap in your otherwise decent application. I wouldn't stress about the 511, unless you think you can get to 516+ on a retake. Good luck!!!

 

[fd25]

Objectively, more is always better than less, so we all are always better off waiting. The problem with that is, followed to its logical conclusion, we never end up applying, so we all have to subjectively decide when good is good enough. Any MCAT lower than 528 can always be improved, but it's a waste of time and effort if your score is good enough and the likelihood of significant improvement is low. I don't how high you can score on a retake, but 511 is fine for most people, as evidenced by your 3 IIs and by the fact that 511 is the national average for matriculants.

What, if anything, have you been doing to improve your application since submitting last year? If the answer is nothing, than taking a break is probably a good idea. Volunteering is apparently a gap in your otherwise decent application. I wouldn't stress about the 511, unless you think you can get to 516+ on a retake. Good luck!!!

Thanks for your feedback. Over the past year, I’ve accumulated 1800 additional research hours to the few hundred I already had (plus mid-author pub), as well as 260 clinical hours in addition to the 135 clinical volunteering I already had. I was going to reapply to this year, but @Goro mentioned that my lack of no clinical volunteering would likely be lethal (only 30 hours). So I figured, why not take the year off to accumulate what I need if I am most likely not going to be successful yet this year. I want to apply when I am the best version of myself as an applicant. I know that I am ready to matriculate, but I need Adcoms to be convinced of this as well.

i do also feel confident that I can score a 516+ on a retake, but if my practice tests do not reflect this come the month of the test, I will obviously not move forward. Thanks again for the feedback!