Is reapplying to DO/MD programs a detriment?

[EarthWindFire]

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Hi everyone,

I was looking to get your take on if applying to medical school as a re-applicant is a detriment in the sense that, admissions committees will look less favourably at your application than someone who hasn't applied in the past. Is this true? Also, are there any other cons to re-applying to medical school? I am primarily looking into DO programs and low tier MD programs.

 

[Blakeb_212]

I don't think there are many cons to being a reapplicant, as long as your application has significantly improved. I would say that with most schools you will be in the same boat, but those schools that were really on the fence in terms of offering you an invite may be more inclined the second time around. The strength of the applicant pool also varies slightly from year-to-year. Two of my II were from reapplicant schools. Fortunately, I had enough new experiences to show improvement. Essentially, as long as you improved you should be fine but make sure to add new schools that you might fit better with in terms of their average stats and their mission.

 

[mk04447]

What difference does it make. If you don't get in on the first try you have two choices... reapply or throw in the towel.

Many doctors didn't get the not the first time. Hell, a good majority of the MDs I've interacted with got their degrees in other countries. If this is what you what you want to do you'll need to apply again. Good or bad, it's what you'll need to do.

The sooner you accept it is what it is, the sooner you can get working on tomorrow.

 

[EarthOneFlash]

Hi everyone,

I was looking to get your take on if applying to medical school as a re-applicant is a detriment in the sense that, admissions committees will look less favourably at your application than someone who hasn't applied in the past. Is this true? Also, are there any other cons to re-applying to medical school? I am primarily looking into DO programs and low tier MD programs.

Hi, re-applicant here. Already have one acceptance to my in-state MD school, and have two more interviews lined up to my other top choices. Being a re-applicant is only a detriment if you have have not improved yourself/app between cycles. Some re-applicants try to go consecutive cycles with maybe a slightly higher MCAT score and think that's all it takes. Being a re-applicant certainly isn't easy, but if you can show med schools that you've grown between cycles, they will look favorably on you.

 

[Goro]

Hi everyone,

I was looking to get your take on if applying to medical school as a re-applicant is a detriment in the sense that, admissions committees will look less favourably at your application than someone who hasn't applied in the past. Is this true? Also, are there any other cons to re-applying to medical school? I am primarily looking into DO programs and low tier MD programs.

The bias against reapplicants is mostly SDN hype.

That said, you are handicapped if you reapply without fixing your app.

 

[beastfromhell510]

i am a reapplicant myself and finally got accepted this cycle. As long as you have made improvements to show for, nothing negative to be viewed as. If anything, can be seen as perseverance, a good trait.

 

[MalteseFalconMD]

For my state schools they said that roughly 40% of the last class were reapplicants. I myself am one and was accepted. Reapplying is almost status quo now due to huge application numbers and so few spots.

 

[Theseus]

I was accepted my second time around with a lot more interview invites. I had only 1 II the first application cycle.

 

[notreallymyname]

I was accepted my second time around with a lot more interview invites. I had only 1 II the first application cycle.

+1

 

[BellaWriterChic]

This is my third rotation of applications. I had a lot narrower list my first round and got one interview invite. Second, wider range, got two. Third, wider list, multiple more interviews and I have been fortunate to gain acceptances. Now I made adjustments to my app besides expanding my list, but my point is there is hope.


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[Magus5454]

This is my third rotation of applications. I had a lot narrower list my first round and got one interview invite. Second, wider range, got two. Third, wider list, multiple more interviews and I have been fortunate to gain acceptances. Now I made adjustments to my app besides expanding my list, but my point is there is hope.


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It took me four cycles, finally got multiple interviews and an acceptance at a school I really liked...Still waiting to hear back post interview from my state MD as well

 

[EarthWindFire]

It took me four cycles, finally got multiple interviews and an acceptance at a school I really liked...Still waiting to hear back post interview from my state MD as well

Congrats! And the fact that you went through four cycles and still had hope imo means that a career in medicine truly is for you since you probably would have given up if and done something easier. Amazing perseverance!

 

[EarthWindFire]

This is my third rotation of applications. I had a lot narrower list my first round and got one interview invite. Second, wider range, got two. Third, wider list, multiple more interviews and I have been fortunate to gain acceptances. Now I made adjustments to my app besides expanding my list, but my point is there is hope.



Thanks for the words of encouragement. If you have time, would you be able to let me know –either through replying to this post or private messaging me– what changes you made to your app to be more successful?

 

[EarthWindFire]

[deleted]

 

[EarthWindFire]

@Magus5454 @BellaWriterChic @notreallymyname @Theseus @MalteseFalconMD @beastfromhell510 @EarthOneFlash @Blakeb_212
What did you all do during the years after getting initially rejected to improve your application/chances of interview and offer of admission.

 

[Magus5454]

What did you all do during the years after getting initially rejected to improve your application/chances of interview and offer of admission.

Retook the MCAT(mine ran out, brought up my C/P score from a 75 to a 97). Got a letter from a physician I shadowed, kept other ECs up

 

[Magus5454]

Congrats! And the fact that you went through four cycles and still had hope imo means that a career in medicine truly is for you since you probably would have given up if and done something easier. Amazing perseverance!

Yeah my mother said it was a sign of how much I'd changed over the past 10 years, I'd have given up before

 

[MalteseFalconMD]

.

 

[MalteseFalconMD]

@Magus5454 @BellaWriterChic @notreallymyname @Theseus @MalteseFalconMD @beastfromhell510 @EarthOneFlash @Blakeb_212
What did you all do during the years after getting initially rejected to improve your application/chances of interview and offer of admission.

I took a biochemistry course to strengthen my science background and then I retook the mcat and did vastly better than my previous attempt. I also added a bit more non- clinical volunteer work. Beyond that I just kept working in healthcare chipping away the time till I could reapply.

 

[notreallymyname]

@Magus5454 @BellaWriterChic @notreallymyname @Theseus @MalteseFalconMD @beastfromhell510 @EarthOneFlash @Blakeb_212
What did you all do during the years after getting initially rejected to improve your application/chances of interview and offer of admission.

During the application year, I continued volunteering and research and finishing up my undergrad classes. I reapplied immediately after (which I’ve learned SDN frowns upon oops) and during my gap year, I’ve been working as a part-time back office assistant for a PCP, started a new volunteering position since I moved back home, and continued my hobbies on the side. I also got a few more publications out even after moving out from my lab.

 

[notreallymyname]

double post, deleted

 

[BellaWriterChic]

I did a biostats course to add some form of statistics to my application. Retook the MCAT. I also started working as a medical scribe in primary care and was able to obtain LORs from two of the doctors I work with (ironically they were both the least tech savvy) and shadow on my days off in other fields. I did some school list change up to get there as well.


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