Looking where to improve for a possible reapplication

[Pacaketurtle]

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Hello everyone, I am a current applicant and although I have received 3 II's and am still remaining hopeful, I plan to start seriously patching up any holes in my application following the holidays. For context, one of my II's has turned into a waitlist and I am under continued review for the other two which are state schools. Looking back on my app, I think my main issues were a lack of service and no cohesive narrative that tied my application together but I am hoping to hear others' opinions and see if I am missing anything.

1. cGPA/sGPA - ~3.96 for both
2. MCAT - 518 (131/127/129/131)
3. State residency -> NC with significant ties to WV and lesser ties to SC
4. ORM (White)
5. Undergrad -> Public NC, graduated 1.5 years ago
6. Clinical Experience -> 1,200 hours as a scribe in an ICU during college, about half of was as a senior scribe and later as a chief scribe (included this under leadership in application and discussed training others and other responsibilities)
7. Research -> ~800 hours in biology research, unrelated to medicine. Middle author publication in decently high-impact journal along with a solo verbal presentation at regional conference. ~450 hours in clinical research.
8. Shadowing -> 40 hours in Internal Medicine clinic
9. Non-clinical volunteering -> ~150 hours as a personal tutor for various students throughout college, no organization or anything, just something I did on the side. Also about 50 hours of fundraising for a club during the first two years of college.
10. Only other things I included was cooking as a hobby.
11. N/A
12. Didn't really attempt to tie anything together in a meaningful narrative and looking back, my essays and application were a little all over the place. Since applying, I have been working as a private tutor for college students and recently sent updates about this (especially since I had no projected hours in any activity when applying since I was moving and unsure about what I would be doing). Currently planning on volunteering at a homeless shelter and a tutoring center for underserved communities starting in January. Also hope to find a part time clinical job if possible. for a reapplication, I hope to create a more meaningful narrative surrounding education (both patient and medical education) and cooking/nutrition as those are two things I am passionate about, have activities surrounding, and I can tie into different schools and their various opportunities. Also plan to apply to about ~40 schools next time.

School List:
Western Michigan
Eastern Virginia
MCW
WVU
Geisinger
Marshall
Vermont
SC Greenville
ECU Brody
UNC Chapel Hill
Wake Forest
SUNY Upstate
Pitt
Emory
Dartmouth
Cincinnati
Stony Brook
Colorado
Iowa
Ohio State
Case Western
Duke
Yale
Vanderbilt
Michigan
UVA
Northwestern


Edit: still looking for feedback, would greatly appreciate any help

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Where did you receive interviews and decisions?

 

[Pacaketurtle]

Where did you receive interviews and decisions?

Interviews were received in late July, early Sept and late Sept (don’t remember exact dates). WL from first interview on Oct 15 (was WVU so wasn’t too bummed due to low OOS acceptance rate). Placed under continued review for other two interviews in late November and this past week.

 

[Pacaketurtle]

Where did you receive interviews and decisions?

I just wanted to follow up and see if you had any advice or recommendations for a potential reapplication

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I just wanted to follow up and see if you had any advice or recommendations for a potential reapplication

You didn't answer my question where you already received decisions.

 

[Pacaketurtle]

You didn't answer my question where you already received decisions.

Oh I’m so sorry, I misread where as when. Got a continued review from UNC, hold from ECU, and waitlist from WVU as my post-interview decisions. Got rejected from Michigan, Geisinger, Dartmouth, Pitt, and Case Western (I think that’s it).

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your two best shots are still your in-state programs. Did you grow up in Eastern NC where ECU is located? They like to see and strong connection with rural and underserved communities. Likely why you got rejected from WV (oops, you said waitlisted).

That's where you have issues. You are only beginning food pantry work, which you should have had 150 hours minimum before applying. This probably screened you out at most of the schools on your list it appears, but your metrics should have interested UNC. The question is whether you have enough service orientation for an offer.

You don't need to apply to 40 schools. You need more service to others. Tutoring is an academic activity that every premed has, so it doesn't help you stand out. Not having a narrative focused on community health or projects woth food as medicine also could have doomed your application.

Figure out which schools do have a "food as medicine" focus and how students showed a strong for for that program or curriculum. Google for this (until I can get to my links from Becoming a Student Doctor).

 

[Pacaketurtle]

Your two best shots are still your in-state programs. Did you grow up in Eastern NC where ECU is located? They like to see and strong connection with rural and underserved communities. Likely why you got rejected from WV.

That's where you have issues. You are only beginning food pantry work, which you should have had 150 hours minimum before applying. This probably screened you out at most of the schools on your list it appears, but your metrics should have interested UNC. The question is whether you have enough service orientation for an offer.

You don't need to apply to 40 schools. You need more service to others. Tutoring is an academic activity that every premed has, so it doesn't help you stand out. Not having a narrative focused on community health or projects woth food as medicine also could have doomed your application.

Figure out which schools do have a "food as medicine" focus and how students showed a strong for for that program or curriculum. Google for this (until I can get to my links from Becoming a Student Doctor).

No I didn't grow up in Eastern NC. So in terms of preparing for a reapplication, do you think I should completely dedicate myself to gaining volunteer hours with the underserved in hopes of overshooting that minimum 150 hour goal or should I split my time between volunteering and potentially a part-time clinical job or volunteering position since my previous scribing was 2-3 years ago? Is there anything else that is potentially missing or is it possible that I will have a much more successful cycle once I have more service hours?

Regarding a potential narrative rework for my reapplication, should I make a "food as medicine" narrative central to my entire application? I am worried that my other activities don't really tie into that and I would only have my hobby and recent volunteering to back up that narrative.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

No I didn't grow up in Eastern NC. So in terms of preparing for a reapplication, do you think I should completely dedicate myself to gaining volunteer hours with the underserved in hopes of overshooting that minimum 150 hour goal or should I split my time between volunteering and potentially a part-time clinical job or volunteering position since my previous scribing was 2-3 years ago? Is there anything else that is potentially missing or is it possible that I will have a much more successful cycle once I have more service hours?

Regarding a potential narrative rework for my reapplication, should I make a "food as medicine" narrative central to my entire application? I am worried that my other activities don't really tie into that and I would only have my hobby and recent volunteering to back up that narrative.

Remember we don't see your application. Whatever advice you get needs to make sense to you. Have you asked admissions officers about a possible reapplication? You still have active applications with ECU and UNC, but check what they can do if you get rejected.

But yes, you need to serve others, and you admit it above. Put your efforts with your homeless shelter work (not necessarily tutoring). Listen to what people are telling you about their needs and why their health may not be the priority you want it to be.