MD/MPH Possible Reapplication - Retake MCAT or bolster other parts of the app?

[catsandbio]

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Hi all,

I'm wondering if some ADCOMs can weigh in on this, especially. I applied this cycle to 30 MD schools, received 2 IIs, and am sitting on 2 WLs. I am ORM female, a VA resident, with an AMCAs sGPA of 3.82 and a cGPA of 3.84. I am graduating next month with a BS in Biology. I minored in Chemistry and Psychology at a state public school. I have gotten all As in my classes with the exception of Organic Chemistry 1, which I got a C in, Organic Chemistry 1 Lab, which I got a B in, and Organic Chemistry 2, which I also got a B in. I got an A in that lab and then got an A in Biochem, so I think I improved on the tail end of that Chemistry minor. I think I will finish with the same GPA but receive a B in this Animal Physiology class I am taking.

I ended up taking the MCAT early June and getting a 505 (126/126/125/128) when I was projecting 510-515s on practice exams, and then I ended up taking it again August and getting a 510 (126 (I definitely freaked out during the first section and ran out of time)/127/127/130). I was projecting an average of 518 on practice exams before test day. My school list was definitely also more midtier/top heavy because of my practice scores, I think.

ECs/Honors are:

• Volunteering at local RMHC - 180 hours by end of this May, since January 2018
• Research Assistant in Psychology/Neuroscience lab, no pubs, 315 hours by end of this May, since January 2018
• Member of Omnicron Delta Kappa - National Leadership Honor Society
• 100+ shadowing hours across Family Practice, Cardiology, Orthopedic Surgery
• Tutor at School's Learning Center- Paid- 9-11 hours a week since January 2016
• TA my sophomore year for Freshman English courses
• on Executive Board for schools CMNH Dance Marathon (500+ of involvement since Sept 2016)
• Hospital Volunteer since high school (198 hours, 100 of them during undergrad)

This meant I was done the day after Labor Day with most schools, but I did submit about 7 by mid-September (I know, another blunder).

In the event that I do not gain acceptance, I was going to do a full AmeriCorps term over the next school year (many I've applied to are health-related and in large cities) and either CNA or medical scribe to get more clinical hours (looking at programs that allow this), and reapply for 2021. I was also going to find another organization to volunteer for (I was thinking something with LGBTQIA as I'm queer and where I live now didn't have really have any). I am also planning to apply more smartly to schools in range instead of projecting my MCAT, and submitting the primary on the first day instead of in August.

I really want to have an MD as I want the option to be able to pursue any specialty, such as surgery. I also want to have the option to practice in another country as a job opportunity someday (the UK, New Zealand, Canada). My personal statement was pored over by doctors, professors, pre-med advisor and supervisors, so I do not think it was that.

I thought I might have a rogue LoR because of paranoia when things were silent for a while in the cycle, but not sure it was that either because of the two IIs.

My questions for you all:

1. Do I have a shot at MD as a reapplicant if I make the changes above?
2. Is it wise to only apply MD again?
3. Is it better to do service for causes I'm passionate about or grab a research position (I've been told research isn't necessary but am afraid lack of a lot is bringing my app down)?
4. Should I not rush studying this time and retake the MCAT (maybe did a month before the 505)? Will my 510 no longer be considered a decent score in the 2020-2021 application cycle? How will my 505 hurt me then?
5. Is it better to scribe, or get that CNA or even an EMT certification for clinical experience? Is it okay to add more hospital/hospice/free clinic volunteering for clinical experience if I cannot find someone that'll take me for the other options during my service year? Otherwise, would it be okay if I started scribing/CNA-ing/EMTing after the service year ended in August 2020 after already submitting AMCAs?

Thank you so much in advance for reading all of this. Any help would be appreciated!

I would love all of your godly advice if you get a chance.

 

[Faha]

You do not need to retake the MCAT. You could still receive an acceptance from those 2 schools in the next 2 months. If not I suggest reapplying in June and submit all your secondaries by July. I suggest these schools:
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Marshall
George Washington
Georgetown
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Seton Hall
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
TCU-UNTHSC (new school)
Kaiser
California University
The schools where you are on the wait list (if not listed above)
Also apply to at least 8 DO schools and you are competitive for all DO schools.
A CNA or scribe position in your gap year is a good idea.

 

[catsandbio]

You do not need to retake the MCAT. You could still receive an acceptance from those 2 schools in the next 2 months. If not I suggest reapplying in June and submit all your secondaries by July. I suggest these schools:
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Marshall
George Washington
Georgetown
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Seton Hall
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
TCU-UNTHSC (new school)
Kaiser
California University
The schools where you are on the wait list (if not listed above)
Also apply to at least 8 DO schools and you are competitive for all DO schools.
A CNA or scribe position in your gap year is a good idea.

Thank you so much! I'm just trying to think ahead just in case. Do you think reapplying this time around will yield better results if I do it earlier or do you think it is better to wait a cycle and apply next June 2020 for MD?

 

[Goro]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if some ADCOMs can weigh in on this, especially. I applied this cycle to 30 MD schools, received 2 IIs, and am sitting on 2 WLs. I am ORM female, a VA resident, with an AMCAs sGPA of 3.82 and a cGPA of 3.84. I am graduating next month with a BS in Biology. I minored in Chemistry and Psychology at a state public school. I have gotten all As in my classes with the exception of Organic Chemistry 1, which I got a C in, Organic Chemistry 1 Lab, which I got a B in, and Organic Chemistry 2, which I also got a B in. I got an A in that lab and then got an A in Biochem, so I think I improved on the tail end of that Chemistry minor. I think I will finish with the same GPA but receive a B in this Animal Physiology class I am taking.

I did not want to apply for this cycle, but I was scared into doing it by my parents (yeah, I know, big mistake, should have held my ground) as they said they would not help with tuition costs at all and leave me all to loans if I took a gap year and didn't decide on my career path right now. I ended up taking the MCAT early June and getting a 505 (126/126/125/128) when I was projecting 510-515s on practice exams, and then I ended up taking it again August and getting a 510 (126 (I definitely freaked out during the first section and ran out of time)/127/127/130). I was projecting an average of 518 on practice exams before test day. My school list was definitely also more midtier/top heavy because of my practice scores, I think.

ECs/Honors are:

• Volunteering at local RMHC - 180 hours by end of this May, since January 2018
• Research Assistant in Psychology/Neuroscience lab, no pubs, 315 hours by end of this May, since January 2018
• Member of Omnicron Delta Kappa - National Leadership Honor Society
• 100+ shadowing hours across Family Practice, Cardiology, Orthopedic Surgery
• Tutor at School's Learning Center- Paid- 9-11 hours a week since January 2016
• TA my sophomore year for Freshman English courses
• on Executive Board for schools CMNH Dance Marathon (500+ of involvement since Sept 2016)
• Hospital Volunteer since high school (198 hours, 100 of them during undergrad)

This meant I was done the day after Labor Day with most schools, but I did submit about 7 by mid-September (I know, another blunder).

In the event that I do not gain acceptance, I was going to do a full AmeriCorps term over the next school year (many I've applied to are health-related and in large cities) and either CNA or medical scribe to get more clinical hours (looking at programs that allow this), and reapply for 2021. I was also going to find another organization to volunteer for (I was thinking something with LGBTQIA as I'm queer and where I live now didn't have really have any). I am also planning to apply more smartly to schools in range instead of projecting my MCAT, and submitting the primary on the first day instead of in August.

I really want to have an MD as I want the option to be able to pursue any specialty, such as surgery. I also want to have the option to practice in another country as a job opportunity someday (the UK, New Zealand, Canada). My personal statement was pored over by doctors, professors, pre-med advisor and supervisors, so I do not think it was that.

I thought I might have a rogue LoR because of paranoia when things were silent for a while in the cycle, but not sure it was that either because of the two IIs.

My questions for you all:

1. Do I have a shot at MD as a reapplicant if I make the changes above?
2. Is it wise to only apply MD again?
3. Is it better to do service for causes I'm passionate about or grab a research position (I've been told research isn't necessary but am afraid lack of a lot is bringing my app down)?
4. Should I not rush studying this time and retake the MCAT (maybe did a month before the 505)? Will my 510 no longer be considered a decent score in the 2020-2021 application cycle? How will my 505 hurt me then?
5. Is it better to scribe, or get that CNA or even an EMT certification for clinical experience? Is it okay to add more hospital/hospice/free clinic volunteering for clinical experience if I cannot find someone that'll take me for the other options during my service year? Otherwise, would it be okay if I started scribing/CNA-ing/EMTing after the service year ended in August 2020 after already submitting AMCAs?

Thank you so much in advance for reading all of this. Any help would be appreciated!

I would love all of your godly advice if you get a chance. @Faha @Goro @LizzyM

I will answer the rest of your questions later, but I'm going to have to be blunt. A mature and successful candidate for medical school does not allow herself to be blackmailed by her parents into applying to medical school.

 

[Faha]

If you work as a CNA or scribe for a year it would increase your chances for MD schools. If you are willing to attend a DO school then you could apply to both MD and DO this June,