Need advice on my app!

[dondeP]

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Hello all, long time lurker here. I have been extremely stressed out ever since I have submitted my applications to all my schools and I was wondering if I could get some insight into whether or not my app is competitive enough. Here are all my stats below + EC's.

MCAT(s):
1st: 500 (126, 123, 127, 124)
2nd: 507 (128, 123, 130, 126)
3rd: 508 (129, 124, 128, 127)

cGPA: 3.78
sGPA: 3.72

ECs:
1500 Non-clinical research; 1 third author publication
Currently 800 hours as a surgical technician, working full time so will be over 1500 hours by next year.
Hospice Care Volunteer with 30 hours
25 hours of shadowing

I feel as if my application is held back by my MCAT and the fact that my writing is sub-par (at least I think it is) and I want to know if I still have a shot this year. My dream school has an average 514 MCAT. I am also thinking of retaking the MCAT a fourth time with a new study strategy to see if that can help for next cycle if I don't get in, but I am worried about how schools view four MCAT attempts...

Looking forward to your insight!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What's your community service?

 

[dondeP]

Does Hospice Care not count as community service?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Does Hospice Care not count as community service?

That's clinic-adjacent. What were your responsibilities?

Service orientation activities include food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, and housing rehabilitation. Teaching/tutoring/mentoring goes in its own category. Working with marginalized populations is a different criterion.

You must have 150 hours of service orientation activities (minimum, more competitive applicants will have much more) when you submit your application to avoid getting screened out at most schools. I tend to ignore activities with fewer than 50 hours unless it's shadowinng (it's 1 hour per week, so not a big commitment). Do you have anything that fulfills this expectation?

 

[dondeP]

I would provide companionship, monitor behaviors, and do a final report of each visit to the lead hospice coordinator. I guess I overlooked community service in my application... I only recently applied to further volunteer opportunities, such as food bank, homeless care, and further volunteer clinic work which I outlined in my secondaries that I planned to do during the application year, but I know what matters more is what I already have done.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

For a more comprehensive review, follow the WAMC template. State residency, major, ORM/URM, rural health interest, etc. are important details.

 

[Goro]

You're fine for any deal program. But I strongly suggest that you rack up at least 200 hours of service to others less fortunate to yourself. Med schools aren't going anywhere

 

[dondeP]

Do you think, beyond practically no community service hours, that my app stands a chance even with three MCAT attempts? That is what is making me panic the most.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Do you think, beyond practically no community service hours, that my app stands a chance even with three MCAT attempts? That is what is making me panic the most.

Many medical schools will average all your MCAT scores for screening purposes. I would be very deliberate to take it a fourth time; you have to score at least 10 points higher if you want to impress anyone. Otherwise, yes, I'm sure there are some schools that will look at the number of attempts negatively after you take 3 times, especially if you don't show much more improvement. You could also go down.

 

[Med Ed]

What is your state of residence?

 

[dondeP]

Massachusetts. And some of the schools I have called have said they only look at the highest MCAT score so that's a relief lol

 

[Med Ed]

You are fixated on the splinter and ignoring the plank. The splinter is multiple MCATs with a top score below the average for matriculants (and well below the average for your dream school). Certainly not ideal, but surmountable if the rest of your application is compelling and you deploy a smart school list.

The plank is your lack of service, which is what would make the rest of your application compelling. Unless you have some ace up your sleeve that you aren't sharing, 30 hours of hospice at the time of application will be lethal. If I were you I would actually withdraw and go back to the drawing board. Frankly, you applied prematurely.

 

[dondeP]

It is probably why I am panicking so much about the whole application process. I was continuously being pressured to apply by my family so I felt compelled to, even though I didn't feel like I would get in. I also don't think withdrawing right now is an option due to the amount of money I have invested into the whole process, unless withdrawing would make it so they do not see my application outright and when I do reapply in the future, it is not considered a reapplicant.

Service is something I am trying to gain experience in, as I've applied to a local homeless shelter/food bank recently and hope to hear back after the weekend. I don't know. This whole app was a mistake from the start but I was pressured by the "what if" aspect my family kept drowning me in and I feel like it ruined me. I also feel like I would have to retake the MCAT a fourth time in the future for when I do reapply for a better score.

Do you think it would be better to reapply the next cycle with a lot more service built up, or wait a little longer than that and just build up me as a person?

 

[Goro]

Look, you're an adult. You're old enough to vote, work, pay taxes, run for public office, drive, and fight and die for your country.

You're therefore old enough to tell your family to let you apply to med school there's. time, not theirs.

Otherwise, out of love and ignorance of this process, they will ruin your medical career.

 

[Med Ed]

Rushing to pack a bunch of service into the next 9 months is better than nothing, but it's also pretty obvious what you're doing (checking boxes). I would target 2027 and use the intervening time to reflect, mature, and build up your application in a deliberate, thoughtful manner.

 

[dondeP]

Thank you for all the insight. I agree that it needs work, and since medicine is my passion, I will stop at nothing to achieve that dream.

 

[candbgirl]

Massachusetts. And some of the schools I have called have said they only look at the highest MCAT score so that's a relief lol

That response might be the school “policy”, but the reviewers see all of your scores. and they might see a series of very like scores and understand that you have reached your limit.