Need Reapplication Advice

[OjasonleeO]

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Hi, I am an Asian male, 21, and I applied last year to about 28 schools and unfortunately I only got interviews to three of them (OHSU mid-November, Einstein mid-November, and NYMC mid-December). I am currently a fourth year at UCLA and I am about to graduate in June with a B.S. in Computer Science with an Overall GPA of 3.53 and Science GPA (those upper div CS classes are killer...unfortunately that means that I have a downward trend in my GPA...from about a 3.7 after my second year to what I have now) of about 3.7 +- 0.02. My MCAT score is a 30R. I submitted my primary on July 5 (kinda scary how I still remember that) and started getting secondaries from about 24 schools. I ended up not getting ones from UCLA, UCSF, Stanford and UCD but got them from other schools such as Northwestern, Washington St. Louis, Duke, USC, UCI, UCSD, etc. Despite receiving them early, however, I did not turn the bulk of them in until early to mid-September. This came as a result of me working full-time at my research lab and becoming a bit lazy due to the long 8-hour days. I have to admit that my filling out of secondaries were also a bit haphazard as well. My turn-around time for secondaries averaged about a month and half, with the longest being two months! Two of the three interviews I got came from schools from whom I turned in the secondaries about a week after I received them (OHSU and Einstein). Could this long turnaround time have severely affected me?

I am currently waitlisted at NYMC and was put on hold/rejected from OHSU and waitlisted/rejected from Einstein (both mid-May). Although I have hope for NYMC, I am still planning on reapplying. I was wondering if any of you guys familiar with my situation can tell me why I wasn't successful this year, or more importantly, how I can improve my chances this upcoming year.

I have 1 year of clinical experience interning at a hospital...almost 2 years of research at two different research labs (I changed due to transportation issues) (no publications unfortunately)...I have volunteered in Los Angeles' Chinatown tutoring elementary school children for 2 years (been on staff for 1)...participated in an annual free health fair in Chinatown for two years (helped plan it this year)...

Things I plan to do this upcoming year that will not appear on my primary due to my planning to apply June 1:

1. shadow a doctor about two times a week for a month and a half in the summer
2. continue my volunteer work in Chinatown (I've become quite attached to my kids there)
3. work full-time at my first research lab (transportation not a problem anymore) as I feel much more connected with the system while I am there...I hope to get published while I'm there.

These are the bulk of my experiences. I was wondering if any of you guys could give me advice on what I can do to improve. I am really hoping to stay in CA (returning to UCLA would be AWESOME!) but I have been told by many that my GPA and MCAT scores will not allow me to do that. I will definitely go to a medical school out of CA as going to medical school takes priority over location. But what can I do to help my chances of getting in this year? Or, should I apply next year in hopes of getting a better score on the MCAT. I'd much rather start this year though. Thanks a lot.

PS. What do you guys know about NYMC. I've been hearing a lot of people say that it's not that competitive of a school and that since I would like to match some place in CA that that won't be possible if I go there. Is this true?

Sorry for the long post! But I guess since this is my first one, I wanted to make it count.

 

[Adapt]

I am really hoping to stay in CA (returning to UCLA would be AWESOME!) but I have been told by many that my GPA and MCAT scores will not allow me to do that. I will definitely go to a medical school out of CA as going to medical school takes priority over location.

You can always go to COMP in Pomona if you want to stay in CA so bad. Your stats are a bit above their averages. My advice is too apply to MD and DO schools and you will get in somewhere this time. 👍

 

[jxu66]

Jason, you got good number. Unfortunately, it is bad to be California resident when it comes to Medical school. It is like playing lottery. Make sure apply some DO and some weaker Medical schools (You seem to have all the best Medical schools on your list). Keep on trying it.

 

[BassDominator]

I'm surprised you didn't get more interviews. Your stats sound pretty solid. Looks like you needed to get those secondaries in a lot sooner.

Get yourself published. Better luck next year.

 

[redstar18]

Turning in your secondary apps late is probably why you didn't receive more interviews. As for the schools still considering you, did you send in letters of interest or a letter of intent to your top choice? There's still time to get off a waitlist, so do these things and don't lose hope yet.

For OHSU, what is your ranking? If you don't know, find out so you can see how realistic it is for you to get off the waitlist.

There's lots of waitlist movement at NYMC (or so I heard), so you might want to keep in touch with them. Also, check their matchlists. I believe many of them come back to CA for residency.

Don't know much about the Einstein waitlist..

Btw, sounds like we might have crossed paths somewhere.. last day of site this Saturday!

Post or PM anymore q's you might have. Good luck

 

[OjasonleeO]

I guess I should elaborate to make things more clear. My main goal is to get into a medical school that will give me a decent shot at coming back to CA for residency. Going to school in CA, however, would just be a luxury but is definitely not necessary. According to some of my friends, if I do end up getting into/going to NYMC, I may not have that great of a shot at doing so...So what are your guys' thoughts?

 

[redstar18]

Here, I think this is the pre-allo thread you need:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=120563&highlight=california

 

[docquaker]

nymc has a lot of cali students (as do most places) and you would definitely have a chance to match back in cali. my friend just matched surgery at loma linda. i'm on the waitlist there too...hoping to hear some good news soon. good luck!