No interviews this year... what to do?

[Aflac0421]

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I applied last year to roughly 20 MD schools (the less competitive ones) with a 3.70 cum gpa/3.68 sci gpa and a mcat of 29 (9 PS, 10 VR, 10 BS). My extracurriculars were pretty average. I had one summer of research (internship), 3 years of volunteering in a hospital (4 hrs/week, each year in a different department) plus 30 hrs of shadowing. I have 2 solid (not amazing or anything) recs and 1 weaker one.

Pretty much I didn't get a single interview and I'm somewhat stressing out right now about my next cycle. Looking back though, there were several things I could've improved on. Probably the most important one was applying earlier. I sent in my primary in September and secondaries took me a while to finish, so I know that definitely hurt me a lot. My personal statement wasn't well written (at least I didn't feel good about it when turning it in), so I know I have 2 things I can improve on this year.

This was a gap year so I spent 6 months working a job at a local book store (couldn't find employment for the longest time) and took a class at community college. I have another year of volunteering in the same hospital under my belt (making it 4 years in total). I spent a year volunteering at a local hospice and half a year tutoring English to refugees. As a result, the main difference in my application this year is a greater variety of volunteering.

I'm retaking the MCAT early May and I've been doing better on practice tests (got a 33 on my first two AAMC practice tests, pretty stoked about that). Hopefully, I will do better this test (I took my first MCAT during my sophmore year and looking back that was an extremely poor decision). Nevertheless, I want to consider the worst possible situation.

Let's say my stats stay the same, what do you think my chances are this year? (Although it's a little late this year) What do you think I should try to improve on?








On a side note: I was thinking about pushing my MCAT back to late may since I feel like I need more time, but I'm really adamant about submitting my application early this year so not sure if I should do it.

 

[frescoengano]

I applied last year to roughly 20 MD schools (the less competitive ones) with a 3.70 cum gpa/3.68 sci gpa and a mcat of 29 (9 PS, 10 VR, 10 BS). My extracurriculars were pretty average. I had one summer of research (internship), 3 years of volunteering in a hospital (4 hrs/week, each year in a different department) plus 30 hrs of shadowing. I have 2 solid (not amazing or anything) recs and 1 weaker one.

Pretty much I didn't get a single interview and I'm somewhat stressing out right now about my next cycle. Looking back though, there were several things I could've improved on. Probably the most important one was applying earlier. I sent in my primary in September and secondaries took me a while to finish, so I know that definitely hurt me a lot. My personal statement wasn't well written (at least I didn't feel good about it when turning it in), so I know I have 2 things I can improve on this year.

This was a gap year so I spent 6 months working a job at a local book store (couldn't find employment for the longest time) and took a class at community college. I have another year of volunteering in the same hospital under my belt (making it 4 years in total). I spent a year volunteering at a local hospice and half a year tutoring English to refugees. As a result, the main difference in my application this year is a greater variety of volunteering.

I'm retaking the MCAT early May and I've been doing better on practice tests (got a 33 on my first two AAMC practice tests, pretty stoked about that). Hopefully, I will do better this test (I took my first MCAT during my sophmore year and looking back that was an extremely poor decision). Nevertheless, I want to consider the worst possible situation.

Let's say my stats stay the same, what do you think my chances are this year? (Although it's a little late this year) What do you think I should try to improve on?








On a side note: I was thinking about pushing my MCAT back to late may since I feel like I need more time, but I'm really adamant about submitting my application early this year so not sure if I should do it.

I think the main problem was the submission date. I wouldn't push back your MCAT; just take it and submit early. What schools did you apply to?

 

[Aflac0421]

I think the main problem was the submission date. I wouldn't push back your MCAT; just take it and submit early. What schools did you apply to?

Yeah I'm definitely thinking that too. Furthermore, my secondaries could've been done a lot sooner too. I was abroad for a little bit and that slowed me down.

I applied to a pretty wide range of schools. UC Irvine and Davis were my reach schools. I also applied to schools like NYMC, Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, VCU, Scranton, EVMS, GWU, the schools in chicago, Creighton, etc etc. Pretty much the schools more in my reach.

 

[frescoengano]

Yeah I'm definitely thinking that too. Furthermore, my secondaries could've been done a lot sooner too. I was abroad for a little bit and that slowed me down.

I applied to a pretty wide range of schools. UC Irvine and Davis were my reach schools. I also applied to schools like NYMC, Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, VCU, Scranton, EVMS, GWU, the schools in chicago, Creighton, etc etc. Pretty much the schools more in my reach.

The problem with NYMC, Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, GWU is that they get so many applications that they can kinda be choosy.

Maybe you should add some of the SUNYs, penn state, vermont, toledo, etc..

 

[MiDoc2]

I have 2 solid (not amazing or anything) recs and 1 weaker one.

I think the weaker letter might have something to do with it. Your stats aren't all that bad. Sounds like your problem is a combo of letters, late submission and average EC's. What state are you a resident of btw?

 

[Aflac0421]

The problem with NYMC, Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, GWU is that they get so many applications that they can kinda be choosy.

Maybe you should add some of the SUNYs, penn state, vermont, toledo, etc..

Yeah, I've heard about that. I did apply to penn state and toledo. I didn't apply to the SUNYs though (other than buffalo). I thought they heavily favored students in-state? I assumed the people they accepted out of state were those with higher than average stats.

I think the weaker letter might have something to do with it. Your stats aren't all that bad. Sounds like your problem is a combo of letters, late submission and average EC's. What state are you a resident of btw?

I'm from California, so I don't really have state schools to fall back on.

I'm hoping that the weaker letter wasn't an issue. It's been somewhat bothering me since the professor didn't know me well. I'm not too sure if I can get another letter though. I have been out of school for a year and there isn't really any faculty member I can reconnect with. It would be like swapping a weak letter for another one. Is there any way I can find out whether or not the letter was malignant? (I highly doubt the professor wrote anything negative though)