Planning to reapp

[LittleBitNeuro]

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While I am in waiting-for-interviews hell, I’ve realized that I need to start planning now because I will waste a semester if I wait for the thanksgiving milestone. I would reapply next June.

Weaknesses
My prereqs are at a community college. Technically they offer a couple 4 year degrees, but community college is in the name. I do not have any upper level science at a university.

2/3 of my bio quarters are >10 years old

150 hours of zero yield fluff nursing research

MCAT. I thought it was solid but my advisor mentioned if she still worked at the crazy snooty advising place on the east coast she would have told me to retake it. Apparently there was a ton of pressure to make sure the rich kids got in. 100% of her advisees from there were accepted (I got a 516 130/130/128/128)

Strengths
Been a nurse for a bajillion years

Volunteering at a food bank for >5 years

Good story about poverty -> resilience

Thoughts
Coursework is probably my greatest weakness. Most of the schools on my list don’t love CC. I could take genetics and advanced pathophys (both 300 level) at a state university fall semester for $$$$$.

Start a couple more research projects in my ICU? It takes forever to get through the approval process, so I doubt I would have results by next June

I could leave the job I love and have seniority at for a nurse researcher position (obv don’t love this idea)

Retake the MCAT. Huuuuuge risk of a lower score. But honestly, I didn’t study that great (took 1.5 months off for the holidays out of 4.5 months total), didn’t complete Anki, etc. a handful of my practice FLs were 520 so I could probably do better? This seems the silliest but maybe I’m overly proud of 516

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I don't quite understand. You can submit an AACOMAS application in September and not be late.

I also question your judgment. If you intentionally submitted a subpar application knowing you have serious flaws (programs don't accept CCs, you have few science-rigorous upper-level biomedical courses with grades, your letters don't satisfy "science professor" qualifications), why are you wasting your money?

Have you talked with admissions representatives at the schools you applied to? A 516 should get you in as long as you show you are taking an irreversible step towards medicine and know why it's different from just pursuing a DNP. Don't retake the MCAT unless you are told you should by admissions professionals.

The application process reveals your priorities and your process thinking. By already thinking about your next application, you admit you were not wise shooting your shot this time. You can't afford to make too many more misses in judgment.

 

[LittleBitNeuro]

I wouldn’t say I necessarily have a subpar application. I’m just looking for ways to strengthen it if I don’t get accepted this year. Maybe it’s the neuroticism speaking, but it seems like each year there’s decent applicants that don’t get accepted. I’m applying DO as well.

This year I only applied to schools that are cool with CC. I was thinking that I could potentially expand the number of schools I’d be competitive at by taking those classes and having all my pre reqs be within the last 4 years. I do have a couple 300 level bio/biochem classes. I have 2 letters of rec from science profs.

I was encouraged not to wait another year in an earlier WAMC thread. I dunno, I figure there’s always things you can do to be better.

 

[Med Ed]

Agree, don't retake a 92nd percentile MCAT score.

I found your WAMC and your academic credentials look fine. The central issue with applications like yours is making the case for a career switch.

 

[yomike333]

Your advisor's comment about retaking a 516 is concerning. That's a great score. Retaking is a real risk. Unless you're scoring 525+ on practice tests, don't do it. Your weakness is the CC coursework and lack of upper-level sciences. That's what you need to fix. One or two upper-level courses at a state university will help a lot. Research can wait. Fix the glaring weakness first.