Please help me figure out what went wrong this cycle! 3 waitlists, no acceptances.

[voodoomamajuju]

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[21Rush12]

You have an average MCAT and a below average GPA and still got interviews. Odds are you’ll come off a waitlist.

 

[mcdocky]

Is your cgpa from before military service? If not, that could be looked at as academic risk.

Also, it's possible your interviewing is weak. They may not exactly want to tell you outright that you received bad interview scores.

Your mcat is fine. I don't think you need to re-take it.

 

[Med Ed]

Stats: cgpa 3.4, sgpa 3.8, MCAT 508
State residence: VA (grew up in NJ for most of my life however)
EC's: 50 hrs shadowing (2 different primary care physicians)
300 hrs hospital volunteering
1 year full-time work for military defense company
500 hours of aerospace research with poster presentation
100 hrs nonclinical soup kitchen volunteering
8 months full-time work as co-op for medical device company
1.5 year of service in US military
500 hrs of tutoring

Side note: I am non trad and ORM

School list: Central Michigan University
East TN State University
EVMS
Penn State
NJMS
RWJMS
University of Vermont
USF Morsani
University of Arizona Tucson
University of Maryland
UMKC
Virginia Commonwealth
West Virginia University
Virginia Tech
Wright State University

Out of all of these schools I had interviews with 3 of them and every one resulted with me being waitlisted. I called the schools and they all said my interview score was well. I'm honestly not sure what I should be doing at this point. I'm trying to think of how I should prepare for next cycle, but I'm not even sure where to start? Retake MCAT, do more hospital hours, do more nonclinical hours, do more research...I'm lost. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

The MSAR is down right now, but it looks like you applied to a bunch of state schools outside of VA that aren't very friendly to OOS applicants. If you don't have any luck this time you might consider adding places like NYMC, Geisinger, Drexel, Temple, TJ, Netter, Rowan, SLU, MCW, Tulane, Wake, Creighton, etc.

 

[voodoomamajuju]

You have an average MCAT and a below average GPA and still got interviews. Odds are you’ll come off a waitlist.

Thank you I hope so!

 

[voodoomamajuju]

Is your cgpa from before military service? If not, that could be looked at as academic risk.

Also, it's possible your interviewing is weak. They may not exactly want to tell you outright that you received bad interview scores.

Your mcat is fine. I don't think you need to re-take it.

I was in the service while attending school thanks for the advice though

 

[mcdocky]

I was in the service while attending school thanks for the advice though

Ah, I see. Sorry don't know too much about how the military works. Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[ReapPremed]

I'm just another applicant, but your stats and school list are what pop out. You should definitely look into DO schools It may also be the overall presentation of your app and interview skills, but you'll need more scrutiny to figure that out. I've applied to medical school several times with cGPA ~3.6, sGPA ~3.5, and MCAT ~515. Each cycle I worked to improve my school list, ECs, and presentation to no avail. Much like you I had stats that were low-average in one or more areas: GPA for me, cGPA/MCAT for you. Its my understanding stats are used fairly heavily in pre-interview screens, so that 3.4/508 might keep you at the bottom of the pile. Its an annoying situation because its a lot of time, money, and RISK to boost your GPA by 0.1 or your MCAT by 2-3 points. Even after a rewrite of my app, and a new volunteering experience, I've only gotten 2 of 25 MD interviews so far this this year. However, I also applied DO and received 6/15 interviews and an acceptance. Obviously my issues are not your issues, but that's my experience.

DO is a good path for people who want to be doctors but are just a hair below average in the cut-throat world of allopathic admissions. On SDN I think there is a tendency to say "don't worry, go DO!" to the hail-mary with 3.2/500 (at least when grade replacement was around). That perception seems to drive many borderline MD candidates away from DO programs for whatever reason...

Your school list is also quite short. You need more "low-yield" (I think that's the phrase?) schools like George Washington, Georgetown, Drexel, Temple, Tufts, and Tulane. Those schools have no in-state bias, take lower stats, and interview lots of people. They have lower post interview acceptance rates, but each school you add gives you a better shot.

 

[voodoomamajuju]

I'm just another applicant, but your stats and school list are what pop out. You should definitely look into DO schools It may also be the overall presentation of your app and interview skills, but you'll need more scrutiny to figure that out. I've applied to medical school several times with cGPA ~3.6, sGPA ~3.5, and MCAT ~515. Each cycle I worked to improve my school list, ECs, and presentation to no avail. Much like you I had stats that were low-average in one or more areas: GPA for me, cGPA/MCAT for you. Its my understanding stats are used fairly heavily in pre-interview screens, so that 3.4/508 might keep you at the bottom of the pile. Its an annoying situation because its a lot of time, money, and RISK to boost your GPA by 0.1 or your MCAT by 2-3 points. Even after a rewrite of my app, and a new volunteering experience, I've only gotten 2 of 25 MD interviews so far this this year. However, I also applied DO and received 6/15 interviews and an acceptance. Obviously my issues are not your issues, but that's my experience.

DO is a good path for people who want to be doctors but are just a hair below average in the cut-throat world of allopathic admissions. On SDN I think there is a tendency to say "don't worry, go DO!" to the hail-mary with 3.2/500 (at least when grade replacement was around). That perception seems to drive many borderline MD candidates away from DO programs for whatever reason...

Your school list is also quite short. You need more "low-yield" (I think that's the phrase?) schools like George Washington, Georgetown, Drexel, Temple, Tufts, and Tulane. Those schools have no in-state bias, take lower stats, and interview lots of people. They have lower post interview acceptance rates, but each school you add gives you a better shot.

Thanks for the advice. I'm really surprised that you haven't had much luck this cycle, almost all of your stats are better than mine. I think because I have a unique application I've been able to receive the 3 interviews thus far, but my stats are what make me more risky compared to the 3.7/515 applicants, which is why I'm getting waitlisted. I'm trying to think of what I should do if I reapply next cycle (obviously I'll apply DO). To raise my cgpa to 3.7 I would literally need 120 credits of getting 4.0, basically another degree. I was thinking of retaking the MCAT as well and reapplying but I feel like I would still be running a decent risk since my gpa is on the lower end. I saw many posts of applicants with a 3.4 and 520 not get accepted anywhere. It's kind of frustrating how this whole gpa thing works for medical schools. A 3.4 in engineering at my undergrad earned me Magna Cum Laude, however to earn the same Magna Cum Laude in Biology required a 3.7 gpa. I'm really not sure where I should go from here and what I can do.

 

[voodoomamajuju]

The MSAR is down right now, but it looks like you applied to a bunch of state schools outside of VA that aren't very friendly to OOS applicants. If you don't have any luck this time you might consider adding places like NYMC, Geisinger, Drexel, Temple, TJ, Netter, Rowan, SLU, MCW, Tulane, Wake, Creighton, etc.

Yeah I know, it was my mistake. I wanted to apply to public schools since my GI Bill would cover the tuition expenses, whereas in private schools they would only cover a small portion. But I'd rather be in debt and be accepted at a private school, than be in the position I am in right now. Thank you for the help I appreciate it.

 

[Saifa]

Nothing went wrong. You entered the fray with standard numbers and experiences (with service as a standout), you got interviews and placed on waitlists that will likely have favorable movement at some point. If you wanted to decrease your chances of sweating out the season you should have added some DO programs. Enjoy the holidays! Work on improving every aspect of your app but I wouldn't touch the MCAT again tbh, you did fine.

 

[precisiongraphic]

I agree that you have a pretty good chance at coming off one of those waitlists. And also agree that an MCAT retake would be more risk for not much reward. Not applying DO this cycle was not a poor decision - but add it next time if you have to reapply along with an expanded MD list as noted by MedEd above.

If you don't want to wait a year, you could consider Tulane's ACP program if you don't have an acceptance by, say, April. The ACP program is only open to those who who have a waitlist and provides a potential acceptance for the next year (plus you can still apply elsewhere during the 2018-2019 cycle. Who knows - apply to ACP and maybe you'll get a late acceptance and not need Tulane.

 

[voodoomamajuju]

I agree that you have a pretty good chance at coming off one of those waitlists. And also agree that an MCAT retake would be more risk for not much reward. Not applying DO this cycle was not a poor decision - but add it next time if you have to reapply along with an expanded MD list as noted by MedEd above.

If you don't want to wait a year, you could consider Tulane's ACP program if you don't have an acceptance by, say, April. The ACP program is only open to those who who have a waitlist and provides a potential acceptance for the next year (plus you can still apply elsewhere during the 2018-2019 cycle. Who knows - apply to ACP and maybe you'll get a late acceptance and not need Tulane.

Is Tulane's ACP program an SMP? I'm guessing it's well designed and has good acceptance rates after completion right? Thank you for the help/advice!

 

[precisiongraphic]

Is Tulane's ACP program an SMP? I'm guessing it's well designed and has good acceptance rates after completion right? Thank you for the help/advice!

Not a true SMP. It's the only program I know of that is only open to those on MD (and maybe DO too) waitlists. Classes are with Tulane MD first years and then if you do well, you interview for Tulane but can also interview elsewhere.

Prior year's threads are here and here.

Apply April/May and then if you get off a waitlist you can withdraw before classes start in late July.

But I bet you $10 you'll get in off a waitlist.

 

[Blanky]

Don’t do a SMP. Shadow/volunteer try and get some patient contact. Maybe maybe (not required) take a couple science courses and apply strong next cycle. I think you will have luck with waitlist movement. GL

 

[voodoomamajuju]

Not a true SMP. It's the only program I know of that is only open to those on MD (and maybe DO too) waitlists. Classes are with Tulane MD first years and then if you do well, you interview for Tulane but can also interview elsewhere.

Prior year's threads are here and here.

Apply April/May and then if you get off a waitlist you can withdraw before classes start in late July.

But I bet you $10 you'll get in off a waitlist.

Thanks I hope so! I'll probably submit letters on intent/interest in march/april.

 

[deleted861396]

I agree that you have a pretty good chance at coming off one of those waitlists. And also agree that an MCAT retake would be more risk for not much reward. Not applying DO this cycle was not a poor decision - but add it next time if you have to reapply along with an expanded MD list as noted by MedEd above.

If you don't want to wait a year, you could consider Tulane's ACP program if you don't have an acceptance by, say, April. The ACP program is only open to those who who have a waitlist and provides a potential acceptance for the next year (plus you can still apply elsewhere during the 2018-2019 cycle. Who knows - apply to ACP and maybe you'll get a late acceptance and not need Tulane.

Not a true SMP. It's the only program I know of that is only open to those on MD (and maybe DO too) waitlists. Classes are with Tulane MD first years and then if you do well, you interview for Tulane but can also interview elsewhere.

Prior year's threads are here and here.

Apply April/May and then if you get off a waitlist you can withdraw before classes start in late July.

But I bet you $10 you'll get in off a waitlist.

Bit of a bump, but if you haven't seen any activity, please check out this year's thread! Tulane ACLP 2018-2019