Please help me improve my (re)application

[LaZigeuner]

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Hello, I’m hoping to get some feedback on improving my application.

Stats two years ago (for 2013 Fall entrance):

MCAT:
· 2012: PS 8, VR 11, BS 10 (29N)
· 2010: PS 8, VR 8, BS 10 (26Q)
· Currently studying for a retake in May 2014

AMCAS verified GPAs:
· Post-bacc BCPM: 3.80 (this will now be a little lower)
· Undergrad BCPM: 3.67
· Post-bacc Cum: 3.83 (expecting a little lower for 2015 application)
· Undergrad Cum: 3.76
· Grad Cum: 3.48

Degrees:
· Bachelors and Masters in same field; worked in this field ~20 years
· Professional degree in totally different field, regretted doing it almost from Day One but finished the degree, reassessed after finishing degree and eventually started post-bacc pre-med coursework, though currently still supporting myself in this field

Activities—Application for 2012:
· Full-time free-lance work in field of professional degree
· Shadowed two PCPs, for a total of ~20 hours
· Volunteered with a local human rights non-profit start-up (~7 hrs/wk for 10 months)
· Music practice, performance, light teaching (1 private student)
· Post-bacc coursework so far done at junior college
· Personal research, some guided by prof through independent study, some guided by mentor doc

Letters:
· First application: from one of my long-term clients; from undergrad prof with whom I’ve stayed in touch and with whom I worked after betting the Masters; one each from pre-requirement profs for Gen Chem, O-Chem, and Bio.
· Second application: I’ve asked the former Chair of the human rights nonprofit to write a letter, still waiting to hear back. Asking client to update his letter.

Activities—Application for 2015:
· Continued free-lance work
· Continued human rights volunteering until last December 2013
· Continued music, though no teaching
· Volunteer in local hospital, 4 hrs/wk for the last year so far
· Lined up to shadow different specialties in local hospital during spring break (will occur in March 2014)
· Coursework at 4-year college: 200-level biology class (4 credits, B), 2 400-level biochemistry classes (4 credits C+ in the first; 2nd is this term); 200-level math class (this term)
· Continued experimentation with mentor doc

First application
· I submitted to AMCAS in the middle of July, was processed by the middle of August, but had a pending second MCAT score that didn’t come in until early September. Then I got almost all my secondaries in by their due dates (some were on their due dates). This time I’ll submit to AMCAS/AACOMAS on Day 1, and pre-write secondaries so they are ready as soon as I might get them.
· I was not invited for any interviews. I contacted several schools to ask for feedback, but they declined.

Pre-med advising:
· Now that I’m at the local 4-year school, I have a pre-med advisor. He has suggested: more shadowing, re-writing PS and essays, earlier submitting of secondaries, optional re-take the MCAT, get As in rest of 4-year school post-bacc courses, retake C+ class from last fall, include DO schools in my list. Also, ensure that I’m getting something out of the hospital volunteering; if not, ditch it and find something different or elsewhere.

Thanks in advance for any constructive comments.
And please let me know if there's any other information I should include here.

ETA: yikes! and thanks for reading (I didn't realize the post was this long until it was posted)

 

[theseeker4]

Hello, I’m hoping to get some feedback on improving my application.

Stats two years ago (for 2013 Fall entrance):

MCAT:
· 2012: PS 8, VR 11, BS 10 (29N)
· 2010: PS 8, VR 8, BS 10 (26Q)
· Currently studying for a retake in May 2014

AMCAS verified GPAs:
· Post-bacc BCPM: 3.80 (this will now be a little lower)
· Undergrad BCPM: 3.67
· Post-bacc Cum: 3.83 (expecting a little lower for 2015 application)
· Undergrad Cum: 3.76
· Grad Cum: 3.48

Degrees:
· Bachelors and Masters in same field; worked in this field ~20 years
· Professional degree in totally different field, regretted doing it almost from Day One but finished the degree, reassessed after finishing degree and eventually started post-bacc pre-med coursework, though currently still supporting myself in this field

Activities—Application for 2012:
· Full-time free-lance work in field of professional degree
· Shadowed two PCPs, for a total of ~20 hours
· Volunteered with a local human rights non-profit start-up (~7 hrs/wk for 10 months)
· Music practice, performance, light teaching (1 private student)
· Post-bacc coursework so far done at junior college
· Personal research, some guided by prof through independent study, some guided by mentor doc

Letters:
· First application: from one of my long-term clients; from undergrad prof with whom I’ve stayed in touch and with whom I worked after betting the Masters; one each from pre-requirement profs for Gen Chem, O-Chem, and Bio.
· Second application: I’ve asked the former Chair of the human rights nonprofit to write a letter, still waiting to hear back. Asking client to update his letter.

Activities—Application for 2015:
· Continued free-lance work
· Continued human rights volunteering until last December 2013
· Continued music, though no teaching
· Volunteer in local hospital, 4 hrs/wk for the last year so far
· Lined up to shadow different specialties in local hospital during spring break (will occur in March 2014)
· Coursework at 4-year college: 200-level biology class (4 credits, B), 2 400-level biochemistry classes (4 credits C+ in the first; 2nd is this term); 200-level math class (this term)
· Continued experimentation with mentor doc

First application
· I submitted to AMCAS in the middle of July, was processed by the middle of August, but had a pending second MCAT score that didn’t come in until early September. Then I got almost all my secondaries in by their due dates (some were on their due dates). This time I’ll submit to AMCAS/AACOMAS on Day 1, and pre-write secondaries so they are ready as soon as I might get them.
· I was not invited for any interviews. I contacted several schools to ask for feedback, but they declined.

Pre-med advising:
· Now that I’m at the local 4-year school, I have a pre-med advisor. He has suggested: more shadowing, re-writing PS and essays, earlier submitting of secondaries, optional re-take the MCAT, get As in rest of 4-year school post-bacc courses, retake C+ class from last fall, include DO schools in my list. Also, ensure that I’m getting something out of the hospital volunteering; if not, ditch it and find something different or elsewhere.

Thanks in advance for any constructive comments.
And please let me know if there's any other information I should include here.

ETA: yikes! and thanks for reading (I didn't realize the post was this long until it was posted)

Sounds like you are all set as far as a plan goes. You should be all set for DO schools even without a MCAT retake. A lot of MD schools will give you some attention, assuming you apply early, even with your current MCAT. Be as close to 100% positive as you can be that your MCAT will go up, and not down, or don't take it.

 

[Quik]

Volunteering: More. Volunteer working with people that will show you are committed to community service and helping people.

Clinical: Also, more. Continue the hospital volunteering if you are exposed to patients. If you're working in the gift shop (or equivalent) ditch it. More shadowing is great. Volunteering or work directly with patients (ie. hospice care) or the underserved/disadvantaged population is better.

LORs: Professors and Physicians. Get one from your mentor doc, hopefully another MD/DO who can attest to your suitability as a physician, and your letters from professors speaking to your academic abilities seem fine. I don't think an ADCOM will put much weight on a letter from a client speaking on your suitability as a physician and ability to handle the rigor of med school (just my opinion here). I also don't know that a letter from the chair of the human rights org will bear much weight.

Research: I assume that is your 'experimentation with mentor doc?' Continue this if so.

Leadership: There isn't much mentioned in the way of leadership on your application.

I think your pre-med advisor got most of it, and you seemed to have figured out the rest. I think your 29Q is competitive for DO, if you're seriously committed to MD, a re-take might be in order but three attempts to get a +30 might be viewed with a slight bias against you. If you don't get +30, it certainly will. People have been accepted to MDs with a 29Q.

I think the biggest question that your application fails to answer from a cursory view is why medicine?
I seem to be echoing this advice often since sitting down with an admissions officer at my school of choice, but paint the picture that you're committed to a lifelong career of community service helping people. Every entry in your application should speak to serve this overall statement. I know your post was a brief summary, but I didn't get this sense reading it. Some of the entries seemed a bit superfluous.

Keep up the hard work and fill in the little gaps in your application. Best of luck in the next cycle!

 

[LaZigeuner]

Sounds like you are all set as far as a plan goes. You should be all set for DO schools even without a MCAT retake. A lot of MD schools will give you some attention, assuming you apply early, even with your current MCAT. Be as close to 100% positive as you can be that your MCAT will go up, and not down, or don't take it.

Yes, I definitely want to assure (as much as possible) that MCAT goes up. I'd like to raise PS, am willing to keep the other two.

Thanks for your comment!

 

[QuantumJ]

You're looking good. Mix of clinical and nonclinical ECs. Good GPA. Your plan is right on track. Retake the MCAT only if you do really good on the practice tests (I got accepted with my 29MCAT to MD and DO). Good luck! Knowing what you need to do is taken care of so now go execute.

 

[LaZigeuner]

Volunteering: More. Volunteer working with people that will show you are committed to community service and helping people.

Clinical: Also, more. Continue the hospital volunteering if you are exposed to patients. If you're working in the gift shop (or equivalent) ditch it. More shadowing is great. Volunteering or work directly with patients (ie. hospice care) or the underserved/disadvantaged population is better.

I volunteer at one of the ICUs in the hospital. My duties allow on average a pretty even split of my time between interacting with the staff (doctors, nurses, PAs, CNAs, etc.), the patients, their families, and making coffee.

The human rights volunteer position was as a board member for the organization, so more from the administrative side, but I left that position.

LORs: Professors and Physicians. Get one from your mentor doc, hopefully another MD/DO who can attest to your suitability as a physician, and your letters from professors speaking to your academic abilities seem fine. I don't think an ADCOM will put much weight on a letter from a client speaking on your suitability as a physician and ability to handle the rigor of med school (just my opinion here). I also don't know that a letter from the chair of the human rights org will bear much weight.

Thank you for these comments. My thinking had been that the client and the chair of the org would have current comments as to my work ethic and the skill set that's transferable between those jobs/positions and medicine. I see your point, though: they have no better idea than I what it takes to be a good doctor. I will give this some thought.

Research: I assume that is your 'experimentation with mentor doc?' Continue this if so.

Leadership: There isn't much mentioned in the way of leadership on your application.

Yes, research is with the mentor doc. I'm continuing it, definitely.
Leadership: 20 years in previous profession, I was in various leadership positions. This is actually one aspect of my application that I feel is strong (yay me! LOL)

I think your pre-med advisor got most of it, and you seemed to have figured out the rest. I think your 29Q is competitive for DO, if you're seriously committed to MD, a re-take might be in order but three attempts to get a +30 might be viewed with a slight bias against you. If you don't get +30, it certainly will. People have been accepted to MDs with a 29Q.

Thanks, and duly noted re. MCAT

I think the biggest question that your application fails to answer from a cursory view is why medicine?
I seem to be echoing this advice often since sitting down with an admissions officer at my school of choice, but paint the picture that you're committed to a lifelong career of community service helping people. Every entry in your application should speak to serve this overall statement. I know your post was a brief summary, but I didn't get this sense reading it. Some of the entries seemed a bit superfluous.

Keep up the hard work and fill in the little gaps in your application. Best of luck in the next cycle!

To me, there's nothing like learning something that interests me and being able to directly apply it. I've been fortunate to experience this in two entirely different contexts: my previous profession, and with science studies and what little I've done and witnessed in the medical field. (Probably like many others, it's hard for me to adequately articulate "why medicine", which is the whole point of the PS. ) I'm definitely working on this, as I think my previous PS has wholly inadequate.

I did try to keep my OP concise.

Thank you both for your comments; they are encouraging and helpful.

 

[LaZigeuner]

You're looking good. Mix of clinical and nonclinical ECs. Good GPA. Your plan is right on track. Retake the MCAT only if you do really good on the practice tests (I got accepted with my 29MCAT to MD and DO). Good luck! Knowing what you need to do is taken care of so now go execute.

OK, thanks, QuantumJ. Your comments and the others' are making me feel less worried about the necessity of raising my MCAT. Frankly, not chasing that potential rabbit would free me up to do some more interesting things, like more shadowing.

Thanks!

 

[QuantumJ]

OK, thanks, QuantumJ. Your comments and the others' are making me feel less worried about the necessity of raising my MCAT. Frankly, not chasing that potential rabbit would free me up to do some more interesting things, like more shadowing.

Thanks!

My 29 absolutely kept me out of some of the schools I applied to. However, I also got one interview I didn't think I'd hear from even with the MCAT. Write great essays, make your application unique to you, submit early and you can overcome a lower MCAT. I also had 0 research experience so that might have played a part (no surprise schools with higher MCAT also place emphasis on research). If you are restudying and are getting 34+ I would retake as it'll open more doors. BUT as of right now, I think if you apply early and broadly you will have success (certainly DO and probably MD as well).

 

[LaZigeuner]

Thanks, Quantum. I will study as if I'll retake, but since I haven't yet registered and am not worried about the dates filling up (fairly low population area), I'll wait to see if my practice exam scores will get high enough to make the gamble worth it.