Possible 2021-2022 Reapplicant, Advice for School List/Reapplication/Gap Year

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neuroticfilm

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Hello,

I am an applicant for this current cycle with a LizzyM score of 73.3 (3.84/516 {129/126/131/130}) as a recent graduate and CA ORM. I completed my primary and secondary at 14 schools between 9/7 and 9/11, and I have nothing besides 2 rejections and holds. My school list:

Albert Einstein
Rosalind Franklin
George Washington (H)
Kaiser
USC
UCSD (H)
UCLA (R)
UCI
UCSF (R)
SUNY (H)
Tufts
Tulane (H)
U of Illinois
NYMC (H)

For next cycle, I plan to add:
UCR (alumni/born and raised)
U Colorado Boulder
UNLV
Albany
Drexel
Florida State
Florida Atlantic
U of Miami
Georgetown
U of Central Florida
U of Florida
Wake Forest
Wayne State
Temple
Boston U
Hackensack Meridian
U of Arizona
Quinnipac
Oakland
Creighton
St. Louis
Rochester
Case Western
Hofstra
Penn State
Stony Brook
I'll probably also apply to 5-10 DO schools like Western Pomona, RVUCOM, Michigan State, U of New England, North Texas, ACOM



I just wanted to know how I can best use the rest of this and next year to augment my application in preparation for a reapp. I think that's a significant problem for my lack of success this cycle as I should've applied to way more and way earlier. My EC's are:

Minigrant funded Research in Astrocyte Dynamics in Epilepsy (500 hours): Project cut short by covid, no pub
Peer mentor for Highlander Gloves and On the Rise (277 hours): Mentored impoverished kids academically and in boxing
Science Academic Tutor for my University (700 hours): Taught and established close relationships with underclassmen at my school
Opthamology and Family Medicine Shadowing (160 hours)
Food Delivery and Preparation (80 hours and ongoing): Homeless food prep while in school, delivery driver during Covid for Feeding America
Drug Discovery and Protein Crystallography Lab (300 hours): First research gig, protein crystallization and x-ray diffraction, no pub
Summer Clinical Volunteering (325): I volunteered at an ED for 240 hours, then at the optho clinic for 45, then a DO FM practice for 40.
Musician(~600 hours): Wrote and performed with a friend as a duo at a couple shows in guitar/vocals around campus/city.
Honors: Chancellor/Dean List, Minigrant Research Award, BJJ Blue Belt

My EC's are spread out over the course of the 4 years, and if timeline matters I would be happy to elucidate that. I don't think my EC's are the problem, but I may have a weak PS or LOR's. My PS had to do with my pursuit of music instead of medicine originally, but how my experiences with medicine have led me to want to pursue that to heal people in a more complete and tangible way. I think it was a decent idea, but the way I wrote it may have indicated a lack of maturity. My most meaningfuls were the top 3 EC's I listed, but I think the research one was the weakest one as I do not have a letter from my PI, and I did not get any presentation or pub.

In regards to my LOR's, I think I have 2 strong letters (Tutoring work supervisor, and class professor letter) and one neutral-positive letter (Lab Class Professor) and I think that has hurt me a lot in this application cycle at these very competitive schools/cycle. I think my secondaries were decent, I had my sisters (who are in medicine) look over them before I submitted.

TLDR: My stats/EC's/School List above, how can I improve for the next cycle? I'm a little lost on what parts of my application need improvement. I'm interested in working in EMT/Tech roles but I'm limited by my parents, and it seems like I should wait for the vaccinations to come out. Meanwhile I've been volunteering as a food delivery driver and online tutoring for underprivileged families. Besides that, I know that next cycle I NEED to apply as soon as the AMCAS window opens, submit secondaries much quicker, and greatly expand my school list (and maybe AACOMAS). Probably will also revise my PS, and ask for more letters.

Sorry for espousing my life, I just would like a little advice or guidance. My family is in medicine, but my parents don't quite understand how crazy competitive the process is, and are limiting me (They don't want me to work entry level jobs in healthcare and have threatened to kick me out if I pursue EMT licensing/work). Thank you so much for your time!
 
Yeah September is pretty late. Apply as early as you can next cycle and you should be fine, your app looks really good to me. As a fellow Californian (now a legal Texan), make sure your OOS secondaries are good, from what I've heard more Californian premeds matriculate out of state than in state. CA is tough man, I went to college in Texas and stayed here cuz it would have been a death sentence for me to move back. Also, you will get a ton of love from the DO schools so definitely apply AACOMAS.
 
You also nee a better school list. You have several state public schools on your list that accept very few non residents with no connection to the state.
I suggest these schools when you reapply:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Albany
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Seton Hall
Pittsburgh
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Miami
USF Morsani
TCU-UNT
Creighton
St. Louis
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Case Western
Ohio State
Cincinnati
U Colorado
Kaiser
California University
UC Riverside
UC Irvine
UC Davis
USC Keck
Also apply to several DO schools and I suggest these:
WESTERN
TUCOM-CA
TUNCOM
AZCOM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
MU-COM
UNECOM
Touro-NY
 
I am curious as to why you didnt apply to UCR this cycle. With your stats and strong connection to the region, you would have a very good shot there.
 
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