Possible 3x applicant, need advice

[hokuMD15]

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Hey everybody,

I may be a possible 3x applicant and need advice to improve my application. I am currently waitlisted at a school, but if I do need to re-apply again, I am considering applying in 2019 or 2020. Here is some info about myself:

URM, graduated from a top undergrad university
cGPA 3.53
sGPA 3.45
MCAT 504 (CPS=125, CARS=124, BIO=127, PSYCH=128)

Clinical experience
Volunteer - 50 hours
Part-time job working with patients during school - 50 hours
Clinical research (less research, more interaction with patients) - 500 hours
Shadowing - 20-30 hours

Research experience
NIH IRTA - 3760 hours
Lab research - 320 hours

Leadership experience
Member of executive board - 60 hours
Co-chair of two undergrad events - 150-160 hours

I know I need to improve my MCAT, but I wanted to know how schools look at re-takes. This would be my fourth time retaking it. Based on other threads, I also need more clinical experience and non-clinical volunteer experience. I was thinking of trying to do a masters to improve my GPA as well but I don't exactly have the money right now to do so. Additionally, I will be applying to DO schools on my next application. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[Faha]

Which URM group do you belong to? If Hispanic are you fluent in Spanish? Where is your state of residence? Which schools did you apply to this past cycle and did you have any interviews? What were your other MCAT scores?

 

[hokuMD15]

Which URM group do you belong to? If Hispanic are you fluent in Spanish? Where is your state of residence? Which schools did you apply to this past cycle and did you have any interviews? What were your other MCAT scores?

I am Pacific Islander from Hawaii.

My school list was:
GW
Loyola
Meharry
Rosalind Franklin
Sidney Kimmel
Tulane
University of Hawaii
VCU

I was limited due to financial constraints. I received 2 interviews, one from UH and one from GW. I am currently waitlisted at GW.

My past MCAT scores were 23 and 25 on the old MCAT.

 

[Faha]

When you apply to DO schools, apply broadly to at least 12 schools. You do need more shadowing and clinical volunteering hours. You could also take courses at a local college to improve your GPA. Do not retake the MCAT unless your practice scores are consistently above 507. Many schools do average scores.

 

[hokuMD15]

When you apply to DO schools, apply broadly to at least 12 schools. You do need more shadowing and clinical volunteering hours. You could also take courses at a local college to improve your GPA. Do not retake the MCAT unless your practice scores are consistently above 507. Many schools do average scores.

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely consider doing all of this! I appreciate you taking to the time to answer my post!

 

[Blakeb_212]

Apply early, volunteer more, write a strong personal statement! Sounds like you’re on the right track

 

[hokuMD15]

Apply early, volunteer more, write a strong personal statement! Sounds like you’re on the right track

Thanks for the advice! I applied early but not as early as I should have. I'm sure more time would have made a difference, so I will definitely plan better next time.

 

[dillydilly2]

Did you use FAP to apply and help with costs?

 

[Magus5454]

The FAP is ridiculous, if your parents make any kind of money you will be excluded 🙁

 

[hokuMD15]

Did you use FAP to apply and help with costs?

While I qualified for FAP, my parents' financial status didn't qualify me for FAP. My parents are separated, filing for divorce, and I knew they were tight on money this year.

 

[Magus5454]

One benefit to AACOMAS is their fee waiver is not dependent on your parents income

 

[hokuMD15]

The FAP is ridiculous, if your parents make any kind of money you will be excluded 🙁

Yea that's pretty much what it seemed like. I'm right in the middle, so I applied to what I could with what I saved up.

Also that's great to hear about the DO application. I'll definitely look into that the next time I apply. Thanks!

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

Sorry to hear about how hard you've worked for this and nothing's worked out so far! I was in your shoes 4 years ago as a 3rd time reapplicant and got in, so it's possible! Keep grinding away. Some things to think about: 1) Shadow a DO asap. A lot of DO programs want you to work with a DO and some require a DO letter. You're only hurting yourself if you don't find a DO to shadow. 2) Get some more clinical volunteering. Everything you have in terms of ECs is great (you don't need more research unless it is to make money at this point), but if after 3 years of applying you don't have some solid clinical experience, I think it's a bit of a red flag. Also do this right now. 3) Rewrite your entire application for the next go round. 4) Email the school you're waitlisted at and tell them you want to go there. 5) Think about if you have a strong enough application to apply this year. If you can come up with a plan that addresses your weaknesses for this year, go for it. If not, and that plan takes 2 years, apply next year with a solid app. 6) Be super honest with yourself about why you didn't get into the schools you interviewed at. If you aren't able to figure that you, you won't have a good shot next cycle. 7) Take some solace in the fact you got interviews with having applied to so few schools. That's awesome! (even though it feels like ****) 8) If you're going to put in an application, you're going to have to bite the bullet on $$$ if you can. You need to apply broadly to low/mid tier school. 7-8 apps just isn't going to cut it and you're not maximizing your chances which can cost you big time if you don't get in.

Ultimately you're on the right track and have almost everything in place. Sometimes the numbers just don't work in your favor. Good luck!

 

[hokuMD15]

Thank you for your detailed comment! First of all, congrats on getting accepted! It's reassuring to hear other people who were in the same shoes as me, and they finally receive an acceptance. Second, everything you wrote is something I've thought about or I'm in the process of already doing. I've contacted the school I was rejected at post-interview to talk about my application, though I already have thoughts as to what went wrong, including one of my interviews. I have decided not to apply this upcoming cycle in order to build up my application and save up money. I have one question about the school I was waitlisted at: I very much want to send a letter to them, but I am unsure what to write other than saying this school is a great fit for me for reasons A, B, and C which is why given an acceptance I will attend. Do you have any other suggestions as to what I should include the letter?