Potential Re-Applicant. Advice?

[GreatOdinsRaven]

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Alright, so I've applied to a good amount of schools (all MD) this cycle and have only interviewed at one so far, with no other invites to date. It went well, but as an OOS student, my odds aren't great. Granted I have many schools that have yet to reject me, but after not inviting me for 2-3 months, I'm starting to look at the possibility of not getting in. This cycle, I was complete at most schools in the middle of September due to late primary submission and letters of rec coming in late. My stats are a 3.8+ GPA, 34M, with an 8 in verbal. I wanted to believe that a 15 in one section could negate my 8, but it doesn't seem to be true.

I called one school today, and they said that although I was in the running, my 8 had stopped me from getting an interview invite to date. My question is, do I spend winter break shadowing 40-50 hours and volunteering 40+ hours to give my schools a solid update letter in January, or do I work hard over break, and retake the MCAT, so that way if I apply again, I can submit AMCAS on the first day (hopefully with better than a verbal 8)? I don't want to take a pointless MCAT, but if I don't get in, I know I'll have wished I had it done. Thanks.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I think in this case raising the MCAT is the way to go. An 8 in any section does keep you in the running for low-tier and probably mid-tier schools and anything lower will get you auto screened. However, balance in MCAT scores is much more important and doing better in one section than other does not negate the weakness.

GPA and MCAT are the largest factors that medical schools judge people by. The higher the number the greater your chances are. It is better to sacrifice the ECs to get a better GPA or MCAT than the other way around. Thus, again, retaking the MCAT is the better option.

 

[GreatOdinsRaven]

Thanks for the advice. I guess the hardest part for me is motivating myself to study and retake the MCAT when I want to believe that I'll still get in. It feels like waving the white flag, when I could be working hard to show schools that I'm still worth accepting this time around.

 

[gyngyn]

Alright, so I've applied to a good amount of schools (all MD) this cycle and have only interviewed at one so far, with no other invites to date. It went well, but as an OOS student, my odds aren't great. Granted I have many schools that have yet to reject me, but after not inviting me for 2-3 months, I'm starting to look at the possibility of not getting in. This cycle, I was complete at most schools in the middle of September due to late primary submission and letters of rec coming in late. My stats are a 3.8+ GPA, 34M, with an 8 in verbal. I wanted to believe that a 15 in one section could negate my 8, but it doesn't seem to be true.

I called one school today, and they said that although I was in the running, my 8 had stopped me from getting an interview invite to date. My question is, do I spend winter break shadowing 40-50 hours and volunteering 40+ hours to give my schools a solid update letter in January, or do I work hard over break, and retake the MCAT, so that way if I apply again, I can submit AMCAS on the first day (hopefully with better than a verbal 8)? I don't want to take a pointless MCAT, but if I don't get in, I know I'll have wished I had it done. Thanks.

Retaking a 34 is not recommended. There can only be 3 outcomes and two of them don't help you. You have scores that are consistent with success as long as you have applied to a dozen or so schools that might interview you. CA is a tough nut to crack. There are more applicants from UCLA alone than there are allopathic positions to be filled by CA residents!
Plenty of other places would be happy to have you!

 

[QofQuimica]

I agree with gyngyn that retaking a 34 would be a mistake. My guess is that you need to change your app strategy (i.e., which schools you targeted and other soft aspects of your app), not retake the MCAT. If you're willing to tell us where you applied, what ECs you have, etc, we may be able to give some more specific suggestions in case you do need to reapply.

 

[Claudin]

I'm actually in a situation as the OP. Similar stats, completed in September, and Canadian. However, I don't have any interviews yet. If we don't receive II's December, does this really mean that our chances are slim? The reason I ask is because the OP is already considering re-applying, while I am still somewhat optimistic about my chances ... 😳 (my VR is a 9 if it changes anything)

 

[DrMidlife]

1. If an adviser advised you that taking the MCAT in August and/or applying in late summer is a good plan, then be done with that adviser. That adviser threw you under the bus.

2. Assume that yes, you need to reapply in June, and that you have a lot of work to do to be ready to reapply. If you get lucky and you don't need to reapply in June, great.

3. Don't try to squeeze some last minute EC in there to try to goose this year's app. You're not fooling anybody.

4. If you don't have substantial clinical exposure at the time you apply, you have no credibility as an applicant. What in the world did you put in your essay about wanting to be a doctor, if you haven't been in a clinical setting? Did you say you like watching House?

5. Being Canadian means you are at a disadvantage. Being Californian means you are at a disadvantage. If you further disadvantage your app by applying late, applying with no clinical exposure, applying with low MCAT sections, etc, you are disrespecting your fellow applicants who are taking the admissions process seriously...and they are taking your seat.

This link may be helpful: here

Best of luck to you.

 

[GreatOdinsRaven]

1. If an adviser advised you that taking the MCAT in August and/or applying in late summer is a good plan, then be done with that adviser. That adviser threw you under the bus.

2. Assume that yes, you need to reapply in June, and that you have a lot of work to do to be ready to reapply. If you get lucky and you don't need to reapply in June, great.

3. Don't try to squeeze some last minute EC in there to try to goose this year's app. You're not fooling anybody.

4. If you don't have substantial clinical exposure at the time you apply, you have no credibility as an applicant. What in the world did you put in your essay about wanting to be a doctor, if you haven't been in a clinical setting? Did you say you like watching House?

5. Being Canadian means you are at a disadvantage. Being Californian means you are at a disadvantage. If you further disadvantage your app by applying late, applying with no clinical exposure, applying with low MCAT sections, etc, you are disrespecting your fellow applicants who are taking the admissions process seriously...and they are taking your seat.

This link may be helpful: here

Best of luck to you.

1. My application was complete later than I would have liked due to extraordinary circumstances regarding one of my letter writers. It took them 4 months to submit it. I should have asked earlier, but what's done is done.

2. While I do remain optimistic about this cycle, I do realize that reapplying is very likely, or I never would have made this post.

3. I don't understand why doing more EC in weaker areas won't be a worthwhile use of my time. I do have shadowing, clinical exp, and volunteering, yet they could be stronger. Improving these over winter break is my plan, allowing me to update schools in early January. If I don't get in, then these areas of my app are only stronger for next time.

4. I could certainly use more clinical work, but it's not like I went into this without any. The clinical experience I do have was very influential in my decision to choose medicine, and I wrote about that in my essays. I have more planned for winter break.

5. I disagree that either of us are "disrespecting our fellow applicants," but I can see why my app has not been heavily favored in comparison to others. I guess you hinted at retaking the MCAT, but I don't feel like winter break is long enough for me to get the improved results I want. At the same time, if I don't do it now, I'll just be setting myself up for another late app if I retake it. Do you have any advice as to my actual question--my use of winter break?

 

[RegisBioMedMS]

Don't beat yourself up over water under the bridge. Just learn from it and make the best of what there is. Do continue with your updates and let the schools know you are still very interested. I also wouldn't advocate taking the MCAT again. Better to spend your time gaining experience.

I suggest that for the next cycle, if you end up there, that you spend quite a bit of time researching the schools that you apply to. You could do some of this research over your winter break, along with getting some good quality clinical experience (preferably working with an MD who is an alum of one of your favorite programs). Make sure that your stats are in range and that you are really a match for a program's goals and mission before you apply. Keep a spreadsheet or journal of what you learn and it will come in handy during the secondaries.

And find a new LOR writer... 4 months, yikes. You could use a letter service like interfolio so you can bank your letters. Sorry that happened to you.

 

[bollywoodlover]

An 8 should not kill you. I got two 8s, have a lower gpa, and I got into an allopathic med school. Must be that your lors, ecs, or essays were subpar.

 

[dragonfly99]

An 8 should not kill you. I got two 8s, have a lower gpa, and I got into an allopathic med school. Must be that your lors, ecs, or essays were subpar.

This is not good logic. Just because one or a few people got in with an 8, or multiple subsections with an 8, doesn't mean that most people will.
But I am not sure the OP should retake...the 15 in the other section will probably go down. He/she probably won't improve the overall score much, if at all.
I definitely wouldn't rush to retake...if he retakes it should be with several months of studying to try to make sure the verbal section really does go up...with just winter break to work with, getting more clinical exposure might be more practical.
And definitely apply earlier the next year.

 

[bollywoodlover]

While two 8s is pushing it. I think if your other two sections are outstanding. A 15 Is amazing .. The op should have got in somewhere if he applied broadly and everything else was in check. Usually an 8 in verbal is acceptable if the other two sections are high and the school doesn't have a section cut off. Usually it's an 8 at most mid tier low tier schools.

 

[mjkobe140]

delete