Potential Reapplicant

[sunsfan12]

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I am a current applicant in 2016-2017 cycle. Applied to MD and DO programs in September (somewhat late into the cycle for both). Will officially graduate from my undergrad in December 2016 (Just turned 22 years old - decided to take an extra semester of school in order to have a statistics course in my transcript). Haven't heard back from anyone yet. Took my MCAT in August 2016, didnt score very well (will discuss later). I am preparing to reapply just in case by having the following done by May 2017:

- Working in a urology lab clinic, hopefully getting work published in next few months
- Writing scientific review journals with my alma maters public health college. This will be my 5th one by February 2017
- Shadowing MD and DO doctors for more hours to show commitment
- Working with a local inner city church as a Spanish translator / volunteer

I have written the following activities on my AMCAS/AACOMAS applications:
- I have written an honors thesis on cardiovascular health and dehydration.
- Founding President of a pre-med club (2 years) where we helped underprivileged populations in Mexico
- Club officer for Model United Nations during my undergrad
- Published on 4 scientific review journals
- 60 hours of cardiovascular lab work
- Shadowed doctors of different specialties (3 of them - over 200 hours)
- Biochemistry student preceptor

GPA AMCAS: BCPM (3.15 - had to retake calc 1 summer before my freshman year because did very bad in it, received an A the next summer), NonScience (4.0), Cummulative (3.55)

GPA AACOMAS: science (3.41), cumulative (3.55), non science (3.68)

If my calc 1 course from way back my freshman year wasn't a part of this, my GPA would be much higher, but I hope AdCOMS understand that this was a long time ago and that I developed better study habits because of this to where I ended up getting an A in the course, and this is evident as I also have an upward trend in my GPA the last 2 years of my undergrad, receiving ~3.8 in my final 2 years.

My MCAT wasn't too well, I was a little rushed on time. 494 (125/123/123/123) but I do plan on working on this and retaking the test April 2017.

Let me know what you guys think.

 

[Domepiece]

In the last three years, 57 out of 1293 (5%) applicants were accepted with your stats to MD schools.

Your MCAT score may be from an unrepresentative performance due to poor time management, but it reads as a lack of fundamental understanding. You need to retake the MCAT with very significant improvement to have a shot. An improvement to 508-510 will put you statistically at a 50/50 shot for MD schools, and an improvement to 505 is often cited as competitive for DO schools, placing you at or above average matriculate statistics for these schools. Train for it like you would playoffs in a sport - timed, full length tests with no breaks and no looking at supplemental materials. Only retake when your practice scores are consistent with success. Good luck.

 

[gamieg]

I agree with the above poster that your MCAT is probably a huge factor. but I'm also curious as to what your school list looks like. if you applied mainly to very competitive, higher-tier schools, that would be a big consideration as well.

for reapplication (hopefully with a higher MCAT), apply the FIRST day applications open. both MD and DO. apply broadly, apply to "safety" schools (but in all honesty, I don't really believe in safety schools), and don't worry about the calculus grade. one grade won't hold you back, especially with an upward trend, but applying late and applying to unrealistic schools will.

while you have good experiences, definitely revamp your personal statement and activities for reapplication. how you present yourself matters a lot. don't use the same essay because it's not worth that risk, have anyone and everyone read your writing and give you feedback, and really tailor your writing to allopathic/osteopathic separately.