ps question--talk about being a reapplicant?

[hayden]

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What up fellow reapplicants...alright, question time, what do you guys think? I'm almost done rewriting the personal statement but I'm wondering how much I should emphasize or include the fact that i'm a reapplicant and all that...my draft right now starts out with it, talking about how not getting in has made me more motivated and determined, all that good stuff...should i come right out and say that? Or should I put less weight on the fact that I'm a reapplicant, and kind of skim over that...
I'll be applying to some of the schools i applied to last year, but also some news ones...just wondering what you guys think.

 

[vkhalsa]

I wouldn't. For the most part the interviewer doesn't know that you're a reapplicant unless you tell them, especially at schools you haven't applied to previously. There's really no need to make them wonder what was wrong with you before that schools didn't want you. (not that there's anything wrong with you, a lot of good people don't get in, but it makes them wonder). If it comes up in an interview then go ahead and tell them how much you've grown since your last application but otherwise I wouldn't bring attention to it before you even step through the door.
also, yes, they like to see that you're determined, but being a reapplicant isn't beneficial to your application.

 

[scooter02]

I am not mentioning that I am a re-applicant, just because I am applying to a different mix of schools this time. I think even though being a re-applicant can show determination, perseverance etc, you can use other ways of demonstrating that you have these qualities in your PS, without mentioning that you didn't get in to med school the first time. Anyways that's my plan, I know opinions about the PS can differ!!

 

[bm87]

hey there,

Hyden, I am in very much the same boat as yourself with regards to the ps. I spoke with an advisor at my previous university, and was told that writing about the fact that I am a reapplicant is a good idea. Yet, I also spoke with some other faculty that said it may not be a good idea. I myself was planning to include the fact that I'm a reapplicant, but maybe I'll change my mind.

 

[24IdaFire]

I would mention it to the schools that you have already applied at. Some colleges look at reapplication as a positive virtue, showing that you are determined and that willing to improve, and are dedicated to becoming a physician. I myself was accepted to a college that I was denied the first time round, and during my interview I was told that difference between my first application (2005) and my last application (2006) really stood out. I was able to improve my science by about 0.4, and with out them knowing my info from the past year they wouldn’t have been as interested.

 

[bm87]

The problem with this is that if you mention that you are a reapplicant on your AMCAS ps, then all the schools you're applying to will know that you are a reapplicant. I suppose the best solution is to stick this in somewhere in the secondary applicantion; unfortunately, many schools do not give you a chance to do this in their secondaries...I'm really having a tough time figuring this out!

 

[WanabeHealthnut]

I would mention it to the schools that you have already applied at. Some colleges look at reapplication as a positive virtue, showing that you are determined and that willing to improve, and are dedicated to becoming a physician. I myself was accepted to a college that I was denied the first time round, and during my interview I was told that difference between my first application (2005) and my last application (2006) really stood out. I was able to improve my science by about 0.4, and with out them knowing my info from the past year they wouldn’t have been as interested.

How exactly does one only mention it to the schools that he/she is reapplying to? Did you not mention it in your p.s. and then send additional info to the schools you were reapplying to?

 

[Foxy316]

How exactly does one only mention it to the schools that he/she is reapplying to? Did you not mention it in your p.s. and then send additional info to the schools you were reapplying to?

don't all the schools that u've applied to already know since they keep parts of old applications? i don't think u actually have to mention it to schools u applied to previously. most of the time they keep records and notes and such

 

[hayden]

its not really a matter of having to or not, its will it be beneficial. Will schools look at it and go, hey, this guy is trying again, he did a, b, c and made his application better, he's determined...we'll take him. Or is it, hmm, this guy applied before, other schools didn't want him, why do we? Or, if everyone rejected him, there must be some reason for it...blah blah blah.
anyway, i'v decided to not directly mention it in my amcas ps, but rather just refer to the sentiments that I wanted to focus on pertaining to it, like why being a reapplicant made me more determined...blah blah blah, and not directly saying, I didn't get in last year and am reapplying. But secondaries are a different story, this is just for the primary one.

 

[24IdaFire]

How exactly does one only mention it to the schools that he/she is reapplying to? Did you not mention it in your p.s. and then send additional info to the schools you were reapplying to?[/

Perhaps my statement would be more applicable to personal statements that you have to turn in for secondary applications. If my memory serves me correct, that is when I told the schools that I was reapplying and what changes I had made.

 

[deleted50541]

I wouldn't. For the most part the interviewer doesn't know that you're a reapplicant unless you tell them, especially at schools you haven't applied to previously. There's really no need to make them wonder what was wrong with you before that schools didn't want you. (not that there's anything wrong with you, a lot of good people don't get in, but it makes them wonder). If it comes up in an interview then go ahead and tell them how much you've grown since your last application but otherwise I wouldn't bring attention to it before you even step through the door.
also, yes, they like to see that you're determined, but being a reapplicant isn't beneficial to your application.

I completely agree. My mentor, who conducts medical school interviews, strongly advised me against indicating that I was a reapplicant anywhere in my application. His rationale being that because it's so competitive, you don't want to give schools ANY reason to look at your application with disfavor.

That said, the issue never come up once during any of my interviews this past year.

 

[DrBorisCA]

I was a reapplicant this past year and had the same issue. I ended up following my advisor's advice (who has tons of experience for years and years) by addressing the issue of reapplication very briefly and only reflecting it in the most positive light (ie. what you gained from it, etc.). During my interviews, the issue came up as "wow you are dedicated to do this whole thing over again". In my application, I had made a clear improvement in grades during postbacc, so no one saw my reapplication as a negative factor. (as far as I know, haha). As a result, I got into my dream school and accepted at a few other ones too!

 

[dochachi]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on this network and reading all the posts have been very helpful.
I am also re-applying this year and in need of some advice on what to do.
I applied in 2004 and it was not successful mostly due to my mcat scores, which were quite low.
Now, I recently took the april mcat test and received a 25O, so I dont know if I should check the AMCAS box for august test and see if I can get a better score with the 2 months i have to study or not even apply at all this year? I am completely lost on what to do! Please help!

 

[prana_md]

I would use the PS to talk about what you've done in the time between applications -- new ECs, a post-bac or grad degree, additional classes -- but wouldn't (and didn't) mention the re-applicant part directly in the PS. If I remember correctly, most secondaries ask if you've applied there before, so you can address the reapplication issue there. Good luck!

 

[2tall]

When I reapplied I didn't mention my reapplicant status. Reasons I wouldn't mention it...

It uses valuable space!
It makes for neither a good opening nor a transitional paragraph. Basically, it'll stick out like a sore thumb.
It's not positive.
It's not something you'd necessarily want to discuss at an interview.

If you want to talk about your perserverance or determination to become a doctor, find other aspects of your experiences to do so.

My 2 cents

P.S. I'm willing to review/edit personal statements. PM me.

 

[amizle]

when you guys say to use the PS to talk about all the stuff that ive done between applications do you mean dedicate the majority of it to new stuff?

my "new" PS is pretty much the same as my old one except i edited the old stuff a lot to make it more concise and added one paragraph of what i have done since my last application. is this enough or do schools want me to focus on only the things that ive done since?

 

[2tall]

when you guys say to use the PS to talk about all the stuff that ive done between applications do you mean dedicate the majority of it to new stuff?

my "new" PS is pretty much the same as my old one except i edited the old stuff a lot to make it more concise and added one paragraph of what i have done since my last application. is this enough or do schools want me to focus on only the things that ive done since?

Focus on the things you're most passionate about...the things that helped motivate your resolve for medicine...the things you'd like to talk about at your interview.

Your new personal statement should be better. Better doesn't necessarily mean focus on the new stuff...especially if you can't elaborate on it.

They'll see the new stuff in when you list your activities.

Remember your audience, make sure it's well-written (flows wells), and make sure it's personal! Don't just mention the activity...talk about your insights from each experience.

 

[acrobat]

focus on wanting to help people (OBVIOUSLY)

 

[UCLAMAN]

i made reference to the fact that i was a reapplicant in my ps and then spent the majority highlighting what i had done to make myself a better candidate.

as some people on this thread have pointed out, you can use the reapplicant status as something that demonstrates your resolve and perseverance(assuming you have added the experiences and improvements in your resume to back that resolve up).

i went from 2interviews out of 30+ applications to 13 interviews out of essentially the same 30+ applications.

i would NOT highlight the fact that i am a reapplicant IF i had not made any changes/improvements to my resume(ie assuming you applied late the first time around).