(Re-App) Poor ECs

[pepperthelaunch]

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I never got clear answers anywhere, so here...

I applied last cycle, interviewed and waitlisted at one place. This place has since rejected me. Stats: 3.59cGPA/3.8sGPA/30QMCAT

ECs (1st app):
ED volunteer (1 year, 3hrs/wk, not doing it presently because I moved and there's no hospital here)
Nursing home (1 semester, leadership)
Pre-health club (maybe about 2 yrs, leadership, non-clinical volunteering)
Orgo research (1 year)
Breast cancer research (1+ year, ongoing, leadership)

What are my chances for a 2nd app now that I stopped volunteering at all?

New things I add:
Still doing breast cancer research
Full-time job (48 hrs/wk, 6 days a week so yea...)
Part-time job (7 hrs/wk doing night-shift...)
Might be retaking that poor MCAT...

Does it look bad? Do I have to give reasons why I'm not volunteering anymore?

Big thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

I never got clear answers anywhere, so here...

I applied last cycle, interviewed and waitlisted at one place. This place has since rejected me. Stats: 3.59cGPA/3.8sGPA/30QMCAT

ECs (1st app):
ED volunteer (1 year, 3hrs/wk, not doing it presently because I moved and there's no hospital here)
Nursing home (1 semester, leadership)
Pre-health club (maybe about 2 yrs, leadership, non-clinical volunteering)
Orgo research (1 year)
Breast cancer research (1+ year, ongoing, leadership)

1) What are my chances for a 2nd app now that I stopped volunteering at all?

New things I add:
Still doing breast cancer research
Full-time job (48 hrs/wk, 6 days a week so yea...)
Part-time job (7 hrs/wk doing night-shift...)
Might be retaking that poor MCAT...

2) Does it look bad? Do I have to give reasons why I'm not volunteering anymore?

1) Before answering your question, we'd need to know things like, how many hours of physician shadowing, total hours nonmedical community service, what is your GPA trend (is it rising), and what was your GPA the last 2 semesters of college, and MCAT subscores? Also, while you might not be volunteering right this minute, what plan do you start for giving back to the community over this next year (clinical and nonclinical)? If there's no local hospital, what about skilled-level nursing homes, rehab centers, hospice, Meals on Wheels, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Humane Society, Homeless shelter, womens shelter, etc.

Have you considered adding some DO schools to your application list? Your cGPA/MCAT is below acceptee averages for MD, but above them for DO.

Nice BCPM GPA, BTW.

2) Yes, but the heavier work hours help somewhat.
No. Don't make excuses, just fix it before Secondaries and/or interviews, even if it's for only 1-2 hours per week, on average.

 

[pepperthelaunch]

Thanks for the reply.

I know this is hard to believe, but I kinda live in a third world country right now so is not finding anything to volunteer for a believable reason? I have tried applying abroad, but you know you can't just get a visa to volunteer.

I'm not applying to US schools due to various reasons (financially and academically). So no DO.

I graduated in 2011 from a US university (moved back home after not getting an 'approved' job by the DHS), majored in engineering, last 2 semesters 4.0. I got 9 in VR, 10 in PS, and 11 in BS.

I also don't think I would wanna move out and leave my full-time job just to find a volunteering place. My main concern is how bad I look now without my previous ED volunteering.

 

[pepperthelaunch]

Forgot to add, I have very minimal shadowing (OB/GYN, neurosurgery, ENT) --> I did ALL my pre-med activities before I left the US.

We DO have the Red Cross. Just not where I live. And yes it's very inconvenient where I live. Imagine a glorified village, maybe less than 1000 people in here? And it's not safe. My house was vandalized just a few nights ago.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm not applying to US schools

Perhaps you'd like to be more specific about where you are applying. This WAMC forum primarily gives advice to those applying to US and Canadian med schools. There is an International Medicine Forum for those applying to med school in other countries further down on the list. Admissions standards vary widely in other countries, so advice given here about your ECs can't necessarily be broadly applied to your situation.

 

[Catalystik]

Have you considered calling the school that waitlisted you (or others that rejected you) to ask what you could do to improve your application?

 

[pepperthelaunch]

Perhaps you'd like to be more specific about where you are applying. This WAMC forum primarily gives advice to those applying to US and Canadian med schools. There is an International Medicine Forum for those applying to med school in other countries further down on the list. Admissions standards vary widely in other countries, so advice given here about your ECs can't necessarily be broadly applied to your situation.

I understand. The school I applied to, most applicants are from the US and Canada so I'll be competing with them.

 

[pepperthelaunch]

Have you considered calling the school that waitlisted you (or others that rejected you) to ask what you could do to improve your application?

Well I did, twice. I don't want to annoy them with a third e-mail. Basically they didn't say what I was lacking in, instead they encourage more clinically related experience 🙂(), get research (still ongoing), or retake the MCAT (yes, maybe).

It's just upsetting me that the ECs that most people are doing are unavailable here. Is shadowing good? I can try to find some PCP here, if there is any.

 

[Catalystik]

I'd bet there are some elderly folks who could use some help maintaining their property. Or that some of the roads could use trash cleanup. Volunteerism need not be through an organization that already exists. You could even possibly organize some teens to help out.

 

[Catalystik]

Is shadowing good? I can try to find some PCP here, if there is any.

Most US schools expect to see it and some even specify required hours. About 50 hours is the average listed.

If you can find a PCP to shadow, you might even be able to hook up with some sick folks that need home visits, which would make it clinical experience.

 

[ES2]

Where are you exactly OP? You must have applied late / only applied to competitive schools / applied to not enough schools

 

[Goro]

Suggest contacting your local houses of worship.

I never got clear answers anywhere, so here...

I applied last cycle, interviewed and waitlisted at one place. This place has since rejected me. Stats: 3.59cGPA/3.8sGPA/30QMCAT

ECs (1st app):
ED volunteer (1 year, 3hrs/wk, not doing it presently because I moved and there's no hospital here)
Nursing home (1 semester, leadership)
Pre-health club (maybe about 2 yrs, leadership, non-clinical volunteering)
Orgo research (1 year)
Breast cancer research (1+ year, ongoing, leadership)

What are my chances for a 2nd app now that I stopped volunteering at all?

New things I add:
Still doing breast cancer research
Full-time job (48 hrs/wk, 6 days a week so yea...)
Part-time job (7 hrs/wk doing night-shift...)
Might be retaking that poor MCAT...

Does it look bad? Do I have to give reasons why I'm not volunteering anymore?

Big thanks!

 

[pepperthelaunch]

I will look into some of the suggestions, particularly the PCP ones.

I live in South East Asia, the school is in there too. I applied to one school only because that's about the only one here that gives an MD. I don't want a Bachelor of Medicine (the ones offered here). I know they're still medical degrees, but I don't like the fact that it somehow will limit my options to specialize. You see, you're gonna have to serve some time in rural areas and then apply for a Master's degree. In my country, applicants for an advanced degree are required to be at most 30 years old. I am already 25 now. So no to that.

I'm basically living with an impossible dream. But I'm halfway there, as evidenced by the waitlist I got last cycle. I believe my determination will pay off.