Re-app timeline pros/cons

[teenyfish]

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Been working on my re-app for a bit now and posted in the WAMC thread a while back but wanted to get some insight from you guys as to when I should re-apply. This was my app this past year:

MCAT: 512
cGPA/sGPA: 3.71/3.63
Clinical: ~3500 hours (all paid)
Research: ~5000 hours (industry & academic labs), one low level publication
Non-clinical volunteering: 100 hours w/ underserved population, 60 hours as volunteer teacher
Shadowing: ~30 primary care
Other EC: TA, various small awards

What I've been working on this year:
- increased non-clinical volunteering by additional 100 hours
- part-time job w/under-served population ~350 hours + new LOR
- shadowed another primary care physician ~20 hours, might look into another shadowing op.
- continued at clinical research job, ~1000 more hours and another publication or two on the way

Applied to 20 schools, I received 3 interviews ---> 1 WL, 1 rejection and 1 TBD. Clearly my interview skills need work, however I felt really confident about the interview that lead to a rejection as I ended up going to several mock interviews at my UG beforehand and was given positive feedback. Obviously different to the real deal. Otherwise I believe it was my essays that did me in, and relatively low amount of non-clinical volunteering.

If I apply this upcoming year I'm just worried that not that much has changed, and for the "how have you changed from last time" question will be flat. If I apply for the 2020-2021 cycle, my MCAT will be near expiration and I have no idea what I would do for two years without feeling completely stagnant. I'm 26 and would love to matriculate sooner rather than later (I know, I know, 26 isn't old).

Thoughts? And thanks in advance!

 

[shark bait hoo ha ha]

Where is your state of residence/ what schools did you apply to?

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

send updates to the programs! highlight everything you've done since submitting application and also briefly say why you are a good fit for their program .

for the not much has changed part, it looks live you've added some good ECs and even a new LOR which is great. programs know you can't add that much stuff, just strengthen weaknesses. You can really show the most change through your PS and how you write about your ECs. my advice is to rewrite everything so that it's fresh. make sure you have multiple people read everything and edit it. use the PS readers on SND.

you wrotee "Otherwise I believe it was my essays that did me in, and relatively low amount of non-clinical volunteering." you fixed the second part. for the first part, figure out why you think they did you in and fix that.

also work on your interviewing.

good luck!

 

[teenyfish]

send updates to the programs! highlight everything you've done since submitting application and also briefly say why you are a good fit for their program .

Thanks! I will, sent one to GT and will do another soon. Still waiting on Drexel so we'll see - decision week may be this week for me. D:

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

your first problem isn't applying broadly enough. your list is very top heavy. 2nd time around throw in more programs and more low and middle tiers.

 

[teenyfish]

your first problem isn't applying broadly enough. your list is very top heavy. 2nd time around throw in more programs and more low and middle tiers.

Yup! It definitely was, looking back, I thought I was a lot more competitive than I am. I was planning to do about 30 programs this time around? No reaches except for Brown (RI), and Dartmouth.

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

Yup! It definitely was, looking back, I thought I was a lot more competitive than I am. I was planning to do about 30 programs this time around? No reaches except for Brown (RI), and Dartmouth.

put your school list on here when you have it so others can weigh in. it's okay to have a few reaches!

 

[teenyfish]

Bumping because I heard back from my last school - wait list! I have a meeting with my pre-med committee member at my undergrad later this week to go over some options.

Obviously my weak points are interviewing, and I feel like my personal statement talked about how much I wanted to serve others, but not necessarily enough about why I wanted to serve others through medicine. If I get these two fixed, would it be recommended to apply this cycle to about 30+ schools? @gonnif I know you speak to applying too soon - any advice? Thanks!