Re-applicant, Need help with school list

[lemmonhead]

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Would appreciate
Reapplying MD, first time DO

Non-trad, Colorado resident, 10/10/10 MCAT, 3.85 Post-bacc GPA, 3.15 UG GPA w/upward trend.
AACOMAS sGPA: 3.8, AMCAS sGPA: 3.35, cGPA 3.35

Volunteer Hours:
HIV Counselor: 350
Patient Advocate: 240
Cancer center volunteer: 60
Clinical Research: 250

Work:
2 years at start up
1 year teaching in China
College math and science tutor

Interviewed at UVM and RFU, WL at UVM

Allopathic Schools

Drexel University
University of Vermont
Albany Medical College
University of Miami
Rosalind Franklin
Oakland University
Penn State
Jefferson
NYMC
Stony Brook
Virginia Commonwealth
Arizona Phoenix
Western Michigan
SUNY Upstate
Creighton
Colorado
Medical College of Wisconsin
Rush
George Washington
SLU
Arizona Tucson

Osteopathic Schools

WesternU-Pomona
WesternU-PNW
Pacific Northwest University
Midwestern University-Arizona
Rocky Mountain Vista
BCOM New Mexico
Touro-CA

 

[lemmonhead]

@Goro or @LizzyM would appreciate your input.

Thanks!

 

[Goro]

You'll need to work on your interview skills.
My list:
Drexel University
University of Vermont
Albany Medical College
University of Miami
Rosalind Franklin
Oakland University
Penn State
Jefferson
NYMC
Virginia Commonwealth
Western Michigan
Creighton
Medical College of Wisconsin
Rush
George Washington
U Miami
Tulane
Your state schools
SLU


Osteopathic Schools
MUCOM
KCUMB
TUNCOM
TouroNY
PCOM
DMU

WesternU-Pomona
WesternU-PNW
Pacific Northwest University
Midwestern University-Arizona
Rocky Mountain Vista
BCOM New Mexico
Touro-CA[/QUOTE]

 

[GrapesofRath]

Did you apply last year before the post bacc?

 

[lemmonhead]

Thanks @Goro

I finished the post-bacc last summer and applied last summer.

 

[lemmonhead]

@Goro

Is the low GPA a death sentence for MD programs or will the high post-bacc GPA redeem me in some capacity?

If I am on the waitlist at Vermont and do not get off, is it likely that I will be offered another interview if I submit a rewritten application with a new publication and LOR?

I am also set to interview for a scribe job. I made the mistake of not pursuing a clinical job this year and waited tables, tutored and volunteered when I could. Not sure how that will be viewed in the eyes of the adcoms.

Aside from conducing mock interviews with my mentor, what resources do you recommend for interview prep?

Lastly, would you advise retaking the MCAT?

Thanks!

 

[Goro]

Even with a 30 MCAT, I still would have expected some love for your reinvention.

Is the low GPA a death sentence for MD programs or will the high post-bacc GPA redeem me in some capacity?

Those two things aren't going to help you. What Adcoms want to see from reapplicants are significant improvements. You will probably be better off retaking the MD if you're boning for mD schools, but you'll have a lot more love from DO school.

If I am on the waitlist at Vermont and do not get off, is it likely that I will be offered another interview if I submit a rewritten application with a new publication and LOR?

Ask aquaintances to mock interview you. You can give them a list of interview questions pulled off of the Interview Feedback forum, or better, tell them to go onto the site to pull out questions. Give them your app as well
Aside from conducing mock interviews with my mentor, what resources do you recommend for interview prep?

See above
Lastly, would you advise retaking the MCAT?

 

[lemmonhead]

@Goro Thank you!

Is it too late for this cycle to retake the MCAT? For example, if I started studying for the MCAT now for a September test, would that put me at a disadvantage even though I already have an MCAT on file?

Thanks!

 

[Goro]

They may or may not hold your file pending the results of the retest. Probably they'll just judge you on the 30 score.

@Goro Thank you!

Is it too late for this cycle to retake the MCAT? For example, if I started studying for the MCAT now for a September test, would that put me at a disadvantage even though I already have an MCAT on file?

Thanks!

 

[lemmonhead]

They may or may not hold your file pending the results of the retest. Probably they'll just judge you on the 30 score.

OK. Sounds like I could expect similar results without a dramatic change then. Disheartening but OK.

Will hold out for some love for the DO schools. And consider the preparing for the MCAT again this summer.

 

[lemmonhead]

OK. Sounds like I could expect similar results without a dramatic change then. Disheartening but OK.

Will hold out for some love for the DO schools. And consider the preparing for the MCAT again this summer.

Here is my final list. I've submitted apps/or will submit apps to all of these schools. Do you think I need to add anymore DO schools? I took off AZCOM b/c tuition is outrageous, PNW b/c of regional bias.

MD
NYMC
Oakland University
University of Vermont
Virginia Commonwealth
SLU
Jefferson
Creighton
Albany Medical College
Colorado
Western Michigan
Drexel University
Loyola
Temple
Penn State
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
California Northstate
(MCW, is it too late?)

DO
Nova Southeastern
PCOM
Rocky Mountain Vista
Touro-California
Touro-Nevada
Touro-New York
Western Pomona
KCU
Western PNW
DMU

 

[GrapesofRath]

Here is my final list. I've submitted apps/or will submit apps to all of these schools. Do you think I need to add anymore DO schools? I took off AZCOM b/c tuition is outrageous, PNW b/c of regional bias.

MD
NYMC
Oakland University
University of Vermont
Virginia Commonwealth
SLU
Jefferson
Creighton
Albany Medical College
Colorado
Western Michigan
Drexel University
Loyola
Temple
Penn State
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
California Northstate
(MCW, is it too late?)

DO
Nova Southeastern
PCOM
Rocky Mountain Vista
Touro-California
Touro-Nevada
Touro-New York
Western Pomona
KCU
Western PNW
DMU

That DO list will be fine. Ditch Northstate( do a search on it). The question here is where did you apply last cycle? Because a re-applicant without significant improvement is not going to face favorable odds at those schools they are a re-applicant. The only schools I could see worth adding might be are Miami(from Goro's list), Quinnipac(which I definitely would add), Tulane(from Goro's list) and Eastern Virginia(maybe). Its worth while to throw an app to MCW and see what happens. Again, the key will be where are you a re-applicant; wherever you are not is where your odds will be strongest at. And like Goro said II's will be huge here; two schools already were interested in you and decided to take a pass on you after interviewing you. You really don't want that to happen again if you get another II.

 

[lemmonhead]

That DO list will be fine. Ditch Northstate( do a search on it). The question here is where did you apply last cycle? Because a re-applicant without significant improvement is not going to face favorable odds at those schools they are a re-applicant. The only schools I could see worth adding might be are Miami(from Goro's list), Quinnipac(which I definitely would add), Tulane(from Goro's list) and Eastern Virginia(maybe). Its worth while to throw an app to MCW and see what happens. Again, the key will be where are you a re-applicant; wherever you are not is where your odds will be strongest at. And like Goro said II's will be huge here; two schools already were interested in you and decided to take a pass on you after interviewing you. You really don't want that to happen again if you get another II.

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately I spent the year waiting tables and did some volunteer work. I started scribing in July though, although this is only part time (15-20 hrs/week) since I cannot afford to live on $10/hour. I plan on submitting an update letter and hopefully an additional LOR in a month or two. Any sense on how this will be perceived?

I've already submitted to Northstate so no big deal there. I applied to Tulane and Quinnipiac last cycle and was rejected very quickly. My friend who just started at Miami said they are pushing to become a top tier med school and are recruiting students with very high MCATs. He scored a 40 and my other friend there a 36. I know n=2 but this is what he told me he heard in a presentation from the administration. I will consider it though.

Of the MD schools only 7 of the schools are new, including Northstate. Can't really change that though.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately I spent the year waiting tables and did some volunteer work. I started scribing in July though, although this is only part time (15-20 hrs/week) since I cannot afford to live on $10/hour. I plan on submitting an update letter and hopefully an additional LOR in a month or two. Any sense on how this will be perceived?

I've already submitted to Northstate so no big deal there. I applied to Tulane and Quinnipiac last cycle and was rejected very quickly. My friend who just started at Miami said they are pushing to become a top tier med school and are recruiting students with very high MCATs. He scored a 40 and my other friend there a 36. I know n=2 but this is what he told me he heard in a presentation from the administration. I will consider it though.

Of the MD schools only 7 of the schools are new, including Northstate. Can't really change that though.

Your best bet will be with those 6 new MD schools excluding Northstate. I think your in solid shape for DO II's.