Re-apply, to only a few?

[dancerdoc89]

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I applied this past application cycle but got in nowhere. I think a lot of it has to do with needing more clinical exposure and probably re-writing my PS (as lame as that sounds)...in hind-sight, I don't think my PS gave an accurate representation about why I want to go to medical school.

Anyway, what if I just applied this cycle to a couple schools (like, literally 2 or 3)? This would be my second time applying. I don't mean to "play around" with the ability to apply, I am taking it seriously, but I am desperate to see the responses I get from medical schools if I change up my AMCAS (add updated activities, re-do my PS, etc.). Meanwhile, I'll be doing a Master's. I'm just curious what your opinions are about applying to a few schools, because I know applying to like 20 or more schools is pretty much mainstream pre-med. Thanks in advance.

 

[alerk323]

if you didn't get into any schools last time, I don't see that applying to 2 or 3 schools will do much for you. Hypothetically, let's say your chances of getting into any one school, last year, was 5%. So you applied to 20 schools and didn't get into any, which would make sense if your chances were only 5%. Now, let's say you increased your chances as high as 25% (probably not anywhere close to this much of an improvement). If you only apply to 2 or 3 schools, your chances of getting in to any of them is pretty low even with an unrealistically bets case scenario.

 

[plauto]

If anything you need to apply to twice as many schools as last time...are you aware of the extra difficulty you face a reapplicant?

 

[dancerdoc89]

If anything you need to apply to twice as many schools as last time...are you aware of the extra difficulty you face a reapplicant?

Oh yes, forever the re-applicant. Trust me, I'm quite aware.

This was all just a plan I conjured up, because having to wait 2+ years to re-apply now is unnerving.

Nonetheless, thanks for your responses.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

If you don't succeed you have to change your PS yet again and your app should change again. So that would totally suck.

 

[alerk323]

If anything you need to apply to twice as many schools as last time...are you aware of the extra difficulty you face a reapplicant?

Why, specifically, is applying as a re-applicant more difficult? And does this count for schools you didn't apply to the first time around?

 

[dancerdoc89]

Why, specifically, is applying as a re-applicant more difficult? And does this count for schools you didn't apply to the first time around?

Being a re-applicant is a label. Re-applicants didn't make it in the first time for some reason or another, and I think that will affect how schools look at your credentials, given you applied there before, which brings me to the second part of your question...which I have no idea how to answer, as I have the same inquiry.

However, we do denote on AMCAS that we've applied before, right?

 

[alerk323]

Being a re-applicant is a label. Re-applicants didn't make it in the first time for some reason or another, and I think that will affect how schools look at your credentials, given you applied there before, which brings me to the second part of your question...which I have no idea how to answer, as I have the same inquiry.

However, we do denote on AMCAS that we've applied before, right?

I think we denote on the AMCAS per school if we applied before, but there isn't a general place to say you're a re applicant.

A positive of being a re-applicant: it shows your dedication if you're trying again. For me, I believe that with a much broader range of schools and an earlier submission I'll be fine, but schools still want to see improvement over the past year.

 

[MedBound1]

Many schools appreciate re-applicants, especially if their stats GPA/MCAT were borderline. It shows that you are determined to pursue medicine and common mistakes such as not applying broadly enough, nervous interviews, etc could have edged you out. If you had a 40 MCAT/4.0 and you were a re-applicant, people will probably ask questions but that's usually not the case. Be confident in the fact that you are a re-applicant, don't try to hide it. With all that being said, you need to show some areas where you worked to *significantly* improve your app before re-applying, so you weren't just trying the exact same thing again. You talk about your PS and EC's, but do your main stats GPA/MCAT need help?

 

[alerk323]

Many schools appreciate re-applicants, especially if their stats GPA/MCAT were borderline. It shows that you are determined to pursue medicine and common mistakes such as not applying broadly enough, nervous interviews, etc could have edged you out. If you had a 40 MCAT/4.0 and you were a re-applicant, people will probably ask questions but that's usually not the case. Be confident in the fact that you are a re-applicant, don't try to hide it. With all that being said, you need to show some areas where you worked to *significantly* improve your app before re-applying, so you weren't just trying the exact same thing again. You talk about your PS and EC's, but do your main stats GPA/MCAT need help?

I know the last question was directed at the OP, but I'd like to chime in for some advice if that's alright. I applied late-ish (complete in sept) and to way to many top schools. My stats are 33/3.7. Neither of which should be holding me back or could be easily increased anyway. I "improved my app" in the sense that I worked full time in healthcare related, but not clinically related/patient contact related persay, jobs and tutored for most of the year.

I honestly believe that if I had just applied to a more appropriate range of schools and earlier I'd have been fine. I guess it goes back to the question of do schools you didn't apply to round 1 know or have the same expectations of you as a "re-applicant"? Or do they look at you as you are and not with the expectation of "oh wow what big things did he do this past year to improve".

Sorry for derailing from the OP but I figure the answer to that last question is pretty general.

 

[MedBound1]

I know the last question was directed at the OP, but I'd like to chime in for some advice if that's alright. I applied late-ish (complete in sept) and to way to many top schools. My stats are 33/3.7. Neither of which should be holding me back or could be easily increased anyway. I "improved my app" in the sense that I worked full time in healthcare related, but not clinically related/patient contact related persay, jobs and tutored for most of the year.

I honestly believe that if I had just applied to a more appropriate range of schools and earlier I'd have been fine. I guess it goes back to the question of do schools you didn't apply to round 1 know or have the same expectations of you as a "re-applicant"? Or do they look at you as you are and not with the expectation of "oh wow what big things did he do this past year to improve".

Sorry for derailing from the OP but I figure the answer to that last question is pretty general.

Well I hope that my personal experience can help you out a little and give you some hope. I was a re-app with relatively similar stats to yours. My list the first time was far too top-heavy. My gap year was spent working as a biomedical engineer (my UG major), engaging in some additional service activities in my free time, and starting to pick up a 2nd language. However, I was not lacking in clinical experience (in fact it was one of my stronger points), so I didn't go over the top to get more of that. My application "improvements" were not sprawling but I gained valuable work exp, some additional volunteer exp, cool cultural/travel experience, re-wrote my PS, refined my school list, and got everything in early/on-time. I was accepted to schools that turned me down the first time and also accepted to schools that I didn't apply to the first time. For those I didn't apply to the first time, I just had a clear answer to why their school specifically was an awesome fit for me and they seemed perfectly happy with that.

Hope this helps,

 

[alerk323]

Well I hope that my personal experience can help you out a little and give you some hope. I was a re-app with relatively similar stats to yours. My list the first time was far too top-heavy. My gap year was spent working as a biomedical engineer (my UG major), engaging in some additional service activities in my free time, and starting to pick up a 2nd language. However, I was not lacking in clinical experience (in fact it was one of my stronger points), so I didn't go over the top to get more of that. My application "improvements" were not sprawling but I gained valuable work exp, some additional volunteer exp, cool cultural/travel experience, re-wrote my PS, refined my school list, and got everything in early/on-time. I was accepted to schools that turned me down the first time and also accepted to schools that I didn't apply to the first time. For those I didn't apply to the first time, I just had a clear answer to why their school specifically was an awesome fit for me and they seemed perfectly happy with that.

Hope this helps,

Thanks a lot, that really helps and makes me feel better about this coming cycle.