Reapplicant: 3.52c/3.50s/36P

[teotuf]

---

Members do not see this ad.

My stats:
- Graduated with Economics major, 3.52c/3.50s from UPenn (3.753c/3.81s for the last 5/8 semesters), 14BS/14PS/8V/P
- 2.5 years of undergrad research, no pubs
- Tutor, stats TA, musician (orchestra, chamber music, student groups)
- 100 hrs of volunteering so far, continuing at 9hrs/wk this summer
- Ridiculously little 6 hrs of shadowing, saw 4 colonoscropies and 3 butthole surgery, and got feces splattered on my scrubs

I applied last cycle (3.49c/3.43s), with a F-1 visa and no Stats TA/tutor experience, 60 hrs of volunteering, and no shadowing. Didn't get a SINGLE interview at all (top heavy list, but 0 interviews from the lower tiers either).

This year I have gotten my green card, and have a few more EC items/tutoring/TA, some more volunteering/shadowing, and I was wondering if I could get some feedback on if things are going to be significantly different this year, especially considering MCAT score is the same, GPA is not significantly different, etc.

Another plan is to wait yet one year longer and try next year instead - would that be a wise thing to do?
If I should apply next year, would retaking the MCAT be a good idea? I'm not positive I'll be able to get 14+ on the sciences again, but the 8 on verbal is really annoying...

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lokhtar]

I think a 12, 12, 10 would be better than 14, 14, 8 for many schools.

Also, being a permanent resident is a huge boost and makes you eligible for MANY more schools. I think you might be OK this cycle - apply more bottom heavy. But if not, do reconsider taking the MCAT if you're scoring a 34+ but with a 10 on VR.

On the face of it though, retaking a 36 seems like madness, and perhaps you may not need to. I'd apply this year and if you're not getting any luck by December, start studying for the March/April exam and take it for next year.

And keep up your ECs.

 

[Catalystik]

You don't need to retake the MCAT so long as you primarily focus on schools with a bottom tenth percentile for VS of of 7 or 8 (MSAR has this data). Fortunately, with the green card, many more schools are available for consideration.

You are right that 6 hours of shadowing is ridiculously low. It's also unfortunate that you didn't beef up your clinical experience more than you did and that you didn't engage in some regular nonmedical community service, but apparently you didn't have SDN in your life to teach you better. But you do have research, artistic endeavors, and teaching: these are all very good. What about leadership?

Yes, it would be better to retake the MCAT (which may not improve, in fact VS could go down---->deathknell) and spend the next year improving your ECs and getting some As in upper-level science classes. If you are eager to proceed, you might get by with the right school selection, 30-40 more quickly-acquired hours of shadowing before you submit, and ongoing shadowing, clinical experience, and nonmedical community service which you communicate to schools periodically via update letter. If you don't get lucky, your application could be much better a year from now.

(And BTW, the correct term is anus.)