Reapplicant- 3.73 cgpa, 514 mcat. School list/mcat retake?

[AskingForRoses]

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Hi guys! I applied this cycle but am currently on 3 WL. I am preparing to reapply in 2 years (2020-2021) if necessary, but I have some questions. These are my stats:

3.73 cgpa/ 3.66 sgpa
514 mcat (127/129/127/131)
NYS resident
ORM
T20 undergrad

This cycle:
100 clinical hours (which could really be considered research hours)
450 research hours at a lab in my undergraduate university, no pubs
100 hours shadowing
800 hours nonclinical volunteer work
1400 other ECs, like TA, society, employment, etc

I also scribed this year (1200 projected hours) but I included this in my update

I applied to 24 schools, received 4 II which have resulted in 1 R and 3 WL

I realized I have no real recent clinical volunteer work (all from HS which I didn't include on the app).
Much of my volunteer work involves work with animals which I am passionate about (idk if this had an impact)

I applied to most of my state schools plus
Drexel
Jefferson
Temple
Pennstate
U Pitt
Georgetown
GW
Emory
Dartmouth
Tufts
Tulane
U Maryland
VCU


I plan on adding the following before applying next year:

the 1200 scribe hours
and
500-1000+ clinical research hours (this depends on whether I can receive a salary or if I need the following PT job: )
and/or
500 hours as CNA
and
200 hours clinical volunteer work
or
200ish hours volunteer EMS (which I need training for)
(So either full research or research + CNA, and volunteering at a clinic or EMS)


I plan on reapplying to my state schools plus
Drexel
Jefferson
Georgetown
GW
Dartmouth
Tulane
U Maryland
EVMS
Miami
Quinnipiac

Could my school list be improved? Do I need to retake my August 2017 mcat for most schools? Does EMS vs volunteering matter? (I'm happy doing either) In what areas should I focus improving my application?

Thank you so much!! 🙂

*please don't quote*

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
All 4 SUNY's
Albany
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Vermont
Dartmouth
Tufts
Quinnipiac
Boston University
Seton Hall
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Georgetown
EVMS
NOVA MD
Miami
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
Rush
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
TCU-UNT
Kaiser
California University

 

[AskingForRoses]

Thank you for your suggestions! Are these schools also “reapplicant friendly”?

 

[Faha]

Thank you for your suggestions! Are these schools also “reapplicant friendly”?

Your stats are fine for any of them. Schools do not care if you are a reapplicant. If your application shows significant improvement such as additional EC's they will review your application based on the changes.

 

[l;aksjdf;aljk;f]

Thank you for your suggestions! Are these schools also “reapplicant friendly”?

most medical schools are reapplicant friendly at this point, the reality is only 40% of students are going straight through anyways so there is a lot of reapplicants which is helping with any stigma it once had

 

[AskingForRoses]

most medical schools are reapplicant friendly at this point, the reality is only 40% of students are going straight through anyways so there is a lot of reapplicants which is helping with any stigma it once had

Thank you for that reassuring comment 🙂
I am leaning pretty heavily towards applying DO this year since my MCAT will expire before next year’s cycle. I’ll take it again regardless (just in case) but the thought of sitting for it again with even more pressure on the score is...intimidating.
Any reason not to apply DO this cycle and try for that A?

 

[l;aksjdf;aljk;f]

depends what you want to do. I am looking at cardiothoracic so I am going the MD route because the fellowship match is 98% as opposed to 40% with DOs

 

[AskingForRoses]

I’m interested in Peds which is good for DO but I’ve gotten the impression that the DO schools tend to feed into limited residency locations. So I’m guessing I’d still end up a bit limited in that respect

 

[l;aksjdf;aljk;f]

not for peds, you should be fine for noncompetitive/primary care residencies if you pass step

 

[AskingForRoses]

Now I’m having last minute regrets about only planning to apply DO. It gives me far fewer schools that I’d want to apply to than MD. (Maybe 7 DO vs 20+ MD)

Is it too much of a risk to apply MD this year? Would the research I’ve started and new volunteer work be enough? (I haven’t started volunteering yet) I’m just afraid of letting my MCAT expire and ending up with no interviews due to a small net.
Is there an obvious weakness in my app that I could fix with an update later in the cycle?
I received 4 II, was I just a poor interviewer/“unlucky”? Any insight would be much appreciated ️

 

[l;aksjdf;aljk;f]

I would throw some MD schools on there, just be careful on the application cycle because obviously DO is less interested in MCAT and if they think you will not matriculate there they won't accept you. I would apply to the more competitive DO programs which may alleviate that concern