MD & DO Reapplicant- >3.9 GPA, 34 MCAT

[bunnyg]

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[GrapesofRath]

There's a pretty good chance something was off in at least a few of these interviews.

What was likely relatively limited clinical experience and a lack of non clinical based service/volunteering didnt help either. 5 IIs out of 15 apps tells me the written parts of your app are likely up to par and your school list was fine. If you can improve on these weaknesses, that will be your best chance and if you do so you have a good shot at being successful. Obviously easier said than done, but fortunately the areas for improvement arent particularly difficult to find.

 

[Faha]

Do not give up on this cycle. There will be a lot of wait list movement after May 1st when applicants currently holding multiple acceptances must decide only one school. Where did you apply this cycle and where did you interview?

 

[708445]

Hi all,

I have come to the conclusion that I probably am not going to get in this cycle, (I applied to 15 schools and had 5 interviews but I am currently on 2 WLs, have 2 deferred decisions, with no acceptances).

~4.0 sci gpa, 3.9 cum
34 mcat (10/11/12) from 2014
White female
BS in bio from UC, CA resident, currently in a funded ms thesis program


-3 years research experience- >1000 hours
-1 publication/1 abstract
-2 year varsity tennis
-2 years club tennis
-Couple of misc. clubs
-2 years volunteering at free clinic- will have around 200 hours
-30 hours of shadowing
-5 quarters of teaching experience in lecture and lab courses
-Few honors: deans list, summa cum laude, etc.
-Few interesting hobbies

(New: The publication/abstract, teaching, second year of volunteering, MS thesis)

I plan on getting a job in research after I graduate with my MS degree


I am very nervous and unsure of what to do next year. I don't want to wait to apply again because my MCAT will expire. Consequently, I will also apply to DO schools.

Which are the best ones to apply to given that I am interested in doing research in medical school? Also, is it significantly more difficult to obtain a residency in an academic system? I am interested in internal medicine

I am not vain and don't mind the DO initials behind my name, just am concerned that it will close doors later

Thanks!

This is literally me (minus the female part 😛). Praying my last few decisions come through... But if they don't, I'm planning on retaking the MCAT this June and possibly looking into some long term service projects. I think I can squeeze a few more points out on the MCAT and that taking the new exam would be a good showing. Really over estimated how much my GPA could pull me up.


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[bunnyg]

I got interviews at OSU (deff), Rochester (WL) , Case Western (deff), UCSD (rej.), Creighton (WL)

(actually it was 18 not 15)

I applied to
Rochester
Albert Einstein
BU
Case Western Reserve
UCLA
Keck
NYMC
OSU
The University of Vermont
University of Arizona-Phoenix
UCSD
UCSF
UCD
UCLA
UCI
Creighton
Iowa
VCU

 

[gyngyn]

I got interviews at OSU (deff), Rochester (WL) , Case Western (deff), UCSD (rej.), Creighton (WL)

(actually it was 18 not 15)

I applied to
Rochester
Albert Einstein
BU
Case Western Reserve
UCLA
Keck
NYMC
OSU
The University of Vermont
University of Arizona-Phoenix
UCSD
UCSF
UCD
UCLA
UCI
Creighton
Iowa
VCU

You got a good yield on interviews with this list.
This indicates an acceptable pre-interview application.

 

[708445]

Honestly I think a 4.0/34 is a grey area stat makeup where you're above the 10th percentile but below the median for a lot of the top schools, but you're 90th percentile for many of the lower ranked schools. Creighton, for example, probably thought you weren't that serious about coming there.


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[Faha]

Send Creighton and Rochester an update and let them know you are very interested in attending. If you need to reapply add schools such as:
Albany
Hofstra
Quinnipiac
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
GW
Georgetown
Tulane
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
any new schools that open in 2017 (Roseman, Henricopolis, Seton Hall)

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Virginia Tech would also be a good place to apply. Extremely interested in research oriented candidates, and provides excellent research ops (esp for a newer school).

I've heard KCU is a good DO school for those interested in research, but can't speak from experience.

 

[Terror Billy]

Sounds like dumb advice...but APPLY TO MORE THAN 15 SCHOOLS! If you apply to 20-25 I'm very confident you'll get in somewhere, you clearly are qualified and 5 out of 15 for interviews is a pretty good rate!

 

[bunnyg]

Send Creighton and Rochester an update and let them know you are very interested in attending. If you need to reapply add schools such as:
Albany
Hofstra
Quinnipiac
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
GW
Georgetown
Tulane
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
any new schools that open in 2017 (Roseman, Henricopolis, Seton Hall)

Thanks! What about case and osu?

Also, do you recommend any DO schools?

I will apply to more schools this time around, it was difficult last year because of money but it should be better this year

 

[bunnyg]

You got a good yield on interviews with this list.
This indicates an acceptable pre-interview application.

Yeah, I'm not very good at interviewing, but at the same time I'm not a serial killer... How do you recommend I work on this? I was scared to go on mock interviews this season in fear of killing my confidence haha (which is probably the biggest issue)

 

[Faha]

Thanks! What about case and osu?

Also, do you recommend any DO schools?

I will apply to more schools this time around, it was difficult last year because of money but it should be better this year

Sure, contact Case and OSU also. You are competitive for any DO schools so just decide what area of the country you would like to live in.

 

[gyngyn]

Yeah, I'm not very good at interviewing, but at the same time I'm not a serial killer... How do you recommend I work on this? I was scared to go on mock interviews this season in fear of killing my confidence haha (which is probably the biggest issue)

In medicine, as in life, practice is key.
Communication skills are the easiest to evaluate in either MMI or traditional format.
Go to your school's Career Center and get some help.

 

[Goro]

And you can see how that's working out for you. How is your confidence now?

Practice makes perfect.

Yeah, I'm not very good at interviewing, but at the same time I'm not a serial killer... How do you recommend I work on this? I was scared to go on mock interviews this season in fear of killing my confidence haha (which is probably the biggest issue)

 

[bunnyg]

And you can see how that's working out for you. How is your confidence now?

Practice makes perfect.

Fair enough.

Thanks all!