reapplicant for 2011-2012, advice appreciated

[murua]

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So I did something stupid when I was trying to apply last June... I took my 1st MCAT in June and because I always heard that apps are time-stamped and that you had to get your app in ASAP, I also submitted my app in June. I also received some advice from a friend who said that I should just put one backup school on my app and add the others after I receive my MCAT scores because I could withdraw the AMCAS app. Well, I ended up not doing very well on MCAT and had to withdraw my app from that one school. However, AAMC delayed in releasing the June scores and I missed the cut-off to cancel my AMCAS app. Once AMCAS actually got around to processing my app 30 days after I submitted, I was pretty much screwed. Before that time I could have canceled it...

*takes a deep breath* So after all of those mistakes, I will be re-taking my MCAT in April and applying this June, but I will technically be a re-applicant even though it will basically be my first time applying to all the schools. My question is, how much do you think this will hurt my chances? I'm not sure what the schools see when they look at your app but do they distinguish between if you are a second-time applicant to their school or a second-time med school applicant in general?

Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated... Thanks!

 

[Bernoull]

So I did something stupid when I was trying to apply last June... I took my 1st MCAT in June and because I always heard that apps are time-stamped and that you had to get your app in ASAP, I also submitted my app in June. I also received some advice from a friend who said that I should just put one backup school on my app and add the others after I receive my MCAT scores because I could withdraw the AMCAS app. Well, I ended up not doing very well on MCAT and had to withdraw my app from that one school. However, AAMC delayed in releasing the June scores and I missed the cut-off to cancel my AMCAS app. Once AMCAS actually got around to processing my app 30 days after I submitted, I was pretty much screwed. Before that time I could have canceled it...

*takes a deep breath* So after all of those mistakes, I will be re-taking my MCAT in April and applying this June, but I will technically be a re-applicant even though it will basically be my first time applying to all the schools. My question is, how much do you think this will hurt my chances? I'm not sure what the schools see when they look at your app but do they distinguish between if you are a second-time applicant to their school or a second-time med school applicant in general?

Any advice/thoughts would be appreciated... Thanks!

i dont think its a big deal, what schools are interest is what improvement have u made to ur application from the prior cycle? Are u a competitive applicant this time around? Retaking ur mcat is one answer, shoring up other weaknesses that existed during last cycle is also important.

Secondaries usually will ask u what improvements u've made, so keep this in mind as u formulate ur reapplication strategy.

gdluck

 

[waitlist22]

Assuming I understand correctly, you only "applied" to one school last year on your AMCAS application. That will be the only school you will technically be a reapplicant for. Yes, in the overall scheme of things you are a reapplicant but no other schools will know that you applied last year, I don't believe. When submitting your application this year to new schools, they ask whether you have applied to this school before and you can truthfully answer no. You will be a first time applicant there and you won't have to show that you have made improvements from last years cycle because they can't see your AMCAS from the previous year.

I wouldn't worry too much about being considered a reapplicant, worry more about strengthening your app in the meantime. That's my two cents.

 

[murua]

Thanks, guys. =) I really wasn't sure how schools would look at me - i.e. re-applicant or first time applicant. I'm definitely trying to make this year in between productive - better MCAT score, more volunteering, and working full-time in a research lab which will hopefully lead to a co-authorship on a paper. Thanks again.