Reapplicant for 2011-2012

[steelrednet]

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I applied to 25 schools this cycle and only got two interviews. One turned into a rejection and the other I'm certain will be a rejection. My MCAT is 32m and my science GPA and overall GPA are roughly 3.9. Over 100 hours shadowing doctors, around 80 hours or so in a premed society, 50 hours volunteering at a hospital, and about 15 hours of community service although none of it before i filled out my AMCAS. I will have 30 or more hours by May. I have no leadership experience and no research. I was complete at nearly all of my schools in the middle of September.

So what's wrong with my application? How can I improve it? Should I apply for the next cycle or take a year off and improve my application more?

 

[aSagacious]

I think you would do well for yourself to pursue an SMP program. This would enable you to acquire your fair share of research, while staying busy in the meantime. If you go full-time, you'll likely obtain ~1250-1500 hours of research, which is more than enough for most schools.

Needless to say it was probably neither your MCAT nor your GPA that held you back.

While at your SMP (if you choose to pursue this option), perhaps find a leadership opportunity doing something you like (of course, easier said than done). For example, I wrestled in high school... as soon as I graduated, a coaching position opened up for our middle school program... and there was a free 500 hours of leadership for something I would've done for my own enjoyment.

 

[Bernoull]

I think you would do well for yourself to pursue an SMP program. This would enable you to acquire your fair share of research, while staying busy in the meantime. If you go full-time, you'll likely obtain ~1250-1500 hours of research, which is more than enough for most schools.

Needless to say it was probably neither your MCAT nor your GPA that held you back.

While at your SMP (if you choose to pursue this option), perhaps find a leadership opportunity doing something you like (of course, easier said than done). For example, I wrestled in high school... as soon as I graduated, a coaching position opened up for our middle school program... and there was a free 500 hours of leadership for something I would've done for my own enjoyment.

Pls ignore the above advice as u don't need an SMP.

U're weak on community hours, research i'm not too worried about, not every school cares about it, but without it, u gotta have something else meaningful. Significant community involvement is one, playing instruments, coaching, teaching are others...

Perhaps more importantly, what 25 schools did u apply to? If u just picked the top 25 listed in usnews... well that would explain a lot.

Strength of ur application is as important as ur application strategy.

gdluck

 

[DrMidlife]

I think you would do well for yourself to pursue an SMP program. This would enable you to acquire your fair share of research, while staying busy in the meantime. If you go full-time, you'll likely obtain ~1250-1500 hours of research, which is more than enough for most schools.

You are not describing an SMP.

An SMP is a one-year non-thesis terminal masters that puts you through the first year of med school as an audition for med school. There's no research in an SMP. (A program like Boston's MAMS has a 2nd year where you could do research...but the first year is an SMP thus includes no research.)

Doing an SMP makes no sense at all if you have a great GPA. Either a great GPA or an SMP demonstrates that you can handle a heavy academic load of hard science. The OP's academic mettle is not in question here.

steelrednet: I expect you need more bake time. Maybe you've checked off all the boxes to make yourself a competitive applicant without becoming a person who comes across as "I want him/her to be my doctor." In my experience it's exceedingly rare for a 21-ish year old to be mature, independent and insightful...which is why the average matriculant age is about 24.

Best of luck to you.

 

[steelrednet]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I do agree with the latter two responses that I don't need an SMP. Do you think I should continue with community service to get around 50 hours or more and apply early next cycle or do I have to take an extra year to improve it and apply the cycle after next? I talked to one director of admissions and she said I would have better luck next cycle with more community service.

 

[Northwesterly]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I do agree with the latter two responses that I don't need an SMP. Do you think I should continue with community service to get around 50 hours or more and apply early next cycle or do I have to take an extra year to improve it and apply the cycle after next? I talked to one director of admissions and she said I would have better luck next cycle with more community service.

Sounds about right, but you might want to look at boosting your clinical exposure as well--pick up an 8 hr./week volunteer gig and you can apply in June with 200+ clinical hours, which (fair or not) is probably a good baseline to shoot for.

 

[ngynththo]

I applied to 25 schools this cycle and only got two interviews. One turned into a rejection and the other I'm certain will be a rejection. My MCAT is 32m and my science GPA and overall GPA are roughly 3.9. Over 100 hours shadowing doctors, around 80 hours or so in a premed society, 50 hours volunteering at a hospital, and about 15 hours of community service although none of it before i filled out my AMCAS. I will have 30 or more hours by May. I have no leadership experience and no research. I was complete at nearly all of my schools in the middle of September.

So what's wrong with my application? How can I improve it? Should I apply for the next cycle or take a year off and improve my application more?

Hi steelrednet,
Do you mean you did 25 secondary application to 25 schools? I am wondering may be you did not have enough time to focus of their essays or to submit LOR on time.
Just a thought, your case scare me as my daughter is going to apply this June

 

[steelrednet]

Hi steelrednet,
Do you mean you did 25 secondary application to 25 schools? I am wondering may be you did not have enough time to focus of their essays or to submit LOR on time.
Just a thought, your case scare me as my daughter is going to apply this June

I was complete at 25 schools meaning I applied, submitted the secondary applications, and of course the LORs were sent by AMCAS.

 

[DrMidlife]

Is this correct, per your mdapps? "AMCAS submitted: 8/17/2010"

If so, that's 10 weeks after the app opens, and it's the peak of the processing cycle. Submitting in mid-August means your app doesn't make it to schools until late September. In my (very jaded) mind, that's applying for the waitlist.

As for your school list, it looks like Creighton & MCW maybe were your "safeties" but there's no such thing. One thing worth looking at is how many apps each school gets, and keep this in mind as you're re-working your package. You have to shine in a pile of 5000 to 13,000.

Best of luck to you.

 

[steelrednet]

Is this correct, per your mdapps? "AMCAS submitted: 8/17/2010"

If so, that's 10 weeks after the app opens, and it's the peak of the processing cycle. Submitting in mid-August means your app doesn't make it to schools until late September. In my (very jaded) mind, that's applying for the waitlist.

As for your school list, it looks like Creighton & MCW maybe were your "safeties" but there's no such thing. One thing worth looking at is how many apps each school gets, and keep this in mind as you're re-working your package. You have to shine in a pile of 5000 to 13,000.

Best of luck to you.

Yes that is when I submitted my primary application. Unfortunately I was waiting for my MCAT retake results before applying which I realize was a big mistake on my part. I plan on submitting my application in May this time around and removing schools that are in the region I want to be in, but I have no realistic shot at getting into.

 

[chuck84]

It might also not be what's on paper, but how you interview. Perhaps you could get some feedback from some of the schools.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Don't discount your essay. Is it lifeless and boring? Have someone read it. Did they get glassy eyed or where they like, "cool, I wish I sounded that interesting". You have to write it so you are remembered in that sea of , "I want to be a doctor because, blah, blah, blah" boring essay writers. Makes a huge difference.

Be sure you apply on the first day.

 

[dragonfly99]

Lack of clinical volunteer experience.
Lack of leadership experience.
Submitting the application kind of late.
It sounds like you didn't even make it to interviews, and those are probably the biggest reasons why.

 

[high5]

GPA and MCAT are good (DON'T DO AN SMP!!!)

you're ECs aren't that good, i'd bet that's what holding you back. Thousands of applicants have good GPA and MCAT but what separates everyone is their experiences...I'd work on those.

 

[wanderer]

Yea fix your ECs. Check my MDapps to see how bad ECs can sink the apps of even those with the highest stats. The good news is that it is easy to fix. You should aim to have at least a year of clinical experience, some research (not required at all schools, but if you lack it, you should make up for it with something else), and maybe some community service. But especially with community service, if you don't have a somewhat long-term commitment to it, it's pretty worthless. Also make sure to include some hobbies and the like on your app.

And if you're a reapp you have no excuse for a late app. Make sure to apply early. Include some schools you didn't apply to the first time around.