Reapplicant help with choosing schools

[jkchang10]

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Hey fellow reapplicants, I need some advice..

So I applied this past year to 27 medical schools and only received one interview at the very last second to one of my state schools, Florida State where I was promptly waitlisted and had no luck (they had FOUR people move off the waitlist, lol)

I think my main problems were applying late in the cycle (sept verified, oct and nov secondaries in) and my MCAT. Here's my abbreviated app info:

cGPA: 3.72
scienceGPA: 3.5
I did have two withdraws (biochem and orgo 2) though I retook both and got B+'s. I did get a C+ my senior year in Eukaryotic Cell Structure, and a B- in Immunology. I did well in my other classes for the semester but earned a 3.58 and 3.53 GPA my two senior year semesters. So a tiny downward trend =(

My biggest problem with my app is that I got a 29O the first time i took the MCAT and then got a 28S the second.
Phy: 7(7)
Verbal: 12(11)
Bio: 10(10)

I did retake the MCAT on May 26th and I'm pending the score on June 28th. I was averaging a 34-35 but the MCAT was rough so I dunno how I did... guess we'll find out

My extra currics are not bad, volunteering at the hospital, ER, specialty clinic, in the Medical Examiner's office (so shadowing too), as well as leadership positions on campus. OK letters of rec. I graduated cum laude with a bachelor's in Microbiology and cell science. I have a graduate certificate in medico-legal death investigation and I worked for a biomedical company as a research intern the past year and I'm doing an SMP at Tufts next year.

These are the schools I applied to:
1. Albany
2. Albert Einstein
3. Boston U
4. Creighton
5. Dartmouth
6. Drexel
7. FIU
8. FAU
9. FSU
10. George Washington
11. Georgetown
12. Howard
13. Loma Linda
14. Loyola
15. Mayo
16. Med College of Wisconsin
17. Meharry
18. NYMC
19. Penn St
20. Rosalind Franklin
21. St. Louis
22. Stanford
23. UM
24. UAB
25. UCF
26. UF
27. USF
28. Wake Forest

Schools to be added:
Tufts

Are there any schools you recommend I take off? Are there any schools I should add? Any suggestions for my app or anything?

Also, should I send in my AMCAS as soon as I finish it (hoping to finish by next week) or should I wait till my MCAT score on June 28th is sent out? If I send it in right away should I designate all the schools or wait till after my score comes out to designate schools? Thanks for the help I really appreciate it =D good luck to all of us!!!!!

 

[wiseman]

Threads like this are what make me feel sick about the admission's process. Good stats, no shame in a 28 or 29. Solid GPA. Much better than mine. 😱

 

[Ditto1114]

Hi jkchang!

I have a couple of questions. First, are you an URM? Second, do you live in the panhandle of Florida?

 

[jkchang10]

Hi jkchang!

I have a couple of questions. First, are you an URM? Second, do you live in the panhandle of Florida?

No i'm not an URM.. im a chinese american lol

and no i live in Miami and went to school at UF in gainesville

thanks!

 

[jkchang10]

Threads like this are what make me feel sick about the admission's process. Good stats, no shame in a 28 or 29. Solid GPA. Much better than mine. 😱

Don't worry! I think it's simply a matter of timing. I think i would have had a WAY better chance had I applied EARLY and had my secondaries in by like mid-july..

Also, med schools look for anything to eliminate you and the fact that I first got a 29 with a low 7 in physics and then took it again and got a 28 with the same 7 would have cut me out.. i think had i applied super early and not retaken the MCAT I would have had a better chance..

Can anyone help me with schools? I really need help selecting more scores or eliminating schools...

 

[jkchang10]

No help?? I need advice with schools!!! thanks!!!

 

[FIREitUP]

No help?? I need advice with schools!!! thanks!!!

you expect us to provide you with a list of schools when you haven't even gotten the results of your latest mcat? further, have you heard of the MSAR? Get one and stop asking others to do the work for you.

 

[Ditto1114]

No i'm not an URM.. im a chinese american lol

and no i live in Miami and went to school at UF in gainesville

thanks!

Well, if you were from the panhandle I would've suggested applying to South Alabama because they consider students from the panhandle as in-state.

I figured you weren't URM, but wanted to be sure so as not to offend. 😳 Anyway, Howard primarily accepts minorities. Not saying that you shouldn't apply. Just suggesting that if you want to save some money I'd cut that one out.

Also, I'd wait for your MCAT scores before applying. Honestly, I think that 7 and the fact that your score went down the second time you applied is going to hurt you. UAB, for instance, probably won't look at your application because you're OOS and have an MCAT sub-score less than 8. They say this on their website.

Also, if you wait for your MCAT score and don't score better than a 30 with at least a 9 in the PS section I'd cut out Dartmouth, Albert Einstein, Mayo, Penn St, Stanford, UAB and UM. You would just be wasting your money.

Just my 2 cents. Good Luck!!

Another thought: I also think you should apply to DO schools, if you are interested in that route. You have some really great schools in Florida (Nova, and LECOM-Bradenton). If you raised your MCAT I'm pretty sure you'd get into one of your state MD schools, but when I was reapplying this year I didn't want to take any chances so I also applied DO.

 

[wiseman]

No i'm not an URM.. im a chinese american lol

and no i live in Miami and went to school at UF in gainesville

thanks!

Weird coincidence, I also went to UF, graduated 2008. Go Gators!

 

[jkchang10]

you expect us to provide you with a list of schools when you haven't even gotten the results of your latest mcat? further, have you heard of the MSAR? Get one and stop asking others to do the work for you.

First off, I understand my newest MCAT score hasn't been released, but I figure the schools suggested with my old MCAT would more than qualify for my new one since I am anticipating a higher new MCAT score.

2nd off, I have the MSAR online version, it's extremely difficult to look at schools and I figured there are plenty of people here that have already done so and wouldn't mind spending 5 seconds to write a couple schools they think would help. And yes I've read the MSAR and i'm going through it myself. More opinions always help though.

Third off, calm down. if you don't like my post then don't bother contributing. but if you're gonna sit here and say i'm not doing my own work, when I've already found schools to apply to, go to every single other post in the what are my chances section and tell them what you told me.

Thanks.

 

[jkchang10]

Weird coincidence, I also went to UF, graduated 2008. Go Gators!

Cool dude! Go gators!!! I graduated in '10.

it's pretty awesome being a gator. I was in the San Francisco airport wearing a gator shirt, saw a couple wearing gator hats and we automatically said "Go gators" to each other. Pretty awesome feeling haha

 

[jkchang10]

Well, if you were from the panhandle I would've suggested applying to South Alabama because they consider students from the panhandle as in-state.

I figured you weren't URM, but wanted to be sure so as not to offend. 😳 Anyway, Howard primarily accepts minorities. Not saying that you shouldn't apply. Just suggesting that if you want to save some money I'd cut that one out.

Also, I'd wait for your MCAT scores before applying. Honestly, I think that 7 and the fact that your score went down the second time you applied is going to hurt you. UAB, for instance, probably won't look at your application because you're OOS and have an MCAT sub-score less than 8. They say this on their website.

Also, if you wait for your MCAT score and don't score better than a 30 with at least a 9 in the PS section I'd cut out Dartmouth, Albert Einstein, Mayo, Penn St, Stanford, UAB and UM. You would just be wasting your money.

Just my 2 cents. Good Luck!!

Another thought: I also think you should apply to DO schools, if you are interested in that route. You have some really great schools in Florida (Nova, and LECOM-Bradenton). If you raised your MCAT I'm pretty sure you'd get into one of your state MD schools, but when I was reapplying this year I didn't want to take any chances so I also applied DO.

Thanks for the help! yeah i was thinking i should probably cut Howard and Meharry out since they primarily accept minorities. Also, I'm anticipating doing much better on my MCAT this time around, but I know what you mean, I'll definitely repost with my MCAT score once I get it cause it'll clear things up.

I applied to UAB and Stanford because my parents graduated from UAB with PhDs and because my sister graduated from stanford med this year. And I actually got all the way to LOR for Mayo - surprising I know. Just no interview =(

My problem with DO schools is I've never looked into them and they've never really been an option for me. I haven't shadowed a DO doctor and know nothing about it.

Also, last cycle i got an interview and waitlisted at FSU. When I asked for feedback they told me this:

I have reviewed your application for acceptance to the FSU College of Medicine and related materials, and I feel that yours is a case where there is essentially little to add to your application. This past admissions cycle we saw an extremely competitive applicant pool compared to previous years, and yours was just not quite as competitive. I would advise that over the next year, you continue to shadow physicians, however in fields you have yet to experience. Additionally, more extensive participation in activities that provide service to the underserved and disadvantaged, would strengthen your application.

So I'm hoping an earlier application will at least grant me an interview and acceptance to FSU.

 

[jkchang10]

I don't think you need to go DO route if you really don't want to do it. I feel like you just got ur apps in too late and from what I saw of your PS a better, stronger PS this time too will help. The previous one wasn't as strong. I'm looking at the one u emailed me. But stronger essays and more timely apps will go a long way for you.

Thanks! I hope this one was a little better... lol

 

[Ditto1114]

I applied to UAB and Stanford because my parents graduated from UAB with PhDs and because my sister graduated from stanford med this year. And I actually got all the way to LOR for Mayo - surprising I know. Just no interview =(

UAB is awesome! I'm starting there in the fall. I think if you increase your PS score you'll have a good chance. I'm just suggesting that if you want to save a little money, I'd cut those schools.

My problem with DO schools is I've never looked into them and they've never really been an option for me. I haven't shadowed a DO doctor and know nothing about it.

Completely understandable. A lot of students don't want to go that route and I think that's fine. I went to a lot of DO's throughout my life so I had a good idea of what I might have gotten into. I think you have a great chance of getting into an MD school some where. I just like to hedge my bets so when I reapplied I also applied to DO schools, just in case. Best of luck!! 🙂

 

[flatearth22]

You said you did bad your last 2 semesters....what was your AMCAS GPA/BCPM GPA when you applied last year and what will it be this year with the addition of the senior grades?

 

[jkchang10]

You said you did bad your last 2 semesters....what was your AMCAS GPA/BCPM GPA when you applied last year and what will it be this year with the addition of the senior grades?

hey, my GPA and BCPM GPA are the ones listed above. those include my senior grades. I took a year off last year and did a research internship. I also took graduate courses and got a 4.0 in the 15 credits.

 

[Hewulfff]

Hey fellow reapplicants, I need some advice..

So I applied this past year to 27 medical schools and only received one interview at the very last second to one of my state schools, Florida State where I was promptly waitlisted and had no luck (they had FOUR people move off the waitlist, lol)

I think my main problems were applying late in the cycle (sept verified, oct and nov secondaries in) and my MCAT. Here's my abbreviated app info:

cGPA: 3.72
scienceGPA: 3.5
I did have two withdraws (biochem and orgo 2) though I retook both and got B+'s. I did get a C+ my senior year in Eukaryotic Cell Structure, and a B- in Immunology. I did well in my other classes for the semester but earned a 3.58 and 3.53 GPA my two senior year semesters. So a tiny downward trend =(

My biggest problem with my app is that I got a 29O the first time i took the MCAT and then got a 28S the second.
Phy: 7(7)
Verbal: 12(11)
Bio: 10(10)

I did retake the MCAT on May 26th and I'm pending the score on June 28th. I was averaging a 34-35 but the MCAT was rough so I dunno how I did... guess we'll find out

My extra currics are not bad, volunteering at the hospital, ER, specialty clinic, in the Medical Examiner's office (so shadowing too), as well as leadership positions on campus. OK letters of rec. I graduated cum laude with a bachelor's in Microbiology and cell science. I have a graduate certificate in medico-legal death investigation and I worked for a biomedical company as a research intern the past year and I'm doing an SMP at Tufts next year.

These are the schools I applied to:
1. Albany
2. Albert Einstein
3. Boston U
4. Creighton
5. Dartmouth
6. Drexel
7. FIU
8. FAU
9. FSU
10. George Washington
11. Georgetown
12. Howard
13. Loma Linda
14. Loyola
15. Mayo
16. Med College of Wisconsin
17. Meharry
18. NYMC
19. Penn St
20. Rosalind Franklin
21. St. Louis
22. Stanford
23. UM
24. UAB
25. UCF
26. UF
27. USF
28. Wake Forest

Schools to be added:
Tufts

Are there any schools you recommend I take off? Are there any schools I should add? Any suggestions for my app or anything?

Also, should I send in my AMCAS as soon as I finish it (hoping to finish by next week) or should I wait till my MCAT score on June 28th is sent out? If I send it in right away should I designate all the schools or wait till after my score comes out to designate schools? Thanks for the help I really appreciate it =D good luck to all of us!!!!!

Try Temple. If you think you are going to get 30+, it's probably worth it. I got a 31 MCAT and have similar EC's (no SMP though) and got an interview 2 weeks after submitting my secondary. You may get one as well. Good luck!

 

[SisterDisco08]

we should just apply to all the same schools 😛

 

[xhealthdental]

Do you realize in yourself that, maybe being in the medical school is really meant for you? You must set signs or any instance that shows you're meant for that. This is just a advice, if you are not meant to a thing, time will make a new way for you. 🙂

 

[jkchang10]

Do you realize in yourself that, maybe being in the medical school is really meant for you? You must set signs or any instance that shows you're meant for that. This is just a advice, if you are not meant to a thing, time will make a new way for you. 🙂

Um.. I know that, but I know I want to be a doctor - hence the reapplying. If it's really not meant for me and I don't get in anywhere this year then I understand.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[mommy2three]

take some time, shadow a do and consider applying.
the only difference is the added omm training as far as curiculum.

loyola may be out of reach, based on my understanding from being here they lean towards catholics (unless you are catholic).

 

[ejw5075]

You could try Rush in Chicago and I second Temple.. applying early is going to put you in a better position for many of the schools you already applied to (Drexel, esp). Timing matters more for some schools, GL.

 

[jkchang10]

hey everyone! Thanks again for the help. To update you:

I received my MCAT from May 26th and unfortunately it wasn't as high as I liked it to be.

It was an improvement though and I went from:

29O --> 28S --> 30R (latest MCAT)

My individual scores were:
PHYS: 10
VERB: 11
BIO: 9

So my Bio went down a point from the last time but the positive is that my physical science went up 3 points from a 7 to a 10. My best combined score is a 32 but I know most schools just look at the latest.

Now that my MCAT is out, what schools should I add or remove? I'm really trying to apply broadly so please help me with more schools!

I'm possibly adding:
Tufts, Temple, Rush, the SUNYs

I honestly want to apply to about 35-40 schools. My application has been submitted (only to the state schools at the moment - 7 - FSU, UF, USF, FIU, FAU, UCF, UM).

Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[dragonfly99]

I think that actually is a significant better MCAT. The reason, as you recognized, is that you improved a lot of the physical sciences score. Some places will screen out people with below 8 or 9 in any section, so I think you'll avoid some of the automatic screen-outs.

Your senior year grades you may have to explain at interviews. You can counter that by mentioning your graduate grades, which were excellent.

I think your best chance would be at any/all in state Florida schools. You should really push for acceptances there. Maybe you can find some docs to shadow who went to these schools. Even if you don't get a LOR there, they may be willing to send an email or call once you get to the interview stage...

I would not apply to Howard and Meharry since you aren't underrepresented minority. I doubt you'll have much of a chance at most state schools where you are "out of state". Be sure to check their web sites carefully, because you don't want to waste money applying to places where you have very little chance.