Reapplicant Need Advice

[Pyrogenic]

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Hi I was wondering if anyone had some sort of advice for me, im feeling lost and am not really sure what I should be doing right now.

I graduated from UCSD in 2011 with a 3.5GPA (3.6sGPA) and then went on to receive a masters in biology in 2012 (3.9GPA).

I applied June 2011 and got 3 interview and 2 wait lists but no acceptances.

Recently I volunteered abroad at a rural hospital for a month in October and now Im going to start volunteering at a hospital soon.

I shadowed a surgeon when I was in undergrad and even wrote a manuscript but that still hasnt been published..
My masters project hasn't been published yet either.

I feel that what held me back from more interviews and acceptances was my verbal score for my MCAT.
I took my MCAT twice, first time I got a 25, second time I got a 31 (P11, V7, B13) but a very low verbal score (no improvement in VR from the first to second attempts) 🙁
Im signed up to retake my MCAT in March.


What should I do 😕 I dont want to be back in the same position i was last year.
And I feel like im wasting time, any advice on good activities that will really boost my application?

Thanks for the help!

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

If you let us know what schools you applied to and where you interviewed, we can probably help a little more. The 7 on verbal is a killer (at least that's what SDN would have me believe) The 31 overall is solid though. Maybe ask LizzyM about the retake idea in regards to the verbal...

3 interview is pretty good though, maybe work on interview skills and keep beefing up the resume and you should be good to go!

 

[Pyrogenic]

Hey thanks for the advice!

I interviewed at university of vermont, meharry, and uniformed services

 

[lalalaaaaaa]

Hey thanks for the advice!

I interviewed at university of vermont, meharry, and uniformed services

Also, shadow a little bit more... maybe a primary care physician... and make sure the hospital volunteering is meaningful. I hated my hospital volunteering, but now I'm volunteering at a hospice and LOVE it because I get to speak with patients all the time, and be a real member of the hospice team. To each their own though.

 

[gyngyn]

Hey thanks for the advice!

I interviewed at university of vermont, meharry, and uniformed services

Your application was good enough to merit 3 interviews. Work on interview (communication/social)skills and apply strategically.

 

[LizzyM]

^ agree.

Taking the MCAT a 3rd time is not a big help at this point. You can get interviews, in the next cycle you have to rise to the top by knocking those interivews out of the park.

 

[VictorAlpha]

Hi I was wondering if anyone had some sort of advice for me, im feeling lost and am not really sure what I should be doing right now.

I graduated from UCSD in 2011 with a 3.5GPA (3.6sGPA) and then went on to receive a masters in biology in 2012 (3.9GPA).

I applied June 2011 and got 3 interview and 2 wait lists but no acceptances.

Recently I volunteered abroad at a rural hospital for a month in October and now Im going to start volunteering at a hospital soon.

I shadowed a surgeon when I was in undergrad and even wrote a manuscript but that still hasnt been published..
My masters project hasn't been published yet either.

I feel that what held me back from more interviews and acceptances was my verbal score for my MCAT.
I took my MCAT twice, first time I got a 25, second time I got a 31 (P11, V7, B13) but a very low verbal score (no improvement in VR from the first to second attempts) 🙁
Im signed up to retake my MCAT in March.


What should I do 😕 I dont want to be back in the same position i was last year.
And I feel like im wasting time, any advice on good activities that will really boost my application?

Thanks for the help!

Since you're signed up for the MCAT in march, really try to nail it....obvious right? But srs I think the verbal score hurts...but you are getting interviews. I would also keep on those manuscripts. I had to submit to a couple journals before mine were accepted. I probably didn't get the highest impact factor journal but it was my first publication so hopefully next time will be better. Also I would recommend keeping consistent with some kind of volunteering to show strong service dedication. Best of Luck!