Reapplicant Question

[confusedfish]

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Hi, Everyone!

I'm applying to medical school this cycle. I'm mostly going to apply through TMDSAS, but I will also put together an AMCAS school list depending on my upcoming MCAT score.

So, unfortunately, I'm a "re-applicant." I will be counted as one this cycle, even though I ended up not submitting any secondaries last TMDSAS cycle.

The reason I'm in this mess is because I originally submitted my primary application with my first MCAT score (504) and had planned to just update my application with my retake score. I took the advice from SDN and did not sit for the MCAT until I was scoring at least a 510 on my practice exams. However, on test day, I ran out of time the Chem and CARS sections and was completely thrown off for the rest of the test 🙁

I ended up scoring a 505, which was 10 points lower than what I was averaging on the AAMC FLs. I really think the huge score discrepancy can be attributed to my poor test-taking skills, test day anxiety, and the possibility that my FL averages were just inflated (even though the last full length I took was brand new to me, and it had been at least a year or two since I had seen each of the FLs).

I knew that I should have voided that test, but I didn’t for whatever reason. False sense of security, I guess? Now, I'm studying for my 3rd MCAT and will be taking it in April. Hopefully, that's the score I'll be applying with. I learned my lesson, and I will not submit my application until I have a score that I'm happy with. If all gos well, that means I am set to submit both TMDSAS and AMCAS the first week in june.

I'm definitely a less-than-perfect pre-med student. I feel like I need to have a higher MCAT score to compensate for my less than competitive science GPA and the few Ws that I have on my undergraduate transcript. I also recognize that I need to apply as early as possible.

Anywasy, this brings me to my main point. I really loved my personal statement and essays from last cycle. Not much has changed for me this past year because I've mostly been focusing on my DIY post-bacc and retaking the MCAT, so I wouldn’t say that a lot of my story or my "why medicine" has changed much. I can definitely try to make them stronger, but overall, my essays still resonate with me and I would honestly be proud to apply with them.

My question is: do I need to completely rewrite my application essays? I didn’t submit secondaries to any schools, so I wonder if they will be able to compare my applications. Will it look bad if my primary application through TMDSAS is essentially the same (with some otherwise minor updates like running a half-marathon, volunteering, and working as a substitute teacher)? And what about my activities section—should I redo those as well?

Also, would it be okay for me to ask 3 of my recommenders (a science professor, my hospital employer that I worked with for almost 2 years as a PCT, and a liberal arts professor that I took multiple classes with) from last cycle? I was planning on adding one new letter this cycle from one of my Fall 2025 science professors. Do I need a whole new set of recommendation letters instead?

Thank you all for your help in advance 🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Can we have a full WAMC profile?

 

[wysdoc]

You have an incomplete application from last year since you did not write any secondaries. Nonetheless your primary app was sent to all the schools so they have read your essays.
They WILL look back at the previous year’s app so you DO need to rewrite your major essays.
You will also be expected to write a short re-applicant essay about how you have added to your resumé since last year.

The writing style you display in this question is too long and full of backtracking and apologizing 👀
So, make your essays more direct and to the point, it will help you a lot.

You might need to update your activities with added hours so do that

P.S. I'm not saying any of this to be negative, and TMDSAS schools are welcoming to reapplicants, IF you have done something new since last time and rewritten your major essays. Also, submit by June or July.

 

[Med Ed]

My question is: do I need to completely rewrite my application essays? I didn’t submit secondaries to any schools, so I wonder if they will be able to compare my applications. Will it look bad if my primary application through TMDSAS is essentially the same (with some otherwise minor updates like running a half-marathon, volunteering, and working as a substitute teacher)? And what about my activities section—should I redo those as well?

Who read and provided feedback on your personal statement?

 

[confusedfish]

Can we have a full WAMC profile?

Yes!

I graduated in 2023 with two degrees and one minor from my state public school
cGPA: 3.67
TMDSAS sGPA: 3.42
MCAT: Plan to take in April/May (504->505->May score)

I have a few Q drops and Ws. Two of my science courses were also P/F during COVID, which schools are still accepting credit for.

I also took 9 upper division classes (3 per semester- 18 total credits) across two semesters (Spring and Fall 2025) as a “DIY post-bacc” and was able to earn A-/As in them.

Texas resident
North African
female

Clinical Experience:

• PCT at a hospital - 1.5 years as float pool and 1.5 years on the oncology floor. 2,000+ hours. Honestly, the most impactful experience of my life, and my patients are probably the #1 reason I have not given up on chasing this dream. Wrote about this experience a ton in my personal statements.
• Covid screener for a few months at the same hospital

Shadowing:

• 50 hours currently – 25 hrs Family med and 25 hrs ortho
• I am interested in primary care, so I am hoping to shadow one more doctor (OB or family medicine) in May after my MCAT but before applying

Research:
In undergrad, I was part of 2 labs with varying degrees of responsibilities. Leadership positions in both. I have no publications, but I did assist with the IRB submission in one of the labs. I also wrote a funding proposal for a separate project to submit to a university grant. The project would have worked alongside one of the labs to further its mission.

Non-Clinical Volunteering:

• Packing and distributing food for the homeless and low-income area in our downtown area
• Volunteered with different orgs in undergrad (Ex: planned volunteering events for our sorority’s philanthropy since I was the fundraising co-chair, volunteered through a pre-health society, etc.)
• Senior carpooling for our place of worship

Others/Notes:

• Currently, working as a substitute teacher
• In undergrad, I had multiple leadership positions and even co-founded a sorority.
• Teaching Aid for a PE class
• Participated in a Big/Little program
• Started a social organization during covid
• Participated in a nationally recognized language flagship program in undergrad
• Worked as a building monitor for the university as a freshman/sophomore
• Lots of EC’s in undergrad
• Now, I am focusing on MCAT, Work, and running

 

[confusedfish]

Who read and provided feedback on your personal statement?

I had my friends read over them, and I also took them to the writing center at my university.

 

[confusedfish]

You have an incomplete application from last year since you did not write any secondaries. Nonetheless your primary app was sent to all the schools so they have read your essays.
They WILL look back at the previous year’s app so you DO need to rewrite your major essays.
You will also be expected to write a short re-applicant essay about how you have added to your resumé since last year.

The writing style you display in this question is too long and full of backtracking and apologizing 👀
So, make your essays more direct and to the point, it will help you a lot.

You might need to update your activities with added hours so do that

P.S. I'm not saying any of this to be negative, and TMDSAS schools are welcoming to reapplicants, IF you have done something new since last time and rewritten your major essays. Also, submit by June or July.

Thank you so much for your advice! I will definitely work on strengthening my essays and putting thought into my reapplicant essay.

 

[Med Ed]

I had my friends read over them, and I also took them to the writing center at my university.

You will need more feedback to ensure the essays are actually solid. Friends generally don't have enough perspective for useful critical analysis, and writing centers typically focus more on the technical aspects of the writing than the content.

Also, we have all had the experience of writing something we are truly proud of, only to realize much later that it was, in fact, hot, cringe-worthy garbage. Such is life.

Considering that you are coming in with below average GPA and MCAT profiles, your PS is going be key in getting your foot through the door somewhere. Have as many people read it as possible. SDN has volunteer readers each year, so keep your eyes peeled.

 

[confusedfish]

You will need more feedback to ensure the essays are actually solid. Friends generally don't have enough perspective for useful critical analysis, and writing centers typically focus more on the technical aspects of the writing than the content.

Also, we have all had the experience of writing something we are truly proud of, only to realize much later that it was, in fact, hot, cringe-worthy garbage. Such is life.

Considering that you are coming in with below average GPA and MCAT profiles, your PS is going be key in getting your foot through the door somewhere. Have as many people read it as possible. SDN has volunteer readers each year, so keep your eyes peeled.

That is a true actually. Thank you for your time and advice.

I will go ahead and try to find more qualified readers and make the necessary changes to my essays.