Reapplicant/WAMC after 2 II --> 2 WL (3.81/510)

[bannervein]

Hey everyone! I'm currently on the waitlist at two schools and gearing up for possible reapplication. I was hoping to get some feedback on what to do to strengthen my application/build a better school list. I orginally posted this in WAMC but decided to repost instead.

1. cGPA 3.81, sGPA 3.78
2. MCAT 510 (129/127/127/127). CASPer 2nd quartile.
3. Virginia resident
4. White male
5. Public Virginia University
6. Clinical experience
   • Volunteer: 1250 total hours as a volunteer firefighter/EMT during undergrad.
   • Clinical paid: 1300 hours adult/peds ED scribe at large level 1 trauma center during my gap year.
     • Looking for a new job to start before this upcoming cycle, leaning towards ED tech or scribing in a different specialty.
7. Research experience:
   • 150 hours in a microbio lab. Included one summer of research and a poster presentation. LOR from PI (had 3 classes with him)
   • Virtual paper presentation at humanities conference. Non-science LOR from this professor (also had 2 classes with him).
8. Shadowing experience - 72 hours
   • Neurosurgeon (30 hours clinic and OR)
   • Orthopedics/sports medicine (12 hours clinic)
   • Emergency medicine (36 hours)
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   • 40 hours split between two food banks in undergrad
   • 31 hours food bank volunteering during gap year (started December 2024, will have an additional 36 at the time of applying this June. Planning on adding an additional 160-180 during this upcoming cycle)
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
    • 4 years playing with a club sport in undergrad
    • Leadership position with EMT club where I helped teach CPR/Stop the Bleed to students and organized EMT standby for club sports events.
    • Wilderness EMT certification
11. Relevant honors or awards
    • Graduated from honors program at my undergrad.
    • Deans list all 4 years.
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important
    • My narrative for "why medicine" this past cycle was centered around service to the underserved. The fire department I volunteered with was in a low socioeconomic area and I had a lot of experience working with patients with little to no insurance, substance abuse, and other barriers to care. Hoping I can build upon and strengthen this narrative with my continued involvement with the food bank.
13. Immediate family members in medicine? (y/n): Yes (sibling)
14. Specialty of interest: EM, cardiology, PM&R
15. Interest in rural health (y/n): N

2024-25 cycle: 2 II (EVMS and VCU) --> 2 WL (mid tier WL EVMS, VCU doesn't share WL rank).
18 Rs: Geisinger, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Indiana, GW, Rosalind Franklin, SKMC, Rush, WVU, Wake Forest, UMD, Tulane, UVA, Colorado, Temple, NYMC, Penn State, and Cooper.

Current school list for 2025-26:
MD:
VCU
EVMS
UVA
Temple
Rush
Penn State
Colorado
Wake Forest
UMD
Cooper
NYMC
Tulane
Geisinger
Georgetown
Pittsburgh
Indiana
GW
Rosalind Franklin
SKMC
Drexel
Wayne State
MCW
Hackensack
Albany
Stony Brook
Einstein
Tufts
UConn
Quinnipiac
Vermont
Dartmouth
Oakland
WMed
Saint Louis
Creighton
Loyola Stritch

DO:
WVSOM
VCOM
LECOM
NYIT COM
PCOM
Touro COM

My MCAT is from 2023 so it expires for most schools after this cycle. I'm really banking on getting off the waitlist or getting in this upcoming cycle because I don't want to retake my MCAT and apply for a 3rd time. Thanks in advance for any advice!

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[Mr.Smile12]

You are entering this cycle with fewer than 150 hours of food bank service again. Most schools will screen out if your have fewer than 150. Why do you think this impending application shows a significant improvement from last cycle?

You could add VCOM DO unless you intend to be a three time applicant.

 

[bannervein]

I started scribing right before I submitted my primary. Since then I have a year of scribing experience I’m hoping to draw from for secondaries. I know I won’t have 150 non clinical hours by application but I’m planning on continuing this through the reapplication cycle and will include projected hours as well.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Well we are rooting for you to get off the WL. I'm just pointing out that you need those hours completed. Anticipated hours don't mean much.

 

[chilly_md]

Agree with Mr. Smile. In all honesty, if you aren't in school anymore and your job as a scribe was mostly for you to get clinical hours as opposed to income to support yourself, you should go to the food bank like it's a part time job now to get another 100-200 hours by the end of June.

From your list, this is what I'd suggest since you have several school that heavily favor in-state residents or want many more volunteer hours than you have:

Current school list for 2025-26:
MD:
VCU
EVMS
UVA
Temple
Penn State
Wake Forest
NYMC
Tulane
GW
Rosalind Franklin
SKMC
Drexel
Wayne State
MCW
Hackensack
Albany
Tufts
Quinnipiac
Vermont
Oakland
WMed
Creighton

Add Nova MD, Belmont, Alice Walton, any other new MD schools that open this cycle

DO:
WVSOM
VCOM
LECOM
NYIT COM
PCOM
Touro COM

Add KCU, DMU