Reapplicant Woes

[PMED99]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Ok, I applied last year for the first time. My GPA and MCAT are competitive but not high at all. I received three interviews and two waitlists last year.

Since that time, I have improved upon my GPA, Doubled my volunteer hours, started taking graduate level classes after completion of my undergrad, applied MUCH earlier this year, and generally improved my application enough to warrant reapplication.

Downside, My GPA and MCAT are still not much different. Anyway, one of the schools that I was waitlisted at last year has already rejected me this cycle! This is a pre-interview rejection and makes little sense to me that I did not at least get an interview. Mainly it bothers me that I have been rejected SO early in the cycle.

Y'all please give me some honest feedback or uplifting comments.

Thanks

 

[BushBaby]

WOW, we are on similar boats. I applied last year- 3 interviews leading to 3 waitlists leading to 3 rejections.

Within the year, I have started grad school, improved my mcat score a bit. My gpa was never a factor though. It was actually the best part of my application. I haven't volunteered or did any extra activities though. Well AMCAS hasn't verified my application so I can't tell if I will be rejected by the same schools this year. I surely hope not.

Maybe that particular school rejected you because there was no change in your stats (mcat/gpa). This is what made me retake my mcat. I didn't want to reapply with the same exact stats, especially since my mcat was my only week point during the last cycle.

Keep up the faith though...g'luck

 

[Angeliqua]

Originally posted by PMED99
Ok, I applied last year for the first time. My GPA and MCAT are competitive but not high at all. I received three interviews and two waitlists last year.

Since that time, I have improved upon my GPA, Doubled my volunteer hours, started taking graduate level classes after completion of my undergrad, applied MUCH earlier this year, and generally improved my application enough to warrant reapplication.

Downside, My GPA and MCAT are still not much different. Anyway, one of the schools that I was waitlisted at last year has already rejected me this cycle! This is a pre-interview rejection and makes little sense to me that I did not at least get an interview. Mainly it bothers me that I have been rejected SO early in the cycle.

Y'all please give me some honest feedback or uplifting comments.

Thanks

I feel your pain! The exact same thing happened to me...got the rejection letter last night, sort of shakes my confidence for this time around. Some schools must just have policies on re-applicants or perhaps whatever caused them to waitlist me last year had not changed this year when they saw my secondary app and they just decided not to waste their time (or mine), who knows?

Stay positive and good luck!

 

[BushBaby]

Originally posted by Angeliqua
Some schools must just have policies on re-applicants or perhaps whatever caused them to waitlist me last year had not changed this year when they saw my secondary app and they just decided not to waste their time (or mine), who knows?

Stay positive and good luck!

Yeah some schools will reject you because you can only apply *blank* # of time. I think NYU only allow you to apply twice.

 

[momof2]

Can the two posters above reveal which school sent rejections?

 

[PMED99]

Ya, mine was East Tennessee.

 

[Angeliqua]

UCSD

 

[docchick]

I'm in the same boat as ya'll . . . I didn't get in last year. 🙁 But during the summer I called the admissions offices and talked to them about 'becoming a more competitive applicant' for their school . . . That was the best thing I did!
The dean of admissions at one school told me that they look FAVORABLY on re-applicants who take their advice before applying again.... he said it shows commitment to medicine and the school 🙂
I've just submitted my app. though, so I don't know how it will all turn out . . . *fingers crossed*


How is it for you guys reapplying? I feel a little better about it, because I've got experience and know what's comming next... but getting waitlisted/rejected doesn't do much for confidence, does it?😉

 

[Lys726]

I am also in the same boat...I applied 2 years ago, rejected all around.....got some feedback from schools, did some post bacc...my prob was my GPA due to my own health problems, so I retook some classes and took some upper level and graduate classes....My GPA is better, but when averaged in, it hardly budges....However, I am waiting for my August MCAT score and my AMCAS has still not been verified after almost 7 weeks...so I am working on secondaries that do not screen....I applied to 30 schools, MD and DO so I am hoping that something good comes of it....Everything else on my app is great, so I am hoping that my numbers will not completely hold me back!! Good luck to all of you reapplicants, I feel your pain!🙄

 

[PMED99]

Ya, I too spoke to all three schools that I interviewed at. I told them my plans for the next year, and they all liked it. They really didnt have much to offer other than the stuff I told them I was going to do.

I have accomplished all that we spoke about. This just confirms what I have always thought. It is a roll of the dice. Last year with this one school I was rolling high, this year not so much.

Well, 8 more schools left. 2 rejections will not slow me.


Oh, and what do yall think about DO. Please PM me about it. I dont want this to become one of those threads.

 

[dramaqueen]

how did all of you guys talk to admissions directors??
i would think that it is difficult to get personal advice

as some schools write in their publications, that they cannot give specific reasons for why you were rejected...

did you call?
or make a personal appointment?

i guess it would be best to do it later on in the process
when they are not constantly being bogged down by applicants...

 

[camstah]

don't feel down.....sometimes this process is just sooo random.....this is my offical third time (but really second, cuz my first time around i got screwed over by amcas).....i got a master's degree (they like to see your current coursework has improved) and did an internship.....i still got waitlisted/rejected last time around, and didn't apply to d.o. school (i should have..my friend did, she ended up going there, and now she says she's pretty happy)....so this time, i'll be going both the m.d. and do route...as well as applying to law school....it's easy to get discouraged, but really, this whole process is SO VERY RANDOM sometimes, don't let it get you down....and heck, at least you're experienced now, and know what to expect....that should help in interviews etc...
🙂

 

[camstah]

p.s.--in the end everything works out the way it's suposed to.....
had i not gotten rejected, i never would have met some of the people that i have......people i can't imagine not having met!!

 

[Angeliqua]

Originally posted by Slickness
Personally, I think it is sad when I see people apply over and over again to just MD schools and get rejected. If they had only applied to DO schools as well they would forego all the trouble and money.

If you guys really want to be doctors apply to DO schools as well!!I think the whole philosophy of osteopathy and learning OMM serves a doctor much better in the long run. The only downside is that patients will not know what the degree is and premed students may look down on it. But if that's what stops you from applying to DO schools then maybe you are going into medicine for the wrong reasons.

I don't mean to be harsh. I just get irritated when I see students with good grades and MCATs get rejected 4 cycles in a row because they only apply MD yet say they "really want to be doctors".

sorry to irritate you. No one here has applied 4 cycles.

I applied to only 2 schools last year, hence the re-applying.

I do not see DO schools as an option and certainly not a "back-up." This thread is not a DO vs. MD thread, so no further discussion is needed.

 

[PMED99]

Slick, I agree with you completely! But, the thing that kept me back from applying to DO last year is just the location of the schools. To me it is worth waiting a year to try to go to a good area. I am from Georgia, so there are no close schools at all!

But, I think this year I will suck it up and plan on making the trips.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[OrthoFixation]

I agree with Slickness. I think there are two groups of people ignorant of osteopathy: the general publlic and hard line MD students and residents. Nobody else gives a rip.... a doc is a doc.

But if you're going to spend nearly ten years of your life training and preparing, it sure would be nice to be MD and require no further explanation.

If anyone is neglecting osteopathy b/c of status or perception, you are losing out. Many of us call it "Plan B" and some call it "Plan A."

Taking COMLEX and USMLE would suck though. If your a DO and want an allopathic residency, sharpen those #2 test pencils a write yet another check.

 

[Nefertari]

Originally posted by Angeliqua
UCSD

Hey Angeliqua,

Sorry to hear @ SD. They're really early this year! Well, at least you know for certain. Lots of us got the hold for interview last year, which was practically a rejection.

Helllloooo, fellow reapps! It's great when someone starts a thread & all of us come out of the woodwork. It's way too early now, but hopefully we can exchange notes throughout the year.

This is my 2nd & def. last time applying. Much more low-key this time. Feel like I'm playing the lottery.