Reapplication Advice? Help Please!

[imcanadaian]

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Hi, I am a graduating senior at UC Berkeley, and at this point in the application cycle, I'm waiting to hear back after one interview, but getting in this year is looking a bit bleak 🙁

MCAT: 35S
12BS
12PS
11V

GPA: (a bit low..sadly)
3.6 BCPM
3.6 Overall

EC's/Volunteering
-Neuroscience Research @ UCSF (one year)
-Alzheimer's Research @ HWNI (one year)-abstract published
-Bayer Healthcare Biochem Intern (Summer, 08)
-Chemistry Tutor in the Residence Halls: gen chem, ochem (one year)
-CalPACT computer software instructor for UC Berkeley staff (one year)
-Peer Health Exchange Health Educator (we teach HS students health workshops)
-Intervarsity Christian Fellowship: 2-year student leader and executive team member
-Hospital Volunteering: 4 summers from 2001-205
-Regional Volunteering/Outreach (one year): Homeless outreach, City of Berkeley's Prisoner's Literacy Project

I applied EXTREMELY late because I wasn't sure if I wanted to apply this cycle, but ended up turning in my primary in October (at the deadline), applied to 22 or so schools, got a good number of secondaries back (I'd say all but 4, 5 schools), but because I wasn't ready to apply, had to wait for LOR's to roll in..ended up turning in a lot of stuff at the deadline =/

Right now, I've interviewed at Loma Linda (2/3) but haven't heard back, I'm waiting on UCD, USC, Temple, Tufts, Mt Sinai and Wake Forest--but they all seem to be stretches at this point...I've been rejected at a LOT of places post-secondary...so I'm looking to reapply this coming cycle, hoping that doing it earlier will help my chances (because I DID get secondaries...)

Any advice? Since my application, I've continued with teaching, volunteering as a health educator, and my leadership position in Intervarsity. I might add that I am a biochem/psych double major--but I'm also looking at volunteering and additional clinical things for my year off. How should I approach this reapplication cycle? Anything major I should change or adjust?

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Hi, I am a graduating senior at UC Berkeley, and at this point in the application cycle, I'm waiting to hear back after one interview, but getting in this year is looking a bit bleak 🙁

MCAT: 35S
12BS
12PS
11V

GPA: (a bit low..sadly)
3.6 BCPM
3.6 Overall

EC's/Volunteering
-Neuroscience Research @ UCSF (one year)
-Alzheimer's Research @ HWNI (one year)-abstract published
-Bayer Healthcare Biochem Intern (Summer, 08)
-Chemistry Tutor in the Residence Halls: gen chem, ochem (one year)
-CalPACT computer software instructor for UC Berkeley staff (one year)
-Peer Health Exchange Health Educator (we teach HS students health workshops)
-Intervarsity Christian Fellowship: 2-year student leader and executive team member
-Hospital Volunteering: 4 summers from 2001-205
-Regional Volunteering/Outreach (one year): Homeless outreach, City of Berkeley's Prisoner's Literacy Project

I applied EXTREMELY late because I wasn't sure if I wanted to apply this cycle, but ended up turning in my primary in October (at the deadline), applied to 22 or so schools, got a good number of secondaries back (I'd say all but 4, 5 schools), but because I wasn't ready to apply, had to wait for LOR's to roll in..ended up turning in a lot of stuff at the deadline =/

Right now, I've interviewed at Loma Linda (2/3) but haven't heard back, I'm waiting on UCD, USC, Temple, Tufts, Mt Sinai and Wake Forest--but they all seem to be stretches at this point...I've been rejected at a LOT of places post-secondary...so I'm looking to reapply this coming cycle, hoping that doing it earlier will help my chances (because I DID get secondaries...)

Any advice? Since my application, I've continued with teaching, volunteering as a health educator, and my leadership position in Intervarsity. I might add that I am a biochem/psych double major--but I'm also looking at volunteering and additional clinical things for my year off. How should I approach this reapplication cycle? Anything major I should change or adjust?

apply June 4th. That is seriously my only advice. You look great on paper. Maybe add a couple hours clinical volunteering /wk and get new/updated letters of rec for this round.

People underestimate the necessity of applying early.

Best of luck!

 

[imcanadaian]

yeah...I kind of screwed myself this time around

when I do reapply, are there any specific tips on filling out my application? Should I be thinking about redoing my personal statement? What specifically becomes different when you're applying for the same school during back to back cycles?

 

[merlinwall]

The main 4 categories are:
MCAT (you're solid)
GPA-- Take 2 science summer classes that you're interested in. Every little increase helps get you over thresholds when you're in that 3.5/3.6/3.7 area...
Recs-- Get one of your summer profs to write a rec and send it to all your schools. Even though it won't be part of your packet, it will help.
EC's-- looks like you're doing well. Keep doing research. Maybe a publication will come through in the fall/spring that will be a huge boost as an update to schools.

Also, definitely consider taking a class or two in the fall and spring. These A's and recs may come through in spades if you're on any waitlists.

Finally, don't give up. Keep the longterm view. These classes you take this year may make your AMCAS for 2 years from now shine (I know you don't want to think about 2 years from now, but lots of students are non-trad 24/25/26 when they start).

Obviously-- retool your Personal Statement to reflect what you've learned medically over the last year.

Best of luck. It'll be a lot of work, but totally worth it.

 

[dw2158]

I applied EXTREMELY late because I wasn't sure if I wanted to apply this cycle, but ended up turning in my primary in October (at the deadline), applied to 22 or so schools, got a good number of secondaries back (I'd say all but 4, 5 schools)

I'm looking to reapply this coming cycle, hoping that doing it earlier will help my chances (because I DID get secondaries...)

no offense, but i wouldn't take getting secondaries to mean anything. most schools don't screen pre-secondary because if you send in the secondary, they get your application fee. so getting a secondary doesn't mean too much

but i agree with everyone else here... you look good but need to submit june 4th.

 

[pietachok]

you don't need to take summer classes, unless you actually want to or want to start chipping away at something at the graduate level to prove you can hack it.

Your GPA is good enough to get you in with that MCAT score. There is no school that doesn't have people with your GPA--even Harvard. And god forbid you didn't get an A- or above, what a waste of your time/money.

If you are actually a Canadian citizen, be aware that you need to apply extremely broadly, however, b/c you are an international student, and there are far fewer spots for you.

 

[virusgirl]

I don't think you need to change anything other than the date you start submitting applications. You should be a solid candidate at many schools.

Submit your primary ASAP -- this shouldn't be hard because you've done it already and relatively little is changing. Make whatever small changes you need to as necessary. Send of secondaries as quick as you can (although not so quick that you do a bad job on them). You should be fine! Truly, I think your only problem was timing.

This is assuming you are a US citizen and your name is just cute. If you are Canadian, you will be facing a steep uphill battle, not because there's anything wrong with you but because the US medical school system does not accept a lot of non-citizens. If you aren't a citizen, apply EARLY and BROADLY.