Reapplication Advice

[R612]

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Hi! I applied this past cycle (2025-2026) and haven't received any IIs. I'm planning on reapplying this upcoming cycle but was hoping I could get some guidance/feedback on what could've gone wrong this time around. I would greatly appreciate if anyone would be willing to review my application as a whole, and I'll also put some stats down here as well. I have a feeling it could be a weakness in my PS/writing and also a gap in nonclinical volunteering, but would love some insight. Also, for this upcoming cycle, the main changes I'll have (besides writing) are 1. started additional nonclinical volunteering and 2. leadership position at my current gap year job. Thanks so much!!


STATS:

MCAT: 519
GPA: 3.96, sGPA: 3.94
CA Resident, ORM F

ACTIVITIES:

60 hours shadowing (3 specialties)
685 hours as MA (1900 anticipated hours)
110 hours non-clinical volunteering (though clinical-adjacent)
26 hours clinical volunteering (52 anticipated hours)
1465 hours in research (no pubs)


SCHOOL LIST:

UCSF
UCSD
UC Davis
UCLA
UC Irvine
Kaiser
USC Keck
NYU
Tufts
CWRU (UP)
Emory
George Washington
Icahn (Mount Sinai)
Mayo Clinic (MN)
University of Rochester
University of Cincinnati
Boston University
University of Michigan
Northwestern
University of Pittsburgh
Tulane
Drexel
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sidney Kimmel
Vanderbilt
WUSTL
Perelman
Weill
Quinnipiac
Albany Medical College
NYMC

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

Your lack of details limits any actionable advice I can give. However, you have reported fewer than 150 hours of non-clinical community service. You should have 150 hours or your application could get screened out at most schools. If you are applying to brand-name schools, you should have 250 hours when you submit.

I see no campus involvement or leadership in your description.

 

[Faha]

What does your 110 hours of non clinical volunteering involve?

 

[R612]

What does your 110 hours of non clinical volunteering involve?

Hi! I volunteered at an Alzheimer's day care center, but the duties were non-clinical

 

[R612]

Welcome to the forums.

Your lack of details limits any actionable advice I can give. However, you have reported fewer than 150 hours of non-clinical community service. You should have 150 hours or your application could get screened out at most schools. If you are applying to brand-name schools, you should have 250 hours when you submit.

I see no campus involvement or leadership in your description.

Thank you for the feedback!

 

[Faha]

Hi! I volunteered at an Alzheimer's day care center, but the duties were non-clinical

You should accumulate another 40+ hours in that activity since some schools screen at 150 hours. That was likely a factor in your poor application cycle.
I suggest these schools with your stats:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Dartmouth
Tufts
UMass
Albany
New York Medical College
Rochester
Hofstra
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Hackensack
Pittsburgh
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Wake Forest
Emory
USF Morsani
Miami
Vanderbilt
Washington University
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Northwestern
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
U Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Cincinnati
Ohio State
Iowa
Colorado
Arizona (Phoenix)
Kaiser
California University
California Northstate
UCSF
UCSD
UC Davis
UCLA
UC Irvine
USC Keck