Reapplication cycle question:

[underdawg434]

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Hello!

I was wondering if someone could help give me advice as to what to work on to strengthen my application for another cycle. This current cycle I submitted 25-30 secondaries in July. I received 1 interview which turned into a rejection, 5 rejections, and have not heard back from the other schools (including my state schools). Because the cycle is not far from over, I want to improve my application as much as possible for next cycle. Here are my stats: 512 MCAT, 3.8-9 GPA (science and cumulative), Casper 1Q, 500 volunteer clinical hours as EMT (but was over two years ago), 180 non-clinical volunteer hours, 300 research hours in lab (no pubs or posters), president of a club, manager of a cultural exchange program every summer, 80-100 shadowing hours. When I applied this cycle, it was within weeks of my mother's passing and I think my writing was not high quality and rushed. This semester I hope to 1) continue hospice and a chronic care management position to gain more clinical hours 2) continue volunteering 3) research poster. If anyone has any advice on what I should mainly focus on to have a better future cycle that would be greatly appreciated (more hours of a certain kind, retake MCAT, etc...) and gap year advice

Thank you!

 

[pedneuro6894]

You're MCAT is fine, no need to retake it. You probably won't get into Harvard with a 512, but your quite competitive for the majority of MD schools. What is the breakdown of your non-clinical volunteer hours? Have you been gaining any recent clinical experience other than the EMT from 2 years ago? What was your school list?

Writing is probably the most important aspect of the application once you check all the boxes. So if you don't feel like your writing was up to par that could definitely be the problem. However, you did receive an II, which is a good thing at the end of the day.

 

[AJS59]

Hello!

I was wondering if someone could help give me advice as to what to work on to strengthen my application for another cycle. This current cycle I submitted 25-30 secondaries in July. I received 1 interview which turned into a rejection, 5 rejections, and have not heard back from the other schools (including my state schools). Because the cycle is not far from over, I want to improve my application as much as possible for next cycle. Here are my stats: 512 MCAT, 3.8-9 GPA (science and cumulative), Casper 1Q, 500 volunteer clinical hours as EMT (but was over two years ago), 180 non-clinical volunteer hours, 300 research hours in lab (no pubs or posters), president of a club, manager of a cultural exchange program every summer, 80-100 shadowing hours. When I applied this cycle, it was within weeks of my mother's passing and I think my writing was not high quality and rushed. This semester I hope to 1) continue hospice and a chronic care management position to gain more clinical hours 2) continue volunteering 3) research poster. If anyone has any advice on what I should mainly focus on to have a better future cycle that would be greatly appreciated (more hours of a certain kind, retake MCAT, etc...) and gap year advice

Thank you!

Make sure you get your hours settled before you reapply

 

[underdawg434]

You're MCAT is fine, no need to retake it. You probably won't get into Harvard with a 512, but your quite competitive for the majority of MD schools. What is the breakdown of your non-clinical volunteer hours? Have you been gaining any recent clinical experience other than the EMT from 2 years ago? What was your school list?

Writing is probably the most important aspect of the application once you check all the boxes. So if you don't feel like your writing was up to par that could definitely be the problem. However, you did receive an II, which is a good thing at the end of the day.

Thanks for your response! My non-clinical hours have been a mix of tutoring younger students in my college town and delivering meals to members of my hometown. I have been gaining a lot of clinical hours since being an EMT, but that was all since submitting my secondaries so I have recently included this in an update letters. I def think my writing can be improved significantly this upcoming cycle. Thanks again!

 

[underdawg434]

Make sure you get your hours settled before you reapply

What exactly do you mean by settled?

 

[pedneuro6894]

Thanks for your response! My non-clinical hours have been a mix of tutoring younger students in my college town and delivering meals to members of my hometown. I have been gaining a lot of clinical hours since being an EMT, but that was all since submitting my secondaries so I have recently included this in an update letters. I def think my writing can be improved significantly this upcoming cycle. Thanks again!

Definitely need some more non-clinical hours focused on the underserved, disabled, etc. Soup kitchen type-deal. The delivering meals seems to be in this kinda realm but they want to see you "push yourself out of your comfort zone" and volunteer with people different from you.

 

[AJS59]

What exactly do you mean by settled?

To clarify, I mean that if your goal is to increase your hours make sure that you get as much of those hours under your belt done before you reapply; your hours overall are fine, but the more you have done when you apply, the better

 

[Mr.Smile12]

OP: Where's your WAMC post?

My non-clinical hours have been a mix of tutoring younger students in my college town and delivering meals to members of my hometown. I have been gaining a lot of clinical hours since being an EMT, but that was all since submitting my secondaries so I have recently included this in an update letters.

Breakdown your 180 hours. Every prehealth student does some form of tutoring, so it doesn't help you stand out. Delivering meals is great, so if you have at least 150 hours of that activity, you should have been able to avoid getting screened out at most schools. As it happens, you had 1 post-interview R, so one school seemed interested before you submitted.

The additional hours since submission in 2024 should help you now in 2025, though I want to make sure you clear any thresholds.

As for writing, how much journaling did you do?

Practicing the Art of Reflection with a Prehealth Journal (or Podcast, or Online Blog) | SDN

This article focuses on reflective practices for health professional education and training. This advice can apply to developing a prehealth journal,

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[LindaAccepted]

Hello!

I was wondering if someone could help give me advice as to what to work on to strengthen my application for another cycle. This current cycle I submitted 25-30 secondaries in July. I received 1 interview which turned into a rejection, 5 rejections, and have not heard back from the other schools (including my state schools). Because the cycle is not far from over, I want to improve my application as much as possible for next cycle. Here are my stats: 512 MCAT, 3.8-9 GPA (science and cumulative), Casper 1Q, 500 volunteer clinical hours as EMT (but was over two years ago), 180 non-clinical volunteer hours, 300 research hours in lab (no pubs or posters), president of a club, manager of a cultural exchange program every summer, 80-100 shadowing hours. When I applied this cycle, it was within weeks of my mother's passing and I think my writing was not high quality and rushed. This semester I hope to 1) continue hospice and a chronic care management position to gain more clinical hours 2) continue volunteering 3) research poster. If anyone has any advice on what I should mainly focus on to have a better future cycle that would be greatly appreciated (more hours of a certain kind, retake MCAT, etc...) and gap year advice

Thank you.

Sorry to read about your mother's passing.

Your lacking recent clinical exposure was probably a weakness. I also have no idea what programs you applied to. If you aimed too high, that could explain some of the silence. As has been suggested make sure more of your non-clinical volunteering is working with the underserved . And if your essays were rushed or unfocused that would definitely have hurt you. However, this cycle is not over yet. interview invitations continue to go out through January, February, and for some schools even March. So don't give up, but do prepare to reapply.

 

[Goro]

1. Add more hours of service to others less fortunate than yourself
2. Rewrite all essays and have multiple eyeballs vet them.
3. It's not to late to apply to DO schools now.

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

Sorry to hear about your mom. That's always difficult but you're clearly a well-raised and resilient person. You'll be a great physician.

As Linda rightly said, don't count this cycle out just yet. Schools are still doing interviews and making decisions - you never know what might be coming to you.

That being said, should you need to reapply there are some areas you could consider beefing up.

Your MCAT and GPA combo is great for many MD schools - where did you apply to?

Are you able to retake your Casper test? Your score is 1Q and certainly you could increase that.

Where can you get more recent clinical hours? Every application and applicant benefits from more time in clinical settings.

Additionally, if you feel that your essays were probably not your best work, then trust yourself. Essays benefit from attentive rewrites and edits 99.99% of the time.

Goro's suggestion of considering DO schools is also valid advice.

If MD is your calling and what you want to do, then you've got the making to be a strong re-applicant.

But to say it again - your cycle isn't over just yet! 🙂

 

[underdawg434]

Sorry to hear about your mom. That's always difficult but you're clearly a well-raised and resilient person. You'll be a great physician.

As Linda rightly said, don't count this cycle out just yet. Schools are still doing interviews and making decisions - you never know what might be coming to you.

That being said, should you need to reapply there are some areas you could consider beefing up.

Your MCAT and GPA combo is great for many MD schools - where did you apply to?

Are you able to retake your Casper test? Your score is 1Q and certainly you could increase that.

Where can you get more recent clinical hours? Every application and applicant benefits from more time in clinical settings.

Additionally, if you feel that your essays were probably not your best work, then trust yourself. Essays benefit from attentive rewrites and edits 99.99% of the time.

Goro's suggestion of considering DO schools is also valid advice.

If MD is your calling and what you want to do, then you've got the making to be a strong re-applicant.

But to say it again - your cycle isn't over just yet! 🙂

Wow...thank you everyone for the support and advice regarding my question- it is so helpful to read.

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

Wow...thank you everyone for the support and advice regarding my question- it is so helpful to read.

Happy to help you; always available for you. One of our advisors(Julien) lost his father in high school. It's never easy to lose a parent but it's an honor to honor them. Wishing you the most incredible New Year.