Reapplication for a 3rd time to some schools, will it hurt the following cycle?

[preeeeeeemed]

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Hello,

To make a long story short, I am planning to reapply to some schools for a 3rd or 2nd time this cycle. The amount of schools I will apply to will be very limited, due to an MCAT score that is only valid for about 20 schools.

In the meantime, I will be doing an SMP to improve my academic credentials and will retake the MCAT in the new format.

My question is simple - does applying to 20 schools this cycle hurt me for the following application cycle in case I don't get in this cycle? I will not reapply to those 20 schools in the following cycle, so my school list will be completely different. So if I hypothetically submit my AMCAS for the 7th time next cycle, but only applied to school X 2 times, will they consider me a 3rd time applicant or a 7th time applicant?

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[gyngyn]

You are a re-applicant to every school to which you have submitted a primary application. The number of primary submissions to a particular school determines your re-application status at that school.
Some schools ask you to describe the circumstances of all previous applications, whether to their school or not.

 

[preeeeeeemed]

You are a re-applicant to every school to which you have submitted a primary application. The number of primary submissions to a particular school determines your re-application status at that school.
Some schools ask you to describe the circumstances of all previous applications, whether to their school or not.

Thanks! So bottom line, it is unlikely that applying to those schools this cycle will hurt me in a potential replication next cycle to a completely different schoolset. Appreciate the help as always @gyngyn

 

[preeeeeeemed]

Have you thought about skipping this cycle and retaking the MCAT for a better grade?

The MCAT is in the 97th percentile - unlikely I get a better score considering I've been out of school for 3 years.

The MCAT is the exact reason I want to give this cycle a shot one more time before the score expires - I will be applying earlier (day 1), taking some undergrad classes this summer, and doing the SMP. By the time interview season comes around, I should have some improvements to show.

 

[Axe1636]

The MCAT is in the 97th percentile - unlikely I get a better score considering I've been out of school for 3 years.

The MCAT is the exact reason I want to give this cycle a shot one more time before the score expires - I will be applying earlier (day 1), taking some undergrad classes this summer, and doing the SMP. By the time interview season comes around, I should i have some improvements to show.

I think you need to have improvements done by the time your primary is submitted because thats what gets you interviews. Unless you applied very late last year you dont really have a different application from last time.

 

[preeeeeeemed]

Many medical schools offer specific pages of advice for reapplicants, something I find few students look into. This would be true whether or not you are a specific reapplicant to that school. Below are links to a few and please note most say the most common mistake among reapplicants is applying again too soon

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
http://admissions.med.miami.edu/md-programs/general-md/reapplicants
Roughly 20% of the students who apply to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in any given year are reapplicants. Data that we have collected indicate they have a lower acceptance rate than do first time applicants

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Heath
http://www.med.wisc.edu/education/md/admissions/reapplying/31716 (emphasis in the original)
There should be significant improvements in your application before reapplying. This might mean not reapplying the very next year. The most common error made by reapplicants is that they submit their next application too soon.

The Ohio State University College of Medicine
http://medicine.osu.edu/admissions/md/tips-and-advice/pages/index.aspx
To maximize the chances of giving off this perception, you must allow enough time before reapplying. This will undoubtedly be the hardest part of the process, but be patient; if you rush it, you may join the ranks of those who are applying for a third time.

University of Minnesota Medical School
https://www.med.umn.edu/admissions/how-apply/re-applicant
Though you can submit a second application immediately after your first application, you may want to consider waiting a year if you feel you need more experiences that help you demonstrate the essential and desired qualities of an ideal medical student.

Thanks for this info. I'm aware that my application will not be drastically different - but I will apply to a different subset of schools that previously. If it wasn't for my MCAT expiring, I would skip this cycle altogether. But the fact that I had II the past cycle makes it too hard to pass up on one last ride with this score.