Reapplication Ideas

[NNH2018]

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Hey y'all,

I applied to 16 schools this year. I received one II which turned into a WL. I am a bit stuck on what I should do next year to bolster my chances of getting in. I have worked as a medical scribe for two years since I graduated in 2018, and feel it is time to move on. I think it will be better for me to reapply in 2021. I don't think my application has improved enough for the 2020 cycle to go differently. The main issue is, I'll have to retake my MCAT (took in June 2018) which is frustrating because I did well.

I have several ideas, do you have any suggestions on which, if any, would be good to pursue?

1. Apply to graduate school. If I apply to graduate school it wouldn't be to start until the spring semester of 2021 as it is too late to apply for the fall semester. I could do an MS which only takes one year and then reapply in 2021. I am concerned that when reapplying in 2021, they'll look down at me since by then I'll be out of school for 4 years.

2. Find a research position. I have a lot of prior research experience so I'm afraid it may not help much. I really like the field of infectious diseases though so I feel doing research in an ID lab I'll at least enjoy.

3. Find an international health policy or public health internship. I am interested in ID so I think this could be a unique experience. Although I am having some difficulty finding a good health internship for students two years out of school. I've looked at WHO and CDC websites. Any suggestions where to look?

4. Do any of you use application review services? Any good recommendations?

Thank you all very much for your advice, help, and support. My stats and school list are below.

MCAT 514 (128 chem&phys, 128 CARS, 130 biochem, 128 psych), taken in 2018 so if I don't reapply for 2020 I need to retake.
cGPA 3.77, sGPA 3.81 at a small, not top 10 liberal arts college
Clinical: 1000 hours full-time medical scribe for two years, one year as Chief Scribe (I know the name is dumb but it was a leadership role) at two hospitals, 100 hours as a student intern at children's hospital in inpatient and surgical department
Research: 1000 hours over 3 years, no pubs
Volunteer: 100 hours as a volunteer coach at YMCA, 100 hours at the public health department in hometown (started after 2019 cycle), Eagle scout
Awards: Received biochemical research award from my school, passed the ASBMB certification exam with high honors.

Schools:
UVM - waitlist
Drexel
Rochester
Loyola
Albany
Emory
UConn
Tufts
University of Tennessee
MCW
Maryland
SLU
Dartmouth (I'm from NH so I figured why not)
Tulane
Wake Forest
Albert Einstein

 

[mvsrocks]

I would apply to more schools next time.

 

[lifegivesyoucurveballs]

@Goro @Faha @gonnif what are your thoughts guys?

 

[Goro]

Hey y'all,

I applied to 16 schools this year. I received one II which turned into a WL. I am a bit stuck on what I should do next year to bolster my chances of getting in. I have worked as a medical scribe for two years since I graduated in 2018, and feel it is time to move on. I think it will be better for me to reapply in 2021. I don't think my application has improved enough for the 2020 cycle to go differently. The main issue is, I'll have to retake my MCAT (took in June 2018) which is frustrating because I did well.

I have several ideas, do you have any suggestions on which, if any, would be good to pursue?

1. Apply to graduate school. If I apply to graduate school it wouldn't be to start until the spring semester of 2021 as it is too late to apply for the fall semester. I could do an MS which only takes one year and then reapply in 2021. I am concerned that when reapplying in 2021, they'll look down at me since by then I'll be out of school for 4 years.

2. Find a research position. I have a lot of prior research experience so I'm afraid it may not help much. I really like the field of infectious diseases though so I feel doing research in an ID lab I'll at least enjoy.

3. Find an international health policy or public health internship. I am interested in ID so I think this could be a unique experience. Although I am having some difficulty finding a good health internship for students two years out of school. I've looked at WHO and CDC websites. Any suggestions where to look?

4. Do any of you use application review services? Any good recommendations?

Thank you all very much for your advice, help, and support. My stats and school list are below.

MCAT 514 (128 chem&phys, 128 CARS, 130 biochem, 128 psych), taken in 2018 so if I don't reapply for 2020 I need to retake.
cGPA 3.77, sGPA 3.81 at a small, not top 10 liberal arts college
Clinical: 1000 hours full-time medical scribe for two years, one year as Chief Scribe (I know the name is dumb but it was a leadership role) at two hospitals, 100 hours as a student intern at children's hospital in inpatient and surgical department
Research: 1000 hours over 3 years, no pubs
Volunteer: 100 hours as a volunteer coach at YMCA, 100 hours at the public health department in hometown (started after 2019 cycle), Eagle scout
Awards: Received biochemical research award from my school, passed the ASBMB certification exam with high honors.

Schools:
UVM - waitlist
Drexel
Rochester
Loyola
Albany
Emory
UConn
Tufts
University of Tennessee
MCW
Maryland
SLU
Dartmouth (I'm from NH so I figured why not)
Tulane
Wake Forest
Albert Einstein

Rewrite all essays and have multiple eyeballs vet them

Have a more strategic school list.


Work on interview skills

 

[Shotapp]

I agree with @mvsrocks and @Goro. You don't need a Masters program...save the money.

 

[NNH2018]

I would apply to more schools next time.

I will 100% and include DO as well. Just need to decide if I should do 2020 or 2021 cycle.

 

[NNH2018]

Rewrite all essays and have multiple eyeballs vet them

Have a more strategic school list.


Work on interview skills

Thanks for the help. Do you think I should re-apply for 2020? Do I need to take myself off the WL if I do so?

 

[Faha]

You need an appropriate and larger school list. I suggest these schools:
UVM
Dartmouth
Tufts
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Seton Hall
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
TCU-UNT
Apply in June and submit all your secondaries by July.

 

[Goro]

Thanks for the help. Do you think I should re-apply for 2020? Do I need to take myself off the WL if I do so?

Under no circumstances should you take yourself off of a wait list. You might get the call right before orientation.

In the mean time, I suggest getting in more hours of service to others less fortunate than yourself.

And yes, take gap year. Work and save some money as well. Hopefully the economy won't go into the toilet.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

As said before, expand your school list-- even if you have to apply to 30+, if that would be the difference between an acceptance and a reapplication, then it's worth it. I'd also add DO schools. I don't know if your scribing was all with one physician, but if it was, I might consider finding other physicians to shadow. It might show some diversity.

I think you should definitely apply this cycle because you're right, after this cycle, your MCAT will expire for many medical schools.

As for what to do next year, I think you should try to find a clinical research position that can net you a few publications-- clinical research typically is able to produce more publications than academic research. This would look great as updates to send to medical schools throughout the year.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors