Reapplication Situation

[jydeguzm]

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Hi Everyone,

I wanted to get any advice and input in terms of being a re-applicant. I have a 3.6 cumulative gpa and 3.5 science gpa. I have taken the mcat twice 24(8vr 8phy 9 bio) and 26 (10vr 8phy 8 bio). I was complte mid september this application cycle which probablly hurt me because of a delayed letter. I graduated June 2010 and as this application cycle comes to a close it may be disappointing. I am on the wait list for the University of Utah the only school that interviewed me as an oos and have been rejected everywhere else. I feel I have good clinical/volunteer and research experiences. I know the mcat is the biggest concern that I must improve. My main question is if I reapply it would be for the 2012-2013 cycle and I was wondering if I should pursue a postbac because then I would be out of school for 2 years?

Thanks for any input and advice

 

[jadealer]

I don't think you need to apply for a formal post bac just because you've been out of college for 2 years. I graduated in 2007 then worked in academic research ever since. I decided to take two classes at the college in fall 2010 just to brush up on my test taking skills and because it was pretty cheap. Yay for 97% discounts for staff. But I had my two acceptances (oct) prior to finishing my fall classes. Also, I didn't even have them listed on AMCAS because I registered for them at the last minute, ie two days before classes start. lol. Though I did mention them in my secondaries. I never was really questioned about my lack of recent school work.

Btw, don't give up.. I sucked at the MCAT too.. (24 first time, 29 second time) but I got into two MD schools and 5 interviews total! I'm not an URM if you think that is the reason.

 

[jydeguzm]

I don't think you need to apply for a formal post bac just because you've been out of college for 2 years. I graduated in 2007 then worked in academic research ever since. I decided to take two classes at the college in fall 2010 just to brush up on my test taking skills and because it was pretty cheap. Yay for 97% discounts for staff. But I had my two acceptances (oct) prior to finishing my fall classes. Also, I didn't even have them listed on AMCAS because I registered for them at the last minute, ie two days before classes start. lol. Though I did mention them in my secondaries. I never was really questioned about my lack of recent school work.

Btw, don't give up.. I sucked at the MCAT too.. (24 first time, 29 second time) but I got into two MD schools and 5 interviews total! I'm not an URM if you think that is the reason.

wow thanks for the advice so would you say spending the next year working on getting that mcat up as the first and foremost goal? i plan to do a 10 week summer research program to get some significant lab research in. my under grad research was spent on bench clinical translational research so another perspective would be nice. i plan to reapply if worst comes to worst in summer 2012. i have had 1.5 years volunteering at a hospital and another 1.5 years volunteering at a clinic. do you feel i would need to start volunteering again? iam working fulltime now and along with the research and studying for the mcat again would be quite alot

 

[OBGG27]

I agree with the former poster. You don't need a formal post-bac. And I think your main focus should be the MCAT, with little to no distractions while preparing. Sounds like your other ECs are pretty solid. Good luck!

 

[jadealer]

wow thanks for the advice so would you say spending the next year working on getting that mcat up as the first and foremost goal? i plan to do a 10 week summer research program to get some significant lab research in. my under grad research was spent on bench clinical translational research so another perspective would be nice. i plan to reapply if worst comes to worst in summer 2012. i have had 1.5 years volunteering at a hospital and another 1.5 years volunteering at a clinic. do you feel i would need to start volunteering again? iam working fulltime now and along with the research and studying for the mcat again would be quite alot

I would make the MCAT your main focus. Your volunteering looks good. Plus you can always start some new volunteering after your take your MCAT. I know hwo difficult it is to study for the MCAT with a full time job.

 

[jydeguzm]

I see great. thanks guys for the advice. The other thing that went in to my thinking for the postbac was letter of recs. Do you feel it would be fine to reuse my letter of recs with the exception of a new one from where I work and say the new research experience since I wouldn't be in school and would have really no contact with professors?

 

[jadealer]

I see great. thanks guys for the advice. The other thing that went in to my thinking for the postbac was letter of recs. Do you feel it would be fine to reuse my letter of recs with the exception of a new one from where I work and say the new research experience since I wouldn't be in school and would have really no contact with professors?

Yes.. that's what I did. I used LORs that I gathered from when I graduated back in 2007, which they still had saved at the HPO office thankfully. In 2009, I just added references from the MDs I worked for at my current job. In 2010, I just added a new reference from another MD who i work with and shadowed for 20 hours.

 

[jydeguzm]

Yes.. that's what I did. I used LORs that I gathered from when I graduated back in 2007, which they still had saved at the HPO office thankfully. In 2009, I just added references from the MDs I worked for at my current job. In 2010, I just added a new reference from another MD who i work with and shadowed for 20 hours.

Thanks so much fr the perspective it makes the situation not be as bad. I hope I won't have to reapply but I'm glad to know that it really is about strengthening the weakness of the application not redoing everything on the application. 🙂

 

[jydeguzm]

Btw what did you do to reprepare o retake the mcat? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[SLC]

Hey jydeguzm,

Have you (or will you) considered DO?

Your stats are right on the money for DO, and with your EC's you'd probably have an excellent shot.

SLC

 

[jydeguzm]

Hey jydeguzm,

Have you (or will you) considered DO?

Your stats are right on the money for DO, and with your EC's you'd probably have an excellent shot.

SLC

I definitely will win I reapply the thing is I really want to go into surgical oncology and become an academic physician and I can't really find much on the DO route in doing that. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[SLC]

I definitely will win I reapply the thing is I really want to go into surgical oncology and become an academic physician and I can't really find much on the DO route in doing that. Any thoughts? Thanks

Well all doors are theoretically open to you in DO, tougher for sure in some situations, but open.

I'm not aware of a "surgical oncology" specialty or fellowship. I always thought it was more of a situation where traditional surgeons operated when tumors were found in their anatomical areas of expertise. Could be wrong though. (can you tell from my ignorance I'm not that interested in surgery?)

I do know that a friend recently had a thyroid removed because they felt she had cancer, the surgery was performed by an ENT.

There are a ton of surgical residencies and fellowships specific to DO's, and DO's match in Allopathic programs with decent frequency as well.

Either way, consider DO. It's a great opportunity, and many (if not even most) change thier interests once they begin rotations and experience stuff they never even thought about before.

Best of luck with the U of U waitlist, hopefully you come off it and this whole thread is for naught in the end.

 

[jydeguzm]

Well all doors are theoretically open to you in DO, tougher for sure in some situations, but open.

I'm not aware of a "surgical oncology" specialty or fellowship. I always thought it was more of a situation where traditional surgeons operated when tumors were found in their anatomical areas of expertise. Could be wrong though. (can you tell from my ignorance I'm not that interested in surgery?)

I do know that a friend recently had a thyroid removed because they felt she had cancer, the surgery was performed by an ENT.

There are a ton of surgical residencies and fellowships specific to DO's, and DO's match in Allopathic programs with decent frequency as well.

Either way, consider DO. It's a great opportunity, and many (if not even most) change thier interests once they begin rotations and experience stuff they never even thought about before.

Best of luck with the U of U waitlist, hopefully you come off it and this whole thread is for naught in the end.

thanks alot i hope so too