Reapply

[Kendren]

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[JudgeIsInTheHouse]

You have a good MCAT and a decent science GPA. It seems like you could have received interviews if you applied to more DO schools.

Don’t go Carribean.

 

[kubyx]

Hey so I know the application cycle for 2017-2018 isn't completely over yet, but with no interviews and no news I want to be totally prepared for what comes next. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Age: 22
Graduated May 2016 with an undergrad in Neuroscience, MCAT taken in August of 2015

MCAT: 509
GPA: 3.7 comp/3.5 science

A lot of volunteer work with different organizations, underserved work in Chicago, etc.
International volunteer work in the middle east (translating)
Some research experience in two different labs (no publications or anything substantial)
Scribing for 1.5 yrs in the ER

Applied relatively on time with most secondaries submitted in early July. I thought my PS was decent.

I applied to 1 DO school near me and 20 MDs schools within my scoring range.

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So basically with no news I was struggling to decide whether to just call it quits and go to AUC in the Caribbean or a similar school if I end up not getting in or try again for a 4th time with a heavier focus on DO. This may be my last year eligible to use the MCAT without retaking it. I've been out of school for a while and I'm getting pretty sick of feeling like I'm not moving forward. If I try again I was thinking some sort of masters program. Also with graduating 2 years behind my academic letters are getting pretty old.


Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

We have similar stats. I had luck going the DO route and zero luck with MD schools. DO>>>>>>carrib.

 

[PastorDoc]

Focus on DO this next cycle before your mcat is obsolete. Your stats and ECs look solid. Shadow a DO, get a strong LOR. I’m no prophet but if you apply early and broadly I’m pretty sure by this time next year you’ll be in somewhere if not multiple places.

Here’s some holiday reading:
Million $ Mistake

 

[deleted480308]

You wasted $800k in lifetime earnings by not applying heavily to DO the first time. It makes absolutely no sense why you only applied to one on the fourth try.

Don’t go to the carrib. Apply to a ton of DO schools (and sure, more MD if you like) next year

 

[Magus5454]

Don't give up, you are way better off than me and I was accepted. Don't go to the Caribbean. I can't believe you didn't even get an interview to your state MD though

 

[Osminog]

You wasted $800k in lifetime earnings by not applying heavily to DO the first time. It makes absolutely no sense why you only applied to one on the fourth try.

Don’t go to the carrib. Apply to a ton of DO schools (and sure, more MD if you like) next year

$800K is actually a very conservative estimate. When you delay going to medical school for a year, you lose a year of salary from the end of your career.

Let's say you plan on practicing until age 60. If you become a practicing physician at age 31 instead of 30, for example, you will lose the annual salary of a physician with 30 years of experience and will instead spend the last year of your career making the salary of a physician with 29 years of experience.

A "physician-with-30 years-of-experience" salary depends on specialty, obviously, but it would generally be well over $200K. I think it's safe to say that OP lost well over a million dollars through his ineffective application strategy.

But all of that is a sunk cost now.

OP, cut your losses and apply broadly to DO programs.

 

[Faha]

You are competitive for all DO schools with your stats so apply in June to at least 10 and you should receive several interviews. There is no point in delaying your career in medicine any further into the future.

 

[JudgeIsInTheHouse]

Focus on DO this next cycle before your mcat is obsolete. Your stats and ECs look solid. Shadow a DO, get a strong LOR. I’m no prophet but if you apply early and broadly I’m pretty sure by this time next year you’ll be in somewhere if not multiple places.

Here’s some holiday reading:
Million $ Mistake

Jeez, did I seriously just read that this guy got an early acceptance into a DO school, called it a big failure, and then he goes off and applies to Caribbean school?

 

[kubyx]

Jeez, did I seriously just read that this guy got an early acceptance into a DO school, called it a big failure, and then he goes off and applies to Caribbean school?

I don't believe the vast majority of that site. He's deliberately vague about how he scores on things, sometimes giving a number, sometimes a percentile. Blames his name on not getting an acceptance. Brags repeatedly about constantly being told how amazing he is. Ends it by saying he doesn't deserve the insult of a career in being a pcp. The only thing you can tell for sure from his posts is that he's pretentious and undeservedly arrogant. Bad personality and a carrib degree together... He should be kissing the ground with what he got.

 

[Magus5454]

Regardless, Everyone here agrees carib is not good

 

[Osminog]

I don't believe the vast majority of that site. He's deliberately vague about how he scores on things, something giving a number, sometimes a percentile. Blames his name on not getting an acceptance. Brags repeatedly about constantly being told how amazing he is. Ends it by saying he doesn't deserve the insult of a career in being a pcp. The only thing you can tell for sure from his posts is that he's pretentious and undeservedly arrogant. Bad personality and a carrib degree together... He should be kissing the ground with what he got.

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this.

The tone of the blog posts on that site is utterly vile. It probably reflects the negative personality traits that contributed to the author's failed application cycles (and consequent Caribbean stint) in the first place. He comes off as a pompous, ungrateful, resentful, and delusional jerk.

The guy tries to convince the reader that he had a 28 MCAT and 3.75 GPA and got rejected by almost 100 MD programs just because he has foreign-sounding name... I mean, come on.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Hate when people people blame "the man"

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this.

The tone of the blog posts on that site is utterly vile. It probably reflects the negative personality traits that contributed to the author's failed application cycles (and consequent Caribbean stint) in the first place. He comes off as a pompous, ungrateful, resentful, and delusional jerk.

The guy tries to convince the reader that he had a 28 MCAT and 3.75 GPA and got rejected by almost 100 MD programs just because he has foreign-sounding name... I mean, come on.

bl

 

[Thienyl15]

I’m surprised you’ve applied 4 times and you’re only 22. You must have kept going cycle after cycle with no real gaps for improvement.

 

[Trollest]

I’m surprised you’ve applied 4 times and you’re only 22. You must have kept going cycle after cycle with no real gaps for improvement.

Great catch! Is that even possible?

 

[Kendren]

Great catch! Is that even possible?

I finished undergrad a year early and applied right away with back to back apps. Was planning on doing a masters this year if I don't get in if i decide to reapply

 

[Kendren]

I’m surprised you’ve applied 4 times and you’re only 22. You must have kept going cycle after cycle with no real gaps for improvement.

I've applied three times I was wondering if I should bid for a fourth

 

[tekkenman11]

$800K is actually a very conservative estimate. When you delay going to medical school for a year, you lose a year of salary from the end of your career.

Let's say you plan on practicing until age 60. If you become a practicing physician at age 31 instead of 30, for example, you will lose the annual salary of a physician with 30 years of experience and will instead spend the last year of your career making the salary of a physician with 29 years of experience.

A "physician-with-30 years-of-experience" salary depends on specialty, obviously, but it would generally be well over $200K. I think it's safe to say that OP lost well over a million dollars through his ineffective application strategy.

But all of that is a sunk cost now.

OP, cut your losses and apply broadly to DO programs.

And all of that loss was completely worth it. There's absolutely 0% chance I would ever elect not to take a gap year nowadays. Not only is taking a gap year becoming more frequent with every application cycle, but I believe it's healthier as well. Senior year college me was not ready for medical school. Taking that first year off to mature, actually work a 40 hour job, travel, etc. did wonders. Even though I didn't get in right away I still managed to make the best out of it and became a better person for it. That's a lifetime change that money can't buy.

To OP, I don't know how you managed to apply 3 times when you're only 22. That means you just gunned it every year. One year is rarely enough time to significantly change your application unless your only major weakness was a MCAT (or you do a SMP because of academic issues). Especially after the 2nd time you should have stopped and tried to figure out what had caused 2 unsuccessful cycles.

Apply mainly to DO next cycle, state MD, and low-tier schools.

 

[IslandStyle808]

You wasted $800k in lifetime earnings by not applying heavily to DO the first time. It makes absolutely no sense why you only applied to one on the fourth try.

Don’t go to the carrib. Apply to a ton of DO schools (and sure, more MD if you like) next year

I agree with most of this except for one part.

If you are even thinking of a hyper competitive speciality, then first cycle should only be MD. I've seen to many DOs whine about not getting fair treatment for hyper competitive residencies. You find that these students apply both MD and DO in their first cycle and had to end up taking that DO acceptance or risk not getting into another DO school. Applying MD only for one cycle is fine, or two at most. However, third should include DO schools.

 

[JudgeIsInTheHouse]

I agree with most of this except for one part.

If you are even thinking of a hyper competitive speciality, then first cycle should only be MD. I've seen to many DOs whine about not getting fair treatment for hyper competitive residencies. You find that these students apply both MD and DO in their first cycle and had to end up taking that DO acceptance or risk not getting into another DO school. Applying MD only for one cycle is fine, or two at most. However, third should include DO schools.

Mehh, you want to become a physician or not? (I see where you're coming from tho)

 

[IslandStyle808]

Mehh, you want to become a physician or not? (I see where you're coming from tho)

That's fine, as long a you're not upset about not becoming a dermatologist or neurosurgeon. Its a message more for those who are obsessive compulsive about being a sub-specialist.

 

[Goro]

I've applied three times I was wondering if I should bid for a fourth

Key question here: what about your app has significantly improved since the last cycle???? If very little, then no, don't apply until you improve the app.

Do a search as to why the Crib route is a really bad idea.

 

[Phil McCracken]

My thoughts are that you apply once to a US program and if you get even one interview but a rejection, spend the year improving your app and applying again. If at that time you can't get an acceptance, find another career.

Personally, I went to SGU. I'm a fourth-year. Some don't like the Caribbean route but I wasn't finding another career.

Nobody can tell you what to do, do what you feel is right but use caution.

 

[FutureDoctor5000]

There is a part of me that thinks this is a troll. OP has a 509 and a 3.7 overall gpa and couldn’t land one interview?

 

[BuckStrickland]

There is a part of me that thinks this is a troll. OP has a 509 and a 3.7 overall gpa and couldn’t land one interview?

I think schools that see it is a fourth attempt would have reservations about the applicant. Don't give up though OP, send out some DO apps next cycle too.

 

[calivianya]

Just apply DO next year. I'm assuming you'd be a reapplicant (maybe three times over) at the MD schools you want most... I'd say odds are long getting in to any of those.

You'll save a ton of money just going DO and you'll almost definitely get an acceptance somewhere.