Reapply immediately or take a year off?

[Chulito]

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Given that the end of this cycle leads right into next year's cycle (or overlaps with it if you consider waitlists), what are people's plans for reapplication if they don't get accepted anywhere this year? Do you reapply right away, maybe earlier and to more schools, including some that are less competitive, spend more time on your secondaries and practice your interviewing skills? Or do you take a year off to shore up your perceived weaknesses as best you can? What if you're a non-trad already and especially anxious to get the ball rolling? What if you can't change your GPA, your MCAT is good and you already have quite a bit of clinical experience? Any thoughts?

 

[tangledupinblue]

I don't have the answers to all of your questions, but I applied during my senior year. I ended up waiting it out on two waitlists and was unsuccessful. I decided to take a year off and improve my application. I thought it was unrealistic to apply right away with the same application and expect different results. In some cases it may be ok to reapply immediately, like if you were just really late with your applications. You can take a look at my MDapps to see more of the specifics. But I recommend taking a year off. I've learned a lot and have appreciated a bit of time away from school, though I am very ready to be a student again.

 

[BQ24]

Given that the end of this cycle leads right into next year's cycle (or overlaps with it if you consider waitlists), what are people's plans for reapplication if they don't get accepted anywhere this year? Do you reapply right away, maybe earlier and to more schools, including some that are less competitive, spend more time on your secondaries and practice your interviewing skills? Or do you take a year off to shore up your perceived weaknesses as best you can? What if you're a non-trad already and especially anxious to get the ball rolling? What if you can't change your GPA, your MCAT is good and you already have quite a bit of clinical experience? Any thoughts?

I applied my senior year of college and did not get in. I decided to take time off and try and change my app....best decision I ever made. I don't konw if you're just coming out of college or not..but for me, taking some time away from school and studying was such a good idea. I took 2 years off and have been doing research...I had lots of clinical exper. from undergrad but no research so this has been a huge help in applying this time around...plus...I got to see a completely different side of medicine and, while I love it, it only confirmed for me that med school was where I wanted to be (no patient contact drove me nuts)....med schools so far have seemed to like to hear that....SO....if you can find something different to try and do during your year off....I'd say definitely go for it. It makes you more unique as an applicant and that's what schools tend to like...GOOD LUCK!

 

[BigKurz]

I also really have no idea what I'm going to do in my [potential] year off. If anything, I might try to convert my work-study position at a Microarray Facility into a full-time job--I'm almost positive that my boss would support such a move. BQ24, what kind of research did you do/how did you get into it? I think that would also benefit my application the most...but I just don't know where to begin.

 

[Severus]

I decided to take a year off between cycles because there really wasn't much that I was going to change in the three or four months between the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next.

If any of you are looking to move to Philly, I know my lab is really looking for some people. If you're into neuroscience, this place is gold... lots of experiences to be had and they publish well.

 

[RuthP]

I gotta jump on the 'take time off' bandwagon unless you applied very late this time AND only to a very small amount of reach schools OR if you're ready to seriously change your plan-of-attack (i.e. go from only allo schools to allo and DOs)

I applied directly out of undergrad, got one interview and waitlist and was then rejected in August the week after classes had started (!) but I was pessimistic about that waitlist so I had already started a second application round. I applied to similar schools (added a few), rewrote my personal statement, but my MCATs and GPA obviously didn't change. Second application cycle I got nadda interviews. Zilch. I then worked for a year doing research while taking night classes in a masters of medical science program. The second year off I applied to the Masters program and was a full-time student. Reapplying now after having added a year of clinical research AND having good grades in a masters program pretty much identical to 1st year medical school curriculum has changed my application significantly. And finally, I'm getting love... 🙂 Third time is the charm...! 🙂

 

[bbabul01]

I can't speak for the re-app point of view, but from the taking time off side, I'm all for it. No offense to current seniors, but just talking to you guys while at interviews kind of worries me. Taking extra time is invaluable to your education and your ability to approach this horrid application process. Get a job that gains you experience but lets you out at 5pm to screw around all evening. It's the most relaxing thing you'll ever do. I know you mentioned you're a non-trad already, so I don't know the details of that, but there is never any hurry, medical school will always be there. Give yourself a break, let yourself relax a bit, and then try again with a fresh point of view. Good luck!

 

[Frankie.A]

oh man... i feel your pain! as a non-trad i can't imagine taking off another year to strengthen my application and then reapplying. while i am still optimistic about this cycle, i have already started planning to reapply. my weak spot is my science gpa/long time since i have taken science courses. i signed up for a upper level bio course that will be finished in March. i figure that if i do well it may help me move off waiting lists this cycle or if i have to reapply it will help my science gpa. if i end up reapplying, i will keep taking classes throughout the next year so that i at least have something positive to update schools with besides research (my current job). i will also apply early and more broadly. (This cycle I took the August MCAT so my applications weren't complete until mid-October). best of luck to you!!

 

[psymedicus]

oh man... i feel your pain! as a non-trad i can't imagine taking off another year to strengthen my application and then reapplying. while i am still optimistic about this cycle, i have already started planning to reapply. my weak spot is my science gpa/long time since i have taken science courses. i signed up for a upper level bio course that will be finished in March. i figure that if i do well it may help me move off waiting lists this cycle or if i have to reapply it will help my science gpa. if i end up reapplying, i will keep taking classes throughout the next year so that i at least have something positive to update schools with besides research (my current job). i will also apply early and more broadly. (This cycle I took the August MCAT so my applications weren't complete until mid-October). best of luck to you!!

Exactly! I've been waiting 3yrs to apply, as a non-trad I can't imagine waiting some more. It feels like my whole life is on hold while I aim for that elusive med school dream. On hold is fine if you're 21 but what if you're a quarter-century or more? 😛 My MCAT could probably use some improvement since I took it for the first time in Aug, but just the thought of studying for it again while juggling full-time work is depressing. Bah. Well, luck to us first-time Aug MCATer non-trads this cycle!

 

[deuist]

Don't reapply so soon unless you are sure that your application is good enough (and different enough) compared to when you applied the first time. I'll agree with many of the other posters in suggesting that you take some time off to build up your application. During the summer, you should sit down with members of the admissions committees and ask for feedback about your application. They'll be very honest---and their criticism might be difficult to hear at that time. However, their advice will be very valuable as a starting point of how exactly to rebuild your application for the next time you apply.

 

[notdeadyet]

Well, luck to us first-time Aug MCATer non-trads this cycle!

Here's to that! I'm planning on retaking the MCAT (my weak spot) in May, assuming I haven't heard anything by then. Thought it would be a real pain to have done all that studying and then get in somewhere off waitlist. But a good thing.

I'm seeing the pain an August MCAT causes. I'm pretty sure I'll find a home somewhere next application cycle just by applying earlier...

 

[Chulito]

I'm leaning towards your approach, Notdeadyet. (BTW, is the spring MCAT in May rather than April this year? I haven't begun to look into it.) I just don't know what I could do to improve my application during a year off other than spend more time doing the same things that I'm doing now. I didn't exactly apply late this year, but I submitted the AMCAS on July 2nd, was verified in late July, and submitted secondaries from late August to mid-October--not exactly early. If I have to reapply I'll submit the AMCAS at midnight on the first day, and I'll do my damndest to have all of the secondary essays ready to go before I even receive the applications so as to have everything finished as soon as possible.

Here's a question. I'm quite happy with my MCAT (37S), and took it plenty early (August 2005). But if I don't get in this year, do you think it would be worth it to try to improve my application in ALL possible areas, i.e. retake the MCAT? Or do you think that the difference between a 37 and, say, a 40 wouldn't mean anything to adcoms? Of course, there is always the chance that I would do worse. I wish I could change my GPA instead.

BTW, I'm REALLY non-trad: 35. That hasn't seemed to spook any interviewers so far, but it gives you an idea of why I'm particularly anxious to avoid prolonging this process any further than absolutely necessary.

 

[MedvacMoney]

Given that the end of this cycle leads right into next year's cycle (or overlaps with it if you consider waitlists), what are people's plans for reapplication if they don't get accepted anywhere this year? Do you reapply right away, maybe earlier and to more schools, including some that are less competitive, spend more time on your secondaries and practice your interviewing skills? Or do you take a year off to shore up your perceived weaknesses as best you can? What if you're a non-trad already and especially anxious to get the ball rolling? What if you can't change your GPA, your MCAT is good and you already have quite a bit of clinical experience? Any thoughts?

unless you are planning on curing cancer in that year...just reapply like everyone else!

 

[Chulito]

Say, there's an idea...

 

[Law2Doc]

Given that the end of this cycle leads right into next year's cycle (or overlaps with it if you consider waitlists), what are people's plans for reapplication if they don't get accepted anywhere this year? Do you reapply right away, maybe earlier and to more schools, including some that are less competitive, spend more time on your secondaries and practice your interviewing skills? Or do you take a year off to shore up your perceived weaknesses as best you can? What if you're a non-trad already and especially anxious to get the ball rolling? What if you can't change your GPA, your MCAT is good and you already have quite a bit of clinical experience? Any thoughts?

You have to figure out why you didn't get in and fix it. Generally reapplicants are supposed to do this and show substantial improvement from their prior app to have decent odds. That probably takes some time for most reapplicants, often more than a cycle. So take the time and get it right. An extra year is meaningless in a 40 year career. You don't just keep flinging the same application out and hope it sticks.

 

[notdeadyet]

I'm quite happy with my MCAT (37S), and took it plenty early (August 2005). But if I don't get in this year, do you think it would be worth it to try to improve my application in ALL possible areas, i.e. retake the MCAT? Or do you think that the difference between a 37 and, say, a 40 wouldn't mean anything to adcoms?

A 37 isn't keeping you out anywhere. If you retake, you run the very real risk of dropping your score. Many schools take the most recent MCAT. I would definitely not retake.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Too bad they don't have spots for someone who would be willing to work from somewhere else than Philly....otherwise I'd be all over it, even if it was just scut work.

If any of you are looking to move to Philly, I know my lab is really looking for some people. If you're into neuroscience, this place is gold... lots of experiences to be had and they publish well.

 

[lina123321]

🙁 OP, i feel ur pain..lol..if i have to take a year off, tho, im not sure what to do..research sounds good, but i feel that its a better option for someone going md/phd. i did research as an undergrad, and was asked at an interview why im not going md/phd; where else could an undergrad w/a bio major work, or what could they do during that year off that would improve their apps. i was thinking a masters program; but other than that and research, is there anything else?😕

 

[Chulito]

Agreed, Law2Doc. My contention is that those weaknesses in my application that I have some control over (at least the weaknesses that I have identified) may all be strategic rather than substantial. I *could* continue for an additional year in full-time clinical employment, but would 2.5 years be much better than 1.5? Same with volunteer interpreting work and membership on the board of a community clinic. I know that my LORs are great, my MCAT and recent grades are good, and I can't change my GPA or my life history. I'm inclined to believe that it's more a matter of recasting my candidacy next year and doing so in a more timely fashion, as well as planning better for my interviews. *If* that's the case, then an additional year is not likely necessary, and schools may in fact wonder why I think that I, at 35 years old, have the time to delay for a year just to chalk up some more clinical time. On the other hand, a precipitous reapplication could suggest arrogance, impatience and naiveté.

I appreciate your thoughts on this matter, Law2Doc, and those of the rest of you as well. This is a tricky decision, and I'm still hoping that I won't have to make it.

 

[Law2Doc]

Agreed, Law2Doc. My contention is that those weaknesses in my application that I have some control over (at least the weaknesses that I have identified) may all be strategic rather than substantial. I *could* continue for an additional year in full-time clinical employment, but would 2.5 years be much better than 1.5? Same with volunteer interpreting work and membership on the board of a community clinic. I know that my LORs are great, my MCAT and recent grades are good, and I can't change my GPA or my life history. I'm inclined to believe that it's more a matter of recasting my candidacy next year and doing so in a more timely fashion, as well as planning better for my interviews. *If* that's the case, then an additional year is not likely necessary, and schools may in fact wonder why I think that I, at 35 years old, have the time to delay for a year just to chalk up some more clinical time. On the other hand, a precipitous reapplication could suggest arrogance, impatience and naiveté.

I appreciate your thoughts on this matter, Law2Doc, and those of the rest of you as well. This is a tricky decision, and I'm still hoping that I won't have to make it.

While I can buy that people don't get in for strategic mistakes, it is the rare applicant that doesn't have room to improve in other areas. So you make yourself a stronger applicant AND don't make the same strategic blunder. I would personally consider lining up a research position for a year at someplace where there was a decent chance of publication, or consider doing a masters or SMP, or both that and the research, or maybe something totally different and unusual. Based on what I have seen, the people who applied late or to too few schools and then turn right around and reapply with virtually the same application tend to not fare as well as those who actually make real improvements. I could be wrong, but that's what I've observed.

 

[BellyDancingDoc]

Chulito,

Why do you say that you can't change your GPA? Plenty of people (myself included) have continued to take undergraduate courses after graduating from college. You could enroll in, say, 2 upper-level science courses this spring at your local university. Assuming you got A's, doing so would raise your BCPM, your overall GPA, and allow you to prove that you "still got it." Why not?

Frogs

 

[Chulito]

Froggy-

I've got something like 450 credits, so my GPA has a lot of inertia. I took six classes in the fall of 2005 (22 credits) to prove that I could still perform and to generate letters of recommendation since I hadn't studied sciences for ten years. I got a 3.97 that quarter, and my GPA didn't budge.

 

[BellyDancingDoc]

Froggy-

I've got something like 450 credits, so my GPA has a lot of inertia. I took six classes in the fall of 2005 (22 credits) to prove that I could still perform and to generate letters of recommendation since I hadn't studied sciences for ten years. I got a 3.97 that quarter, and my GPA didn't budge.

Wow! I'm sorry to hear that, man (or woman) 🙁

 

[Chulito]

Oh, don't be sorry. I've made my choices in life and am content with them. I'm not that worried about my GPA anyway. If I could change it I would, because it is one of the weaker parts of my application, but I'm cool with it as it is. I'm just left wondering what I can change and how best to go about doing it if I don't end up getting in anywhere this year.

p.s. Man.