Reapply or go with my A?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

plzimbeggingyou

New Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2024
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
I’m (F23) just wondering if I should try to take a second gap year to apply a second time or if I’d be shooting myself in the foot. I applied to 20 schools and got A to 1 Ohio DO, and WL to 1 lower tier Ohio MD (NEOMED). Once I finished my application I realized that I really wanted to go to OSU (alma mater)/Cincinnati/Case W, but I’m not sure if I even have a chance if I tried again. Unfortunately, I finished my application late this cycle (September), obviously, if I were to apply again I would apply early, and work on improving my application essays, but also there's a good amount of stuff this year that none of the schools I applied to know about.

Here’s some info about my last application stats:
  • GPA 3.55
  • MCAT 516
  • 300 clinical hrs
  • 400 research hrs, no pubs
  • 300 work hrs
  • pre-health sorority, (had minimal volunteering)
  • Shadowed 3 Dr’s in college, but shadowed 2 Dr’s in high school for ~3 months (which I included in my personal state b/c they contribute to why I want to become a Dr)
  • 1 personal hobby
  • 1 club
Here’s some info about what I would add to my potential new application:
  • additional 900 clinical hrs working at an urgent care as an MA
  • Have teaching experience by training a new MA and our new Manager. Advised and collaborated with the new manager to help our urgent care develop a kind of contract with the nearby university (my alma mater)
  • Volunteering at a food pantry, and still trying to get started at an organization that supports SA survivors
  • Shadowed an additional Dr
  • ran a 5k
  • Joined another club
  • about to sign up for a fundraising event where you raise $ for cancer research in exchange for cycling in a race and performing other volunteering.

I’m not sure if that’s enough, if my GPA is too low for me to ever consider OSU/Cinci/Case, or if I should just run with what I have, but I just feel so defeated. Any advice is appreciated >.<!

EDIT: Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave advice! Definitely helped me realize I wasn't seeing the forest for the trees and that I should be happy with what I have been lucky enough to receive 🙂. Also wanted to say thank you guys so much for actual advice and not being mean-I posted the same thing on Reddit and a moderator berated me and then banned me lol T_T
 
Last edited:
You should not bet that OSU, Cincinnati, or Case will even interview you. Take the IS DO option. There is a chance Neomed takes you off the WL, so that is an option too.
 
Would you be happy going to NEOMED too? Is it a DO vs MD issue? I heard NEOMED accepts many from WL historically.
It isn't really a DO/MD thing and more of just those specific 3 schools mentioned since I always grew up thinking I'd end up at one of those 3. I don't care about MDvsDO since at the end of school we all end up as doctors with the same amount of skill.
 
It isn't really a DO/MD thing and more of just those specific 3 schools mentioned since I always grew up thinking I'd end up at one of those 3. I don't care about MDvsDO since at the end of school we all end up as doctors with the same amount of skill.
I have always lived in Ohio and lived about ~30 min from OSUCOM for all of it. I would love to go there like really really go there. However, I made the mistake of applying with no research. I currently have 840 hours of research, but I also have 2 As and a few WL.

I can't (never ever) see myself reapplying just to be able to add the research to my application. At the end of the day, it is *just* a med school. If you really love the environment that much, I say why not plan to come back for residency? You would easily have access to mentors there since NEOMED is not too far.

I completely understand your situation because at one point during the cycle, I was hoping to be invited to apply to their post bacc program (I know...stupid) but take your A and run!
 
I was in your shoes, contemplating a DO acceptance. Taking boards in a month. Don’t give up a sure thing.
 
EDIT: Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave advice! Definitely helped me realize I wasn't seeing the forest for the trees and that I should be happy with what I have been lucky enough to receive 🙂. Also wanted to say thank you guys so much for actual advice and not being mean-I posted the same thing on Reddit and a moderator berated me and then banned me lol T_T
I'm glad to hear that you were happy with the advice you received! Sometimes we all need an outside perspective. 😀
 
Top