Reapply or wait another year?

[dkano]

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I applied 20+ schools this past cycle, received two IIs (Cornell & UCLA), and still waitlisted in both.
I have been hearing reapplying too soon can be waste of time/money, so I wanted to hear if it worths reapplying this June.

Since the last app, my gpa (3.8+/3.8+) and mcat (518) stayed the same, but now I have one first-author publication (low impact factor journal) and 4th author at high impact journal. And I also did volunteering at a hospital in 3rd world country for a month (one of the doctors offered writing a recommendation letter) and weekly volunteer at a free clinic.

Would this be enough of a change to apply again right after?

FYI, I submitted my primary app on the first day.

 

[P0ke]

I applied 20+ schools this past cycle, received two IIs (Cornell & UCLA), and still waitlisted in both.
I have been hearing reapplying too soon can be waste of time/money, so I wanted to hear if it worths reapplying this June.

Since the last app, my gpa (3.8+/3.8+) and mcat (518) stayed the same, but now I have one first-author publication (low impact factor journal) and 4th author at high impact journal. And I also did volunteering at a hospital in 3rd world country for a month (one of the doctors offered writing a recommendation letter) and weekly volunteer at a free clinic.

Would this be enough of a change to apply again right after?

FYI, I submitted my primary app on the first day.

Sounds like you applied too top-heavy if you got waitlists at those schools and nowhere else. Be open to some mid and low-tier schools and you'll get in somewhere for sure.

 

[efle]

Cornell and UCLA are very competitive places and are extremely selective with their interviews. Getting some interest from these makes me think your application overall is great, but you probably applied too top-heavy. As above I want to see a list!

 

[dkano]

My list was:
Cornell (II), UCLA (II), USC, Vanderbilt (Secondary, but no II), Emory, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Wustl, UVA, Northwestern, Einstein, Mount Sinai, NYMC, Georgetown, BU, Case Western, Thomas Jefferson, Rosalind Franklin, and Tufts.
In retrospect, it does look very top-heavy. Any suggestions for school list?

On a different note, if I don't apply this June, I am thinking of enlisting and serving in the army (hopefully as a medic) for 2 years before I matriculate in Aug, 2019 (I'm an international and need to serve at some point in my life) or go volunteer abroad. Any suggestions on what would be better?

 

[Thienyl15]

Both are really good options OP, but it comes down to what you want to do in your gap year. Both demonstrate service to others, while the military experience would set you apart in a good way (+clinical if you get the medic slot). Regardless of your choice, it'll be a big change on your application, which is a good thing.

 

[JJRousseau]

My list was:
Cornell (II), UCLA (II), USC, Vanderbilt (Secondary, but no II), Emory, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Wustl, UVA, Northwestern, Einstein, Mount Sinai, NYMC, Georgetown, BU, Case Western, Thomas Jefferson, Rosalind Franklin, and Tufts.
In retrospect, it does look very top-heavy. Any suggestions for school list?

On a different note, if I don't apply this June, I am thinking of enlisting and serving in the army (hopefully as a medic) for 2 years before I matriculate in Aug, 2019 (I'm an international and need to serve at some point in my life) or go volunteer abroad. Any suggestions on what would be better?

IMHO, great idea, if you want to serve in any case, terrible idea if you are just enlisting to improve your medical school app (or even obtain citizenship...). Full disclosure, the military is not for me.


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[aaronrodgers]

My list was:
Cornell (II), UCLA (II), USC, Vanderbilt (Secondary, but no II), Emory, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Wustl, UVA, Northwestern, Einstein, Mount Sinai, NYMC, Georgetown, BU, Case Western, Thomas Jefferson, Rosalind Franklin, and Tufts.
In retrospect, it does look very top-heavy. Any suggestions for school list?

On a different note, if I don't apply this June, I am thinking of enlisting and serving in the army (hopefully as a medic) for 2 years before I matriculate in Aug, 2019 (I'm an international and need to serve at some point in my life) or go volunteer abroad. Any suggestions on what would be better?

international as in you are from S. Korea / Singapore / Malaysia where citizens are required to serve, or as in you are an international wanting to be in the U.S. military?
My unibrow was raised when I saw your stats, being an international applicant must be why it was difficult for you last cycle 🙁

 

[dkano]

international as in you are from S. Korea / Singapore / Malaysia where citizens are required to serve, or as in you are an international wanting to be in the U.S. military?

Yep, I'm required to serve in the military. A little concerned that it'd be hard to fill out application in the middle of my service.

 

[aaronrodgers]

Yep, I'm required to serve in the military. A little concerned that it'd be hard to fill out application in the middle of my service.

your MCAT will expire too since it is already >1 year old and then add in 2 years in service...perhaps it would be best to reapply unless you don't have to retake MCAT somehow?