Reapply this cycle or next

[photogeek]

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Hi all,

Any help would be appreciated in this. I'm currently WL at 2 schools and I don't know if I should prep for a reapp this cycle or next.

I have a 29Q and 3.9
3 years of research/2 pubs/3abstracts
3 international and domestic service programs
Great LOR

I didn't apply to that many schools. I think I should retake the MCAT but I feel that it's too late to start studying and would prefer to wait another cycle. However, I have uncertainty as to whether I'll get a job or what I will do during those two years. For this reason, I would retake and reapply this cycle although I feel like my app would be late.

However, I'm also feeling a little morally defeated and think that time off would be good to regroup.....

 

[prado]

Your biggest problem was, as you admitted, applying to few schools. If you don't care where you go, you'll definitely end up somewhere with a 3.9/29 and 2 pubs. Just apply broadly and if you can interview half-way decently, you shouldn't have a problem getting in. As for retaking the mcat, I'm sure 2 months is enough time to refresh everything and take practice tests. You could take the mcat at the beginning of June (submit your app early as well) and have your results by early July which would still be early, assuming your application had already been verified. Either way, I thinking sitting out a year is going to be a waste of time for you.

 

[I Love Cats]

Clinical?

 

[photogeek]

Clinical?

I worked as a clinical research intern for a summer. I emailed one of my schools as to why I was rejected, and they said it was the lack of clinical and the 8 on VR.


How high do you think I should set my hopes for the WL to move?

 

[photogeek]

Your biggest problem was, as you admitted, applying to few schools. If you don't care where you go, you'll definitely end up somewhere with a 3.9/29 and 2 pubs. Just apply broadly and if you can interview half-way decently, you shouldn't have a problem getting in. As for retaking the mcat, I'm sure 2 months is enough time to refresh everything and take practice tests. You could take the mcat at the beginning of June (submit your app early as well) and have your results by early July which would still be early, assuming your application had already been verified. Either way, I thinking sitting out a year is going to be a waste of time for you.

I agree. I just lost all the confidence I had - i'm trying to restudy but I just end up feeling cathartic. I would love to apply again this year but I think I need that mental break. However, I can't find anyone who will take me in a clinical position.... and I don't want to waste time if I can't do anything valuable.

 

[prado]

^

Honestly, at this point, you should act as if you're not coming off that wait list. Start getting ready for a reapplication. At worst, you waste some money and time but at least you'll be ready to go again if you don't hear good news. It's great to be optimistic, but just make sure you're putting plan b (reapplying) into motion right now.

And as for your stats, countless people have gotten into MD schools with worse (look at the 27-29 mcat thread). Their secret? They applied to 30+ schools. If you do that, you will definitely improve your chances.

 

[photogeek]

Do you know what people do during their year/years off? I know some do post-bac programs (which I don't think I would benefit from), travel (which I don't have the $ to do) or get a job. I can't seem to find a position anywhere... and when I apply to portals, it feels as though I'm sending my resume to a shredder. Do you have any experience in this?

 

[bigdogrob4284]

Whats your MCAT breakdown, and how many schools did you apply to?

 

[photogeek]

11PS 10 BS 8 VR

Freaked out when i sat down for the mcat and took it after I submitted amcas (another reason I'm debating 2 years... i want to take the mcat before i submit and have enough time to study appropriately).

and... 8 md phd and 1 md.

 

[prado]

11PS 10 BS 8 VR

Freaked out when i sat down for the mcat and took it after I submitted amcas (another reason I'm debating 2 years... i want to take the mcat before i submit and have enough time to study appropriately).

and... 8 md phd and 1 md.

Oh Lawd...Applying to only 1 MD school with a 29 was application suicide (hopefully you get off a waitlist).

Are you deadset on MD/PhD? If so, I'd definitely retake the mcat and reapply. If not, then applying wisely to 20+ school will most definitely net you an MD acceptance if things don't work out this cycle. When you said few schools, I thought you meant maybe 5 or 6, but 1 MD-only? I don't even...

 

[photogeek]

Yea I know...

The problem was that my practice tests were much higher.... so I applied accordingly. Still should have applied to more schools in hindsight.

 

[photogeek]

As for restudying, I can only commit 2-3 hours a day. I'm afraid that won't be enough. What do you think?

 

[skais595]

As for restudying, I can only commit 2-3 hours a day. I'm afraid that won't be enough. What do you think?

It probably won't be enough. What is taking up the rest of your time? If you wait to reapply in 2 years, can you devote more time to studying over the summer or something?

During gap years, apply for scribe positions, volunteering. Shadow doctors. Research is less beneficial because you probably won't contribute anything significant to a new lab until the application cycle's almost over (unless you can do two years off).

 

[prado]

As for restudying, I can only commit 2-3 hours a day. I'm afraid that won't be enough. What do you think?

Just try your best. You will know before you take your test if you're ready and confident enough to score over 29. But seriously, you only applied to one 1 MD-only program. At least give yourself a shot by applying to 30+ schools before you go and waste 2 years trying to improve your app.

 

[minerva3121]

they said it was the lack of clinical and the 8 on VR.

I'm very surprised there hasn't been more discussion of this point. The general consensus on SDN is that you need clinical experience, because how else would med schools (and you yourself) really know that you understand what a medical career entails and that you could see yourself doing this for the rest of your life? I'm not saying you need 3+ years of it, but having ZERO clinical experience would set anyone back, no matter how stellar their application may be otherwise. The lack of clinical might be even more of a problem than your MCAT score, which really isn't that bad. I know it can be difficult to find a scribe position or a physician who's willing to let you shadow, but certainly there must be some hospital volunteering program in your city? I don't think taking more classes or doing additional research would help much because your application is already awesome in those areas.