Reapplying Earlier in Cycle

[RookTookIt]

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I'm wondering how bad it would look to reapply without making many significant changes in my application except for applying earlier in the cycle.

This year, I completed most secondaries in late October - late November. I got 3 interviews and 2 waitlists. I was told by an adcom member at one of the schools that waitlisted me that I likely would have fared better if I had applied to their school earlier. This makes me want to reapply again in a few months without many changes.

Changes that WILL be reflected in my app:
- 2 first author publications (basic science)
- new volunteer work (breast cancer center)

Any thoughts?

 

[jadealer]

I'm wondering how bad it would look to reapply without making many significant changes in my application except for applying earlier in the cycle.

This year, I completed most secondaries in late October - late November. I got 3 interviews and 2 waitlists. I was told by an adcom member at one of the schools that waitlisted me that I likely would have fared better if I had applied to their school earlier. This makes me want to reapply again in a few months without many changes.

Changes that WILL be reflected in my app:
- 2 first author publications (basic science)
- new volunteer work (breast cancer center)

Any thoughts?

I applied late in 2009 (secondaries in nov/dec.) and got 3 interviews and 3 WLs. I started three new volunteering activities in May and June and submitted my application in the first week of June, secondaries in June/July. I got 5 interviews, 2 acceptances by October (both at places that WLed me the previous year), 1 rejection, 1 WL, and 1 interview I withdrew from. My only change was starting new volunteer activities and adding a few new hours of shadowing. And my mcat wasn't that great (29P) but applying early definitely got me early acceptances second time around.

 

[RookTookIt]

I applied late in 2009 (secondaries in nov/dec.) and got 3 interviews and 3 WLs. I started three new volunteering activities in May and June and submitted my application in the first week of June, secondaries in June/July. I got 5 interviews, 2 acceptances by October (both at places that WLed me the previous year), 1 rejection, 1 WL, and 1 interview I withdrew from. My only change was starting new volunteer activities and adding a few new hours of shadowing. And my mcat wasn't that great (29P) but applying early definitely got me early acceptances second time around.

Hot damn, that is the answer I was looking for!

 

[mjdelcambre]

I applied late in 2009 (secondaries in nov/dec.) and got 3 interviews and 3 WLs. I started three new volunteering activities in May and June and submitted my application in the first week of June, secondaries in June/July. I got 5 interviews, 2 acceptances by October (both at places that WLed me the previous year), 1 rejection, 1 WL, and 1 interview I withdrew from. My only change was starting new volunteer activities and adding a few new hours of shadowing. And my mcat wasn't that great (29P) but applying early definitely got me early acceptances second time around.

What he (she?) said. Keep in mind you'll be updating the admissions offices with any new activities anyway. Getting it in early is more important than changes on the application.

Applied late in 09 (primaries/secondaries in november), got one interview and was rejected in june. Applied earlier in 10 (primaries/secondaries in july/august), kept them updated about my activities, got four interviews, two acceptances so far (in Feb and March), including the school that rejected me last year.

Obviously do the "talk to the admissions people about how to improve the application" routine. And mention that you've done exactly what they told you in the next round of interviews (of course not in those words; just work it in to the narrative of what you've been doing in the last year).

 

[xgalaxy00]

I applied late in 2009 (secondaries in nov/dec.) and got 3 interviews and 3 WLs. I started three new volunteering activities in May and June and submitted my application in the first week of June, secondaries in June/July. I got 5 interviews, 2 acceptances by October (both at places that WLed me the previous year), 1 rejection, 1 WL, and 1 interview I withdrew from. My only change was starting new volunteer activities and adding a few new hours of shadowing. And my mcat wasn't that great (29P) but applying early definitely got me early acceptances second time around.

That makes me feel a lot better! What was your gpa, jadealer? if you don't mind me asking.

 

[jadealer]

That makes me feel a lot better! What was your gpa, jadealer? if you don't mind me asking.

3.8 cGPA, 3.73 sGPA. Non URM but Non-trad.