Reapplying MD school

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ka118

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Hello,

I applied to MD and DO schools this cycle, and have only had an interview at one DO school. I got wait-listed from there post-interview, and am looking for advice on how to improve my application for the next cycle. I am graduating this semester and will have time off to work on my application. I have a 3.9 cGPA and 3.8 science GPA and 508 MCAT. I am a co-author on a microbiology-related paper; I have over 2 years of research in the lab. I worked 1000+ hours in a medical office as a receptionist. I shadowed a variety of doctors for 50+ hours. My volunteering hours are weak. I am a CNA, and am looking to work in a hospital after I graduate. I also plan on volunteering with an organization for cancer patients in the area. I am also seeking stronger letters of recommendation. If anyone has advice on what to improve, I would greatly appreciate it!
 
If you're lacking in volunteer hours, I would highly recommend volunteering at hospice. I did that and it was a major talking point in all of my interviews and I think made a big difference for my application
 
On paper your app looks great so the lack of response is surprising. GPA and ECs are excellent and the volunteering will be an added bonus. Your MCAT is a bit low for MD, so I would suggest a retake if you're 100% sure you can score higher and you have a strong preference for MD. I'm pretty baffled why you didn't get more of a response from DO schools. What schools did you apply to?
 
Do you have any red flags? when did you apply? and not too high tiered institutions? on the other hand, in some cases believe it or not, if you're overqualified they don't bother inviting you because they think you'll just turn them down when better schools accept, so they don't bother wasting an interview invite. There are also schools where if you don't fit the area or the population their teaching hospitals serve, they will not be as interested.
 
MCAT is very low for MD. But not getting bites from DO is perplexing.
 
MCAT and receptionist is not viewed as clinical experience
 
Lawper said:
Um a 508 is a 30. The MD matriculant median is a 31/510.
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A 30 is a decent score but if OP is from a competitive state, a 30 is not going stick out at the "low tier" private medical schools that get 10,000+ apps. Not to mention those same schools are usually mission-based and will use any reason to throw out an application. I have similar stats and have been lucky enough with interviews and acceptances (MD and DO) but there are places that have definitely turned me away because of my MCAT score. I took the old MCAT and would've retaken if they didn't switch formats. OP has plenty of time to brush up and retake.

OP maybe you can pm someone your personal statement/secondaries to look at them. Do you have a letter committee? Something is strange with a GPA and MCAT like yours but no DO love. What school did you get interviewed at?
 
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I applied to what I thought were middle tier schools, and a few reach schools. UIC, Rush, Loyola, MCW, and Rosalind Franklin were the ones I thought I had a slight chance at. IL resident all my life. I applied super early. I submitted my primary in June, and had secondaries back in a week or less. I interviewed terribly at Midwestern, so there's no surprise I was wait listed. I appreciate everyone's feedback. I was hoping I could do everything to avoid retaking the MCAT (thinking of it makes me cringe), but I may need to take that route. I know I had one very strong letter from a physician, but the rest may not be that great.
 
ka118 said:
I applied to what I thought were middle tier schools, and a few reach schools. UIC, Rush, Loyola, MCW, and Rosalind Franklin were the ones I thought I had a slight chance at. IL resident all my life. I applied super early. I submitted my primary in June, and had secondaries back in a week or less. I interviewed terribly at Midwestern, so there's no surprise I was wait listed. I appreciate everyone's feedback. I was hoping I could do everything to avoid retaking the MCAT (thinking of it makes me cringe), but I may need to take that route. I know I had one very strong letter from a physician, but the rest may not be that great.
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These mean very little to MD admissions.
 
ka118 said:
I applied to what I thought were middle tier schools, and a few reach schools. UIC, Rush, Loyola, MCW, and Rosalind Franklin were the ones I thought I had a slight chance at. IL resident all my life. I applied super early. I submitted my primary in June, and had secondaries back in a week or less. I interviewed terribly at Midwestern, so there's no surprise I was wait listed. I appreciate everyone's feedback. I was hoping I could do everything to avoid retaking the MCAT (thinking of it makes me cringe), but I may need to take that route. I know I had one very strong letter from a physician, but the rest may not be that great.
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There's still a chance you get off the waitlist or get more interviews this cycle but by chance you do reapply, ask them if they can write a strong positive recommendation.
 
Do not retake the MCAT! (Coming from Someone with a 508!) You risk much more than you would gain especially if your applying to schools that average MCATs. Your GPA is stellar. I think your E.C.'s are kinda vanilla. At first glance they look impressive (amount of hours) but then again being a medical receptionist only gets you so close to the patient. I would focus on E.C.'s big time. I know people with lower GPA's and/or MCATs that are in our range who have interviews and acceptances at schools with lots of applicants like Rosy F, GWU, Loyola. You did the hard stuff! Now find some passionate E.C.'s to talk about!
 
ka118 said:
Hello,

I applied to MD and DO schools this cycle, and have only had an interview at one DO school. I got wait-listed from there post-interview, and am looking for advice on how to improve my application for the next cycle. I am graduating this semester and will have time off to work on my application. I have a 3.9 cGPA and 3.8 science GPA and 508 MCAT. I am a co-author on a microbiology-related paper; I have over 2 years of research in the lab. I worked 1000+ hours in a medical office as a receptionist. I shadowed a variety of doctors for 50+ hours. My volunteering hours are weak. I am a CNA, and am looking to work in a hospital after I graduate. I also plan on volunteering with an organization for cancer patients in the area. I am also seeking stronger letters of recommendation. If anyone has advice on what to improve, I would greatly appreciate it!
Click to expand...
If you think you can improve your MCAT, do it.

Volunteering is a great focus and I second/third the idea of hospice!
 
ka118 said:
Hello,

I applied to MD and DO schools this cycle, and have only had an interview at one DO school. I got wait-listed from there post-interview, and am looking for advice on how to improve my application for the next cycle. I am graduating this semester and will have time off to work on my application. I have a 3.9 cGPA and 3.8 science GPA and 508 MCAT. I am a co-author on a microbiology-related paper; I have over 2 years of research in the lab. I worked 1000+ hours in a medical office as a receptionist. I shadowed a variety of doctors for 50+ hours. My volunteering hours are weak. I am a CNA, and am looking to work in a hospital after I graduate. I also plan on volunteering with an organization for cancer patients in the area. I am also seeking stronger letters of recommendation. If anyone has advice on what to improve, I would greatly appreciate it!
Click to expand...

It would be extremely helpful to see the list of schools you applied to, as well as know your state of residence.
 
I'd spend some time working on interview skills, too. Try to do some mock interviews with someone who will give you impartial feedback (professor, pre-health advisor, maybe even a doctor at the office you volunteer at). Pinpoint exactly where you goofed in your interview at Midwestern so you can learn from it! If you don't end up getting in there, I'd definitely ask the school for feedback, too.
 
No DO bites is interesting, I am assuming that you only applied to like 3? Or was Midwestern the only school you applied to? If you only applied to 3 or less DO schools then that would explain the lack of DO attention. If you need to reapply include like 5-7 DO schools.

The MCAT is potentially holding you back at MD schools. There are plenty of people who get accepted with 30s but usually have something else in their app that pops of the page to get an interview
 
12375711 said:
Do not retake the MCAT! (Coming from Someone with a 508!) You risk much more than you would gain especially if your applying to schools that average MCATs. Your GPA is stellar. I think your E.C.'s are kinda vanilla. At first glance they look impressive (amount of hours) but then again being a medical receptionist only gets you so close to the patient. I would focus on E.C.'s big time. I know people with lower GPA's and/or MCATs that are in our range who have interviews and acceptances at schools with lots of applicants like Rosy F, GWU, Loyola. You did the hard stuff! Now find some passionate E.C.'s to talk about!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will definitely focus on the volunteering and EC's!
 
AnatomyGrey12 said:
No DO bites is interesting, I am assuming that you only applied to like 3? Or was Midwestern the only school you applied to? If you only applied to 3 or less DO schools then that would explain the lack of DO attention. If you need to reapply include like 5-7 DO schools.

The MCAT is potentially holding you back at MD schools. There are plenty of people who get accepted with 30s but usually have something else in their app that pops of the page to get an interview
Click to expand...

I only applied to 2 DO schools, which looking back was a big mistake. If I end up reapplying and working on volunteering/clinical experience, do you think retaking the MCAT is still a good idea? I appreciate your feedback!
 
thatwouldbeanarchy said:
I'd spend some time working on interview skills, too. Try to do some mock interviews with someone who will give you impartial feedback (professor, pre-health advisor, maybe even a doctor at the office you volunteer at). Pinpoint exactly where you goofed in your interview at Midwestern so you can learn from it! If you don't end up getting in there, I'd definitely ask the school for feedback, too.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice! I definitely need to work on my interview skills. I will do some more mock interviews and talk to the doctors I work with at the office.
 
Here is a list of MD schools I applied to:

UIC
Rush
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
Northwestern
MCW
Penn State
Indiana
Minnesota
Case Western
Emory
Georgetown
Keck (USC)
University of Miami

DO:
Midwestern
Michigan State

I am an Illinois resident and have my B.S. from U of I Urbana-Champaign

Looking back retrospectively, the list could have been thought out better. I feel very regretful now, and am looking for constructive advice to move forward!
 
The list of schools you applied to isn't great but that's not why you havent generated any interest. I count 7 schools you have a realistic shot at getting a II at; not great but not terrible.

3.9/30 is certainly enough to generate interest from programs in your state. Schools like Rush and Loyola have a mission to service to the less fortunate. The fact you really dont have much service at all doesnt exactly make you the greatest fit for those schools. Demonstration of service of any kind isnt really apparent on your app and that is a problem. Is it possible to make up for it? Sure, people have. But applying to only a half dozen or so reasonable choices and applying with a below average MCAT isnt the surest way to try and do so. It's likely how you presented yourself in your application also could have been better and clearer. The CNA license is a step in the right direction; use it to work with the less fortunate as well as volunteering with an organization serving cancer patients is a good idea as well. Volunteering with less fortuante and more vulnerable populations is a good idea as well, even in a non clinical setting. If you can accumulate experience in those areas you will have demonstrated a) productive research experience b) paid clinical experience from medical assistant and a CNA c) volunteering experience with the less fortunate. That should add a lot more to your application if/when you reapply, especially if you apply broader.
 
Do you think that you could bring your MCAT up a significant amount? (511/512)? I think that would make you a lot more competitive for MD. Don't write it if you're not sure, but if you didn't put your full effort into it, or didn't prepare for it properly, it's a solid way to improve your application. (People on SDN like to say don't rewrite a 30. I personally would rewrite a 30 in a second.) It's a lot of yield but it's a high yield investment if you can improve. If you generally are weak at standardized tests or do not think you can improve much, then focus on volunteering/clinical experience.
 
I think schools may be a bit hesitant to accept the lower scores on the new test compared to 30s and 31s, since it has not yet been conclusively determined that the new MCAT is a good predictor of med school success in the same way the old one is. Remember that the median MD matriculant has a 33, while the average has a 31. The average is skewed down a bit by legacy admissions and such.

A retake, along with boosting your ECs, is probably a good idea.
 
I don't really know if I could raise my MCAT score. I'm disappointed, because the score I received was after taking a prep course and studying 20+ hours a week for 4 months.
 
If you feel like you gave the MCAT everything you had then DO NOT RETAKE IT. Reapply wth MD and nite DO
 
claduva94 said:
These mean very little to MD admissions.
Click to expand...

In what context? Are we talking about getting a LOR from a physician who knows the applicant (i.e. they are a patient or personally know the physician through a social network) or just in general? It would be very strange that a LOR from someone who happens to be a physician for an applicant who worked in a healthcare setting as a scribe or whatever would carry less weight than any other letter.
 
Studying longer doesn't necessarily mean studying smarter. I focused too much on content memorization rather than application which contributed to my low score. My first score was a 26 and second was a 30 and I'm sitting on 2 MD and 2 DO acceptances right now, so retakes aren't a big deal especially for Chicago schools. OP think long and hard whether you would be okay going DO versus MD. If you want to 100% go MD then you really should consider a re-take.
 
El-Rami said:
In what context? Are we talking about getting a LOR from a physician who knows the applicant (i.e. they are a patient or personally know the physician through a social network) or just in general? It would be very strange that a LOR from someone who happens to be a physician for an applicant who worked in a healthcare setting as a scribe or whatever would carry less weight than any other letter.
Click to expand...

Multiple adcom members on here have said that a physician letter means pretty much nothing in the MD world. I think that pretty much anyone who puts in minimal effort can get a family friend who is a physician to write them a good letter, this is probably why they don't really carry weight. In the DO world they carry a lot more weight.
 
El-Rami said:
In what context? Are we talking about getting a LOR from a physician who knows the applicant (i.e. they are a patient or personally know the physician through a social network) or just in general? It would be very strange that a LOR from someone who happens to be a physician for an applicant who worked in a healthcare setting as a scribe or whatever would carry less weight than any other letter.
Click to expand...
Physician letters have rightfully earned the reputation of fluff.
They (we) love everybody, without regard to strengths or weaknesses. They are often from relatives or colleagues of the applicant's parents.

A professor or PI who happens to be a physician is fine.
There are a few MD schools (and some undergrad pre health committees) that request clinical letters and DO schools love DO letters.
 
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gyngyn said:
Physician letters have rightfully earned the reputation of fluff.
They love everybody, without regard to strengths or weaknesses. They are often from relatives or colleagues of the applicant's parents.

A professor or PI who happens to be a physician is fine.
There are a few MD schools (and some undergrad pre health committees) that request clinical letters and DO schools love DO letters.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, but that would apply to any letter from someone who just knows the applicant (i.e., not from a supervisor/boss, professor, etc.) because family friends simply won't say anything negative. Thus, it seemed rather strange about the advice against getting physician LORs.
 
El-Rami said:
That makes sense, but that would apply to any letter from someone who just knows the applicant (i.e., not from a supervisor/boss, professor, etc.) because family friends simply won't say anything negative. Thus, it seemed rather strange about the advice against getting physician LORs.
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Physician letters are the most common of source of fluff (aside from the lint trap).
 
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I know it's been a while since I've visited this post, but I have some questions about reapplying. How could I go about getting new LOR's from professors if I am now out of school and working? If anybody has experience with this, I would be appreciative of your advice.
 
ka118 said:
I know it's been a while since I've visited this post, but I have some questions about reapplying. How could I go about getting new LOR's from professors if I am now out of school and working? If anybody has experience with this, I would be appreciative of your advice.
Click to expand...
How far out are you from school? If you graduated recently, are there any professors from undergrad you could ask? Keep in mind: you don't just want a prof you took a class with once who you never spoke to and who probably doesn't remember you. You want someone who knows you and can attest to your good qualities.

If you need new LORs, you'll probably need to take a couple of classes and get to know the profs!
 
thatwouldbeanarchy said:
How far out are you from school? If you graduated recently, are there any professors from undergrad you could ask? Keep in mind: you don't just want a prof you took a class with once who you never spoke to and who probably doesn't remember you. You want someone who knows you and can attest to your good qualities.

If you need new LORs, you'll probably need to take a couple of classes and get to know the profs!
Click to expand...

I think I'll need to take classes, since the quality of letters would likely be poor if I were to ask recent professors. I graduated in December, but did not know any professors well enough. Unfortunately, the ones I knew best already wrote me letters for this current cycle. I need to spread my wings!
 
ka118 said:
I think I'll need to take classes, since the quality of letters would likely be poor if I were to ask recent professors. I graduated in December, but did not know any professors well enough. Unfortunately, the ones I knew best already wrote me letters for this current cycle. I need to spread my wings!
Click to expand...
That sounds like a good call. If I were you, I'd choose the cheapest college in my area that allows for non-degree enrollment and just pick up a couple of random, interesting science courses. (If it's science LORs that you're lacking)
 
thatwouldbeanarchy said:
That sounds like a good call. If I were you, I'd choose the cheapest college in my area that allows for non-degree enrollment and just pick up a couple of random, interesting science courses. (If it's science LORs that you're lacking)
Click to expand...

That's a great idea, thank you!
 
Why not explain your current situation to your letter writers and ask if they can write you very strong letters. I didn't get in last time but I kept my letter writers the same except I emphasized that I need specific characteristics, examples etc included in the letters and got a positive response from them. It's always good to update your letters anyways and why do you think your letters are the issue?
 
I would include maybe 3 more DOs next time. KCUMB, LECOM B, PCOM, AZCOM, TUNCOM for example. Of course your list will be different than this.

ka118 said:
Here is a list of MD schools I applied to:

UIC
Rush
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
Northwestern
MCW
Penn State
Indiana
Minnesota
Case Western
Emory
Georgetown
Keck (USC)
University of Miami

DO:
Midwestern
Michigan State

I am an Illinois resident and have my B.S. from U of I Urbana-Champaign

Looking back retrospectively, the list could have been thought out better. I feel very regretful now, and am looking for constructive advice to move forward!
Click to expand...
 
Dr Tony T. Chopper said:
I would include maybe 3 more DOs next time. KCUMB, LECOM B, PCOM, AZCOM, TUNCOM for example. Of course your list will be different than this.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the list. I'll definitely consider them and add more DO schools.
 
Add Marian to the list. It is not far from your target area.
 
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