Hey all,
So I am currently sitting on 2 waitlists, and as much as I can hope and dream I will get off of one, I have to be realistic and start thinking about reapplying. I'm just wondering from anyone out there who reapplied and then got accepted, what sort of improvements did you make to your app? Did you wait a full year before reapplying? I feel that I've already made significant improvements as far as volunteering/patient exposure goes in the last few months, unfortunately a lot of schools will not accept updates. Also my MCAT is a 29R, - currently enrolled in a June 21st one, focusing on Verbal and Physical (got 9's in both). Any input anyone can give me would be sooooooooo appreciated.
Reapplicant here. Last year I got 3 interviews, 1 rejection, and 2 waitlists with no luck. Instead of focusing on just applying to medical schools, I spent a good deal of time continually doing things to become a better applicant, and equally as importantly refining my motivations for pursuing such a demanding career. If there are no major differences between this application and the one you will have to submit in 2 months, then don't submit. Take a year off, like some people are saying, to expand your horizons, collect yourself, and come into the subsequent cycle guns blazing.
What I did between cycles was: become involved in the community doing something that you have a connection with. As someone who struggled with illness in my adolescent years, I helped develop a support group for adolescents who spend a good deal of time in the hospital. If you can, get involved with research -- don't worry about publishing, but it CAN be a huge boon to your application if you can manage it. Don't count on getting published in a little over a year though. Again, find something that interests you and see if you have connections with research faculty, or if not, send out some emails or phone calls. There are many, many researchers out there that drool over a free pair of hands to run their ELISAs and collect data.
😉 It also may help you pick up a new letter of recommendation or two.
The other thing I did was pursue a major personal goal -- for me it was racing a marathon. You don't have to run a marathon, but pick a goal. Set your sights realistically high and accomplish what you set out to do. It not only gives you something unique to talk about, but also shows that you are not a pre-med robot...that you're a real person who has passions and can adequately organize your lifestyle for such tasks.
Most importantly, apply EARLY, and apply BROADLY. This is probably some of the first advice you ever heard, but it is one of the easiest ways you can bolster your odds. Apply to as many schools as you can afford to without breaking the bank (remember you still have to go interview...and the whole not starving thing...).
Whatever you do, NEVER stop improving yourself as an applicant, and as a person. If you keep growing, your resume will begin to speak for itself.
This year I received 7 interviews, and have thus far gotten 2 acceptances, 4 waitlists...and 1 school I've yet to interview at
😱 If you really want to make this a reality, it's going to take sacrifice from where you are, but it is more than possible.
. Good luck to us both..
