Running out of time to revamp app...

[MsTaco]

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Yay! My first post...here goes...

So, here's my dilemma...I'm reapplying this year after a very half-hearted attempt at application last year, but I can't say my application has changed very much. The problem is that I'm finishing my second year of Teach for America, which has eaten about 80 hours a week of my time since September, and not left me with any time to address any of the weaknesses on my app. Here's a brief summary of my app last year:

GPA 3.5
MCAT 12 PS, 11 BS, 10 VR
Cum 1 year of international health related volunteering
Started/ran non-profit on college campus addressing disparities in health
2+ years of research, including 2 awards/scholarships and honors thesis, but no publications
1 year hospice volunteering
misc medical/non-medical volunteering, campus leadership
Teach for America teacher

So a major problem with my app was simply that I really didn't have time to apply on top of teaching, and so was slow with secondaries. That's any easy one to fix; this year I won't slack and will get it in early. Another problem is my GPA, although it showed a strong upward trend (3.1 freshman year - 3.9 senior year). I will be retaking the MCAT in 2 weeks (eek!), and hoping to score between 35-37, based on practice exams. And I recently received a job offer from a lab in my choice med school, so I'll probably be doing that starting in July. But other than those 2 things, I didn't change my app at all 🙁

So basically, its May, and I want to submit my AMCAS as soon as it opens...so I'm out of time. My question is, what should I focus on in the next few months to improve my application? Is there anything I could do between now and June so that med schools wont throw me out?

 

[BrightHelix]

I am a re-applicant and TFA corps member finishing up my 2nd year in New York City. I applied during this past cycle and was accepted to my top choice school. I really did not change much in my application between my first and second cycles, but after a year of teaching, I was able to strongly emphasize TFA and my teaching experience in both my application and interview.

During all of my interviews, we spent nearly the entire time talking about TFA. I would be happy to help you out with anything related to your application. BTW, what region are you in?

-Shawn

 

[ChairmanMao]

It sounds like you're crunched for time what with retaking your MCAT and gaining clinical and research experience. If you absolutely can't find any way to improve your application, I can suggest that you take 2 years off and apply to medical school next June. That way, you have a year to focus on improving your application. You can spend more time (3-4 months) studying for the MCAT and take it much later this summer or next spring. You can work at the lab and do volunteering/shadowing (trust me, lab work offers very flexible schedule) for a year. You might not like, but given the fact that you only have a months to improve your application, I don't see how it would be possible for you to make substantial changes to your application or your clinical experience until at least next year.

 

[Food]

I don't think you'll have to take two years off. Listen to the guy who did TFA and was able to stress it in his application. 80 hrs / week of TFA is not a small thing - honestly.