School List Help/Advice (3.96/518 Reapplication)

[Pacaketurtle]

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Hey everyone, this is a bit of a repost since I previously got some advice but since it's getting closer to reapplication time, I'm looking for some school list help. This cycle I got 3 II's (ECU, UNC, and WVU). Was waitlisted at WVU, on hold/continued review for UNC and ECU (got all three interviews very early in the cycle). After my previous post, I have been volunteering as much as possible throughout the week at a local foodbank (both helping behind the scenes warehouse stuff and also helping to register new families to the food bank) and I am on track to have 250 to 300 hours of non-clincal volunteering as a conservative estimate by the time of applying. Also volunteering once a week at a hospital in the ED, will prob only have around 50 hours by the time I apply. For the following cycle, I am looking for advice on a revised school list. I want to add a handful of DO schools for hopefully some added safety and expand my school list to better my chances (finances are not too much a worry and I am confident I will have enough time to write solid enough secondaries for more schools). Also I am willing to take off a lot of the higher-tier schools if it's likely I still won't have a chance when I reapply.

Also I would appreciate some genuine input on my chances on a repeat cycle. I was pretty hopeful this past cycle and subsequently really disappointed when I only had 3 interviews and only from schools I had close ties to. I understand that non-clinical volunteering was a red flag in my previous application, but I am worried that only adding 250-300 hours of an activity will not have a significant enough impact to have a better cycle next time. I am gonna aim to have more but unfortunately the only nearby food bank is quite a drive and I only get about 4-5 hours a day at most with the shifts they offer.

1. cGPA/sGPA - ~3.96 for both
2. MCAT - 518 (131/127/129/131)
3. State residency -> NC with significant ties to WV and lesser ties to SC
4. ORM (White)
5. Undergrad -> Public NC, graduated 1.5 years ago
6. Clinical Experience -> 1,200 hours as a scribe in an ICU during college, about half of was as a senior scribe and later as a chief scribe (included this under leadership in application and discussed training others and other responsibilities)
7. Research -> ~800 hours in biology research, unrelated to medicine. Middle author publication in decently high-impact journal along with a solo verbal presentation at regional conference. ~450 hours in clinical research.
8. Shadowing -> 40 hours in Internal Medicine clinic
9. Non-clinical volunteering -> 150 hours of volunteer tutoring in college. Currently on track to have 250-300 hours of non-clincal volunteering at a local food bank (been volunteering as much as possible since late January)
10. Previously listed cooking as a hobby. Worked as a private tutor since applying, likely in the 400-600 hour range if I had to estimate.
11. N/A
12. Don't know if this matters but last cycle had absolutely no estimated hours on my application due to moving when applying. Will plan on estimating volunteer hours this time (nonclinical and clinical) and potential tutoring hours

School List:
Western Michigan
Eastern Virginia
MCW
WVU
Geisinger
Marshall
Vermont
SC Greenville
ECU Brody
UNC Chapel Hill
Wake Forest
SUNY Upstate
Pitt
Emory
Dartmouth
Cincinnati
Stony Brook
Colorado
Iowa
Ohio State
Case Western
Duke
Yale
Vanderbilt
Michigan
UVA
Northwestern

 

[Pacaketurtle]

Still looking for some advice and help if anyone is available to respond!

 

[wysdoc]

I’m not the school list guy, but you have already identified the reason schools passed you by this year, your lack of community service activity.

Make that your priority now to build up hours before May. “Estimated future hours” don’t help you.

In any reapplication essays, don’t “apologize for not knowing it was required”, but simply say “I have added to my readiness for medical school by spending time with….,”

 

[tracylawrenceEnthusiast97]

Your background looks pretty awesome and obviously you have no problem with your academics. Also just my 2 cents, but i think that your added hours in food bank work is plenty, especially since you get a lot of experience working with people in food bank volunteering. Very easy to speak to people skills learned in foodbank volunteering IMO.

I just applied TMDSAS, so I'm less familiar with admissions out of Texas, but I personally dont see anything wrong with your application other than that. Pretty cracked IMO. I would participate in any reapp workshops offered by schools you applied to bc maybe its a matter of your essay writing instead of anything about your record (Im saying this as someone who after submissions found out their essays sucked). Could also consider if you submitted late

 

[Pacaketurtle]

I’m not the school list guy, but you have already identified the reason schools passed you by this year, your lack of community service activity.

Make that your priority now to build up hours before May. “Estimated future hours” don’t help you.

In any reapplication essays, don’t “apologize for not knowing it was required”, but simply say “I have added to my readiness for medical school by spending time with….,”

Thanks for the advice. I’m definitely working to build up hours before I submit and like I highlighted, will prob have 250 (or hopefully more) by the time I apply. Is this a good amount to likely have more success in a follow-up cycle?

 

[Pacaketurtle]

Your background looks pretty awesome and obviously you have no problem with your academics. Also just my 2 cents, but i think that your added hours in food bank work is plenty, especially since you get a lot of experience working with people in food bank volunteering. Very easy to speak to people skills learned in foodbank volunteering IMO.

I just applied TMDSAS, so I'm less familiar with admissions out of Texas, but I personally dont see anything wrong with your application other than that. Pretty cracked IMO. I would participate in any reapp workshops offered by schools you applied to bc maybe its a matter of your essay writing instead of anything about your record (Im saying this as someone who after submissions found out their essays sucked). Could also consider if you submitted late

Thanks for the response and confidence boost lol. I submitted like 3 days after amcas opened and secondaries within 2 weeks and plan to do the same next cycle. I’m also looking to ask ECU and UNC for reapp advice if I do end up getting waitlisted and have my personal statement professionally reviewed after I revise it.

 

[wysdoc]

Thanks for the advice. I’m definitely working to build up hours before I submit and like I highlighted, will prob have 250 (or hopefully more) by the time I apply. Is this a good amount to likely have more success in a follow-up cycle?

Yes it sounds like enough

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You should be able to apply to most established DO schools along the east coast, including (but don't limit yourself):
WVSOM
Campbell
VCOM (check out satellite in SC too)
PCOM (has satellite in Georgia)
Pikeville COM

Your metrics should help you especially with your in-states. If you have connections to WV, who knows but you could get pulled off that list because not that many people are enamored of West Virginia. Trust the process.

You're doing fine with continuing service orientation activities (food bank) during this past cycle and continuing. Hope it builds to your statement of purpose as a future physician.

 

[Pacaketurtle]

You should be able to apply to most established DO schools along the east coast, including (but don't limit yourself):
WVSOM
Campbell
VCOM (check out satellite in SC too)
PCOM (has satellite in Georgia)
Pikeville COM

Your metrics should help you especially with your in-states. If you have connections to WV, who knows but you could get pulled off that list because not that many people are enamored of West Virginia. Trust the process.

You're doing fine with continuing service orientation activities (food bank) during this past cycle and continuing. Hope it builds to your statement of purpose as a future physician.

I will definitely look at applying to those schools. Regarding DO schools, do people with high stats tend to get yield protected or is it likely to get multiple interviews? I don’t have any direct DO connection like shadowing but hoping I can still show interest.

Also what percentage of my MD list should have higher tier schools. Last cycle I think it was close to 25% or something but I didn’t get anything from them so idk if I should really limit it to only a few and focus on a high amount of mid/low tier schools.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I will definitely look at applying to those schools. Regarding DO schools, do people with high stats tend to get yield protected or is it likely to get multiple interviews? I don’t have any direct DO connection like shadowing but hoping I can still show interest.

Also what percentage of my MD list should have higher tier schools. Last cycle I think it was close to 25% or something but I didn’t get anything from them so idk if I should really limit it to only a few and focus on a high amount of mid/low tier schools.

Most DO schools know that applicants will generally prefer MD over DO, so your application needs to address this to avoid yield protection. We're used to having commitments drop out all the way up to orientation (or even after orientation).

Mission fit still matters. For many of the ones I listed, you are within their region. WV doesn't get many applicants, so if you are sincerely interested in living in WV for medical school, WVSOM is an appropriate choice with WVU.

 

[Pacaketurtle]

And what are your thoughts on my second question? I would like to apply to handful of higher tier schools but don’t know if I have a chance even with the addition of volunteering.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

And what are your thoughts on my second question? I would like to apply to handful of higher tier schools but don’t know if I have a chance even with the addition of volunteering.

I don't think I can answer it without seeing your application. You're trying to level up, so I need to see your application profile meets that standard. That's why you need at least the volunteering hours and reflections that show your alignment with purpose and mission.

It sounds like you'll still be willing to throw a few thousand of your credit card money to those schools to make you feel better. So do you really want advice or affirmation?

 

[Pacaketurtle]

I don't think I can answer it without seeing your application. You're trying to level up, so I need to see your application profile meets that standard. That's why you need at least the volunteering hours and reflections that show your alignment with purpose and mission.

It sounds like you'll still be willing to throw a few thousand of your credit card money to those schools to make you feel better. So do you really want advice or affirmation?

Just looking for any guidance on how much to add, that’s all. There’s a difference between throwing 2 or 3 top tiers in my list versus maybe 7-10 and didn’t know whether it was worth doing the latter but thanks anyways

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Just looking for any guidance on how much to add, that’s all. There’s a difference between throwing 2 or 3 top tiers in my list versus maybe 7-10 and didn’t know whether it was worth doing the latter but thanks anyways

Understood... holding the fort until @Faha comments on your list. Again, fingers crossed... trust the process.

 

[Faha]

I would be surprised if you do not receive an acceptance from 1 of those 3 waitlists. There is a lot of waitlist movement beginning in late April. If no acceptance by late May let us know and we can advise further.