Should I continue with my (late) app this cycle, or push back to next year?

[kswyjc]

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Hi there,

I just submitted my primary Jul 31 to one school. I meant to apply way earlier, but I guess my personal statement took me way longer to write than I expected, plus certain life circumstances changed too. But yeah, I guess I'm wondering -- how much of a disadvantage am I at with this timeline? As things are going, it looks like AMCAS is behind compared to last year (based on tracker), and it looks like my app might not be verified until early-mid September, and I'm not sure about the secondary turnaround. So even if I pre-write my secondaries, it seems like there is a good chance my app is submitted early-mid September.

My sGPA is borderline (kinda like- 4.0 freshman at a regular school, but then 3.6X at a grade-deflating ivy w/o upward sGPA trend, actually slight downward sGPA trend), MCAT is 519 (130/130/127/132). I'm a NY resident, but SUNY's and NYMC likey won't accept my online physics 2 prereq (I haven't asked, but their policy says no... I might still ask, but I would be surprised). I graduated 2023, so it's been a few gap years (I wasn't always sure I was premed). I did AmeriCorps and have most of my clinical experience and service experience from that, and I'm looking at schools that are service-oriented. I have some research but not a ton. I'm not URM

I guess I'm wondering... should I cancel my app and apply next cycle? I could possibly take physics 2 at a community college and open the door to the NY friendly schools, plus I could submit earlier at schools like Tulane that are a good fit but I've heard fill up seats quickly.

This cycle, these are my realistic and best fit schools that I've found:
Loyola
Georgetown
George Washington
Rush - but I don't think they'll take my AP English credit :/
Creighton
Tulane
Drexel
Temple Katz
Rosalind Franklin

There are some others too that are probably a good fit, but I think these are the core (happy to hear any suggestions tho). Also, if I did apply to some schools and then reapply earlier next year... does it look bad if, for example, my personal statement has the same introduction? I would likely change up my personal statement somewhat if I get more clinical experience, but I feel like I talk about my first exposure to medicine in the beginning, and IDK if schools will expect me to have a significantly different application. This is part of why I'm thinking it might be better to apply next year.

I'm also thinking about DO, and I know they have a later cycle. I think the specialties I'm most interested in (primary care, family med, peds, neurology) are DO friendly, but I'm not sure if I'll change my mind later and become interested in a non-DO friendly specialty, so I'm kinda on the fence if I should just apply DO only this cycle?

I would appreciate any thoughts and advice. Thank you 🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously

K

Thread 'WAMC - Need more clinical experience'

Jul 25, 2024

Hi there,

I’m looking for some help planning my med school app. I’m planning to apply next application season.

Some things about me:

• Graduated spring of 2023, GPA ~3.75 - 3.8 (a bit unsure of this- my school uses A+ and my first year, I was at another university, but I think it’s somewhere right below 3.8 or at 3.8; my science GPA is 3.7X)
• In college, I did some hospital volunteering for ~80-90 hours with screening patients for COVID and delivering meals, and some peer support volunteering at a mental health peer group for ~45 hours. It was kind of sporadic, like some months I...

• kswyjc

 

[kswyjc]

Previously

K

Thread 'WAMC - Need more clinical experience'

Jul 25, 2024

Hi there,

I’m looking for some help planning my med school app. I’m planning to apply next application season.

Some things about me:

• Graduated spring of 2023, GPA ~3.75 - 3.8 (a bit unsure of this- my school uses A+ and my first year, I was at another university, but I think it’s somewhere right below 3.8 or at 3.8; my science GPA is 3.7X)
• In college, I did some hospital volunteering for ~80-90 hours with screening patients for COVID and delivering meals, and some peer support volunteering at a mental health peer group for ~45 hours. It was kind of sporadic, like some months I...

• kswyjc

I'm not sure what you mean? The lack of clinical experience? I have a lot since then - I also was confused about how hours count for clinical experience, so I actually have hundreds from AmeriCorps

But what do you think about the late app situation?

 

[Goro]

Hi there,

I just submitted my primary Jul 31 to one school. I meant to apply way earlier, but I guess my personal statement took me way longer to write than I expected, plus certain life circumstances changed too. But yeah, I guess I'm wondering -- how much of a disadvantage am I at with this timeline? As things are going, it looks like AMCAS is behind compared to last year (based on tracker), and it looks like my app might not be verified until early-mid September, and I'm not sure about the secondary turnaround. So even if I pre-write my secondaries, it seems like there is a good chance my app is submitted early-mid September.

My sGPA is borderline (kinda like- 4.0 freshman at a regular school, but then 3.6X at a grade-deflating ivy w/o upward sGPA trend, actually slight downward sGPA trend), MCAT is 519 (130/130/127/132). I'm a NY resident, but SUNY's and NYMC likey won't accept my online physics 2 prereq (I haven't asked, but their policy says no... I might still ask, but I would be surprised). I graduated 2023, so it's been a few gap years (I wasn't always sure I was premed). I did AmeriCorps and have most of my clinical experience and service experience from that, and I'm looking at schools that are service-oriented. I have some research but not a ton. I'm not URM

I guess I'm wondering... should I cancel my app and apply next cycle? I could possibly take physics 2 at a community college and open the door to the NY friendly schools, plus I could submit earlier at schools like Tulane that are a good fit but I've heard fill up seats quickly.

This cycle, these are my realistic and best fit schools that I've found:
Loyola
Georgetown
George Washington
Rush - but I don't think they'll take my AP English credit :/
Creighton
Tulane
Drexel
Temple Katz
Rosalind Franklin

There are some others too that are probably a good fit, but I think these are the core (happy to hear any suggestions tho). Also, if I did apply to some schools and then reapply earlier next year... does it look bad if, for example, my personal statement has the same introduction? I would likely change up my personal statement somewhat if I get more clinical experience, but I feel like I talk about my first exposure to medicine in the beginning, and IDK if schools will expect me to have a significantly different application. This is part of why I'm thinking it might be better to apply next year.

I'm also thinking about DO, and I know they have a later cycle. I think the specialties I'm most interested in (primary care, family med, peds, neurology) are DO friendly, but I'm not sure if I'll change my mind later and become interested in a non-DO friendly specialty, so I'm kinda on the fence if I should just apply DO only this cycle?

I would appreciate any thoughts and advice. Thank you 🙂

Apply to DO only if you get shut out this cycle.

APPLY NOW to MD!

 

[LunaOri]

UMass, UVM, and Dartmouth are all possibilities.

 

[Faha]

Take the physics course at a local college this year and add the SUNYs next week.

 

[kswyjc]

Apply to DO only if you get shut out this cycle.

APPLY NOW to MD!

Thank you for your reply. I'm wondering why you think I should apply now rather than next year? I guess the main thing is that, with how long it took me to write a PS that I think best reflects why I want to go to medical school, I honestly have no idea how I would re-write it if I needed to re-apply. So if I had to re-do it specifically b/c my application was late, when I could've just applied next year with just some touch ups and updates, I feel like that would be pretty bad.

I guess also maybe, it would be less problematic to be late if my app was perfect, but with my borderline sGPA, doesn't it become more of a risk? When I transferred in my soph year, my sGPA became kinda dicey with B in physics 1, B+ in physics 2, gen chem 2, orgo 2, and biochem, & B- in orgo lab. Lots of these were junior/senior year. I have A/A- in biology courses which brings me to a 3.6X sGPA at that university, but most of the other prereqs might be an issue

 

[GoSpursGo]

Take the physics course at a local college this year and add the SUNYs next week.

Agree with this

 

[kswyjc]

Take the physics course at a local college this year and add the SUNYs next week.

Agree with this

Will they consider it if I haven't indicate on primary that I'm enrolled in that?

Idk. It's hard to decide if I should do this, b/c I'm really not a physics person. I could only pull off a B+ in physics 2 at my university, and it's a harder school, but I'm afraid if I don't get A/A- in physics 2 now that it will look extra bad to other schools that would've taken my online class anyway

 

[GoSpursGo]

It seems like you’re asking permission to take another gap year. If you’ll feel more confident next year then you don’t need our permission to take it. You lose a year of your MCAT’s eligibility, and your concern about pulling an A on your physics 2 retake will not change regardless of whether you’re applying this year or not, so there are real downsides to waiting and real downsides to rushing a relatively late application. Ultimately up to you.

 

[kswyjc]

It seems like you’re asking permission to take another gap year. If you’ll feel more confident next year then you don’t need our permission to take it. You lose a year of your MCAT’s eligibility, and your concern about pulling an A on your physics 2 retake will not change regardless of whether you’re applying this year or not, so there are real downsides to waiting and real downsides to rushing a relatively late application. Ultimately up to you.

I guess that's what I'm leaning towards, because I feel I have a better understanding of the application process now, I could apply earlier, have more time to research schools etc.
I just took the MCAT this year, so I feel like that's not the biggest concern? I'm not sure if there is anything else - Does time since undergrad GPA matter?

 

[Goro]

I guess that's what I'm leaning towards, because I feel I have a better understanding of the application process now, I could apply earlier, have more time to research schools etc.
I just took the MCAT this year, so I feel like that's not the biggest concern? I'm not sure if there is anything else - Does time since undergrad GPA matter?

OK, apply when you ready to apply.

 

[LunaOri]

I guess that's what I'm leaning towards, because I feel I have a better understanding of the application process now, I could apply earlier, have more time to research schools etc.
I just took the MCAT this year, so I feel like that's not the biggest concern? I'm not sure if there is anything else - Does time since undergrad GPA matter?

For some schools, prerequisites expire, but that’s up to the individual school

 

[Faha]

Will they consider it if I haven't indicate on primary that I'm enrolled in that?

Idk. It's hard to decide if I should do this, b/c I'm really not a physics person. I could only pull off a B+ in physics 2 at my university, and it's a harder school, but I'm afraid if I don't get A/A- in physics 2 now that it will look extra bad to other schools that would've taken my online class anyway

The course only needs to be completed before you matriculate at a medical school.