Should I focus on the MCAT or other parts of the application?

[aurevoir0711]

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[Cinemed]

I think you should keep your head up and re-apply with what you've got. Your app overall is great. You're staying active in the field by working as a scribe, which is awesome; the main thing is to "grow" as an applicant if you do end up taking a gap year, and be able to articulate that very clearly. Beyond that, focus on your timeliness and the impact of your essays. Seek professional assistance in your writing. I considered myself a great writer (a published one, too), but my undergrad's resources were very helpful for making a quality and impactful first impression in my essay. Lastly, obviously get the LOR from the doc you're a scribe for. 🙂

 

[sss1219]

Your MCAT is fine, especially with that GPA. Also, your app solid even without the new work, but I do think it will help with showing commitment. Honestly perplexed with why you received little luck, did you get an IIs at all?

It'd be helpful to see your school list. Also, do you have any IAs?

 

[aurevoir0711]

I think you should keep your head up and re-apply with what you've got. Your app overall is great. You're staying active in the field by working as a scribe, which is awesome; the main thing is to "grow" as an applicant if you do end up taking a gap year, and be able to articulate that very clearly. Beyond that, focus on your timeliness and the impact of your essays. Seek professional assistance in your writing. I considered myself a great writer (a published one, too), but my undergrad's resources were very helpful for making a quality and impactful first impression in my essay. Lastly, obviously get the LOR from the doc you're a scribe for. 🙂

Thank you so much. I can definitely see where you are coming from as I considered myself as a decent (not great) writer. It has been a priceless experience working as a medical scribe. It made me re-consider prejudice and wrong expectations I had about being a physician. I am so glad that I was given this opportunity to work as a scribe.

 

[aurevoir0711]

Your MCAT is fine, especially with that GPA. Also, your app solid even without the new work, but I do think it will help with showing commitment. Honestly perplexed with why you received little luck, did you get an IIs at all?

It'd be helpful to see your school list. Also, do you have any IAs?

No II at all. Adcoms probably did not like lack of my commitment to medicine previously. My clinical volunteer hour was very low (~180 hours) and was done in a very short amount of time (7 months).

Here are almost complete list of schools I applied to this cycle:

Tufts, George Washington, Temple, USC (Keck), Georgetown, Rush, Rosalind Franklin, Drexel, UAB, VCU, UVA, Loyola, Miami, USF, UCF, SLU, Jefferson, and state schools

 

[aurevoir0711]

I'm astonished that you didn't score several interviews, even with bad primaries/secondaries Are your LOR writers put in a good word for you?

I think they probably wrote decent LORs for me, but all came from academic professors and I doubt the LORs had much variations to it. I think the key failure may have been lack of commitment to medicine since I did not have significant clinical hours. I did have more than enough, but my time frame was very short (less than a year). Unfortunately, the MCAT did not help either, which is why I asked for advice here...

 

[CandH23]

I think they probably wrote decent LORs for me, but all came from academic professors and I doubt the LORs had much variations to it. I think the key failure may have been lack of commitment to medicine since I did not have significant clinical hours. I did have more than enough, but my time frame was very short (less than a year). Unfortunately, the MCAT did not help either, which is why I asked for advice here...

180 hours of clinical experience over 7 months isn't even bad though. Maybe it was the cars + rushed essay/secondaries?

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

Just apply early and spend the time to write well.

 

[892002]

Try applying more broadly next time. I made the mistake this year of applying to too many top schools, and am regretting the decision. Your overall application looks fine. I'm guessing your essays are what's preventing you from getting an II.

 

[Trollest]

No II at all. Adcoms probably did not like lack of my commitment to medicine previously. My clinical volunteer hour was very low (~180 hours) and was done in a very short amount of time (7 months).

Here are almost complete list of schools I applied to this cycle:

Tufts, George Washington, Temple, USC (Keck), Georgetown, Rush, Rosalind Franklin, Drexel, UAB, VCU, UVA, Loyola, Miami, USF, UCF, SLU, Jefferson, and state schools

OP sorry if I may have missed this. But do you have any non clinical hours? As a non trad, I am positive that you know that our apps have to be EC heavy