Should I still apply for 2011?

[claus1225]

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Dear all,

I am getting ready to submit my primary application. I know my chance is not good at this stage of game.

Should I wait for next cycle?


Does reapplying actually hurt my chance?

thanks,
claus

 

[FIREitUP]

1) yes
2) yes

 

[ucsfstudents]

You can still apply if you are a strong applicant. Otherwise, apply next year and do so early in the cycle.

 

[bucks2010]

Depends on where you want to go and how competitive it is. I have some friends that applied to the local state school in the fall and got accepted. If you're looking at more competitive schools, this may be a more risky option. If you want to give yourself the most options, I would apply next June 1.

 

[FruitfulDynamit]

Last year I submitted my primary around this time (maybe a week before). I applied to 11 allopathic schools and got 5 interviews. The schools I didn't get interviews at were a bit of a stretch anyway - I probably wouldn't've had a chance no matter how early I applied. I wasn't rejected from any school I interviewed at, so I would say go for it. Just maybe pick schools that you're a competitive applicant for.

 

[slowbutsteady]

If you are a 3.9/38 kind of applicant with all the rest of the good stuff, maybe.

If not, wait.

My friend was 3.8/37 from Michigan and applied around this time. He only got 3 interviews and 2 waitlists.

He eventually got accepted off one waitlist in March!!

 

[Myuu]

I reaaaaally, really wouldn't. I've done it and it isn't pretty.

 

[Myuu]

For schools with rolling admissions, yes, interviews are offered throughout the cycle, but the number of spots dwindles as time goes on. Thus, netting one of those late interviews is more difficult. Even with stellar numbers, the number of interviews you will get applying at this point would probably be decreased relative to the number you would get applying at the beginning of the same cycle.

As I was saying, I would hold off on this cycle, do something nice for your app (or for you, which is pretty much the same thing, unless it's something that's impossible to spin into a positive), and apply early and broadly next year.

 

[Catalystik]

Depends on where you want to go and how competitive it is. I have some friends that applied to the local state school in the fall and got accepted. If you're looking at more competitive schools, this may be a more risky option. If you want to give yourself the most options, I would apply next June 1.

Agreed.

I know very competitive folks who applied late to their state schools and got nowhere.

Not knowing anything about how competitive you are or how competitive your preferred schools are makes it difficult to correctly gauge your chances.

 

[FIREitUP]

I COMPLETELY DISAGREE with number 2 bolded above.

Depends on where you are applying. Sometimes they say if you reapply and improve what you had weaker at many schools you have a higher shot then someone who is in a similar situation who applied the first time.

I've seen this true in Fl. many times. Really depends on the school. Some schools like Harvard and loyola have a 2 time applying rule only and after that you can't reapply. but others don't. so it depends where you are applying.

As per number 1, yes you'd be really late in the game at this point and I'm talking not even verified til october and therefore not getting secondaries til really late and therefore not even complete til most of interview season is done. Unless you are a super star applicant like my friend when she applied with a 95th percentile MCAT score from a top tier university with a high ugrad and grad GPA and extensive ECs that made her strong for the schools she chose to apply to, you will be at a disadvantage. If you have an app like hers you may still stand a shot for late interviews and acceptances.

Also keep in mind this is an EXPENSIVE COSTLY process. you will not be spending under a 1000 dollars. But probably well over such to apply to med school. As such ask yourself if it is worth it to wait another year, strengthen your app, and apply early? i'd probably do such if I were you.

I see you've taken issue with number 2, but have not offered any rationale as to why, save for saying that some schools prefer reapplicants (which I doubt). It is well known that reapplicants face an uphill battle where their application is scrutinized much more thoroughly and critically. Why accept someone who failed to get into med school a previous year when you can pick someone who has a clean record?

 

[Myuu]

I see you've taken issue with number 2, but have not offered any rationale as to why, save for saying that some schools prefer reapplicants (which I doubt). It is well known that reapplicants face an uphill battle where their application is scrutinized much more thoroughly and critically. Why accept someone who failed to get into med school a previous year when you can pick someone who has a clean record?

I believe you have misunderstood this statement. If a reapplicant can demonstrate significant improvement over his year off, he or she may have a better shot at a future application. This is not to say that he would have a better chance over other fresh applicants with similar applications.

 

[FIREitUP]

I believe you have misunderstood this statement. If a reapplicant can demonstrate significant improvement over his year off, he or she may have a better shot at a future application. This is not to say that he would have a better chance over other fresh applicants with similar applications.

that's my point exactly. if the OP doesn't reapply he will stand a better chance than an applicant with the same exact credentials who did reapply.

 

[Astarael]

I see you've taken issue with number 2, but have not offered any rationale as to why, save for saying that some schools prefer reapplicants (which I doubt). It is well known that reapplicants face an uphill battle where their application is scrutinized much more thoroughly and critically. Why accept someone who failed to get into med school a previous year when you can pick someone who has a clean record?

Anecdotally, I've heard that reapplicants to schools around my area (Midwest) tend to have a better shot. In fact, I believe my state school is about 60/40 first time to reapplicants. The theory I've heard tossed around is that applying for a second time shows dedication: since the application process is such a huge hurdle, it weeds out the last line of people who aren't really serious about it. I guess some people might apply once to see if they could do it, but you have to be quite serious about getting into medical school to apply a second time.

That being said, the OP should also take into account how quickly the primary application could be submitted. If you clicked the submit button today, it might not be a terrible idea to do so. More likely is that it would take you some time to get all of your transcripts in and your personal statement written and edited. If that is the case, you're pushing into October, and then you'll have a pretty hard time of it.

 

[wanderer]

Re: applying now. Don't do it. Like others said, if you are a superstar you can get in, but your last year before the next stage in your life will be that much more stressful. Also applying now might lock you up and prevent you from making long commitments to research, jobs etc.

Re: reapplying. It's all about how you change what you do from year to year. I'm a reapplicant and have so far received over 10 interviews (I applied to ~ 25 schools), and they are all before the end of October. I do have great numbers but subtle improvements in my app have reassured adcoms that I am not "damaged goods." Being a reapp is only bad if you fail to show improvement. Also, it does provide for good things to say at an interview (how you've grown from it, what you learned, why it would make you a better doctor/med student, commitment, persistence...) Maybe being a second reapp is worse than the first time, but I have no experience in that manner. In any case, don't gamble away your money by applying this year.