SMP/DIY post-bacc or retake MCAT? Both?

[Heisenburger]

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Hey SDN, avid reader here. Unsuccessful cycle with a broad list. Will apply much earlier in the cycle next time around but I'm looking for any advice to make it a confident cycle rather than a hopeful applicant with my fingers crossed.

The breakdown:

CA resident

508 MCAT (125/128/128/127)

My university gpa is a ~3.6c/3.4s in my last semester of undergraduate, with one (very) bad semester Freshman year that motivated my maturation as an academic. Earned As in all upper level science courses except Orgo (B+). 4.0 the last two semesters, should graduate with a university gpa of 3.6/3.45.

Unfortunately I took a bunch of dual-enrollment CC classes while in high school that pull my AMCAS gpa down (3.5/3.3).

ECs:

~500 hours paid assisted-living dementia care
~300 hours paid lab-technician
-Two summers of strong research that will eventually (not yet) end up with 2-3 publications (one in high-impact journal)
- One poster at a state-level conference, one at university-level conference
~150 hours of repeated mission trips
-100+ hours shadowing
-250+ hours of local volunteering
-multiple leadership positions on campus

How do I knock my next application cycle out of the park? Also, if we could refrain from quoting this post that would be much appreciated.


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[candbgirl]

Where did you apply? When did you have complete applications? Did you apply to any DO schools? Did you get any interviews and if so what were the results?


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[Heisenburger]

@candbgirl I submitted my primary to a broad range of mostly lower tier schools recommended to me by adcoms on this forum and a few reach schools. A financial hiccup (now resolved) led to me being very frugal with my secondaries, only completing 7 at the more realistic school options by mid-September and planning to reapply earlier/broader confidently with stronger stats. No luck on those 7 schools, which leads us to here. I welcome any advice.


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[candbgirl]

Well without knowing the schools it's impossible to say for sure but I'd think you didn't apply to enough schools. California residents have a difficult time getting invites and acceptances to Cali schools so they usually apply to many OOS private schools. So hopefully you'll be able to apply to many more schools this cycle. You should also think about applying to some DO schools.


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