So I waited too long.. Now I need some advice for next year.

[MikeJY]

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Okay, so here's my situation.

I had a 3.87 BCPM GPA and a 3.88 Overall with a 33Q MCAT. I applied rather late in the cycle, primary submitted end of August and secondaries completed November-December. As such, I got rejected almost everywhere and waitlisted at 3 schools. I think the main problem was how late I waited, and I've had interviewers confirm this by asking me why I waited since I would had great chances for my state schools at least if I only applied earlier.

I'm not going to make that mistake again, but I had a few questions. Would it look badly if I reused most, if not all, of the content in my personal statement and secondary essays? I think the rest of my application is strong for where I want to go, but would I really need to rewrite answers for schools where I will re-apply?

Also, I saw that the AMCAS will be available early May again. Does anyone know when the absolute earliest the primary can be submitted in June?

Thanks for the help, SDN. 🙂

 

[searun]

If you are a reapplicant, you have a stigma. You are expected to upgrade your application significantly. It would be a mistake to just submit the same application and blame this past year on applying late. You need to show improvement in the quality of your application, or you will find yourself in this same situation next March.

 

[MikeJY]

Well, I'm not really sure how significantly I can improve my numbers, because I think that's the best I can do. I'm not the type of person to score crazy numbers on the MCAT, and it will be difficult for me to improve my GPA as I already have 120+ hours grounding that 3.8.

What can I do, really? Should I start volunteering, and such? What if I don't reapply to the same schools? In that case, do I still have to enter "Yes" to the new schools' questions on whether I am a re-applicant?

 

[searun]

OP, your numbers are fine and are competitive at most schools. Are you confident that you have strong letters of recommendation? I would start by increasing my clinical exposure significantly, possibly get involved in a research project, and get involved in some substantial volunteer activity. Where are you weakest? It is not your gpa or your MCAT. Figure out how to make your application stronger. And, yes, apply earlier, with a better application.

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=358485

specifically, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5130970&postcount=7

 

[chicubsfan]

I would call schools at which you were rejected just to make sure there are no big weaknesses in your application you aren't aware of, such as a bad letter/poorly worded ECs/etc. That way you can ensure success next cycle (with an earlier application, of course!) Good luck

 

[boaz]

It may be partly due to the lag between completion of the primary and secondaries. When schools notice the secondary took a lot of time to complete they may wonder if you're really interested.
For the next cycle, I'd say get some more clinical experience, rewrite your PS, and maybe get some new LORs in case that might be an issue.

 

[flip26]

I think the rest of my application is strong for where I want to go...

And where would that be? Your state schools? Or is it Harvard?

What can I do, really? Should I start volunteering, and such?

Umm, yes. What have you been doing for the last 6 months?

 

[Davydude7]

You should be doing all of the things that it takes to get in to med school right now. You should be volunteering. You should be shadowing. You should be polishing your personal statement. You should be working on your interview answers via mock interviews, or whatever works for you. If you have already graduated, or will be graduating in May, you should have something to fill your time, a job, research, more classes, etc. Your interviewers will be curious as to what you have been doing with your free time if you are no longer in school. You want to go into this next app cycle with no regrets. Do absolutely everything you can to get in, so you don't have to go for a third app cycle. Don't use the late application as an excuse to just resell what you have already accomplished. Good luck!

 

[Latuza]

I will share with you my story, don't know exactly what you're supposed to take away from it though. Surely applying early would vastly improve your chances.

First year I applied late b/c I took the late Aug MCAT. My MCAT and GPA are all lower than yours. First year I received no interviews.

Second year I reapplied with the same MCAT and GPA, but early. I added 3 new activities and had 1 new letter of rec. My personal statement was 80% the same. However, I worked hard to improve my secondary apps.

second year I had 3 interviews, 2 from new schools I applied to and 1 from an old state school.

I think you're fine with your numbers. Add a new letter and some activities, but most of all draw from your experiences and package yourself in some coherent sense to sell and market yourself.

 

[robrobbberts]

OP, your numbers are fine and are competitive at most schools. Are you confident that you have strong letters of recommendation? I would start by increasing my clinical exposure significantly, possibly get involved in a research project, and get involved in some substantial volunteer activity. Where are you weakest? It is not your gpa or your MCAT. Figure out how to make your application stronger. And, yes, apply earlier, with a better application.

This is exactly the advice I was going to give.

 

[DrSmooth]

Well, I'm not really sure how significantly I can improve my numbers, because I think that's the best I can do. I'm not the type of person to score crazy numbers on the MCAT, and it will be difficult for me to improve my GPA as I already have 120+ hours grounding that 3.8.

What can I do, really? Should I start volunteering, and such? What if I don't reapply to the same schools? In that case, do I still have to enter "Yes" to the new schools' questions on whether I am a re-applicant?

It sounds like you think you only need a decent GPA and MCAT score to get into medical school. As others are saying, there is a lot more you need to be doing like volunteering, research, community service, etc. And definitely don't just recycle your old application, I'm sure you have grown and had new experiences in a whole year's time. Also, figure out what went wrong with your interviews. If you don't get an acceptance out of 3 interviews you are not doing something right. The interview is your time, it is the one thing that is almost totally in your control. Also, it sounds like you are giving up on your wait lists. Most wait lists don't really open up until May 15, so there is a decent chance you could come off of one of those, especially if you work at it. Be persistent with all 3 schools, ask someone connected to the school to send a personal LOR to the dean of admissions, send a letter of interest/intent to the dean around May 1, then send monthly follow-up emails until class starts. Hopefully you won't have to wait a whole nother year to start med school. Good luck and if you get in be sure to work on your interviewing skills come residency interview time!

 

[MikeJY]

Well, I think the only area I am weak is my clinical volunteer service and the time I waited to apply. I only volunteered at my local hospital for a month, and that was because I didn't get to interact with any patients, which discouraged me from going. Even so, I have plenty of volunteer hours in other areas, though they are non-clinical in nature.

I have a year and a half of research under my belt, 2 leadership experiences in organizations at my school, and 6 months of shadowing. I've had my personal statement peer reviewed and revised by English professors, so I don't think I am weak in those areas. The people I have talked to all told me that they have written strong letters of recommendation, so I don't think there is a problem there either.

I am already addressing the lack of clinical volunteering, as I have signed up to volunteer again at a hospital. I plan on submitting my AMCAS app right when the option opens in June, and completing secondaries the week I get them.

In short, the only thing that has really changed in my application is the increase in clinical volunteering and an earlier application. My question is if there is anything else special that I should consider, because I don't think I was particularly weak in any other areas.

Thanks!

 

[DrSmooth]

Well, I think the only area I am weak is my clinical volunteer service and the time I waited to apply. I only volunteered at my local hospital for a month, and that was because I didn't get to interact with any patients, which discouraged me from going. Even so, I have plenty of volunteer hours in other areas, though they are non-clinical in nature.

I have a year and a half of research under my belt, 2 leadership experiences in organizations at my school, and 6 months of shadowing. I've had my personal statement peer reviewed and revised by English professors, so I don't think I am weak in those areas. The people I have talked to all told me that they have written strong letters of recommendation, so I don't think there is a problem there either.

I am already addressing the lack of clinical volunteering, as I have signed up to volunteer again at a hospital. I plan on submitting my AMCAS app right when the option opens in June, and completing secondaries the week I get them.

In short, the only thing that has really changed in my application is the increase in clinical volunteering and an earlier application. My question is if there is anything else special that I should consider, because I don't think I was particularly weak in any other areas.

Thanks!

Interviewing skills?

 

[MikeJY]

I've done mock interviews at my school's career center with lots of positive feedback, and I even had several interviewers at my state schools verbally tell me that they had a lot of confidence in me from my interview. I guess it wasn't enough to offset the other things, though.

It really is not my intent to sound overconfident or arrogant, as I really want to get in and obviously I have not, but I'm just trying to find what I can improve, and the only things I am coming up with is to apply early and get more clinical volunteer hours logged. If average re-applicants have a stigma and must make vast improvements to get the same treatment as the average applicant, what else can I can do to maximize my chances? I really don't want to have to wait yet another year if I can help it.

Thanks for the input.

 

[werd]

it never hurts to rally and improve where possible, but i think your late application played a big role in your lack of acceptance. it's the most common mistake that applicants make. other possibilities would be: you're a bad interviewer or writer, you have a bad letter or something else turning schools away, or you have bad luck.

For your application next year, write a new personal statement and get at least one letter of rec from someone you work with in the coming year. And apply early. cheers.

 

[MikeJY]

How can I really "check" to see if I have a bad letter of rec? I don't think any of my letters are bad, as they have all told me they have written strong letters, barring any dishonesty.

Even so, will schools let me know which one wasn't strong so I can choose not to use it again? I've talked extensively to my academic advisor and I think we're on a very friendly level now, so I'll have her letter of rec to add/replace another.

 

[robrobbberts]

How can I really "check" to see if I have a bad letter of rec? I don't think any of my letters are bad, as they have all told me they have written strong letters, barring any dishonesty.

Even so, will schools let me know which one wasn't strong so I can choose not to use it again? I've talked extensively to my academic advisor and I think we're on a very friendly level now, so I'll have her letter of rec to add/replace another.

You can try calling the schools you were waitlisted at and ask them if you can discuss the reasons why you were not accepted. Some schools are open to this, some are not, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[Howisbabbyformd]

If you are a reapplicant, you have a stigma. You are expected to upgrade your application significantly. It would be a mistake to just submit the same application and blame this past year on applying late. You need to show improvement in the quality of your application, or you will find yourself in this same situation next March.

Says who? Every school I have asked about this says they review applications from everyone without regard for the fact that many of them may be second time applicants.

 

[MikeJY]

Anyone know how likely it is to get off the deferred list at OSU? I interviewed February 17th and got deferred 9 business days later. Haven't heard anything back since then, even after sending a letter of intent and having my academic advisor send one as well.

 

[bravofleet4]

people always say you should improve your app but I think thats only b/c everyone assumes the reason you didn't get in the first time was b/c your app was spectacular enough.

it's true you do face a stigma and for that reason you should improve your app since you are fighting an uphill battle. however, i don't think they keep hold of your old application to compare but just delete it after the application cycle minus some identifying information to see how many times you've already applied. that's just my guess though.