Some Reapplicant Questions I'd like some Adcom/Knowledgeable-Persons help with.

[kilweedy]

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Hey guys I was unsuccessful applying last cycle, and just had a few questions about how I should proceed this upcoming cycle.

Main Questions:
- How much can we reuse last years writing in our application? Right now my plan is to keep approximately 1/3 of my PS verbatim, as well as reusing 1 of the 3 most meaningful activity descriptions. Is reusing anything a big NO-NO? To clarify my failure last cycle was a mix of subpar interview performance, late application to only 8 schools, and lighter than average clinical experience. I and my reviewers thought the writing was top notch.
- How much do "glide year" activities matter? While having a decent amount of volunteer activities during college, I have not volunteered even an hour since leaving school. I have begun orientation to start serving an underserved population over the course of the next year, but it will essentially be an activity that will only be noted on AMCAS and mentioned in updates to schools who accept them. Is having no volunteering for 2 years an application killer? Waiting another year and retaking the MCAT would suck but if I have to I have to.
- Are med schools sympathetic to people who stop doing clinical work pre-medical school? I quit my scribe job to work as a data engineer for a company that's works with healthcare data. Is leaving the clinical path something I have to be apologetic/make excuses for in interviews?

Stuff I should use the search function for:
- Will it make any difference at all whether I'm complete by June 28th or July 15th?
- Will I face a reapplicant stigma at school where I submitted a primary but not a secondary?
- I have a July 2016th MCAT which is quite old at this point, some schools state explicitly that it's best to take the MCAT the spring before applying, will an older MCAT hamper me in any way?

Thanks.

 

[gyngyn]

1. The PS should be re-done. Re-using activities (that have not changed) is fine.
2. Enriching your experience of life always matters.
3. Everybody needs to make a living.

 

[kilweedy]

1. The PS should be re-done. Re-using activities (that have not changed) is fine.
2. Enriching your experience of life always matters.
3. Everybody needs to make a living.

Any thoughts on number 5? "Will I face a reapplicant stigma at school where I submitted a primary but not a secondary?"

 

[kilweedy]

Many medical schools offer specific pages of advice for reapplicants, something I find few students look into. This would be true whether or not you are a specific reapplicant to that school. Below are links to a few and please note most say the most common mistake among reapplicants is applying again too soon

Also attched below is a reapplicant guide by a dean of admissions at one of the Ohio medical schools

Should I do a Masters in my gap year / WAMC / advice please


University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Reapplicants - Miller School of Medicine Admissions
Roughly 20% of the students who apply to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in any given year are reapplicants. Data that we have collected indicate they have a lower acceptance rate than do first time applicants

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Heath
http://www.med.wisc.edu/education/md/admissions/reapplying/31716
(emphasis in the original)
There should be significant improvements in your application before reapplying. This might mean not reapplying the very next year. The most common error made by reapplicants is that they submit their next application too soon.

The Ohio State University College of Medicine
The Ohio State University College of Medicine - Tips & Advice
To maximize the chances of giving off this perception, you must allow enough time before reapplying. This will undoubtedly be the hardest part of the process, but be patient; if you rush it, you may join the ranks of those who are applying for a third time.

University of Minnesota Medical School
Re-Applicant
Though you can submit a second application immediately after your first application, you may want to consider waiting a year if you feel you need more experiences that help you demonstrate the essential and desired qualities of an ideal medical student.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Reapplicants | Office of Admissions
http://www.med.unc.edu/admit/requirements/our-ideal-candidate/selection-criteria

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
http://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/admissions/re-applicants/

LSU Health Shreveport
Re-Applicants

University of Missouri
http://medicine.missouri.edu/admissions/nontraditional.html

East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine
Admissions | Brody School of Medicine Admissions | ECU

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC)
https://www.unthsc.edu/texas-colleg...ants-home/common-mistakes-made-by-applicants/

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
http://www.com.msu.edu/Admissions/Guidelines_For_Success/Reapplication.htm

I've actually looked through many of the those in the past but they don't give much advice to those whose main deficits were application timing and interview performance. How to increase interview yield when any non-major accomplishment would be mostly superfluous is the challenge of those who applied like *****s the first go-around.

 

[gyngyn]

Any thoughts on number 5? "Will I face a reapplicant stigma at school where I submitted a primary but not a secondary?"

There are many schools that do not (usually) interview high stats re-applicants.
I do not know that the failure to submit a secondary lowers desirability in a subsequent year.

In most states, the public school(s) are quite forgiving of their own applicants.

 

[kilweedy]

There are many schools that do not (usually) interview high stats re-applicants.
I do not know that the failure to submit a secondary lowers desirability in a subsequent year.

In most states, the public school(s) are quite forgiving of their own applicants.

Any idea of how I would learn which private schools are accepting of reapplicants? Btw I have a 3.8/517 so I wouldn't exactly call myself high stats seeing as my SUNY schools have median scores around those marks for acceptees.

 

[gyngyn]

Any idea of how I would learn which private schools are accepting of reapplicants?

It's hard to say with any accuracy.
This variable (by school) is not collected and published by AMCAS.

 

[gyngyn]

Why do IS medical schools look mercifully (my words) to their own, and how can we IS applicants leverage our AMCAS apps accordingly towards our state university SOM? e.g. personal essay, transformational q&a essays, accentuate specific volunteer or activities, etc

On behalf of @kilweedy and myself ....thank you!

If given the opportunity to discuss the previous application, be insightful and forthcoming.
Re-applicants often have a hard time doing that (understandably).

 

[Goro]

Any thoughts on number 5? "Will I face a reapplicant stigma at school where I submitted a primary but not a secondary?"

Defends upon the school. The key thing you want to have is a better app.

 

[Goro]

Why do IS medical schools look mercifully (my words) to their own, and how can we IS applicants leverage our AMCAS apps accordingly towards our state university SOM? e.g. personal essay, transformational q&a essays, accentuate specific volunteer or activities, etc

1. More likely to attend
2. For state schools, tax payers are funding their tuition, so they want a return on their investment when stick around to practice.

A Floridian is not likely to stay in MN, after all.

 

[Goro]

- Will it make any difference at all whether I'm complete by June 28th or July 15th?



- Will I face a reapplicant stigma at school where I submitted a primary but not a secondary?
- I have a July 2016th MCAT which is quite old at this point, some schools state explicitly that it's best to take the MCAT the spring before applying, will an older MCAT hamper me in any way?

1. No
2. School specific
3. Many schools average MCAT scores, because that's the most accurate way of predicting mid school Success