Suggestions for Reapplication

[forever12]

Hi everyone, I am a current applicant and likely going to have to reapply. I applied to around 15 schools and received 1 interview which I was ultimately rejected. I have just begun studying for an MCAT retake and am volunteering at a local food bank and hospital. As I prepare to reapply I am looking for any suggestions as I am not quite sure what to do. Here are my activities and GPA/MCAT:

cGPA: 3.40 sGPA: 3.46 (Included in this is a postbacc 4.0 of 19 credits Ochem 1, Ochem 2, Physics 1, Physics 2, Biochem)
MCAT: 507 (128,126,126,127)
ORM
500 Clinical hours
100 Shadowing (only 1 specialty)
60 Leadership
170 nonclinical volunteering
150 other employment
4000 Division 1 athletics

I applied in September last year which I think hurt me as well, so I am planning on submitting on time this year. I am going to try to get as high of an MCAT as I can. Is there a specific number that I should shoot for to make me competitive for MD and potentially offset my low GPA?

I am also in the process of getting an internship in public health which I am super excited about! I think I might be able to do some research in this experience as I know that part of my application is lacking. Do I absolutely need research experience?

My last question is should I apply to Masters/SMP programs for this next year as I know this could help my GPA and with getting research experiences.

Thank you all so much, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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[Dral]

MCAT will never totally offset a lower GPA. You want to shoot for above 510, but of course the higher the better.

What was your school list? If you applied to MDs only then your result may not be too surprising. You do have the D1 athlete status going for you. What is your straight up undergrad GPA without the Post-bacc? That's what schools look at mainly.

If you are set on MD, your best bet is probably SMP at this point. I think you would have a good shot at DO straight away though.

You already now know to get your apps in on day 1.

 

[forever12]

MCAT will never totally offset a lower GPA. You want to shoot for above 510, but of course the higher the better.

What was your school list? If you applied to MDs only then your result may not be too surprising. You do have the D1 athlete status going for you. What is your straight up undergrad GPA without the Post-bacc? That's what schools look at mainly.

If you are set on MD, your best bet is probably SMP at this point. I think you would have a good shot at DO straight away though.

You already now know to get your apps in on day 1.

Thanks so much for the input! I think my undergrad GPA without the post-bacc was around 3.3 with a downward trend and a fair share of C's which probably did not help either. I also only applied MD.

Here is my list: Albany, Quinnipiac, Tulane, Vermont, Eastern Virginia, MCW, NEOMED, CMU, OHSU, Wisconsin, Wayne, Rosalind, Utah, Belmont, and Wake Forest.

I realize a lot of these have pretty high instate bias but since I was so late applying and with my low stats I figured I would try for them. As for the SMP do you have any programs you would recommend? If I was able to get a 520+ MCAT would an SMP still be necessary?

 

[Faha]

Where is your state of residence? What does your 170 hours of non clinical volunteering involve?

 

[forever12]

Where is your state of residence? What does your 170 hours of non clinical volunteering involve?

I'd rather not disclose where I am living on here but I'd be happy to tell you in a private message if that would help! I have around 100 hours at a food bank, 50 at homeless shelter, and 20 teaching my sport to elementary students. 70 of these hours at the food bank have been added since I applied last cycle.

 

[Faha]

I'd rather not disclose where I am living on here but I'd be happy to tell you in a private message if that would help! I have around 100 hours at a food bank, 50 at homeless shelter, and 20 teaching my sport to elementary students. 70 of these hours at the food bank have been added since I applied last cycle.

Send me a private message.