The OFFICIAL reapplicant thread!!!

[Doctora Foxy]

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Since there are so many threads floating around about reapplication questions, let's consolidate. Post all of your questions here, and maybe people who have applied twice or more can answer our preguntas. 🙂

Post away! 😀

For people who were not in by this time last year, what did you do and when did you reapply? Any advice for those still waiting but want to be prepared for the worst?

I have a few specific questions, but I'll post them later when I have time.

If you are a reapplicant now, please share your story with us 😀

 

[JerseyBelle]

Hi. I'm Cole. I will be reapplying to medical school this year, as I was rejected from 20 schools this past year. Of the 20 schools I applied, I got interviews at PCOM and MSU-CHM. I was subsequently rejected. I had the GPA (UG 3.3, GRAD 3.5), the volunteer experiences (hospital, doctor shadowing, counseling troubled teens), and the essays. The major problem: MCATs! I applied with a 22, and that I see was dumb.
So, now I am in Kaplan (or should I say was), and I am taking the test on Saturday for what God-willing will be the third and LAST time! My final Kaplan test score was a 26, so I have my fingers crossed!

I do have a question: Since my volunteer experiences aren't exactly recent anymore (i.e. 1999,2000), I have two options. Which one should I choose?

Option A: A pre-med volunteer program at a local hospital. It runs from June to August, and requires 5 hours a week. But, there is a catch. You must be in the hospital all day on Wednesday, attend morning operation room sessions, meet with physicians assigned to you on their time. Not bad, but getting a decent job wouldn't really work with that volunteer commitment. They do write letters at the end of the summer. 😕

Option B: A local physician has offered to let me replace his nurse for the summer, and do everything in the office short of draw blood. It would require 10 hours a week, but no all day sessions, since ironically; he's closed every Wednesday. He offered to write me a reference letter in August if I don't burn the place down. He went to a school I want to go to (UMDNJ-NJMS) but got rejected from. 🙂

So, here I am. Both options are great, but I am just not sure. I know one thing: I need to be employed this summer.

Thank you for any advice given or shared.

To any new applicants: remember that every one of three applicants (1/3) are accepted every year during this application process, make sure you STAND OUT! If you are not lucky enough to recieve an acceptance letter, DO NOT GIVE UP IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT!!

MadameCole

 

[I got in]

I am considering reapplying as well and am trying to make a decision between a post bac program and working.

I will be taking the august MCAT. My questions are:
Fow those who reapplied this year or the yaers before. What was your essay about? Did you focus on the new thing, grades, activities etc. or restated your answer to why do you want to be a doctor question.
Also, I notced (while filling out my secondaries) that most schools like to ask how are you a better candidate this year.
Did anyone take a year off, worked, applied again and got in his/her school of choice.
Lastly, What looks better a work position as a psychiatric consult or a research associate (i have 3+years of undergrad research experience); I am cell bio+psyc major.

You guys are all graet and provide a superb source for support and advice. Thank You.

 

[mpp]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by MadameCole:
• remember that every one of three applicants (1/3) are accepted every year during this application process•••••Actually, it's closer to <a href="http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/famg62001a.htm" target="_blank">one in two</a> applicants that are accepted...

 

[Doctora Foxy]

mpp, you are the statistics god! I just wanted to say thank you for the numerous times you have provided us with useful data!

MadameCole: I would go with option b. I don't know what option A enatils as far as responsibilities, but usually premeds don't get to do as much as a nurse does. So you would probably learn more from Option B, plus get lots of patient contact. Only 10 hours a week? I volunteered 20 a week last summer with plenty of spare time. Since you are looking to get paid, why not work more and get even more experience? Especially since you are taking the mcats this week and your summer will be free! (good luck on Sat. btw!!!) 😀

 

[Doctora Foxy]

OK, and now for my big question. Since I may get in to med school this summer, but I might have to reapply, when do I send in amcas, and more importantly, WHEN do i designate schools? I don't want to waste a ton of money here.

Papi Smurf once told me this wonderful idea. You do amcas on June 1st and only designate ONE school. In the meantime, I would be studying for the mcats and getting my secondary essays together (since I already know most of the questions to schools I would be reapplying to). Then, let's say in August I'm not in yet, my amcas application will already be PROCESSED, so all I have to do is designate my 15 or so schools and it should go through pretty quickly. Then I can proceed to immediately send in secondaries. The schools would have my secondaries by October, so that when my mcats scores come in, BOOM! I'm complete. 😀 How does that sound? This way I would only be paying scAMCAS under $200 for the initial fee + the one school at the beginning.

If you like that, give props to my baby daddy, Papi Smurf! Will it work?

 

[Dr. Will]

I'll be the first to give props cuz that was a question I've had for the past few weeks. Does anyone know if AMCAS would refund your money if you reapplied but got off a waitlist after? If the answer is no, this plan seems to be the best way to go. This process is just way too expensive!

 

[gmendese]

Now this is my type of thread...

Well, this is my 3rd time applying, so I'm all too familiar with Spring-time woes. I remember that around this time, when the weather started to get nicer, that I started freaking out because I knew that school was almost over (or just the application year, for that matter). But I tried to keep my spirits up with the hopes of getting off waitlists. Unfortunately, that didn't materialize for me.

I kept the faith until around the 2nd week of July and then I began a new AMCAS application and studied for the MCAT again. When i got my final rejection letters, I hit "SEND" for my AMCAS application and kept on studyin'. I guess three times is a charm.

As harsh as it is, many (most) people will NOT get in their first time. And those statistics stating that around 1/3 of applications get in every year INCLUDE REAPPLICANTS! So it's even harder to get in your first time around. If it's what you want, GO FOR IT! Best of luck!

Gary

p.s. PM me if you have any questions... I don't go on SDN as often as I used to because It's driving my girlfriend crazy. 🙂

 

[johnM]

Foxy, that sounds like a pretty good plan to me, since you will have to wait for your new MCAT scores anyway.

When I re-applied, I submitted the AMCAS in June to all of the schools (13) even though I was still on wait-lists. But I strongly believe in the importance of getting the apps done ASAP. And remember that you don't have to wait for AMCAS to verify and process the primary before you do the secondaries, since they send your name to schools *immediately* and those that don't screen send you secondaries very soon.

If you REALLY need to take the MCAT again, shoot to have all secondaries complete (including LOR's!!) by the time the MCAT results are released. But I think you had a grip of interviews, so I'm sure you will get in somewhere, and won't have to worry about this. 🙂 good luck!

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Here's a little tiny question: Is it necessary to buy a new version of the MSAR when reapplying? Do FAFSA codes and deadlines and little things like that change?

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Another question: MCAT Kaplan courses start May 8th here. Should I just study on my own or enroll? This really sucks. I don't really need the classes---just the material at the center and organized practice tests with other students. My brothe ris enrolled at Kaplan for an SAT course--can I use his card to get in and use practice materials? I'll be at school until May 26th and the materials are in the library, but after that I will need Kaplan since I'll be moving back home. What should I do? 😕

 

[Katie]

I was a reapplicant who got in on my second time applying to 2 schools. I got in off the waitlist at both and had my AMCAS ready to go for a third application cycle. so my advice would be to target what you need improvement on, and even if you don't find any serious weak spots in your application reapply anyway and be sure to apply to enough schools. I applied to only 7 schools my first time and 21 my second time. feel free to PM me with any questions about the app process. i might take a few days to reply because i spend a lot of time pretending to study and looking at ridiculous web sites designed for teenage boys such as <a href="http://www.fartmart.com." target="_blank">www.fartmart.com.</a> 😀

 

[shorrin]

I like this thread. I have four schools left to hear from. I interviewed at one way back in Dec and they still have me in limbo.

stats: 3.31 Univ. of Chicago, american academy of art.
mcat: 30 v12 p9 b9
volunteer: emergency dept. 1yr.
Research: brain imaging 2.5 yrs. Two conferences, one abstract soon to be paper.

I am applying for a 1yr MA at Northwestern to bump up that GPA. I am NEVER taking the mcat again though 🙂 .

Good luck to all of us!!! 🙂