The Struggle as a potential re-applicant

[allanMED15]

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I have put making this thread off for too long, but at some point I have to be realistic and come up with a plan.

A bit of background:
Current applicant (~3.3 uGPA, 3.53 gGPA, 510 MCAT) who has had 2 II's and been placed on hold at both.
I am still waiting to hear back from 11 different schools.

While I still have a chance of being pulled off of hold, I am trying to come up with my plan and try to find where my issues lie. I truly think my GPA is the main culprit.

My PS was proofread by many people that I trust and I really think it was good.
My LORs are solid as I have very good relationships with everyone that wrote one for me.

Here are my ECs from when I applied:
150 hours in a clinical job as a surgical assistant for a skin cancer surgeon
Thousands of hours of employment in undergrad (restaurant)
Thousands of hours in a high calibre music performance group as well as teaching at that same level.
Hundreds of hours of research in undergrad and grad school.
Plenty of leadership as a member of my fraternity and SGA.
80+ hours of shadowing
About 100 hours of clinical volunteering
About 600 hours of community service
A few hundred hours as a peer mentor for AED and members of my fraternity
SCUBA Diver
Ran a marathon in 2012

Since applying, I have taken a few classes to raise my cGPA to 3.35 (marginal I know, but it's higher)
Added over 1500 more clinical hours-additional leadership positions at work that I have recently come to enjoy very much (I hope this makes a big difference in my next cycle if I have to apply. My PS will revolve around it and I think my PS will be better for it. It really has proven even more that my desire to become a physician is well established)

With all that being said, I truly think my uGPA is what is holding me back.
Here are my thoughts:
I only have 2 C grades. The first in BIO II and the 2nd in a humanities course. Both are from my freshman year.
Since taking BIO II, I have received A's in several upper lever science courses, so retaking that course would only raise the GPA, if only by a little.

I could maybe try and take science courses that I haven't taken?
This would take time but I am not sure yet if I will re-apply right away, so that is ok.

Another option is the SMP. I would really like to not have to consider this option, as I have already shelled out a lot of money for my Master's already, if I have to, I can think on it.

Thoughts?

 

[Pasmal]

I'd call the schools you got interviews at (if you don't get in) and ask. When you're getting interviews it means they like you/think you could do well there, so if you don't get in perhaps they can provide specific feedback to help you improve your reapp. If you end up retaking those classes you got Cs in, I could see you doing quite well in a DO cycle (though you are already competitive really even w/o grade replacement). I'd call the schools if you don't get off the WL, take their feedback to heart and then apply MD+DO unless you want to risk a 3rd cycle. Good luck!

 

[allanMED15]

I'd call the schools you got interviews at (if you don't get in) and ask. When you're getting interviews it means they like you/think you could do well there, so if you don't get in perhaps they can provide specific feedback to help you improve your reapp. If you end up retaking those classes you got Cs in, I could see you doing quite well in a DO cycle (though you are already competitive really even w/o grade replacement). I'd call the schools if you don't get off the WL, take their feedback to heart and then apply MD+DO unless you want to risk a 3rd cycle. Good luck!

Thanks! I'm lucky that both schools are very receptive to those types of calls. So I will definitely do that! I know I should have tossed my app into a few DO schools from the start, but it is what it is.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Your fine for DO programs

If MD is the goal id really consider a SMP. Given if you don't get in you'll be a reapplicant the burden is on you to show significant improvement from your current app to have a chance. I'm skeptical a 3.3 gpa raised to say a 3.37 will be considered such. What will be considered significant improvement is if you address your weakness your gpa with an SMP and do well in one. Although as well all know SMPs are rather risky endeavors; the goal has to be to consistently beat out the MS1 class avg on their tests otherwise you aren't putting yourself in the position you want

 

[allanMED15]

Your fine for DO programs

If MD is the goal id really consider a SMP. Given if you don't get in you'll be a reapplicant the burden is on you to show significant improvement from your current app to have a chance. I'm skeptical a 3.3 gpa raised to say a 3.37 will be considered such. What will be considered significant improvement is if you address your weakness your gpa with an SMP and do well in one. Although as well all know SMPs are rather risky endeavors; the goal has to be to consistently beat out the MS1 class avg on their tests otherwise you aren't putting yourself in the position you want

Yea that is what I was thinking. I will definitely consider it if this cycle ends up not panning out. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Goro]

Listen to Grapo.

Your fine for DO programs

If MD is the goal id really consider a SMP. Given if you don't get in you'll be a reapplicant the burden is on you to show significant improvement from your current app to have a chance. I'm skeptical a 3.3 gpa raised to say a 3.37 will be considered such. What will be considered significant improvement is if you address your weakness your gpa with an SMP and do well in one. Although as well all know SMPs are rather risky endeavors; the goal has to be to consistently beat out the MS1 class avg on their tests otherwise you aren't putting yourself in the position you want

 

[redferrari]

My app is very similar to yours, although slightly higher GPA and slightly lower MCAT. Like you, I was involved in many campus activities and had a service industry job where I was eventually a student manager. I received 3 II, and 1 acceptance so far. However, I did extensive research on schools and only applied to six schools based on how I fit based on stats, mission, and geography. As a disclaimer, my state school accepts a very large amount of IS applicants and this allowed me to comfortably keep my list on the lighter side.

To get a better feel, what is your legal state of residence and what schools did you apply to?

 

[allanMED15]

My app is very similar to yours, although slightly higher GPA and slightly lower MCAT. Like you, I was involved in many campus activities and had a service industry job where I was eventually a student manager. I received 3 II, and 1 acceptance so far. However, I did extensive research on schools and only applied to six schools based on how I fit based on stats, mission, and geography. As a disclaimer, my state school accepts a very large amount of IS applicants and this allowed me to comfortably keep my list on the lighter side.

To get a better feel, what is your legal state of residence and what schools did you apply to?

My state of residence is Tennessee. But I applied to a fairly large list of schools:
university of Tennessee
East Tennessee state university
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
Commonwealth medical college
Temple
EVMS
Dartmouth
Wake forest
New York medical college
Quinnipac
Georgetown
USUHS
Tulane
Hofstra
All of the Texas schools.

 

[redferrari]

My state of residence is Tennessee. But I applied to a fairly large list of schools:
university of Tennessee
East Tennessee state university
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
Commonwealth medical college
Temple
EVMS
Dartmouth
Wake forest
New York medical college
Quinnipac
Georgetown
USUHS
Tulane
Hofstra
All of the Texas schools.

My apologies, when you said waiting to hear back from 11 and 2 holds, I assumed you applied to only 13 schools.

The Texas schools, while not impossible, are tough if you don't have strong ties to the state as OOS.

It really seems like your GPA is indeed the culprit. I had a friend in a similar situation (although he was at a 3.1), and he retook his C's and added more upper level biology electives and had a fair deal of success for MD schools. He too added a considerable amount of clinical hours, so you are already on the right path.

Being from Tennessee, you may consider adding VCU, the Kentucky schools and West Virginia schools and removing Texas. I know these are tough for OOS as well, but you may find it easier to articulate why you would be a good fit there.

To second others, I believe you would be competitive for DO schools, especially given your broad activities during undergrad, as they tend to be a tad more holistic in my opinion.

I wish I had more to add, but I'm certainly not as qualified as others on this thread. I wish you the best during the remainder of this cycle! There is still a chance!

 

[allanMED15]

My apologies, when you said waiting to hear back from 11 and 2 holds, I assumed you applied to only 13 schools.

The Texas schools, while not impossible, are tough if you don't have strong ties to the state as OOS.

It really seems like your GPA is indeed the culprit. I had a friend in a similar situation (although he was at a 3.1), and he retook his C's and added more upper level biology electives and had a fair deal of success for MD schools. He too added a considerable amount of clinical hours, so you are already on the right path.

Being from Tennessee, you may consider adding VCU, the Kentucky schools and West Virginia schools and removing Texas. I know these are tough for OOS as well, but you may find it easier to articulate why you would be a good fit there.

To second others, I believe you would be competitive for DO schools, especially given your broad activities during undergrad, as they tend to be a tad more holistic in my opinion.

I wish I had more to add, but I'm certainly not as qualified as others on this thread. I wish you the best during the remainder of this cycle! There is still a chance!

I appreciate the post! But yea I applied to 28 total.
I applied to TX schools because my girlfriend is from there and really wanted to go back there. But I applied really late to those schools so that did not help.
If I have to reapply, I'll definitely add all the VA schools, as my mother's side of the family is all from there and I have spent a lot of time there.
I should have considered the KY schools as I grew up right by the TN-KY border, but that's where I realize I could've chosen my school list better.
Because I really don't know if I can afford to put down the money for an SMP, I think if I don't get off of post interview hold at my 2 state schools, I will take a year of coursework to raise my gpa while adding to my research experience.
I should've added some DO schools from the beginning, but of course I can't do much about that at this point.