Timeline advice for a re-applicant

[jringo1984]

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I know this is a little long, but anyone who thinks they could help direct me would be greatly appreciated.
I applied to 3 med schools around Sept 07 and was complete in Oct. I had just graduated in May of the same year and took the MCAT in Aug. Well, I scored below my practice range for the MCAT (9,8,8) but applied anyway - to 1 osteo and 2 allo schools. I was rejected from all 3. I had a 3.69 overall GPA and a 3.65 science and tons of clinical experience – both working and volunteering (no research, though). After the secondary apps, my bank acct was empty, so I have been working at the ER as a tech ever since. I skipped last app cycle because I got married Oct. 08 and, aside from saving for another round of apps, I wanted to spend time establishing a good relationship in my marriage and had a lot of philosophy and religion books I have always wanted to read. So fast forward to the present.. I’ve finished most of the books, we’re very happily married, I’ve saved up enough to apply to more than 3 schools, and I just started studying for the MCAT again this week. Here are my questions:

1. How will admissions committees view my decision to skip a cycle? Has too much time passed since I’ve taken classroom courses?
2. I just took a diagnostic and scored a 23 (eeeeek), so I’m wondering if I should schedule my MCAT for Aug and apply late with a comfortable score or push myself and try to break 30 before I schedule in early June (I’m not too confident that this is likely). Or… study steadily until next Jan and skip another cycle, and apply very early in ’10. (The last option wouldn’t bother me too much, but I don’t want adcoms getting the impression that I’m not actively pursuing med school. Also, I’ve heard the curve for January and April tests might be easier than Jul or Aug test dates, so I’m wondering what your opinions on that are.

These are my main concerns, but if I should be taking anything else into consideration, I’d be gracious for that advice, also.

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

1. How will admissions committees view my decision to skip a cycle? Has too much time passed since I've taken classroom courses?
2. I just took a diagnostic and scored a 23 (eeeeek), so I'm wondering if I should schedule my MCAT for Aug and apply late with a comfortable score or push myself and try to break 30 before I schedule in early June (I'm not too confident that this is likely). Or… study steadily until next Jan and skip another cycle, and apply very early in '10. (The last option wouldn't bother me too much, but I don't want adcoms getting the impression that I'm not actively pursuing med school. Also, I've heard the curve for January and April tests might be easier than Jul or Aug test dates, so I'm wondering what your opinions on that are.

i don't think you were that horrible of an applicant on your first cycle...you were kinda weak in the mcat, yes, but applying late and only to 3 schools are probably what doomed you. to answer the questions:
1. skipping a cycle will not be viewed negatively AT ALL. in fact, i (almost) think applicants should be prohibited from applying in back-to-back cycles so that they are forced to actively do something to improve their app. if you think about it, there are only a few months between cycles, which is a very limited amount of time to do anything substantial. time off from formal classes doesn't matter one bit.
so, you got married, held a job with clinical exposure, did a lot of reading, and are retaking the mcat. all sounds great!
2. i don't know if there's any truth to the differing curves on different date administrations. i do know that applying late is bad bad bad and you should not take the mcat until you are sure you are ready.
so, a june test date is okay if you are prepared. if not, i think you should take it late summer (no need to study until jan), and apply early in the next cycle.
oh, and definitely apply to more schools. i think most apply to 10-15.
i hope that helps.

 

[NotAndrew]

Check out this forum.

Those cats should be of more help.

 

[muggle911]

Just a thought: if you are under significant financial limitations when you to apply to schools, then you might qualify for schools waiving their secondary fees for you. This would allow you to apply to more than 3 places, increasing your chances of acceptance.
Good luck!

 

[jringo1984]

Thanks for the responses, robots and muggle. And i'll try asking this question in re-applicants, too, andrew. I'm glad to hear that adcoms don't mind re-applicants skipping a cycle or two... that really eases my mind. I still wonder if too much time has passed since I've taken classroom courses, though ('07). And It seems to me that when I applied, I couldn't qualify for any fee waivers because of my parent's income, (I must have JUST missed the cutoff, because my parents aren't wealthy by any stretch and I haven't received any financial help from my parents since high school). But now that nobody claims me on their taxes, maybe they will only take my income into account.