Wait-listed second time?

[SkyJumper42]

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Hey guys, first off thank you for reading this and putting your input in (negative or positive anything helps!)

So I graduated in May of 2014 ,didn't get in my first go around, and so for my gap year I was able to snag a position as an outcomes researcher at a top research university in the country (no chances of getting accepted into the medical school here due to my MCAT). This experience has been indescribably amazing and infinitely helpful in me getting experience and firsthand encounters with physicians and surgeons. I talked with my boss and I've been here about a year and we've concluded that their is not much else I gain under him exposure and experience wise. Tid-bit of information, I have also began a brand new research project with another PI as a volunteer so I guess I get more research experience, but nothing has been done yet so I can't speak much on it.

My second cycle for Aug. 2015 I applied to 8 schools, got 1 interview and 1 waitlist, which after talking with the dean isn't looking good in my favor. I asked him about my interviewing skills and said that it wasn't my interview more than it was my fit into their program (filling the gap in underserved and rural regions of my state.)

So moving forward I have an MCAT (which I am now retaking), GPA of >3.7, volunteer experience in a hospital (~100 hours), research experience that is directly related to healthcare management which includes shadowing and rounding patient exposure (>200 hours), being in the OR, and plenty of leadership experience at my undergraduate school.

With all of this being said, I see that I have a few different options, I can either A) Go to a Caribbean School B) Do an "Accelerated Masters in Biomedical Sciences" (Which I am currently leaning towards) or C) Become a scribe somewhere and work there for a year to gain more experience. And all of these options are of course after bring up my MCAT.

For option B, is that more directed towards people with bad GPA's or people who may be a little more inclined to begin their coursework for medical school while also being affiliated with a medical program?

 

[karayaa]

Agree that raising your MCAT should be your priority.
I don't see a reason for A or B.
C seems too limited - you could literally do anything during these upcoming two gap years, while you study for the MCAT, apply early next summer in 2016, and interview 2016-7 for admission in 2017.
You could stay in research, switch to something more clinical like scribing, something more community-based like Americorps, something more education based like TFA, something more admin/management based, etc.

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

Option C. Get more experience in medicine and retake mcat. Then next time around apply to 20+ MD schools and some DO schools depending on how you feel. Your biggest downfall was applying to only 8 schools especially with a 27 on your mcat.

 

[SkyJumper42]

Agree that raising your MCAT should be your priority.
I don't see a reason for A or B.
C seems too limited - you could literally do anything during these upcoming two gap years, while you study for the MCAT, apply early next summer in 2016, and interview 2016-7 for admission in 2017.
You could stay in research, switch to something more clinical like scribing, something more community-based like Americorps, something more education based like TFA, something more admin/management based, etc.

I don't really plan on taking 2 more gap years as I am sort of forced to taking one right now. I was hoping to matriculate this August 2015, but probably will not. So I am wondering what to do to increase my chances for August 2016 while also staying in the field.

What are the biggest reasons to go for and not go for an AMP?

 

[W7227]

Option C. Get more experience in medicine and retake mcat. Then next time around apply to 20+ MD schools and some DO schools depending on how you feel. Your biggest downfall was applying to only 8 schools especially with a 27 on your mcat.

...20?!

OMG! Is it really necessary? I was just gonna applying for 2...I mean, don't you have to pay a lot of money for 20 schools' application fees?

 

[MrLogan13]

You need to raise your MCAT, which you already know. You also did not apply broadly enough. Why did you only apply to 8 schools?

 

[SkyJumper42]

You need to raise your MCAT, which you already know. You also did not apply broadly enough. Why did you only apply to 8 schools?

If only I knew the answer to that. I also plan on applying to DO schools as well this time.

 

[Vain Brother]

...20?!

OMG! Is it really necessary? I was just gonna applying for 2...I mean, don't you have to pay a lot of money for 20 schools' application fees?

yes. but now look where you are: you've wasted 2 years when you might have been able to get in somewhere if you'd applied smarter. 20 should be the bare minimum number of schools someone in your shoes should apply to

you could be halfway on your way to being a doctor by now if you'd applied to DO schools in the first place

edit: sorry, i thought you were OP

 

[MrLogan13]

...20?!

OMG! Is it really necessary? I was just gonna applying for 2...I mean, don't you have to pay a lot of money for 20 schools' application fees?

You can pay more now to apply broadly, or you can pay again next year because you didn't apply broadly enough (I don't mean you specifically, I mean in general). Competition is stiff. I think 20 is a realistic number. I applied to 31.

 

[MrLogan13]

If only I knew the answer to that. I also plan on applying to DO schools as well this time.

Lesson learned. I wish you the best of luck this next time around.

 

[Vain Brother]

whoops, i thought the guy i was responding to was the OP

 

[W7227]

yes. but now look where you are: you've wasted 2 years when you might have been able to get in somewhere if you'd applied smarter. 20 should be the bare minimum number of schools someone in your shoes should apply to

you could be halfway on your way to being a doctor by now if you'd applied to DO schools in the first place

...are you talking to me? 0 0

 

[Vain Brother]

...are you talking to me? 0 0

no, other guy, sorry

 

[SkyJumper42]

Lesson learned. I wish you the best of luck this next time around.

Any thoughts of doing an AMP over becoming a scribe?

 

[karayaa]

I don't really plan on taking 2 more gap years as I am sort of forced to taking one right now. I was hoping to matriculate this August 2015, but probably will not. So I am wondering what to do to increase my chances for August 2016 while also staying in the field.

What are the biggest reasons to go for and not go for an AMP?

When will you take the MCAT? That will determine how many gap years you need to take. If you won't take it by July, I'd apply the following year, which means 2 gap years.

 

[karayaa]

I don't really plan on taking 2 more gap years as I am sort of forced to taking one right now. I was hoping to matriculate this August 2015, but probably will not. So I am wondering what to do to increase my chances for August 2016 while also staying in the field.

What are the biggest reasons to go for and not go for an AMP?

I don't see any benefits from it, because your GPA is fine, and it costs money. Other activities let you earn money.
Exceptions include if you study say clinical research with the intention of being a nonPhD clinical scientist.

 

[MrLogan13]

Any thoughts of doing an AMP over becoming a scribe?

I don't think you need an SMP, just get that MCAT score up.

 

[ASD2019]

1. Do NOT apply this cycle. You will save yourself a few pieces of hair and a lot of money.
2. Do not do anymore schooling unless your sGPA is different. Your cGPA is pretty decent
3. If you haven't already, try turning your research into something productive. Many hours of research is nice, but having publications (1st or 2nd author) would add much more to your app
4. Try getting a clinical job (scribing, emt, phlebotomist, etc), and continue doing your EC stuff
5. Put a lot of hours into studying for the MCAT, and murder it. If I was you, the earliest I would take it is September. But it makes more sense to give yourself a few more months and just take it in January.
6. Apply early, generously, broadly, and smartly in 2016-17 cycle

 

[Glandzburg]

...20?!

OMG! Is it really necessary? I was just gonna applying for 2...I mean, don't you have to pay a lot of money for 20 schools' application fees?

Applicants apply to 14 schools on average... applying to more schools gives you a better chance that you'll get in somewhere.

Applying to 2 schools would be incredibly foolish for ANY applicant.

 

[MrLogan13]

Applying to only 2 schools would be foolhardy.

 

[DokterMom]

@SkyJumper42 - You need to work on the weak spots, not buff up your already strong points. This means fix your MCAT.

Sounds like your ECs could also use some work. Get your hands dirty doing some uncomfortable volunteering with disadvantaged populations: developmentally disabled, homeless, mentally ill, Alzheimers, elderly, hospice, rural poor (U.S., not int'l), non English-speaking. Not having this type of experience is what got you rejected the first time.

And of course, apply broadly, including DO.