WAMC: 3.84 CGPA, 3.79 SGPA, 508 MCAT, Veteran on multiple waitlists need advice for reapplication

[Johnp23]

Hello everyone, applied this past cycle and got three interviews from Minnesota (twin cities campus), Iowa, and Northeast Ohio. Waitlisted by Minnesota and Northeast Ohio and made it to the final decision pool for Iowa before being denied. Wanting some advice on what I can improve on and my plan if I do not make it off the waitlist this cycle. Did not intend on going to medical school after the Navy and did lots of internships with college Football strength and conditioning programs before changing my sophomore year.

1. GPA: 3.84 cGPA/ 3.79 sGPA
2. MCAT: 508 (127,126, 128,127)
3. State: IA resident (grew up in Wisconsin, and lived/stationed in Florida, Virginia, Texas, and Washington DC)
4. Ethnicity: White
5. Undergrad: Iowa State University, Bachelors in Kinesiology (2022)
6. Clinical experience:
   1. Currently working full time as an EMT on a hospital-based EMS service in rural Iowa, function as ER tech when not out on a call: triaging and assessing patients and member of hospital code team. Started October and not on original application (1700 hours current).
7. Research experience:
   1. Microbiology lab, Unpaid, RNA/ DNA extraction, Necropsies, FISH, and other common lab procedures made up much of my time. Acknowledged in paper published into Nature journal, but not other publications (570 hours)
   2. Mechanical Engineering lab, Unpaid, worked on enzyme kinetics, functionalization of enzymes to graphene, sensor testing, and background investigation on enzyme functions. Third Author on a published article, and working on next project and will be second author. (400)
8. Shadowing:
   1. Ophthalmologist: 8 hours
   2. Orthopedic Surgeon: 6 hours
   3. PCP: 8 hours
9. Non-Clinical Volunteering:
   1. food pantry: 60 hours
   2. coach free youth powerlifting class: 180 hours
   3. Organized fundraiser for local child youth services and raised over $3000: 45 hours
10. Other activities:
    1. Served in the US Navy for four years. Master at Arms (Naval Military Police) was Leading Petty officer of my unit my last year in.
    2. Worked full time as a bar manager and bouncer through undergrad.
    3. Biochemistry tutor: 46 hours
    4. Iowa Football strength and conditioning: 300 hours
    5. Maryland Football strength and conditioning: 640 hours
    6. Iowa State Football strength and conditioning: 340 hours
    7. Iowa state weight club officer: 200 hours
11. MISC:
    1. nationally registered EMT
    2. CSCS (Certified strength and conditioning specialist)
12. Plan for potential second gap year:
    1. retaking MCAT this may
    2. Signed up to get my paramedics license
    3. Repeating the fundraiser
    4. 5, 8 hour shadowing opportunities I have the green light on
    5. continued research in mechanical engineering lab
    6. continued volunteering at food pantry

Just looking for any advice in case I have to get back in the saddle and reapply. Any advice is welcome on what I might be missing, what I could add, what is a waste of time, different places to apply, etc.

Applied To:
Iowa
Minnesota
Northeast Ohio
Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Penn State
Rutgers
Michigan
Michigan State
Kentucky
Louisville
TCU
Miami
Florida
UCF
FSU
Ohio State
UA Phoenix
UA Tucson
Colorado
Arkansas
Southern Alabama
Vermont
VA tech
Indiana
UNC
South Carolina
Arkansas
Wake forest
Western Michigan

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[Faha]

Your complete lack of clinical volunteering when you applied was a major factor in your poor cycle. You also applied to many state public schools that admit few non residents with no strong connection to the state. You also need another 30 hours of physician shadowing.
If you reapply I suggest these schools:
Iowa
Minnesota
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
TCU
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
NOVA MD
East Tennessee
Wake forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
Einstein
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Belmont (when it opens)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

More food pantry or similar community service. The powerlifting class is definitely interesting but it won't have as much value as the food pantry work. Fundraising doesn't really count towards service orientation, though your military service really should fulfill it anyway. If needed, good luck on the MCAT retake.

 

[Johnp23]

Your complete lack of clinical volunteering when you applied was a major factor in your poor cycle. You also applied to many state public schools that admit few non residents with no strong connection to the state. You also need another 30 hours of physician shadowing.
If you reapply I suggest these schools:
Iowa
Minnesota
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
TCU
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
NOVA MD
East Tennessee
Wake forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
Einstein
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Belmont (when it opens)

What could I do to get clinical volunteering hours? Could this be general volunteering at my hospital or does this need to be more health care related?

 

[Johnp23]

Your complete lack of clinical volunteering when you applied was a major factor in your poor cycle. You also applied to many state public schools that admit few non residents with no strong connection to the state. You also need another 30 hours of physician shadowing.
If you reapply I suggest these schools:
Iowa
Minnesota
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
TCU
St. Louis
Creighton
Tulane
NOVA MD
East Tennessee
Wake forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
Einstein
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Belmont (when it opens)

Would volunteering on a volunteer-based EMS team be considered as clinical volunteering?

 

[Faha]

Would volunteering on a volunteer-based EMS team be considered as clinical volunteering?

What does the activity involve ?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your rural EMS work should help your reapplication IMO.

 

[Johnp23]

What does the activity involve ?

Answering 911 medical calls for the surrounding underserved rural community, public assistance for the elderly, and being on standby and assisting the fire department and police department with patient care, extrication, and potential medical support.

 

[Johnp23]

Your rural EMS work should help your reapplication IMO.

Thank you! I just did not know what constituted as clinical volunteering and what did not. I appreciate your help!

 

[Faha]

Answering 911 medical calls for the surrounding underserved rural community, public assistance for the elderly, and being on standby and assisting the fire department and police department with patient care, extrication, and potential medical support.

That would be both clinical and non clinical (public assistance for the elderly).