WAMC (516/3.86) - Reapplicant

[SmilingGhost]

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1. cGPA: 3.87 / sGPA: 3.7
2. MCAT score: 509 --> 516 (129/126/130/131)
3. 4th quartile CASPER
4. 3 gap years (25 M, ORM)
5. US naturalized citizen (first-gen immigrant), Virginia
6. Nationality/Ethnicity: Romanian
7. Undergraduate: University of Virginia, Biology
8. Clinical experience:
   • Medical Assistant in an Endocrinology clinic (3300 hours)
9. Research experience and productivity
   • Psychology lab (130 hrs), mostly helping other people with their studies, no pubs or posters (letter of rec from PI)
10. Shadowing experience and specialties represented:
    • ENT and pediatric radiology (40 hours)
11. Non-Clinical volunteering:
    • Crisis Text Line (360 hours) + (150 hours projected)
    • Food pantry (40 hrs)
12. Others:
    • Bodybuilding/Gym (3000 hrs) - been lifting since since 8th grade, huge part of my life, competed in first 2 shows last summer
    • Worked construction in the summer during college (978 hrs)
    • Served as a mentor for first year students (15 hrs) and academic chair for fraternity (30 hrs)
    • Started a pickleball club to get small town connected and more healthy (~30 hrs)
13. Relevant honors or awards: Full tuition scholarship to undergrad
14. LORs: 6 letters. 3 generic letters from science profs, 1 strong letter from physician I work with, 1 from PI, 1 from non-science prof. Other than the one from my physician, not too sure how strong the rest are.
15. Other important stuff:
    • 3 II ---> 3 WL at UNC, WVU, VCU
    • Feel like writing was a huge issue with my last application as it was quite poor looking back on it. Have been completely rewriting everything on my primary and plan to do the same for secondaries.
    • Submitted most schools July/August with some in Sept which was likely another issue. Want to submit all within 2 weeks of receiving them this year.
    • I'm a bit worried about low leadership/what feels like lack of activities compared to everyone I see online (I know it's not good to compare).
    • Potential red flag of taking an extra class after graduating to get LOR from hard science prof since most schools don't accept astronomy LOR for that.
    • Focusing on a theme of filling in gaps/small town/immigrant background this go-around to have app not seem so scattered.

School List from last year:
Eastern Virginia
UVA
VA Tech
VCU
Ohio State
University of Pittsburgh
Tulane
Albany
Emory
Tufts
UNC
WVU
Unvirsity of Miami
Rosalind Franklin
Temple
Western Michigan
George Washington
Penn State
TCU
Wake Forest
MCW
Quinnipack
Hackensack
Oakland
Boston
U of Cinncinnati
U of Iowa
University of Arizona
Rochester
Brown
Georgetown
Hofstra
UMD (will likely remove)
Albert Einstein
Jefferson

 

[Mr.Smile12]

When did you score the 516 MCAT?

You got three interviews, so I don't think your writing is a big issue. Timing may have been a factor for some of the other schools you had, but I doubt it was that significant.

You seem low on your service orientation activities (food pantry 40 hours). Crisis text line is nice but doesn't tend to help you stand out. You should have 150 hours of service orientation activities when you submit your application to avoid getting screened out, so I would start building more hours in the food pantry should you not come off your waitlist.

 

[ecobio]

You need more in-person volunteering within your community my friend. Get those food bank hours up. Otherwise, you have a great app on paper

 

[SmilingGhost]

When did you score the 516 MCAT?

You got three interviews, so I don't think your writing is a big issue. Timing may have been a factor for some of the other schools you had, but I doubt it was that significant.

You seem low on your service orientation activities (food pantry 40 hours). Crisis text line is nice but doesn't tend to help you stand out. You should have 150 hours of service orientation activities when you submit your application to avoid getting screened out, so I would start building more hours in the food pantry should you not come off your waitlist.

516 was on 01/26/2024. I appreciate your insight about the service orientation activities. Only issue is with applications opening soon, it will be impossible to bump that number up much if at all. Any insight on what would be best?

 

[SmilingGhost]

You need more in-person volunteering within your community my friend. Get those food bank hours up. Otherwise, you have a great app on paper

Thank you, I plan to get started on that ASAP.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

516 was on 01/26/2024. I appreciate your insight about the service orientation activities. Only issue is with applications opening soon, it will be impossible to bump that number up much if at all. Any insight on what would be best?

Get started and make it work. You aren't that far away from an offer.

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools if you reapply:
VCU
Eastern Virginia
UVA
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
UNC
Wake Forest
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
Hofstra
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Tufts
UMass
NOVA MD
Methodist (when it opens)
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Colorado