MD WAMC: 522/3.59 VA ORM, 1st-time reapplicant

[CentralScrutinizer]

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1. cGPA: 3.59; sGPA: 3.53 (upward trend, cumulative for last two years was 3.85)
2. MCAT: 522 (C/P 129, CARS 130, B/B 131, P/S 132)
3. Virginia resident
4. White male, 23 years old
5. Undergrad: B.S. in biology, minors in chemistry and pre-medicine. Two years at public university in NJ before transferring, final two years at public university in VA
6. Clinical experience: 1800 hours MA, 650 hours scribe (both paid, both in dermatology)
7. Research experience: 100 hours, mostly data analytics, in a project highlighting disparities in alcohol-related consequences amongst different demographics during the COVID pandemic. 1 poster presentation
8. Shadowing: 30 hours in endocrinology, 24 hours in pediatrics
9. Non-clinical volunteering: 260 hours with organizations supporting those with intellectual/developmental disabilities, 40 hours mentoring underserved middle schoolers, 30 hours food pantry
10. 900 hours Division 1 lacrosse, 250 hours president/head coach of men's lacrosse club, 340 hours as group tutor, 1500 hours paid non-clinical
11. Guitarist in jazz-rock band 🙂

Current school list:

• Albert Einstein (II --> R)
• Michigan
• Wake Forest
• TCU
• Arizona - Phoenix (II --> WL)
• Kaiser Permanente
• Miami
• Rochester
• Georgetown (N)
• Thomas Jefferson
• Penn State (N)
• UCSD (N)
• Cornell
• Hofstra
• VCU
• Dartmouth
• USF (II --> WL)
• Wayne State
• UCLA
• Tufts
• Maryland
• EVMS
• UNC
• Hackensack Meridian (N)
• Carle
• Cincinatti
• Temple
• Drexel
• Loma Linda
• Ohio State
• UVA
• Quinnipiac (N)
• Colorado
• Vermont (II --> WL)
• GWU
• USC
• UCSF
• Roseman (N)

Hi all, I am currently on three waitlists from the previous cycle, but I am preparing to apply for 2026-2027 in case I don't get in. Listed above are my stats and current school list. The (N) indicates schools at which I did not apply last year, so they would be "new." I think my mistake last year was including too many T20s based on my MCAT alone, but I figured I would at least give it a shot. I cut a lot of those schools out of my list this year. I applied to 42 schools last year, and the list above contains 38. I would appreciate any insight on the perceived competitiveness of my application, areas of improvement, and recommendations for additions/subtractions to my school list. Thank you in advance!

 

[Med Ed]

Interesting that you got no traction from any VA schools.

GPA: below average
MCAT: very good
Clinical experience: fine, telegraphs that you want to become a dermatologist (whether true or not)
Research: minimal
Non-clinical volunteering: unclear what you actually did
Other: Jazz guitarist lacrosse guy

Yeah, I just don't see schools like Michigan and Cornell being interested in this package. I doubt any of the California schools are viable, either. Carle is a niche school for engineering types, which does not sound like you. UNC and Ohio State may be tough due to in-state preferences. Not sure about Maryland.

Other places to consider: Albany, Western Michigan, SLU, MCW, Tulane, Rosalind Franklin.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Did the OP grow up in Virginia or just wind up there because of college? That may explain no VA interest???

Non-clinical volunteering only reports 30 hrs of service orientation (food pantry) and a lot of support for disabled individuals including mentoring. I easily ignore activities with fewer than 50 hours if it isn't shadowing, so coming in with zero service orientation puts the application at high risk of getting screened out. That said, OP got interviews, so something resonated (athletics?) but not stuck beyond a WL. Cross our fingers and hope that the offer is coming. But prepare a reapp anyway with much more service orientation than reported.

 

[Goro]

Engage in service to others less fortunate than yourself.

And as a repeat applicant, include some do schools on your list. They are extremely friendly to reinventors such as yourself.

What do you think your Hook was for Einstein and U Arizona phoenix????