WAMC: Afraid to Apply A Third Time

[nightynematode]

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To make a long short short, I've applied to medical school twice (2017 & 2022) and I'm afraid to apply again. I have a lot of strikes against me but I also have some positives going for me. In undergrad, I had many "W" grades my GPA was only 3.2, and my first MCAT was a measly 500. In undergrad, I had an IA but this was over a decade ago. I reported the IA on my first app but forgot to do so on my second app and this went terribly. I spoke with an advisor at my undergrad and they informed me that IAs are internal and it was stupid for me to report it in the first place (I guess that's what I get for being honest?). I went on to complete an SMP, earned a 3.7 and my second MCAT was 508. Unfortunately, I was not accepted after my SMP and I felt extremely devastated. I started a STEM PhD but became ill and, despite submitting the appropriate paperwork, was given two failing grades and subsequently left the program. I'm currently doing a second Masters program (STEM) and doing quite well but I keep coming back to Medicine. Next year, I planned on applying to PhD programs but I've been debating applying to medical school again.

1. 3.2 cGPA and 3.0sGPA
2. 500 (124/127/123/126); 508 (128/127/128/125)
3. Southeastern United States
4. Ethnic minority (prefer not to disclose)
5. Small southeastern university (not highly ranked or known)
6. Some volunteering at the health department (maybe half a year)
7. Research in Chemistry and some Summer programs but no publications
8. Shadowing in EM and IM
9. Volunteering and outreach for local schools

I'm just trying to determine if a 3rd application is even worthwhile. I'm willing to beef up my ECs, do more shadowing and retake the MCAT but only if it makes SOME sense. Thanks for hearing me out.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What do your SMP advisors think? What support have they given you in your second application? What do they think went wrong?

 

[nightynematode]

What do your SMP advisors think? What support have they given you in your second application? What do they think went wrong?

I was speaking with one person at my SMP program and they've been beyond unhelpful. They let me know that my application had been assessed, the appropriate decision was made and they had no further information.During the application, they were not helpful and they didn't even send me a secondary. I reached out to other people at the school and received no responses. I guess as long as I was paying tuition, I was good enough for a meaningless SMP but not a medical degree program. I know I have the academic ability to survive a medical degree program but feel as though I'm being excluded for other reasons. When I asked medical schools for feedback (including my SMP school), I've gotten the generic "our average MCAT is "X" and our average GPA is "Y". For my SMP school, I should have been competitive based on my SMP GPA and MCAT.

 

[Faha]

Where is your state of residence ? How many hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact do you have? How many hours of in person physician shadowing ? What is the nature and hours of your non clinical volunteering ?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I was speaking with one person at my SMP program and they've been beyond unhelpful. They let me know that my application had been assessed, the appropriate decision was made and they had no further information. During the application, they were not helpful and they didn't even send me a secondary. I reached out to other people at the school and received no responses.

I don't understand "they" here. Which application... for the SMP or your second MD attempt? Did you not get faculty letters from your SMP? I'm confused with your description.

I guess as long as I was paying tuition, I was good enough for a meaningless SMP but not a medical degree program. I know I have the academic ability to survive a medical degree program but feel as though I'm being excluded for other reasons. When I asked medical schools for feedback (including my SMP school), I've gotten the generic "our average MCAT is "X" and our average GPA is "Y". For my SMP school, I should have been competitive based on my SMP GPA and MCAT.

However, you weren't competitive. The SMP should have pointed this out to you since these programs rely on their ability to get students into medical school to justify their costs. Granted, it sounds like you didn't perform due diligence if you received less than optimal student support and advising, or something else is going on that we don't know about. As an ethnic minority (your description), it sounds like you think you deserved to get more attention on your application. Maybe... we don't have your application here to know.

I think you previously attended another health professions program before deciding to jump to an SMP to start medical school. I think that fact has as much to do with your lack of success, but your SMP letters should support your candidacy and argue for your transition to MD.

 

[nightynematode]

I don't understand "they" here. Which application... for the SMP or your second MD attempt? Did you not get faculty letters from your SMP? I'm confused with your description.


However, you weren't competitive. The SMP should have pointed this out to you since these programs rely on their ability to get students into medical school to justify their costs. Granted, it sounds like you didn't perform due diligence if you received less than optimal student support and advising, or something else is going on that we don't know about. As an ethnic minority (your description), it sounds like you think you deserved to get more attention on your application. Maybe... we don't have your application here to know.

I think you previously attended another health professions program before deciding to jump to an SMP to start medical school. I think that fact has as much to do with your lack of success, but your SMP letters should support your candidacy and argue for your transition to MD.

I was in communication with the faculty member at my SMP during my second MD attempts. I recived faculty letters from SMP faculty and did quite well in the program. According to the average for accepted SMP alumni, I was competitive (and to my knowledge, other competitive alumni were rejected as well).