WAMC! non-trad ups and downs!

[morquelp]

Hi guys. Would you like to roast me or point me in the right direction to improve my application for next year.
I have applied 3 times now. Next time will be the last.
MCAT: 518 first two applications, my 3 years ran out so I had to retake and scored 512 for this year's application. I am confident I can retake it by next year and get at least a 518 again because I only studied (a couple hours) the 3 days leading up to this year's test.
High School Graduated June 2013
GPA: 0.8 GPA for three semesters my first attempt at undergrad.
3.9 for 2 semesters and 1 summer of community college. Graduated Dec 2017
3.3 for 4 semesters and 2 summers of undergrad in Chemistry. Graduated Dec 2019
Am currently halfway through an MBA, 3.7 GPA so far.
Volunteering: None. Where do you recommend volunteering?
Clinical hours: Worked at a nursing home for 5 months full time. Worked as a clinical tech full time at a surgery unit for 17 months.
Shadowing: 20 hours shadowing attending psych at acute care adolescent unit.
Research: None. Do I even bother?
I recently quit my job at the hospital. I should complete my MBA by May 2025.
So I have plenty of free schedule/time to optimize my new job/volunteering/shadowing for next year's application.
Also, I've been submitting my applications pretty late. Late june/early july for my primaries. Late august/early september secondaries my first year applying, only sent one secondary my second year applying, didn't send any secondaries this year.
I will of course, send primaries first day it opens next year and follow up and send secondaries as soon as I receive them next year. Thanks!
If you're wondering why I've been such a mess: personal issues that I've worked through in therapy for the past 12 months and after many many years I'm in a very good place right now mentally and emotionally, feeling ready to go for one last round!.
Thanks!

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[Faha]

Where is your state of residence ? What are your cGPA and sGPA including all undergraduate level courses ?

 

[wysdoc]

Hi guys. Would you like to roast me or point me in the right direction to improve my application for next year.
I have applied 3 times now. Next time will be the last.
MCAT: 518 first two applications, my 3 years ran out so I had to retake and scored 512 for this year's application. I am confident I can retake it by next year and get at least a 518 again because I only studied (a couple hours) the 3 days leading up to this year's test.
High School Graduated June 2013
GPA: 0.8 GPA for three semesters my first attempt at undergrad.
3.9 for 2 semesters and 1 summer of community college. Graduated Dec 2017
3.3 for 4 semesters and 2 summers of undergrad in Chemistry. Graduated Dec 2019
Am currently halfway through an MBA, 3.7 GPA so far.
Volunteering: None. Where do you recommend volunteering?
Clinical hours: Worked at a nursing home for 5 months full time. Worked as a clinical tech full time at a surgery unit for 17 months.
Shadowing: 20 hours shadowing attending psych at acute care adolescent unit.
Research: None. Do I even bother?
I recently quit my job at the hospital. I should complete my MBA by May 2025.
So I have plenty of free schedule/time to optimize my new job/volunteering/shadowing for next year's application.
Also, I've been submitting my applications pretty late. Late june/early july for my primaries. Late august/early september secondaries my first year applying, only sent one secondary my second year applying, didn't send any secondaries this year.
I will of course, send primaries first day it opens next year and follow up and send secondaries as soon as I receive them next year. Thanks!
If you're wondering why I've been such a mess: personal issues that I've worked through in therapy for the past 12 months and after many many years I'm in a very good place right now mentally and emotionally, feeling ready to go for one last round!.
Thanks!

Why don’t you plan to send secondaries this year?

 

[morquelp]

Where is your state of residence ? What are your cGPA and sGPA including all undergraduate level courses ?

Virginia.

VCU (Suspension), NVCC (Community College), GMU (Undergrad)

cGPA

GMU = 3.26
VCU + GMU = 2.33
VCU + NVCC + GMU = 2.73

sGPA

GMU = 3.17
VCU + GMU = 2.11
VCU + NVCC + GMU = 2.47

 

[morquelp]

Why don’t you plan to send secondaries this year?

I haven't received letter of recommendation back.
By the time I receive them it will be really late.
I'm deciding to forego the year and try one last time next year having everything done as early as possible.

 

[Faha]

You should accumulate 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering (homeless shelter, food bank, etc.) before you apply. You also need another 20+ hours of physician shadowing (preferably primary care DO). You could receive interviews at DO schools if you apply broadly. Post your new MCAT score here when available and I will suggest schools based on your new score.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I hate to do this, but I am going to roast you a bit.

Volunteering: None. Where do you recommend volunteering?
Clinical hours: Worked at a nursing home for 5 months full time. Worked as a clinical tech full time at a surgery unit for 17 months.
Shadowing: 20 hours shadowing attending psych at acute care adolescent unit.
Research: None. Do I even bother?
I recently quit my job at the hospital. I should complete my MBA by May 2025.
So I have plenty of free schedule/time to optimize my new job/volunteering/shadowing for next year's application.

I understand the sentiment that this application attempt is your third and final one, but the above shows you had not sought any serious advice about the expectations for applicants from prehealth advisors or anyone who posts about what it takes. Do you have an IA?

Where did you apply previously? Just to your in-state programs (VCU, Virginia, VT, EVMS, VCOM)? While all of these schools are relatively friendly to OOS applicants, with your metrics, you should have gotten interviews (if you only had more experience hours). Your MCAT retake drop further throws shade at your readiness argument (though 512 is still acceptable).

After 3 years, if healthcare is your desired direction, you would have racked up hours showing commitment to your community, more clinical experience in different environments, and maybe some research if there are opportunities that interested you. You didn't mention what your job was in a hospital, but if it were patient-facing, unless you are looking for a higher salary, it doesn't help me think you are committed in that direction. The MBA doesn't help you at all to me. The adage is "integrity is doing things when no one is watching"; for me "passion is doing things that you like, not doing things to get you accepted."

You have had the freedom since graduating to choose opportunities where you are passionate. It seems you are scrambling because you don't want to be an MBA, which you did because you couldn't get into medical school. You're running away from things rather than towards a goal that is attainable. That's the impression I get, though it is unfair without an AMCAS application and your letters.

This is your final shot, and it just looks like you have already set yourself for failure in this task as you have the other two times. Finish your MBA, rack up some cash, and find a career that is better suited to your passions. It doesn't look like frontline healthcare is your thing.

 

[morquelp]

I hate to do this, but I am going to roast you a bit.

Thank you for the honesty, this is great.

I understand the sentiment that this application attempt is your third and final one, but the above shows you had not sought any serious advice about the expectations for applicants from prehealth advisors or anyone who posts about what it takes. Do you have an IA?

No I had not sought any serious advice before.

Where did you apply previously? Just to your in-state programs (VCU, Virginia, VT, EVMS, VCOM)? While all of these schools are relatively friendly to OOS applicants, with your metrics, you should have gotten interviews (if you only had more experience hours). Your MCAT retake drop further throws shade at your readiness argument (though 512 is still acceptable).

I applied to school throughout the country, and all of those in VA but I did not get any interviews (year 1 applying).
Year 1 applying I didn't have any clinical experience, the only thing I had going for me was the 518 MCAT.
Year 2 I had a couple months of nursing home and hospital work, but I didn't complete secondaries because of personal mental health issues.

After 3 years, if healthcare is your desired direction, you would have racked up hours showing commitment to your community, more clinical experience in different environments, and maybe some research if there are opportunities that interested you. You didn't mention what your job was in a hospital, but if it were patient-facing, unless you are looking for a higher salary, it doesn't help me think you are committed in that direction. The MBA doesn't help you at all to me. The adage is "integrity is doing things when no one is watching"; for me "passion is doing things that you like, not doing things to get you accepted."

Yes, my experience with patients was at the nursing home and at the hospital working face to face with patients all day. Working directly with patients is actually my strength which my unit directors and physicians noted in letters of recommendation.

You have had the freedom since graduating to choose opportunities where you are passionate. It seems you are scrambling because you don't want to be an MBA, which you did because you couldn't get into medical school. You're running away from things rather than towards a goal that is attainable. That's the impression I get, though it is unfair without an AMCAS application and your letters.

That is a pretty honest impression and probably what admissions is seeing.

This is your final shot, and it just looks like you have already set yourself for failure in this task as you have the other two times. Finish your MBA, rack up some cash, and find a career that is better suited to your passions. It doesn't look like frontline healthcare is your thing.

That is right, last year I set myself up for failure, which is why I started going to therapy to work on myself. Doing the MBA, work, and therapy has helped me to work through my mental health problems, school related issues, and self sabotage. Which is why I want to try again now as committed as possible and am seeking help to figure out what to do to set myself up for success.