WAMC: Reapplicant with new 521 MCAT

[Kenken514]

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Hi guys! Thanks in advance for the help! Just looking at WAMC and if I should add any schools at this point.

Me: ORM, Illinois resident, graduated undergrad in 2020

My Stats: 521 (retook my 517 from 2018), 3.87

Possible red flag: this is my 4th application cycle. My first two I didn't have much clinical experience and didn't understand the process and building a school list very well. My third cycle I was very limited in schools I could apply to based on my 2018 MCAT. My writing could've also used work and my first two cycles I mentioned mental health issues in my essays which I think was a really bad idea. This is your warning to not rush into reapplying, take a year off and really build your app!

My ECs:

2000+ hours as an MA in dermatology (most meaningful)

600 hours as a medical receptionist

75 hours hospital volunteering

50ish hours shadowing (pediatrician, reproductive endocrinologist, ophthalmologist)

175 hours non-clinical volunteering, 150 predicted (sexual assault and domestic violence crisis line work for two different organizations) (most meaningful)

Resident Assistant for 3 years (most meaningful)

TA for clinical anatomy and gross anatomy lab

TA for psychology course

Fitness club group leader

Many random customer service and food service jobs in college

The past year I worked for Orangetheory Fitness as an assistant studio manager, I took a break from the premed grind and reevaluated what I wanted

For this coming year I will be working full time as a Senior Domestic Violence Advocate at a shelter.

I do not have any research so I am looking to stay away from research heavy schools

Schools I have interviewed with in the past: Iowa, Creighton, SLU, Western Michigan, Michigan State DO

I am planning to cast a BROAD net. I’ve finished all my MD secondaries.

My school list right now:

Albany
Rosalind Franklin
Creighton
Zucker/Hofstra
Drexel
Quinnipiac
Dartmouth
Emory
Geisinger
Gerogetown
Hackensack
Indiana U
Keck USC
Temple
Loyola
MCW
NYMC
Ohio State
Penn State
U Vermont
SLU
Jefferson
Southern IL
Brown
Tufts
Tulane
U Illinois
U Iowa
U Wisconsin
Wake Forest
Western Michigan
Cincinnati
Boston
Rochester

PCOM
CCOM
MUCOM
KCU
DMU
VCOM
SOMA
KCOM
NYITCOM
Marian

 

[Mr.Smile12]

On your school list, indicate how many times you previously designated the school on AMCAS, even if your didn't fill out their secondary. You noted the schools that interviewed you, but did any interview you more than once? Decisions after interview? What do you think you needed to improve from your DO interview at MSU?

 

[MyOdyssey]

Why do you believe mentioning mental health issues hurt your application? I assume you mentioned that you had overcome them, correct?

 

[Kenken514]

Why do you believe mentioning mental health issues hurt your application? I assume you mentioned that you had overcome them, correct?

The first year I think I spent too much time in detail on my issues and not enough on the overcoming, but I was very clear that it was in the past and I am in a good place now. And in feedback from a school I interviewed at, they said my interviewers weren’t sure I could handle the stress of medical school.

 

[Kenken514]

On your school list, indicate how many times you previously designated the school on AMCAS, even if your didn't fill out their secondary. You noted the schools that interviewed you, but did any interview you more than once? Decisions after interview? What do you think you needed to improve from your DO interview at MSU?

Iowa interviewed me all three cycles, I got rejected after final pool each time (numerical ranking thing they do in March). SLU and Western Michigan I interviewed at my first two cycles, waitlists for all of those interviews. I couldn’t apply to either of them my third cycle (21-22 cycle) because of my 2018 MCAT score.
MSUCOM was late in my third cycle and I think my biggest issue was being OOS. A lot of late OOS interviews ended in rejection according to SDN.

 

[deleted1168269]

Why do you believe mentioning mental health issues hurt your application? I assume you mentioned that you had overcome them, correct?

It’s not something you overcome. It’s like fighting diabetes - it’s not just about decreasing your A1C but you also need to keep it there.

 

[deleted1168269]

At this point I think MD schools are the way they are. But you may have luck with a few more DO schools on your list. Add Western and AZCOM.

Also if you applied to those MD schools before then they won’t reconsider you. Keck for sure doesn’t accept reapplicants.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Unfortunately most of the highly ranked schools who would be interested in your stats are research intensive.

Can you pick up some research hours before your next cycle?

 

[Faha]

What are your cGPA and sGPA ?

 

[Kenken514]

At this point I think MD schools are the way they are. But you may have luck with a few more DO schools on your list. Add Western and AZCOM.

Also if you applied to those MD schools before then they won’t reconsider you. Keck for sure doesn’t accept reapplicants.

Good thing I’m not a reapplicant at Keck. Almost every school considers reapplicants. What are you even talking about? Some of them it’s my first cycle applying, some my second, some my third, and a few my fourth.

 

[Kenken514]

What are your cGPA and sGPA ?

cGPA is 3.87, I don’t remember the exact number for sGPA but it’s almost the same as my cGPA give or take some hundredths

 

[Faha]

You could add a few more MD schools this week and I suggest these:
Washington University (in St. Louis-they like high MCAT applicants)
USF Morsani
Einstein

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Iowa is pretty solid as a program, so you might have gotten squeezed out as an OOS. Perhaps the new MCAT will get you over that barrier. Didn't anyone there talk with you, especially if you've gone over there three times?

I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope the 521 gets you more action.

 

[deleted1168269]

Some of them it’s my first cycle applying, some my second, some my third, and a few my fourth.

The reason I said that is because 1) I wasn’t sure how many times you’d applied to all of those schools and 2) you mentioned mental health issues in previous applications

 

[deleted1168269]

Considering that you have a 2018 MCAT that was high and you’re (I’m assuming) several years out from undergrad, you may get several MD schools questioning if you’ve applied to other medical schools before. Just be prepared if you get asked that in the interview.

 

[lacrossegirl420]

I think your complete lack of research is holding you back, I would focus on schools that don’t have a research emphasis

 

[MyOdyssey]

I think your complete lack of research is holding you back, I would focus on schools that don’t have a research emphasis

Or pick up some research before the next cycle. NIH and the labs of medical schools have PIs with lab websites who are always looking for talent to help in the lab. Expect a one or two year commitment.

 

[Kenken514]

Iowa is pretty solid as a program, so you might have gotten squeezed out as an OOS. Perhaps the new MCAT will get you over that barrier. Didn't anyone there talk with you, especially if you've gone over there three times?

I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope the 521 gets you more action.

Yes I did get to talk to them! I didn’t have enough clinical experience my first two cycles. My interview first cycle said they could tell I was nervous. They gave me other interview tips. One stupid piece of feedback after my third cycle was a concern a committee member had about an anecdote in my PS where the ADCOM thought I didn’t call 911 for a resident when it clearly states I contacted emergency services but the individual refused transport to the hospital. The also encouraged finding a non clinical volunteering to continue since I’ve been out of school.

Basically since last applying I’ve gotten thousands more hours of MA experience, started non clinical volunteering again. And gotten the MCAT jump!

 

[Kenken514]

I think your complete lack of research is holding you back, I would focus on schools that don’t have a research emphasis

That’s been my plan! And why I’m applying more mid tier than top schools

 

[Kenken514]

You could add a few more MD schools this week and I suggest these:
Washington University (in St. Louis-they like high MCAT applicants)
USF Morsani
Einstein

Thanks! Now that I’m done with secondaries I’m like “I could add a few more” lol