sapphire_fire
Full Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2023
- Messages
- 29
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- 43
A quick rundown of my situation. Graduated in engineering from US schools with Bachelors in 2020 and Masters in 2022. Applied in 2022 to matriculate in 2023 to ~25 schools, received 1 II -> WL -> R. Following year I applied to a very similar list of schools (pretty much every MD school that accepts foreigners), once again 1 II -> WL -> R. Both times, sent applications in somewhat late (most secondaries in September).
I was recently accepted to a 6-year MD program at a reputable ~T20 university within Europe. My plan is still to do residency and practice medicine in the US. I still plan on re-applying in the US next year. Given that, I have two questions:
1. As a third-time applicant (mainly to the same universities), do my chances significantly drop? In terms of "reinvention", all I have done is work full-time as a research fellow (might publish another 1-4 times since my last application), volunteer consistently at a NICU, and improve my MCAT (mocking around 525 right now).
2. Would these chances drop even more if I matriculated to this foreign program? If so, how much? I believe I have strong reason to still apply to the US and can explain my reasoning in the applications; the US is where I consider my home at this point (I have spent the last 8+ years here). My goal remains to specialize and practice in the US, so starting in 2026 would not only still save me time in the long run, but would also make my path much easier. My focus on research (and my goal of continuing to do so) also mirrors one of the great strengths of the healthcare system in the US.
For reference (if important), stats for my most recent cycle were 3.62 GPA/ 3.75 sGPA, 515 MCAT, ~700hrs clinical volunteering with some memorable experiences, 80hrs shadowing, tutoring/TA + a few other leadership positions. Main strength is research, close to 7,000 hours including 5 pubs many posters and an oral presentation at an international conference. Improvement by the next cycle will hopefully a ~525 MCAT, another 2,000 research hours with a few pubs (maybe a 1st author), and ~100 volunteering hours.
I was recently accepted to a 6-year MD program at a reputable ~T20 university within Europe. My plan is still to do residency and practice medicine in the US. I still plan on re-applying in the US next year. Given that, I have two questions:
1. As a third-time applicant (mainly to the same universities), do my chances significantly drop? In terms of "reinvention", all I have done is work full-time as a research fellow (might publish another 1-4 times since my last application), volunteer consistently at a NICU, and improve my MCAT (mocking around 525 right now).
2. Would these chances drop even more if I matriculated to this foreign program? If so, how much? I believe I have strong reason to still apply to the US and can explain my reasoning in the applications; the US is where I consider my home at this point (I have spent the last 8+ years here). My goal remains to specialize and practice in the US, so starting in 2026 would not only still save me time in the long run, but would also make my path much easier. My focus on research (and my goal of continuing to do so) also mirrors one of the great strengths of the healthcare system in the US.
For reference (if important), stats for my most recent cycle were 3.62 GPA/ 3.75 sGPA, 515 MCAT, ~700hrs clinical volunteering with some memorable experiences, 80hrs shadowing, tutoring/TA + a few other leadership positions. Main strength is research, close to 7,000 hours including 5 pubs many posters and an oral presentation at an international conference. Improvement by the next cycle will hopefully a ~525 MCAT, another 2,000 research hours with a few pubs (maybe a 1st author), and ~100 volunteering hours.