MD & DO WAMC URM(?), cGPA: 3.3, sGPA: 3.3, MCAT 502. Reapplicant.

[MDHopeful2016]

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Background: Hispanic male, first generation Peruvian American (btw is this considered URM? the language I grew up with and what I speak at home is Spanish, but after lurking this forum for over 2 years, it would seem that this definition is much more nuanced. Thoughts?). 2016 graduate from a large midwestern state university. I first applied during a gap year out of college while working as an ER scribe, and only applied to 6 schools (you read that right!). I did not get a single II (shocker!), including from my state school, and am currently considering applying ONLY to schools I did not apply to during my first application cycle. This includes 4 DO and 7 MD programs.

My thinking is based on the AAMC definition of a reapplicant:

Am I a reapplicant to all schools or only the ones I applied to before?
You are only a reapplicant to schools that previously received an AMCAS application from you. For example, if you applied to School A and School B last year, you would be considered a reapplicant at both of those schools if you apply to them this year. You would not be considered a reapplicant at School C since you did not previously apply to that school.
You will indicate your reapplicant status per school in the Medical Schools section of your application.​

MCAT: This represents the crux of my application. My instate school offers application review by committee members, during which it was stated (rather hesitantly) that retaking would be my best bet at a reapp and that I shouldn't waste my time doing so with the old score. However, is there a chance? When looking at the 2017 success rate charts, I see a possible 38-40% chance of acceptance for a Hispanic applicant between the years 2013-2015.

EC:
Full-time medical scribe for approximately 1.5 years.
Undergraduate researcher with two different labs - 400 hours, 1 publication, 2 significant poster presentations
Research associate at regional hospital - 180 hours
Latino peds and adolescent health clinic internship - 120 hours/3 months
Hospice and Home Care Volunteer - 360 hours
Undergraduate orientation organization member with support and lead roles - 180 hours/2 years
LOR/PS: Strong
GPA: Strong upward trend!

Options and strategy:
This includes the following...
1) Apply now and, as previously stated, apply to only schools I did not previously apply to. This includes many "low-tier" MD and "high-tier" DO programs.
2) Apply now, but broadly and only to DO programs.
3) Wait 1 year, Retake the MCAT aiming for something significantly better (510+), and apply EVEN MORE BROADLY!!! (realistically, 16 MD +state school, 7+ DO, Caribbean, etc...)

I am ambivalent towards reapplying for a third time, but not entirely against it. Would following option 1 hurt a third reapplication, and if I did pursue option 1 what schools should I consider?

Thoughts?

 

[MDHopeful2016]

help me,
@Goro @Faha @gyngyn

 

[gyngyn]

South Americans are not generally considered under-represented in medicine.
Language skills are still appreciated.
You will only be listed as a re-applicant on the primary at schools where you have previously applied. Some schools ask about previous applications in the secondary, though.
You are a fair candidate for DO schools now.
Do not apply to the Caribbean.

 

[Goro]

help me,
@Goro @Faha @gyngyn

Listen to the very wise gyngyn!!!!!

 

[MDHopeful2016]

@Goro @gyngyn

Would it in any conceivable way hurt me in a 2nd application if I reapplied now and did not get in? (option 1)
My thinking behind this is the 38-40% chance of acceptance statistic I got from the 2017 edition chart (however, again, this would mean nothing if Peruvians are generally not considered URM).
Other than wasting money or losing moral, is there a reason not to follow with option 1 this cycle?

 

[Goro]

@Goro @gyngyn

Would it in any conceivable way hurt me in a 2nd application if I reapplied now and did not get in? (option 1)
My thinking behind this is the 38-40% chance of acceptance statistic I got from the 2017 edition chart (however, again, this would mean nothing if Peruvians are generally not considered URM).
Other than wasting money or losing moral, is there a reason not to follow with option 1 this cycle?

How have you improved since last cycle? Did you get IIs?
The chances of acceptance stats have to be taken with a very large grain of salt, because they are skewed by people in lucky states and their state schools.
You really need to compare your stats individually tot he schools you're targeting. This can be done, in part, via stats on MSAR

I can't recommend applying until you fix your deficits. The wise @gonnif has written extensively about the foolishness of reapplying right away.

 

[Faha]

I suggest applying to all of these DO schools:
ACOM
ARCOM
ATSU-SOMA
BCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UP-KYCOM
MU-COM
WVSOM
LECOM (both schools)
UIWSOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
NYIT-Arkansas
RVU-Utah
If you apply this month and submit all your secondaries by July you should receive several interviews from this list.