What are you doing differently this time around?

[Alex1803]

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Since I myself will be reapplying this year (2007) I am faced with the task of deciding if there is something that I will be doing differently this time. I am pleased to find out the 2006 AMCAS information is rolled to the 2007 application. My extracurriculars and activities probably won't be changing, but I will be revising my personal statement to include things like my tenacity for reapplying, etc. Also, I will apply to many more schools this time (last year about 10). How about you guys?

 

[RxnMan]

Everything you've listed is about right. Always revise your essays, apply to more schools, and a different range of schools - often applicants will apply to a range of schools that they are not competitive at and get rejected, while they could be accepted in at a different one. Also consider DO schools.

 

[mdguy49]

Yeah, I will revise my ps, and will also apply earlier this time. I applied WAY too late last cycle.

 

[ironmaidenrules]

Everything you've listed is about right. Always revise your essays, apply to more schools, and a different range of schools - often applicants will apply to a range of schools that they are not competitive at and get rejected, while they could be accepted in at a different one. Also consider DO schools.

RxnMan your PM storage is full, I want to send you a PM and get some advice but it is full

 

[CatsandCradles]

Since I myself will be reapplying this year (2007) I am faced with the task of deciding if there is something that I will be doing differently this time. I am pleased to find out the 2006 AMCAS information is rolled to the 2007 application. My extracurriculars and activities probably won't be changing, but I will be revising my personal statement to include things like my tenacity for reapplying, etc. Also, I will apply to many more schools this time (last year about 10). How about you guys?

-Apply to more schools
-Apply to both allopathic and osteopathic schools
-Revising personal statements are always good
-Consider doing things like EMT-B certification or going into phelbotomy if you
haven't done so already
-Maybe shadow more physicians if you can and apply to the schools that the
physicians went too. Concertrate on writing really good PS letters to these
schools if they send you a secondary
-Continue voulunteering and ECs
-Apply as early as possible. This is a big key. The longer you delay, the
harder it gets

Best of wishes!
C&C

 

[daisy458]

I have a question for you all: during my past year of applying, I haven't really done any new things (a couple of publications). However, my situation will change drastically within the next couple of months (new job, more clinical exp., maybe some classes in the fall). As long as I keep updating these things to all of my schools, will these things help me, even though they're after I've turned in my AMCAS?

 

[RxnMan]

I have a question for you all: during my past year of applying, I haven't really done any new things (a couple of publications). However, my situation will change drastically within the next couple of months (new job, more clinical exp., maybe some classes in the fall). As long as I keep updating these things to all of my schools, will these things help me, even though they're after I've turned in my AMCAS?

It depends. It won't be added to your AMCAS, which is what schools use to decide if you get an interview or not. Then again, some schools really don't care what you do between the interview and their decision date - update letters won't be read. Ask around in the admissions office for what they do with letters.

 

[GujuMD]

Since I myself will be reapplying this year (2007) I am faced with the task of deciding if there is something that I will be doing differently this time. I am pleased to find out the 2006 AMCAS information is rolled to the 2007 application. My extracurriculars and activities probably won't be changing, but I will be revising my personal statement to include things like my tenacity for reapplying, etc. Also, I will apply to many more schools this time (last year about 10). How about you guys?

i will be a reapp for the 2007 cycle too. i am currntly working on my PS. i was wondering how do you plan on incorporating that you are a reapplicant.

 

[RxnMan]

i will be a reapp for the 2007 cycle too. i am currntly working on my PS. i was wondering how do you plan on incorporating that you are a reapplicant.

In the past I've just said that I applied in 20xx and was not accepted, but endeavoured to make myself a more competitive applicant by doing x, y, and z.

 

[ClosetNerd]

1) Apply Early (July is much better then November)
2) Revise Personal Statement (Highlight "softer" side, de-emphasize research)
3) Revise most of the EC (Show more enthusiasm)
4) Change up LOR to be more diverse.
5) Getting the Pre-health advisor to write an update to the schools committee letter
6) Graduate

Such a long horrible processes, but I really want to get into medical school. It is worth the extra year of my life to be able to live the dream.

Does anyone know much about an EMT-B certification, (CatsandCradles?) How long does it take to become certified?

 

[Who M.D.]

1. Applying earlier. I applied in mid-October last year. This year, I will apply in June.

2. I'm rewriting my PS to highlight that I have medical/clinical volunteer experience, that I have medical research experience, and to better explain how my education to date and my ECs fit into my motivations to study medicine. Last time, I didn't deal with all this because I thought it would be rehashing my EC section. I am also not bothering to discuss a couple of weak points in my academic record and will instead focus only on my strong points.

3. I'm rewriting the MCAT. I have a 32R, but clearly it wasn't enough to get me an interview last time.

4. I will also may revise my EC write-ups a bit to add a little more diversity.

 

[Orthodoc40]

In the past I've just said that I applied in 20xx and was not accepted, but endeavoured to make myself a more competitive applicant by doing x, y, and z.

But did you do a total, complete, start from scratch re-write of the PS, or did you just incorporate a sentence or two about what has changed? This is tough for me to think about totally rewriting - the only thing that hopefully changes for this application is my MCAT scores...

 

[RxnMan]

But did you do a total, complete, start from scratch re-write of the PS, or did you just incorporate a sentence or two about what has changed? This is tough for me to think about totally rewriting - the only thing that hopefully changes for this application is my MCAT scores...

The general themes did not change - I had to show how I decided to become a doc. But since I had another year under my belt, I had new clinical stories. I completely changed the intro, completely changed the end, and added a paragraph (which meant shortening everything else,) talking about

1) How I didn't get in
2) What I had done during that year
3) How what I had done during that 'off-year' made me a better applicant than before

In fact, the intro was my retelling of how I asissted in a procedure to cut, rotate, and then plate a child's femurs in the new position. That was new since the last application, so it linked well with my discussion about my off-year activities.

So I pretty much rewrote everything. But it's not that hard - start with what you have, add in everything new, and then pare it back down. Does it make sense? Are there things you don't need? Always be positive - show how a roadblock (not getting in last year) actually helped confirm your desire to be a physician and better prepared you for med school.

 

[OhtheSilliness]

So while I was applying this cycle I didn't do anything new to add this this next cycle. If anything I had to take time away from my EC's to work and pay for the application, loans, and bills. Only thing that will change will be my PS and schools. I considered taking science classes or research this summer but I just started a full time job and really need the money if I am to reapply. My mistake this cycle was applying to mostly very competitive schools. Is it expected that you have a much stronger application as a reapplicants? I'm afraid of being asked by schools what I did to strengthen my application this time around, because my application will pretty much be the same. Anyone else in this situation? What are you going to do? Anyone that was is this situation and was successful at getting an acceptance?

 

[Compozine]

1. Applying earlier. I applied in mid-October last year. This year, I will apply in June.

2. I'm rewriting my PS to highlight that I have medical/clinical volunteer experience, that I have medical research experience, and to better explain how my education to date and my ECs fit into my motivations to study medicine. Last time, I didn't deal with all this because I thought it would be rehashing my EC section. I am also not bothering to discuss a couple of weak points in my academic record and will instead focus only on my strong points.

3. I'm rewriting the MCAT. I have a 32R, but clearly it wasn't enough to get me an interview last time.

4. I will also may revise my EC write-ups a bit to add a little more diversity.

You really should not have to retake the MCAT. My boyfriend got a 31R, and got into two places this year. Unless you are looking for a top 10, or have a really low GPA, your time could be better spent. I think you didn't get in because you applied late, but I could be wrong.

 

[Orthodoc40]

You really should not have to retake the MCAT. My boyfriend got a 31R, and got into two places this year. Unless you are looking for a top 10, or have a really low GPA, your time could be better spent. I think you didn't get in because you applied late, but I could be wrong.

Agreed.

 

[Who M.D.]

You really should not have to retake the MCAT. My boyfriend got a 31R, and got into two places this year. Unless you are looking for a top 10, or have a really low GPA, your time could be better spent. I think you didn't get in because you applied late, but I could be wrong.

I should elaborate a little. There are three reasons I'm considering taking the MCAT again:

1. I'm a Canadian and the average for admission at a Canadian school is probably a 3.7 and a 31 (I have a 3.4–3.5 GPA with the 32R MCAT). My first choice is to get into a Canadian school, and to do that, I think I need a higher MCAT to make up for my GPA (which is below average, and which trended downwards). This

2. I think my academic credentials are a little weak. Apart from the treanding downwards, GPA, my biology and biochemistry marks were weak, so I think my GPA on its face may be a little misleading. A better MCAT mark will hopefully be a small sign that I can succeed in biological sciences.

3. I really do think that I did not do as well in the MCAT as I am capable of. I didn't study as hard as I should have. I'm very confident that I can up my mark by at least a couple of points.

I have not yet made a FINAL decision on rewriting, so if any of you think that I am making a huge mistake, I really would appreciate your advice!

 

[Orthodoc40]

I should elaborate a little. There are three reasons I'm considering taking the MCAT again:

1. I'm a Canadian and the average for admission at a Canadian school is probably a 3.7 and a 31 (I have a 3.4–3.5 GPA with the 32R MCAT). My first choice is to get into a Canadian school, and to do that, I think I need a higher MCAT to make up for my GPA (which is below average, and which trended downwards). This

2. I think my academic credentials are a little weak. Apart from the treanding downwards, GPA, my biology and biochemistry marks were weak, so I think my GPA on its face may be a little misleading. A better MCAT mark will hopefully be a small sign that I can succeed in biological sciences.

3. I really do think that I did not do as well in the MCAT as I am capable of. I didn't study as hard as I should have. I'm very confident that I can up my mark by at least a couple of points.

I have not yet made a FINAL decision on rewriting, so if any of you think that I am making a huge mistake, I really would appreciate your advice!

I can't really say for sure. But if you're retaking in August, schools aren't going to evaluate your application until the scores come at the end of October, so in some way, you're not really getting your applications in much earlier than last time... but if they like what they see without your August scores, maybe they'll interview you anyway? I don't know!

 

[megaman1x]

But if you're retaking in August, schools aren't going to evaluate your application until the scores come at the end of October, so in some way, you're not really getting your applications in much earlier than last time...

But Canadian schools will. I'm a Canadian myself, just got accepted last week by a Canadian medical school and I will be starting in late August. Canadian schools will allow you to submit an application and have a section which asks for your mcat scores (which the school later verifies) OR there is a spot to check off which says something along the lines of "waiting for results" which means you took the most recent MCAT. That's what I had to check off.
I guess American schools work differently in that regard? I'm not sure...?

And Who M.D., how about taking the opposite route and taking a couple courses to boost your GPA up a little higher. Would that help? My stats weren't the greatest:

30R and 4.3 GPA (on a 4.5 GPA scale - weird, I know)

So their should be hope for you since your mcat is 2 points higher.
May I ask which schools you didn't get an interview for?...

 

[megaman1x]

ohhhh wait...now I understand....American schools have those rolling application cycles...lol I guess my comments above are not as relevent as I first thought. Sorry guys!

 

[Who M.D.]

30R and 4.3 GPA (on a 4.5 GPA scale - weird, I know)

My GPA is much lower than yours though. As for taking some more courses, I've done a bit of that now, and I've done better in a higher level course in every subject where I didn't do well the first time around. To actually raise my GPA by much though would require several more years of school, so it's not a realistic option.

So their should be hope for you since your mcat is 2 points higher.
May I ask which schools you didn't get an interview for?...

- Case Western Reserve University
- Georgetown
- George Washington
- Dartmouth
- Brown
- UVermont
- PennState
- East Virginia Medical School
- Jefferson Medical College
- Rosalind Franklin U
- New York Medical College

A few of these are somewhat competitive, but they're also schools that have a history of letting Canadians in. Sadly, almost all of the schools that have low GPA/MCAT requirements either don't allow Canadian applicants, or rarely let them in. When I reapply, I'll probably expand the above list to include more lower-end schools.

BTW, which school did you get into?

 

[e_phn]

😳

 

[amizle]

i am revising my personal statement. my friends and i started an almumni charity for a club we are a part of since i last applied so im going to definetly adding something about that into my personal statement and ec section. also ive brought my undergrad gpa up from a 3.35 to a 3.45ish (depending how well i do at the end of this quarter). im also going to do the georgetown smp program to hopefully make up for my not so great mcat (28O). i think the fact that i applied so late last year (october) was the major reason i didnt get any interviews are anything. hopefully all this stuff that ive done and applying in june will get me in somewhere

 

[musiclink213]

I am rewriting my PS completely. My reasons for med school are the same, but I also mentioned htat being a reapp made me realize just how badly i want this. My senior year GPA is also pretty damn good, if I may say so myself, and I was taking all of the upper level chem and biochem classes. So I'm glad that there is that upward trend. Now if only they could just not count my freshman year first semester GPA, I would be so incredibly happy, but oh well. At least I finished strong.

My EC's have all pretty much stayed the same. I didn't add anything new, but kept up with the old ones and talked about improvements I've made in those EC's. I also retook the MCAT for the third time, and I'm awaiting thos scores (23P first time, and an unbalanced 29O second time, hopefully a balanced 30+ this time around)

 

[fitnessexpert]

For the people who suggest on adding a section to "what have I done differently", I would suggest not stating that. Some suggestions above are great like: having or peer and family critically review YOU as an applicant. If get extra experience that is important to include in your personal statement, include it. Secondaries and interviews are where you emphasis the great progress that you have made. Chances are a question will be, " how is your application different?" at an interview.
It was difficult and I had to suck up my pride, but I asked the DO that I shadow to critically review my PS and me personally.

 

[megaman1x]

A few of these are somewhat competitive, but they're also schools that have a history of letting Canadians in. Sadly, almost all of the schools that have low GPA/MCAT requirements either don't allow Canadian applicants, or rarely let them in. When I reapply, I'll probably expand the above list to include more lower-end schools.

BTW, which school did you get into?

So you never applied to any Canadian schools at all? I got accepted at the University of Manitoba.

 

[Who M.D.]

So you never applied to any Canadian schools at all? I got accepted at the University of Manitoba.

Not this past year. I'd applied to many Canadian schools two years ago and got no interviews. I've now raised my GPA somewhat. I'm hoping that the higher GPA combined with a better MCAT will be what I need to get in this time around.

 

[megaman1x]

Not this past year. I'd applied to many Canadian schools two years ago and got no interviews. I've now raised my GPA somewhat. I'm hoping that the higher GPA combined with a better MCAT will be what I need to get in this time around.

Best of luck to you. I know this is way down the line, but are you planning on coming back and maybe doing your residency in Canada?

 

[Who M.D.]

Best of luck to you. I know this is way down the line, but are you planning on coming back and maybe doing your residency in Canada?

That's definately my preference assuming I can get into the field(s) that interest me.

Also, this year I'm going to put a few applications into Canada too, so hopefully I will be in Canada for the degree as well.

 

[thes_hunter]

I am re-writing my personal statement to talk about my work with the Red Cross supervising distribution centers in New Orleans.

I am applying MUCH, MUCH earlier.

I am applying to more schools, but I already had a pretty broad base.

I will be attending an SMP in the fall, though I haven't decided which one yet.

I will start volunteering at a free clinic as soon as they stop cancelling their orientations on weekends. 😉

And I am always trying to think of other things I can do.