What can I improve, and if I should do anything more for reapplying?

[pre-spring]

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Hey guys, I just wanted some opinions on what I can improve on and if I should do anything more when reapplying. So, I applied for this cycle and was completed around early and mid september, and have not gotten any interview invites so far. I’ve applied to about 20 schools and got rejected by like 6 already and have not heard back from the others yet, but based on what I can tell so far, it seems like it's a soft R. I asked online and a couple of friends about my application and to see if there were any red flags or anything and all of them said my app was fine, so I don’t really know if there was a red flag people couldn’t notice or my recommendation letters were not great, but all the professors I got my rec letters from said they would write me a strong letter of rec so that might not be the case. I also think that I didn’t apply to enough schools with medians around my MCAT score. I think the only schools that have medians around my MCAT score that I applied to were Drexel, Wake Forest, George Washington, Jefferson, and Colorado.

But anyway, I am currently preparing for the next application cycle. The stats and EC’s that I applied with this 2021-2022 cycle are:

1)cGPA: 3.86 sGPA:3.90
2) MCAT- 510
3) State of residence: CA
4) ORM
5) Undergraduate: Top public school

Extracurriculars:
1) Research: About 1500-2000 hours in undergraduate and 1 publication, and 3 poster presentations.
2) Worked with Red Cross to conduct blood donation camps for underserved thalassemia patients- 250 hours
3) Clinical Volunteering: about 350 hours split between a large hospital and a small clinic catering to underserved populations.
4) Non-clinical volunteering: 300 hours at the soup kitchen that serves homeless and underserved populations.
5) Shadowing: 70 hours with 3 different physicians
6) Leadership: External Affairs coordinator and team lead for a large club on campus and mentored juniors in the lab in undergraduate and am also mentoring undergraduates at my current lab.


For the upcoming 2022-2023 cycle, during the gap year, I started a full-time job in a lab as a research associate and would get one publication from my full-time job and maybe two more from my undergraduate lab if they publish before applying. In addition to working as a research associate full time, I also continued volunteering at the soup kitchen and the small clinic catering to underserved populations.

Also unfortunately during the spring semester of my senior year, my grades took a hit and I got a C in Organic Chemistry lab. My grandmother actually died of Covid and when I went back for her funeral, I got Covid as well and couldn’t attend the final and I informed the professor about the situation but he wasn’t really accommodating and gave me a C directly for not showing up for the final. But anyways my cGPA dropped from 3.86 to 3.81 and sGPA from 3.90 to 3.86 because of the C.

Also, I’m studying for the MCAT and will be retaking it in March and am hoping to get above a 520 or so.

So for the next application cycle, I’ll probably try improving my MCAT score by a bunch of points and will have another 1-3 publications and a full-time research experience, and another additional 100 or so hours of clinical and non-clinical volunteering. I also got more involved in working with the Red Cross and worked for more than another 200 hours for them and will get a recommendation letter from the General Secretary of the Red Cross branch I partnered with and will also get another recommendation letter from my current PI at my job.

I was wondering whether apart from these are there any other ways for me to improve my application so that I can be competitive for T20s, and whether I have to do anything more. I was also wondering whether the decrease in my GPA from 3.86 to 3.81 will have an impact on my application.

Thank you.

 

[LindaAccepted]

You are already taking at least one step I would recommend: Improve your MCAT.

In addition I suggest:

1. Apply to more programs where you will be competitive based on your MCAT score and GPA (both factors). don't apply exclusively to reach programs just because they are T20 or ranked whatever. Apply to a range of schools.
2. Apply earlier in the cycle.
3. Make sure that in your secondaries you show fit with the programs you are applying to.

Your experience is excellent.

The impact of your C in orgo lab is hard to assess. On one hand, your GPA and sGPA are excellent, even with the C. However, schools don't like to see recent dips in grades. If you have opportunity to address the impact COVID had on you, you can provide context for the C in those essays, but in doing so don't ignore your proactive response to the pandemic -- extra volunteering for example.

 

[pre-spring]

You are already taking at least one step I would recommend: Improve your MCAT.

In addition I suggest:

1. Apply to more programs where you will be competitive based on your MCAT score and GPA (both factors). don't apply exclusively to reach programs just because they are T20 or ranked whatever. Apply to a range of schools.
2. Apply earlier in the cycle.
3. Make sure that in your secondaries you show fit with the programs you are applying to.

Your experience is excellent.

The impact of your C in orgo lab is hard to assess. On one hand, your GPA and sGPA are excellent, even with the C. However, schools don't like to see recent dips in grades. If you have opportunity to address the impact COVID had on you, you can provide context for the C in those essays, but in doing so don't ignore your proactive response to the pandemic -- extra volunteering for example.

Okay great, thanks. Yes, I'm planning to apply to a range of schools based on my upcoming MCAT. What I was wondering was whether I have to do anything more, maybe something more significant with more impact, or improve in anything regarding extracurriculars to be competitive at T20s, or are the ones I currently have good enough. I was also wondering whether I should even address the grade drop since I got a 4.0 in both fall and winter quarters in my senior year and my GPA only decreased in the spring.

Thanks.

 

[Dobermann]

I think your school list was the problem.

These schools have the following median MCAT scores, according to MSAR:

Drexel - 512
Wake Forest - 513
George Washington - 513
Jefferson - 514
Colorado - 514

If these were the only schools on your list that were “around your MCAT” score, then you were a below-average stat applicant at every school you applied to. Not to mention these are mostly low yield schools. You need to apply to more low tier & DO schools.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Okay great, thanks. Yes, I'm planning to apply to a range of schools based on my upcoming MCAT. What I was wondering was whether I have to do anything more, maybe something more significant with more impact, or improve in anything regarding extracurriculars to be competitive at T20s, or are the ones I currently have good enough. I was also wondering whether I should even address the grade drop since I got a 4.0 in both fall and winter quarters in my senior year and my GPA only decreased in the spring.

Thanks.

Showing more impact and leadership is always a good idea, but in your initial post, you wrote what you did -- not what you accomplished. So it's very hard to assess whether you had a lot or a little impact in your various roles. One of the jobs of the activity descriptions, MMEs, personal statement, and secondaries is to highlight your impact and contribution, as well as what you learned and how you grew from those experiences.

Every app has two overarching parts to it:

1. Your qualifications -- what you have accomplished academically, communally, clinically and personally.
2. Presentation of those qualifications -- Do you focus on tasks and responsibilities or on accomplishments, contributions, personal growth, and lessons learned. The (hopefully positive) change that you have been a part of.

You need both to get accepted. I can't say if #2 was strong in your initial app or needs improvement. Hope this helps.

 

[Faha]

Which schools did you apply to ?

 

[KnightDoc]

I think your school list was the problem.

If these were the only schools on your list that were “around your MCAT” score, then you were a below-average stat applicant at every school you applied to. Not to mention these are mostly low yield schools. You need to apply to more low tier & DO schools.

This^^^^. Your grades are fine, and one C in one lab with a 3.86 GPA does NOT need to be explained away. The rest of your application is fine, with one glaring exception -- a 510 for a CA ORM is simply not good enough for most schools. The competition is brutal. CA applicants have slightly below average acceptance rates, and the average MCAT for an accepted ORM is 514.5.

That was your problem. Period. If you could wish that away and score a 520+ on a retake, you will be golden, but, if it was that easy, most of us would do it. If you are like most people, your score on a retake will be 2 points higher than your 510, with the 25-75%-ile being +0 and +5. If that turns out to be the case, @Dobermann has it exactly right. 515+ will not be as much of a stretch as 520+, and it would definitely open a lot more doors for you. Good luck!!!

 

[pre-spring]

Showing more impact and leadership is always a good idea, but in your initial post, you wrote what you did -- not what you accomplished. So it's very hard to assess whether you had a lot or a little impact in your various roles. One of the jobs of the activity descriptions, MMEs, personal statement, and secondaries is to highlight your impact and contribution, as well as what you learned and how you grew from those experiences.

Every app has two overarching parts to it:

1. Your qualifications -- what you have accomplished academically, communally, clinically and personally.
2. Presentation of those qualifications -- Do you focus on tasks and responsibilities or on accomplishments, contributions, personal growth, and lessons learned. The (hopefully positive) change that you have been a part of.

You need both to get accepted. I can't say if #2 was strong in your initial app or needs improvement. Hope this helps.

Okay great. Thank you for the advice.

 

[pre-spring]

Which schools did you apply to ?

I applied to:

1) Colorado
2) UCLA
3) UCSD
4) UC Irvine
5) UCSF
6) UC Davis
7) Emory
8) Case Western
9) Dartmouth
10) Ohio State
11) Indiana
12) UPitt
13) Jefferson
14) Drexel
15) Wake Forest
16) Saint Louis
17) George Wahington
18) Georgetown
19) Cincinnati
20) USC
21) Kaiser
22) Einstein

 

[pre-spring]

This^^^^. Your grades are fine, and one C in one lab with a 3.86 GPA does NOT need to be explained away. The rest of your application is fine, with one glaring exception -- a 510 for a CA ORM is simply not good enough for most schools. The competition is brutal. CA applicants have slightly below average acceptance rates, and the average MCAT for an accepted ORM is 514.5.

That was your problem. Period. If you could wish that away and score a 520+ on a retake, you will be golden, but, if it was that easy, most of us would do it. If you are like most people, your score on a retake will be 2 points higher than your 510, with the 25-75%-ile being +0 and +5. If that turns out to be the case, @Dobermann has it exactly right. 515+ will not be as much of a stretch as 520+, and it would definitely open a lot more doors for you. Good luck!!!

Thanks. I guess I had the same issue with my MCAT as my last quarter, I wrote in early July right after recovering from Covid with not much preparation since I wanted to apply this cycle, I was expecting around a 515 or so but I guess I didn't do that great. I have been studying since November for the MCAT again, and took the sample test 1 and got a 522. If it's any indication of the real deal then I guess I'm doing well, but even then I have another 2 months to study and improve.

Also, it's a 3.81 with a C, so I was wondering if they would question the fall in my GPA from 3.86 to 3.81 in the last quarter. I'm debating whether to address the C and talk about the situation during the last quarter, but I don't want to come off as complaining, or giving reasons, and don't really want to bring attention to it as well.

Thank you.

 

[pre-spring]

I guess the main question I had was about my extracurriculars. For Red Cross, I conducted more than 20 blood donation camps, for about 100 thalassemia patients and we have recently started moving into the more rural areas, to conduct small health check-ups and free Covid testing and such. I would also be having 2-4 publications by the time I apply. So I was wondering if I'm showing enough accomplishments and impact for being competitive at T20 schools or if I have to do something more that is more significant and has more of an impact so that I am competitive for the T20 schools. Of course, this is assuming I do good on the MCAT, but I was wondering if I could get feedback on my ECs and whether they're good enough for T20s, or if I have to do something more. I'm asking this because both UCSF and UCSD were MCAT blind this year for interviews, and I got rejected by UCSF and put on hold for UCSD.

Thank you.

 

[candbgirl]

Thanks. I guess I had the same issue with my MCAT as my last quarter, I wrote in early July right after recovering from Covid with not much preparation since I wanted to apply this cycle, I was expecting around a 515 or so but I guess I didn't do that great. I have been studying since November for the MCAT again, and took the sample test 1 and got a 522. If it's any indication of the real deal then I guess I'm doing well, but even then I have another 2 months to study and improve.

And some schools average multiple MCAT scores. AMCAS encourages this practice. There is really no way to know what schools do and what schools don’t. You can just do the best you can and not worrry. If you aren’t ready for the retake, don’t take it. If you aren’t scoring at or above your target score on FL practice tests, don’t take the exam. Good luck.

 

[pre-spring]

And some schools average multiple MCAT scores. AMCAS encourages this practice. There is really no way to know what schools do and what schools don’t. You can just do the best you can and not worrry. If you aren’t ready for the retake, don’t take it. If you aren’t scoring at or above your target score on FL practice tests, don’t take the exam. Good luck.

Thanks for letting me know. I guess I'm scoring at my target score with a 522 on the first FL, but I'm going to practice a bit more and take the other FL's as well.

 

[KnightDoc]

Thanks. I guess I had the same issue with my MCAT as my last quarter, I wrote in early July right after recovering from Covid with not much preparation since I wanted to apply this cycle, I was expecting around a 515 or so but I guess I didn't do that great. I have been studying since November for the MCAT again, and took the sample test 1 and got a 522. If it's any indication of the real deal then I guess I'm doing well, but even then I have another 2 months to study and improve.

Also, it's a 3.81 with a C, so I was wondering if they would question the fall in my GPA from 3.86 to 3.81 in the last quarter. I'm debating whether to address the C and talk about the situation during the last quarter, but I don't want to come off as complaining, or giving reasons, and don't really want to bring attention to it as well.

Thank you.

Again, your GPA is FINE!!. 3.9, 3.8, 3.85 -- there is not a huge difference, and none of those GPAs would explain your getting shut out. Being an ORM from CA with a 510 explains it all, since your research is great and the rest of your ECs are all at least okay. There is nothing to explain. It's a 0.05 drop!

Unfortunately, you broke the cardinal rule of the MCAT, which is to not take it before you are ready just to meet an artificial deadline, since med schools are never going anywhere. It sounds like you are primed to do much better on your next attempt, assuming you spend the proper amount of time preparing and don't take it immediately after a bout with a debilitating illness. Hopefully, anyone reading this will learn the same lesson without having to go through it, since, as you can see, you accomplished nothing by rushing, and now have to deal with whatever downside accompanies having a 510 on your record and being a reapplicant.

Again, if you fix your school list (keep a few top schools you really want, but broaden it out and maybe apply to around 30) and get a 515+ on a retake, you will be fine, and, quite honestly, won't even need to add DO schools to your list.

 

[allseasons]

Thanks. I guess I had the same issue with my MCAT as my last quarter, I wrote in early July right after recovering from Covid with not much preparation since I wanted to apply this cycle, I was expecting around a 515 or so but I guess I didn't do that great. I have been studying since November for the MCAT again, and took the sample test 1 and got a 522. If it's any indication of the real deal then I guess I'm doing well, but even then I have another 2 months to study and improve.

Also, it's a 3.81 with a C, so I was wondering if they would question the fall in my GPA from 3.86 to 3.81 in the last quarter. I'm debating whether to address the C and talk about the situation during the last quarter, but I don't want to come off as complaining, or giving reasons, and don't really want to bring attention to it as well.

Thank you.

Did you not take any of the sample tests before the first time you applied? If you're retaking the sample tests, then that 522 isn't really an accurate representation of your ability, probably artificially inflated.

 

[wysdoc]

I moved this over to WAMC forum for more responses

 

[Faha]

Post your new MCAT score here when available.

 

[wodoo]

on the same boat with MCAT 520+.

 

[allseasons]

on the same boat with MCAT 520+.

any major flaws in your app? No IIs doesn't even make sense unless you have some clear issue.

 

[wodoo]

verified 8/19, Too late?
Applied early (still in my third year of college)

 

[KnightDoc]

verified 8/19, Too late?
Applied early (still in my third year of college)

No, not too late. I followed your 520+ thread with interest in the spring. You were clearly very focused on that.

Beyond that, you now see that a high MCAT is not a panacea in a world of holistic reviews. Since you said you are in your 3rd year of college, I'm going to guess you are graduating early and have simply not had the time in 2 years to build the type of resume with the length and breadth of experiences schools are looking for, when around 75% of their successful candidates outside of BS/MD programs have at least one gap year.

Live and learn. You took your shot and at least you have great stats. Filling in gaps in ECs are the easiest things to fix in an application, and by graduating early, you'll be in a position to have a gap year and still only be 21-22 when you enter med school. If my assumption is correct and this is your issue, you'll be in great shape after a gap year or two.

 

[allseasons]

verified 8/19, Too late?
Applied early (still in my third year of college)

If the only possible red flag on your app is an application that was borderline between early and on time (which is no where near a red flag btw, I submit 90% of my apps by August, then sent 3 more in september and got 2 IIs from them), then you're in great shape and the problem is definitely ECs.

I am a reapplicant with a 52X myself. Got a few IIs last time. Fixed my ECs, doing far better now. Granted, I was in a rather unique situation, but being a reapplicant doesn't seem to hurt too much IF (and only IF) your application improves from the last one.

 

[gyngyn]

I applied to:

1) Colorado
2) UCLA
3) UCSD
4) UC Irvine
5) UCSF
6) UC Davis
7) Emory
8) Case Western
9) Dartmouth
10) Ohio State
11) Indiana
12) UPitt
13) Jefferson
14) Drexel
15) Wake Forest
16) Saint Louis
17) George Wahington
18) Georgetown
19) Cincinnati
20) USC
21) Kaiser
22) Einstein

I count five schools on this list where you had a fair to good chance of an interview.
CA applicants need 15.

 

[DOcSto]

There is really no way to know what schools do and what schools don’t.

I may be gullible. N=1, but every school I applied to had this information published on their website. Personally, I took the MCAT twice (490->511; so was is that? 500.5 avg) and have gotten II love this cycle. As a straight, white guy, I can't imagine that the information I found was misleading, but I could be wrong.

 

[pre-spring]

Post your new MCAT score here when available.

Okay yeah.

 

[pre-spring]

Did you not take any of the sample tests before the first time you applied? If you're retaking the sample tests, then that 522 isn't really an accurate representation of your ability, probably artificially inflated.

I did take the sample test the first time around. That's why I've decided write in late March so that I have 2 more months to solidify everything.

 

[pre-spring]

If the only possible red flag on your app is an application that was borderline between early and on time (which is no where near a red flag btw, I submit 90% of my apps by August, then sent 3 more in september and got 2 IIs from them), then you're in great shape and the problem is definitely ECs.

I am a reapplicant with a 52X myself. Got a few IIs last time. Fixed my ECs, doing far better now. Granted, I was in a rather unique situation, but being a reapplicant doesn't seem to hurt too much IF (and only IF) your application improves from the last one.

Do you think my application has improved, with about 1-3 more publications, another 150 more hours of clinical, and non-clinical volunteering, and more work with the Red Cross and all? Also, I was wondering if I have to fix any of my ECs and am showing enough accomplishments and impact for being competitive at T20 schools or if I have to do something more that is more significant and has more of an impact so that I am competitive for the T20 schools. I'm asking this because both UCSF and UCSD were MCAT blind this year for interviews, and I got rejected by UCSF and put on hold for UCSD.

 

[pre-spring]

I guess the main question I had was about my extracurriculars. For Red Cross, I conducted more than 20 blood donation camps, for about 100 thalassemia patients and we have recently started moving into the more rural areas, to conduct small health check-ups and free Covid testing and such. I would also be having 2-4 publications by the time I apply. So I was wondering if I'm showing enough accomplishments and impact for being competitive at T20 schools or if I have to do something more that is more significant and has more of an impact so that I am competitive for the T20 schools. Of course, this is assuming I do good on the MCAT, but I was wondering if I could get feedback on my ECs and whether they're good enough for T20s, or if I have to do something more. I'm asking this because both UCSF and UCSD were MCAT blind this year for interviews, and I got rejected by UCSF and put on hold for UCSD.

Thank you.

I guess my main question is still this post. Because right now I still have the time to do more and improve my ECs if I have to.

 

[allseasons]

Do you think my application has improved, with about 1-3 more publications, another 150 more hours of clinical, and non-clinical volunteering, and more work with the Red Cross and all? Also, I was wondering if I have to fix any of my ECs and am showing enough accomplishments and impact for being competitive at T20 schools or if I have to do something more that is more significant and has more of an impact so that I am competitive for the T20 schools. I'm asking this because both UCSF and UCSD were MCAT blind this year for interviews, and I got rejected by UCSF and put on hold for UCSD.

that was pretty much exactly what changed between my first and second application. Went from less than 5 IIs to 13 IIs, and the ranking of the IIs has substantially improved, (2 are T5s, 7 are T20s).

 

[whenthelightsgo_OUT]

I guess my main question is still this post. Because right now I still have the time to do more and improve my ECs if I have to.

Your ECs are fine... you have basically hit all the experiences that the current medical school application meta looks for.

The only thing holding you back is your MCAT at these T20's... just study as hard as you can if you are going to retake. You have a stellar GPA, esp. at a top UC school, so congrats on the hard work.

I'm actually surprised you didn't get any IIs... apply early, rewrite your PS, and clean up/simplify your activity descriptions. Gl!

Oh and... apply DO. Regardless of what your new MCAT is. It doesn't hurt, unless you are poor or your ego is too big.