What did I do wrong?

[lybda]

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Hi everyone,
This is my first time posting something, and I'm kinda nervous, but I was hoping someone could help! So here goes...

I applied to several medical schools last year. I'm a Washington resident so I applied to UW of course; but I attend the University of Texas so I applied to about six schools in Texas (longshot with residency restrictions but I thought they might consider me). In addition, I applied to about 8 private schools around the country.

My stats are pretty avg.: I had a 3.47 GPA when I applied and 31O MCAT (10PS-11V-10B); I got interviews at UW and two schools in Texas, but nothing else. Of these, I was rejected from UW and didn't match at either school in texas, although I got on an alternate list at one of the texas schools (one with notoriously little movement 🙂 ).

I have a ton of clinical experience (I've worked as a CNA in a hospital recovery room for three years), and have volunteered with a number of organizations, etc.

One problem is that my sophomore year of college was really tough for personal reasons, and my grades were really low....but I raised them to 3.47 overall and 3.05 ( 🙁 ) science by the time I applied last year. (I discussed these issues in my personal statment.)
In addition, I have no idea if my recs were good enough; UT is such a huge school that it's really hard to get to know your profs.


I'm trying to decide whether or not to reapply this year. My senior year science GPA was 3.54 which raised my overall science GPA to 3.2, so a little better but not much (overall gpa about the same ~3.49)...I'm still working and volunteering, and I think that I can get a really good recommendation from one of my professors that I've been working on an undergraduate research project with.

Would it be worth it at all to reapply or should I wait and try something else first? How early should I apply if I do (last time i submittied my AMCAS in August, and completed the secondaries throughout the fall). Which schools should I apply to this time?

Do I have a chance?

 

[hakksar]

I would suggest applying again (you definitely are demonstrating improvement). Make sure you apply to a broad range of schools again. What privates did you apply to? Make sure that you apply to schools like Albany, Drexel, and Rosalind Franklin with stats like yours (WA residents have it worse than California Residents according to application stats). Also, try to pick state schools known for taking out of state applicants (for instance Vermont). Finally, make sure you talk with WA and your Texas schools to find out why you were rejected or waitlisted so that you can improve. Last but not least, make sure you use your year off in a productive way, get a research or another clinical job, attend a 1 year Master Program or a Post-Bacc program, continue to volunteer, etc. Even if you cannot do a post-bacc or Masters program take some night or weekend science courses to boost the science GPA. I wouldn't worry much about the MCAT since a 31O is pretty good.

edit: also consider Osteopathic Schools since you will graduate and be eligible for an equivalent license in all 50 states.

 

[traumamonkey]

if medicine is what you want to do--absolutely apply again.

i think one thing you should probably do differently is to apply earlier. august is kind of late to begin (people are getting accepted not too long after that) so get your app in as early as possible.

good luck!!

 

[lybda]

Thanks for the help you guys! Last time the private schools I applied to were:

University of Chicago
University of Rochester
University of Cincinnati
Tufts
Penn State
Northwestern
George Washington University

These are some of the schools I'm thinking about applying to now:

Same state schools
Drexel
Albany Medical College
New York Medical College
St. Louis University
University of Chicago
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Penn State
Jefferson Medical College
Temple
Tufts?
Mount Sinai

Yes, no, maybe? Anything to add?

Thanks for the advice and encouragement--I'll definitely speak with some of the admissions offices, and apply earlier this time!

 

[Wahooali]

Agree with the above suggestions (more schools, improve app if you can although it looks pretty good as it)....and APPLY EARLIER!!! In June. And do your secondaries over the summer rather than the fall. It probably wasn't your downfall, but it did may have hurt you with some schools.

 

[JohnnyVegas]

You should add Eastern Virginia Medical School to that list. I was interviewed there and wait listed as an out of state applicant but accepted to my state school. They accept a pretty high percentage of out of state people and they are accessible in terms of getting to know the people in charge there. Your stats should at least get you an interview at EVM.

 

[Lochmoor]

Have you considered changing your state residency to TX. With your numbers it will be very difficult getting into UW. Also what two TX are you wl at?

For next year, I would not apply to Jefferson. Wake Forest is a better option. Jeff has a lot of nepotism going on. I was not offered an interview there last year with stats similar to yours. While WF didnt interview me, I was on the high priority interview list. More than likely, had I applied earlier (submitted amcas 1st week of october and was finally complete there in December) I feel I would have at least gotten an interview. Also, I'm not sure I would apply to TDMSAS again this year if you're still gonna be out of state since little has changed.

A few other schools to consider applying to:
Oregon Health and Science--not too sure how they are with out of staters
Case---gotta have a couple stretch schools. I think you have a reasonable shot.
Creighton
Loyola
Rush
Georgetown
George Washington
Tulane--to include all the Jesuit schools
SIU

 

[chicadehuskers]

I agree. You should definitely add Creighton to your list. They accept a lot of Washington residents with similar stats as you. Good luck!

 

[superdevil]

um, lybda, unless i read your post wrong, or am completely ******ed (or a combination of both), i don't think penn *state* or the university of cincinnatti are "private" schools. maybe i just missed something (i did read the thread kinda fast).

sd

 

[daelroy]

That is your problem, your 3.05 science GPA. That is low. A 3.47 overall isn't doing much for you if your science GPA is that low. I think you should reapply. A 3.2 science GPA is a lot better than a 3.05 and your last year of grades are solid. Your MCAT score is good but if you raised by a few points, it would make a much bigger impact. How do you interview? And lastly, speak with an adcom. Maybe he or she can tell you what you did wrong.

The private schools you applied to with the exception of GW were all top notch. I would advise applying to easier schools. And apply early. Reapplicants do get noticed because it shows your dedication and persistence in applying to medical school.

 

[skypilot]

Sounds like you have the idea with your new list of schools.

I think Tulane, Jeff, Tulane, and Temple should be included. Drop state schools where appropriate and choose expensive private schools which are easier to get into. Find schools where you have a good reason for attending and can make a case for admission. Consider Osteopathic schools as well.

 

[sistahnik]

never give up!! just take a deep breath look at your app as a whole and try to figure out what can be adjusted.

 

[priapismatic]

Lybda,
Your MCAT and Sci GPA does not correlate. Since the MCAT is the more objective measure, I wouldn't worry too much about it, although you may want to mention this in an interview.

Speaking of, if your interviews went well, you may wish to reconsider where your refs are coming from. My "application portfolio" was very similar to yours and I was rejected. The next time around the only thing I changed was not using my current boss' rec (conflict of interest), and I was accepted or waitlisted at nearly all the schools to which I applied.

Yes, you have a better chance than most who have been accepted, IMO.
Keep your chin up - I'm sure it's not you 🙂

 

[hypersting]

um, lybda, unless i read your post wrong, or am completely ******ed (or a combination of both), i don't think penn *state* or the university of cincinnatti are "private" schools. maybe i just missed something (i did read the thread kinda fast).

sd

Contrary to popular belief, Penn State is not state supported whereas Temple n Pitt are (at least in part). U Cincy is partly state supported, but apparently those Ohio schools are becoming more open to out of state applicants

 

[superdevil]

oh, i see. didn't know that about penn "state." i live about an hour north of UC, though, and for all intents and purposes, it still functions as a "state" school. the reason ohio schools are accepting more out-of-staters is because our brilliant state govt. cuts their funding every year, so they want to recoup their losses with that bling-bling out-of-state tuition. bastards.

 

[PFunkAllStar]

Currently, in what state are you considered a resident? IMHO, this makes all the difference and I am speaking from experience. I had almost the exact same stats as you when I first applied as a WA resident and I was waitlisted and ultimately rejected. The advice I got from my pre-med advisor was to get residency somewhere else (I ended up staying in Illinois). If you are serious about re-applying look into the requirements of the Texas med schools (in most states, this means living and working there full-time for a year...ie, get a research job or something). Yes, I re-took the MCAT while satisfying my residency requirement and I got some research experience, but becoming an IL resident made all the difference. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions and good luck.

 

[lybda]

Thanks you guys...very helpful!

 

[Dr.Wolkower]

stop whinning you didnt do anything wrong think positive and you will get in-do you have your health? are you dying of cancer? no so life isnt so bad


now apply to do schools and sackler and someonw will be happy to have you as you are a good person

 

[samenewme]

I'm going to buck the trend here and suggest you wait a year before reapplying. Take some more science courses and pull up that science GPA a bit more before you put in your application. Some med schools simply will not consider a third application so you want this second time around to be as good as you can possibly make it.

Good luck with your decision, whatever you end up doing!

 

[daelroy]

stop whinning you didnt do anything wrong think positive and you will get in-do you have your health? are you dying of cancer? no so life isnt so bad


now apply to do schools and sackler and someonw will be happy to have you as you are a good person

How about actually thinking before providing advice? Is it really asking a lot to provide better advice than the generic: "think positively." Seriously, take 2 minutes out of your day; read the OP's post, think and then write. It's not that hard. The OP doesn't need a lame response about dying of cancer and other ridiculous statements. The OP's post was simply asking you to see if he or she could improve her application. The person wasn't whining or giving any indication of being on a suicide watch. If you can't provide genuinely constructive advice then do us all a favor and don't respond. Just because I don't have cancer, it doesn't mean I can't be stressed about one of the most important decisions in my entire life. Please, spare us the sanctamonious drivel.