Medical What path should I choose for reapplication?

[tantacles]

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Hi everyone,

I am on my second round of applications, and currently waitlisted at a school for the 2019-2020 cycle, post-interview. The cycle is coming to a close and even though I still have a little hope that I could be accepted at the last minute I am trying to prepare for another application cycle in 2021-2022. I wanted to give myself another year before reapplying so that I can do everything possible to boost my application before reapplying. I will be taking an MCAT prep course to try and boost my score, but I am looking for different opportunities for my work/extracurricular that would look favorable to an admissions committee. I currently have experience with clinical paid work, nonclinical paid work, academic research, research within a CRO, non-medical volunteer work (community outreach/working with under-represented populations), and clinical volunteer work. My undergraduate GPA is average (3.6 overall, 3.5 science), although I've looked into a masters program I determined that it would likely not be beneficial because of cost and advice I have read that has said admissions committees tend to not look at post-bach GPA. The programs and schools I am favoring are those that place a strong emphasis on serving undeserved/rural population and offer additional training in those areas.

I have a few options for the next year and would love any criticism/feedback you could offer that may help me to distinguish myself and demonstrate to a committee my motivation for pursuing medicine! Please keep in mind that I will be taking a prep course during this time, so while I would love to take on multiple opportunities at once, I believe working 2-3 jobs while studying is the reason I have not been able to achieve an MCAT score over a 502 in the past.

• Join Americorps in drug education/community outreach in a rural area (Pro: demonstrates rural interests, love the area, Con: Substantial pay cut/ would have to utilize savings for living costs).
• Join Americorps in drug education/community outreach in urban area (Pro: work with the community and under-served, closer to home. Con: Substantial pay cut/ would have to utilize savings for living costs).
• Take courses part-time at local community college in american sign language (Pro: low cost, improve undergrad GPA, learn a new skill that may help future work with under-served communities, can continue working paid job in pre-clinical research, can ask a professor for a letter of recommendation (currently 3 years out from undergrad), Con: questioning if it is an effective use of time/money in helping to boost application).
• Look for new paid positions in clinical research (currently employed in pre-clinical research) (Pro: Can continue to save for future medical school costs, advance into a field more aligned to medical profession, Con questioning if it is an effective use of time in helping to boost application).
• Continue working pre-clinical research and studying for MCAT (Pro: Can continue to save for future medical school costs, do not need to look for new job Con: Does not add any new interests/work to my resume)

I appreciate any feedback you can provide, as well, I am open to any suggestions you may have outside of the list I have given! If you have any constructive criticism on my current resume and any areas that I seem to be lacking in I would love to hear it!

Thank you so much for your time!

Your GPA is not particularly in need of repair, so I would not bother taking courses. At this point, it is almost definitely your MCAT that held you back, even knowing nothing about your other extracurricular activities. Focus your time on the MCAT for now; that's where the money is.

My strong recommendation is that you go with option #4 - a paid position is a good idea, and it can help you not be broke when you go to medical school. Research definitely boosts your application, though again, your MCAT score is the big thing to work on.

That being said, joining Americorp would definitely boost your application as well.

I think you're doing the right thing in taking an extra year up to get things going. That being said, just focus your time and energy on the MCAT. If your score does not improve, it does not matter what you do for extracurricular activities and you are extremely unlikely to gain admission.

 

[Goro]

Thank you for the insight! I completely agree that my MCAT score is likely the largest factor in my application holding me back, and with this being my third time taking the exam, I am willing to bite the bullet and spend the money on a test service to help me prepare for it. Although I love the rural work offered through Americorps, I feel you are right in that there is a huge benefit in saving money for medical school.

What were your previous MCAT scores?

Although some of the individual scores on the CARS, biology, and physics section increased/decreased from test to test, I scored an overall 502 on both of the test I have previously taken.