What should I do in a gap year?

[justkeepswimming1050]

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I am currently on two waitlists and I am trying to think of ways to improve my application for the next time around. I have had a hard time trying to talk to admissions at other schools because I am currently waitlisted and my school doesn't have any advisory committee, and I would love if you may be able to point me in the right direction.

I have a 509, 3.73, performed undergrad research for 3 years and presented at numerous conferences (including a national one), I worked as a patient care tech in a hospital for over a year, I was president of a campus organization, I have sporadic volunteer experience, and am a certified EMT. I applied to schools in my stat range, but my application was complete in late July.

 

[acciobutterbeer]

How many volunteering (clinical and non-clinical) do you have? How many schools did you apply to? What was your school list like?

 

[justkeepswimming1050]

Clinical volunteering: 32
Non-clinical: ~200-250
I submitted 30 primaries, 27 secondaries including Penn State and Geisinger (went to school in PA), NeoMed, MSU CHM, Upstate, NYMC, Iowa (my grandparents are there)

I was also a student-athlete for 2 years

 

[acciobutterbeer]

Not sure if the low clinical volunteering would be an issue since you have lots of clinical experience as a pt care tech. It wouldn't hurt to get more clinical volunteering if you don't get off either WL.

I think schools like MSU and NeoMed prefer their instate students. If you do need to reapply, you can ask for feedback on a school list and maybe replace the OOS public schools with private schools that might be a better fit.

Definitely practice interviewing, too!

 

[Moko]

How many interviews did you get in total? If you got several interviews but were rejected post-interview (rather than placed on the waitlist), then that would suggest that your interviewing skills need to be improved.

If you only got two interviews in total (out of 27 applications), then I suspect that improving your application would improve your chances. How many shadowing hours did you have? What was your cGPA vs sGPA? How were your LORs? What was the feedback on your personal statement and description of your activities -- specifically, is there any chance that it may have been perceived as being arrogant or over-confident? Any red flags?

Generally speaking, when someone has significant paid clinical experience (in your case as a EMT and patient care tech), the lack of significant clinical volunteering is not as big of a deal. It seems that you have adequate research and leadership experience. Your list was not overly ambitious, which is another common pitfall. Your being complete in late July is also not considered late. I suspect that the problem was something listed in either my first or second paragraph.

Assuming you do not get off the waitlist this cycle, call their admissions offices to ask for feedback - specifically, ask what they would recommend that you work on. That's the best way to pinpoint areas for improvement. Good luck.

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

I am currently on two waitlists and I am trying to think of ways to improve my application for the next time around. I have had a hard time trying to talk to admissions at other schools because I am currently waitlisted and my school doesn't have any advisory committee, and I would love if you may be able to point me in the right direction.

I have a 509, 3.73, performed undergrad research for 3 years and presented at numerous conferences (including a national one), I worked as a patient care tech in a hospital for over a year, I was president of a campus organization, I have sporadic volunteer experience, and am a certified EMT. I applied to schools in my stat range, but my application was complete in late July.

agree with what Moko said. I'd also try to get consistent volunteering (non-clinical). Adcoms seem to love this.