What should I do since I did not get in this year?

[akim0414]

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hey everyone. i was just wondering if i could ask all of you for some advice. i was an applicant this year but things don't look too good for me (i still haven't heard from a few schools but i think that this late in the game, they are all rejections!). i really do want to go to medical school so i will probably apply again. so here is where i need advice: my gpa is mediocre and i need to retake the mcat(because my scores are going to be "old" after this year) so . . . should i reapply this june, taking the mcat in august and a few classes over the summer or should i wait another year to reapply? and if i do wait another year what do you think will be in my best interst to do during this time off? any ideas? thanks for listening!

 

[Tweetie_bird]

I am afraid I'll be in the same boat as you in the next month or two so I just wanted to give you a hug. 🙁 🙁

 

[akim0414]

thanks tweetie! now i don't feel like a complete loser!!😉

 

[Bob Dole]

There are number things you can do:

1. Study for the MCAT and improve your score if you can.

2. Do a post-bac program and raise the GPA

3. Work in a lab or get some clinical experience. This will also help you get a new letter of recommendation.

4. Call up the schools and ask them what part of your application you should improve. I'm sure most will tell you.

5. Don't lose hope. Stay focused on your dream and you'll be sure to get in next year.

🙂

 

[UCLAMAN]

If you are planning on reapplying you had better make sure every facet of your application has improved. I would advise against reapplying immediately unless you have made significant strides over the past year that you could convey in your application. I chose to reapply immediately after the last cycle because even though I was applying last year I still remained involved with the same activities and became a leader/coordinator, I was published, garnered a scholarship for my research, etc. I had some great accomplishments during the year. So hopefully you did not quit any of your activities or took the year as "half-ass" just because you were applying to medical school and schools wouldn't necessarily see your accomplishments this year. Had I not had great accomplishments during the year then I would not have reapplied so soon.

I also chose to take the aug mcat which fortunately hasn't hindered me too much(Although I still don't have an accept. Then again I still have 3 more schools to interview at). Either way...do not reapply immediately thereafter unless you have strengthened your application in most if not all areas.

Furthermore, when you do finally reapply, definitely use the fact that you were rejected the first time and that you are reapplying as a strength. ie...Being rejected to 30 schools forced me to question my career goals and consequently helped reaffirm my desire to become a physician..etc. etc.....of course that statement would have ot be backed up by experiences that you have had since you first applied. (this is why i don't suggest reapplying immediately thereafter unless you have significant accomplishments this year)

anyhow...who knows...maybe i will be in the same boat as you guys this june...so far all i have to show for reapplying is 3 waitlists.

good luck everyone!

 

[wisdom2000]

I would just like to echo Bob Dole, while emphasizing doing a post-bac. If your GPA is mediocre, I think that would be the best thing to do. I've not done a post-bac, so I can't tell you much on that subject. But, I have talked to a lot of people who have been on ad com. and I can tell you that improving your GPA is a must.
Now that's not the only factor, research, teaching, volunteering, and/or doing something unique will all help. Just pick something you like so you don't feel miserable doing it.
Good luck.

 

[pwrpfgrl]

First, I'd like to say that it isn't ALL over yet, there's still a sliver of hope. Some of the slow schools are still supposedly sending out interview invites, and if you're on a waitlist, you might get off on may 16th.

But, planning for the worst is a good idea. I applied in 2000-1, but i didn't have SDN or a premed advisor, so it was a really really bad idea for me (i only applied to 4 schools, 3 of which were in CA - DUMB!!) At first I thought I'd reapply right away because I figured that the more times you try the better your chances of getting in (again, I had not yet found SDN). By that point I had started working in a lab and volunteering. after talking with some friends and family, i decided to wait a year and apply in 2002. so this time, instead of having 2 or 3 months of work/volunteer experience to put on my AMCAS, I had over a year. plus, my company paid for me to take a few night classes at the nearby extension schoool, which increased my gpa. also, I got better letters of recommendation from my new PI and volunteer coordinators. and i found SDN 😍

at first i was really upset about having to wait another year before going to school, since I knew it's what i really wanted to do. but then, if you look at the big picture, what's one year?

i really hope you get in and don't have to take any of this advice. Just remember that in the worst case you take a year or two off, it's really not that bad, and you'll probably be glad you did later on.

good luck!
🙂

 

[twesting2173]

eveyone has given such good advise, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to Mr. Dole's #4: call up the med schools and talk to them. make an appt to talk to the dean of admissions or an an official admission person. they keep all of this on file and it looks great when you apply in the future!

chin up akim! 😛

 

[Ginza]

Hey Akim

I think that everyone has given you some great advice, and I definitely agree that the most important thing to do before re-applying is to evaluate the weaknesses of your application, and then take the time to improve them.

I applied unsuccessfully last year...for me it was my MCAT scores that did me in. At first I was really upset about what I thought was 'losing' a year, but it turned out to be the best thing I could've done. I work with doctors and nurses who have basically shown me what type of doctor I want to be (and what type I don't want to be if you know what I mean). Anyway, I wish you the best with this application cycle...but if it doesn't work out, make the best of next year!

 

[JM.]

There is some really great advice posted on this forum. I have three decisions outstanding and currently I am on 2 waitlists - --- so I think I should really start thinking about my alternative plans. I feel like my GPA and MCAT's are good - so I was going to try to work as a substiture teacher and garner clinical volunteer experience - and apply D.O. next cycle. I didn't this cycle - and I am really regretting it, because as someone stated - if you really want to be a doctor, and help people - you shouldn't be concerned if you are an MD or a DO. I guess it took me a while to take off my blinders and see the truth to that statement.

This will be a good life lesson in patience in dedication if I don't make it this time around - trying to look at the bright side...

Good luck everybody 😉

 

[isidella]

Until that final rejection letter is in your hands, keep hope alive!!!

But if it doesn't work out, we will be here to support you next year!😍 I am rooting for you guys!

(If you think the rejections are a sure thing, then what do you have to lose at this point? What do you all think about sending the adcoms a really heartfelt letter or video-have a friend follow you around with a comcorder to some of your volunteer work, or do something funny to get yourself in the newspaper and send the adcom the clipping? Are these bad ideas?)


Tweetie, if adcoms knew all of the volunteer work you put in on this forum to help us out, I am sure they would recognize you as a leader among your peers and a great role model to us all.

Keep your chin up peeps! 😍

 

[ashkan33]

hey,

these are all really good alternatives. i have another: special masters programs. while i don't know too much about it, i've done some researching into the GW special masters. they require a minimum gpa of 3.0 and at least a 27 mcat score. it is only a year long masters, you will be taking 6 of your 10 classes with first year medstudents, taking the same tests, in the same rooms, and at the same time. from what i hear, this greatly improves your chances of getting in. however, if you don't end up attending GW, most if not all of your classes will NOT matriculate to other schools. but if you do end up in GW, SOME will end up transferring. hope that helps.

 

[ashkan33]

Originally posted by UCLAMAN
...Being rejected to 30 schools forced me to question my career goals and consequently helped reaffirm my desire to become a physician..

hey ucla man,

i know this is somebody elses thread but i have to ask you a question?

you said you applied to thirty schools and you didn't get in. were you applying within your range? or were you shooting for schools that you were "hoping" to get into? the reason i ask is because i feel like i'm in the same position. i'm gonna strategically "machine-gun" apply this summer because i feel very like a borderline applicant and therefore i'm gonna apply to ~30-35 schools. i'm not sure if i'd have the same determination you as you to come back another year. i'm too sensitive for rejections. props on the motivation uclaman.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by ashkan33
hey ucla man,

i know this is somebody elses thread but i have to ask you a question?

you said you applied to thirty schools and you didn't get in. were you applying within your range? or were you shooting for schools that you were "hoping" to get into? the reason i ask is because i feel like i'm in the same position. i'm gonna strategically "machine-gun" apply this summer because i feel very like a borderline applicant and therefore i'm gonna apply to ~30-35 schools. i'm not sure if i'd have the same determination you as you to come back another year. i'm too sensitive for rejections. props on the motivation uclaman.

thanx for the props. i actually applied to another 30 this year...but i dropped places like jefferson and added places like stanford and northwestern and hopkins. i did this before i had received my aug mcat scores...after receiving them i was effectively put out of the running for a lot of top schools.

The first year I applied everywhere from med college of wisconsin to loma linda, to the UCs, to ohio state, to thomas jefferson, to new york med, etc. i had a 28 mcat and a 3.8 gpa...i didn't apply to places like hopkins or stanford or yale. i interviewed at vandy and loma linda last year. i tried focusing on the lower half of the usnews top 50 and schools that weren't on the list at all. but ya...my mcats were below avgs but my gpa was pretty good so i figured they would balance. i'd say i applied to schools within my range last year but to no avail. this year my mcat went up slightly and my gpa went down to a 3.77.

in retrospect if u are borderline perhaps you should make yourself "not borderline" and apply then rather than shot gunning and spending a lot of money.

 

[Maple]

There is a lot of good advice posted already..so I won't repeat any. I just wanted to say that if you are sitting on several or even a couple waitlist spots, don't give up yet! Your chances of being pulled off from May-school start date are really high. Let me just add that I was pulled from 4 waitlists last year..from june-late july, including my top choice school. so....just hang in there!🙂

 

[abw]

Originally posted by jmwalker
apply D.O. next cycle. I didn't this cycle - and I am really regretting it

I'm not saying this to turn into another md v. do thread (so please don't turn it ino one if you have a comment about this). If you apply to d.o. make sure you know what they stand for and everything. This is my first time applying and I applied to both - didn't really matter to me as long as I got in. My scores were above all D.O. schoos avg's (signif. above some) but low for m.d. The funny thing was, I got 4 invites from allopathic schools and only 1 from osteopathic schools. I guess what I'm trying to say is that going D.O. is not a sure fire way to get in.

 

[DrBravesgirl]

someone mentioned GW's program...i know Tulane has a program for anyone who has been waitlisted (but not accepted) at a u.s. allopathic school..you take classes (with the exception of one, i forget which one) with the first-year students, take the same exams, etc, and then, at the end of the year, they consider you for admission. from what i know, the acceptance rate into the m.d. program is pretty good (if you do a search, i'm sure you can find the thread where a current tulane med student talks about last year's group's results). i admit, i'm not fully up to speed on the specifics of the program, but i know it exists, and it seems like it'd be worth looking into. good luck with everything!

 

[Adcadet]

I've got to agree with UCLAMAN 100%. I didn't get in as a senior in college, sat out an admission cycle, and got in this year. (I also did an MPH program.)

Unless amazing things are happening to your resume right now, take an extra year to improve your app. Then use your rejections as a point to mention in essays. My personal statement mentioned my rejection then focused on what I had done in my year between applying.

 

[geromine]

I would do some serious volunteer work, consider something medically related, preferably overseas, in developing countries.

I would be very careful in reapplying and not apply to the exact same set of schools. Review each school and make sure you have at least a decent shot at getting into it.

Unless Cs and Ds predominate in you transcript, I would NOT do postBach.

Focus on MCAT and do well on it and that's what will ultimately matter.

Make sure that you get professional help reviewing your personal statement, secondary essays etc.(teachers, advisors, paid services)

Focus on the two things above, and don't waste time doing other things that are less impactful.

 

[Perseverant 1]

OK, great advice here all around. BUT, what would you do if you have already explored most of these options and still have come up short? I can't really improve my work or volunteer experience. I have 7 years of volunteer experience and 6 years of work experience (in both clinical and basic research). I have been named on several peer reviewed journals. I am in the last stage of finishing a Masters in Bio. And, after taking the MCAT several times...i can't seem to crack it! I turn into a blithering idiot the morning of the test! (And yes, this is after taking a prep course!)
My undergrad experience was a blur...dealing with too many family issues (illness) combines with that new sense of FREEDOM. So, my undergrad gpa was horrendous. My Masters is much improved 3.7.
This is my 2nd unsuccessful application cycle. I have extremely personal reasons for becoming a neurologist. I am older then the traditional applicant (31) and am SO EAGER to start on the path that i believe was meant for me. PLEASE, ANY help would be appreciated.

 

[geldrop]

Perhaps give up and pursue something very different, sales?

Or you can try dentistry, podiatry, DO, or foreign med school. I know a doc that went to mexico for med and now retired at 50 and is well off.

Althought don't feel too bad either, I to am waiting on an accept and I have a 3.7, 35.

I think its all so silly, i wonder what % of applicants that are rejected become a doctor in some roundabout way or after reapplying. How many just completely give up? Wish i had some numbers.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by Sharky
Hey UCLAMAN those are some decent numbers, quite similar to mine. Did you have good ECs and recommendations. I would have thought you could have at least made some school especially since you applied to 30. What was the deal?

i think the problem is for every person that has a 3.8 and 28 that gets in theres another person that doesnt. I am using the same LORs this year(I only added one) so I don't think that was the problem. I was still involved in the same activities. Perhaps my personal statement could have been better. I completely revamped that this second time around. But I didn't think my personal statement was horrible the first time around, just not as good as this years. Bad luck? Also I am a California resident so that may have played into things. In retrospect I dunno why I didn't get in last year. But based on the interviews I had last year and the ones I have this year...I'm glad I didn't get in last year. 😀

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

I?ll give you my story/advise. Most important thing is the MCAT. I went in last cycle with a 3.5gpa and 30M mcat, these are acceptable numbers but with a break down like 7V,11P,12B, I didn?t have much luck. I got waitlisted at 2 schools, the verbal score did me in. This cycle the only thing I did differently is retake the mcat, and impoved my score, I already had decent ECs and EMT work under my belt. I started studying 6 month prior to the test in Oct. getting ready for the April mcat. If you study your ass off, anybody can improve there score. I got it up to 36L (9v,12p,15b), and have gotten into my #1 choice. So what I?m saying is it?s all about the MCAT, if everything else in your app is decent. Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[akim0414]

thanks for all of your advice guys. here is just one more question - i don't know much about post-bacc. programs. could you give me some info? also, i have great research experience and decent clinical work(although if i am taking a year off, i would probably spend it doing some more clnical work), what else do you think i could possibly do? and last question - since i have to take the MCAT over since my old scores are too old to be accepted at most schools, would it really screw me over if i took the august while still applying in june?