What should I focus on for my gap year?

[NarutoUzumakiMD]

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This cycle, I applied to 20 schools and have received 6 R's, 1 II which turned into a waitlist, and radio silence from the rest. My stats are: 3.7 cGPA, 3.75 sGPA, 510 MCAT, 150 shadowing, 400 clinical as a CNA, 150 clinical volunteering, 150 non clinical at food pantry, 150 teaching, 400 research, 1 pub, 200 leadership. What would be most valuable for me to do during my gap year (if I don't get in) to benefit my application? I was thinking of working full time as an MA, but as an IL applicant, I was also considering working at a food pantry or something to gain service for schools like rush and loyola. Thoughts?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously,

Thread 'WAMC'

May 28, 2025

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• NarutoUzumakiMD
• Replies: 4
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

Please provide updated details for the WAMC, including your list. How did you address our concerns?

 

[NarutoUzumakiMD]

Previously,

Thread 'WAMC'

May 28, 2025

.

• NarutoUzumakiMD
• Replies: 4
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

Please provide updated details for the WAMC, including your list. How did you address our concerns?

100 more hours of research, 1 publication, 30 more hours of non clinical at the food pantry, 100 more hours of leadership, 3.7 cGPA and 3.8 sGPA up from before. Planning on working as an MA over the summer, but know I need to get more non-clinical/service hours as well. Also submitted primaries around last week of june so planning on submitting first day in May to get verified earlier and therefore getting my secondaries in earlier.

List:
Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, UIC, Wayne State, Michigan, Kansas, Rosalind, MCW, Temple, St Louis, Drexel, Penn state, Rush, Albany, UMKC, Loyola, SIU, Central Mich, Belmont.

 

[Med Ed]

State of residence?

 

[pigsinacloth]

Well first you need a more realistic school list. Half your schools are low yield. So you either need to add more schools to apply to or retake the MCAT and do better to increase your chances because I think you GPA is fine. I don't actually think your MCAT is bad, I just think that it's too low given where you applied and in terms of number of places that you applied to be a safe bet. It is also difficult to say if your essays were good or not, but I would say definitely spend a lot of time on them and try to make them as perfect as possible. Otherwise just keep doing what you're doing.

I would consider some DO schools as well.

 

[wysdoc]

Well first you need a more realistic school list. Half your schools are low yield. So you either need to add more schools to apply to or retake the MCAT and do better to increase your chances because I think you GPA is fine. I don't actually think your MCAT is bad, I just think that it's too low given where you applied and in terms of number of places that you applied to be a safe bet. It is also difficult to say if your essays were good or not, but I would say definitely spend a lot of time on them and try to make them as perfect as possible. Otherwise just keep doing what you're doing.

I would consider some DO schools as well.

I think the school list was good with a few exceptions:
UMKC takes mostly people from their BS/MD pipeline
Indiana and Kansas were unlikely due to preferring IS
MCAT on the low side for Michigan
Too low on the community service for Rush
June was not a late submission date
Faha's list for you was good last year...

 

[NarutoUzumakiMD]

State of residence?

IL Resident

 

[NarutoUzumakiMD]

I think the school list was good with a few exceptions:
UMKC takes mostly people from their BS/MD pipeline
Indiana and Kansas were unlikely due to preferring IS
MCAT on the low side for Michigan
Too low on the community service for Rush
June was not a late submission date
Faha's list for you was good last year...

Thank you. I will definitely be using more schools from Faha's list. However, would you change that list at all given the improvements of my app or would they remain the same?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

As an IS Illinois applicant, you need to show strong mission fit (service orientation) given the history of social causes in Chicago. Southern Illinois prefers non-Chicagoans to meet its mission. But to impress Rush and Loyola, you should have hundreds of hours on your application (not planned/anticipated). Northwestern, UChicago, and CMS/RFUMS get many applicants that have fewer, but still a significant amount of experience (150+). I would consider the two DO schools in Illinois, but do your homework.

Get more experience and connect with schools on your intended list.