What to do? Updated interest letters/reapplication

[futuredoctor242222]

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I applied to 22 MD schools in Jul-Sep and have only heard back from 2 of them (both pre-II rejections).

Stats:
MCAT 514, cGPA 3.81, sGPA 3.76, 2500+ hours cardiovascular clinical research, 120 shadowing hours, 120 non-clinical volunteering, 160 clinical volunteering, multiple conference acceptances including a 15-min oral presentation, two manuscripts planned on publishing, ORM, relatively prestigious private undergrad, impressive gap year research job

Should I plan on reapplying? Should I send continued interest letters yet? Since secondaries, I have heard back about both of my manuscripts being accepted for publication and have joined various committees at my job and planned initiatives for the staff. What should I do?

 

[Butalbusaur]

I applied to 22 MD schools in Jul-Sep and have only heard back from 2 of them (both pre-II rejections).

Stats:
MCAT 514, cGPA 3.81, sGPA 3.76, 2500+ hours cardiovascular clinical research, 120 shadowing hours, 120 non-clinical volunteering, 160 clinical volunteering, multiple conference acceptances including a 15-min oral presentation, two manuscripts planned on publishing, ORM, relatively prestigious private undergrad, impressive gap year research job

Should I plan on reapplying? Should I send continued interest letters yet? Since secondaries, I have heard back about both of my manuscripts being accepted for publication and have joined various committees at my job and planned initiatives for the staff. What should I do?

School list?

 

[futuredoctor242222]

Loyola Stritch
Virginia Commonwealth
Creighton
George Washington
University of Minnesota Twin Cities (in-state)
University of Iowa
University of Wisconsin- Madison (pre-II R)
Tufts University (strong ties to mass)
Wake Forest
Georgetown University
UMass (strong ties to mass)
Rutgers New Jersey
Einstein
Boston University (pre-II R)
University of Virginia
Ohio State
Case Western Reserve
Emory
Pitt
Northwestern
Michigan
Harvard

Also: Casper 4Q, preview 5/9

 

[Butalbusaur]

Your volunteering, both clinical and non-clinical, are on the lower end. Also, no clinical work experience? How have you conveyed (and showed proof) that you’re absolutely certain that want to work with people for the rest of your life, instead of being a researcher?

Also, why do you feel that your cycle isn’t shaping up to what it should be? How do you feel your writing is? I don’t think your school list is bad.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

A complete WAMC profile would help. We need details like residency (Minnesota, right?), experiences, and campus activities. Apparently you overvalue just how impressive your gap/growth year position is for your application.

I think your MCAT is low for some of the schools on your list (Harvard, Case, Northwestern, Michigan, Einstein; I suppose they're your reaches, but that's really stretching things). I think your non-clinical service orientation is too low for others (Loyola, Creighton, Georgetown, Tufts?). I don't know how well you articulate your purpose as a physician, but if you didn't get a shot at your in-state, you need to ask.

BU's rejection is a sign (not conclusive) you overestimate the value of your Massachusetts ties. Explain why you have connection to the state. Is it your college location? I also consider BU to also take a chance for mission-fit candidates, so you don't seem to have argued this well.

I do get a feeling you are putting all your chips in on your clinical research project to count as clinical experience. Have adcoms you talked with confirmed this as viable? Many will put this under "research" so you come across as being mostly "research rat" not "potential physician." Look at the hours; they tell me where you are truly passionate with your career. Without more details that refine my impression, that's what I'm seeing.

 

[futuredoctor242222]

Your volunteering, both clinical and non-clinical, are on the lower end. Also, no clinical work experience? How have you conveyed (and showed proof) that you’re absolutely certain that want to work with people for the rest of your life, instead of being a researcher?

Also, why do you feel that your cycle isn’t shaping up to what it should be? How do you feel your writing is? I don’t think your school list is bad.

I do not have any clinical WORK experience, only clinical volunteering as a cancer strategist through the American Cancer Society at both an urban hospital and rural clinic. Through my clinical research job, I do perform patient facing tasks when onboarding and consenting patients into new trials. I have always considered myself a strong writer and believe that my essay was pretty good.

I am not sure why my cycle is going this way, I have a cover letter from my undergraduate institution that endorses me as an excellent candidate and know that my LOR are strong. I did make it through multiple rounds of screening at BU but was not ultimately offered an interview, as detailed in the R letter they sent me ~3 months after secondary submission.

 

[futuredoctor242222]

A complete WAMC profile would help. We need details like residency (Minnesota, right?), experiences, and campus activities. Apparently you overvalue just how impressive your gap/growth year position is for your application.

I think your MCAT is low for some of the schools on your list (Harvard, Case, Northwestern, Michigan, Einstein; I suppose they're your reaches, but that's really stretching things). I think your non-clinical service orientation is too low for others (Loyola, Creighton, Georgetown, Tufts?). I don't know how well you articulate your purpose as a physician, but if you didn't get a shot at your in-state, you need to ask.

BU's rejection is a sign (not conclusive) you overestimate the value of your Massachusetts ties. Explain why you have connection to the state. Is it your college location? I also consider BU to also take a chance for mission-fit candidates, so you don't seem to have argued this well.

I do get a feeling you are putting all your chips in on your clinical research project to count as clinical experience. Have adcoms you talked with confirmed this as viable? Many will put this under "research" so you come across as being mostly "research rat" not "potential physician." Look at the hours; they tell me where you are truly passionate with your career. Without more details that refine my impression, that's what I'm seeing.

What do you mean "I need to ask" for the in-state institution? Do you mean reach out to the adcom? I haven't been rejected and I know they have been actively rejecting some applicants. I did make it through multiple rounds of screening at BU but was not ultimately offered an interview, as detailed in the R letter they sent me ~3 months after secondary submission. I lived in Boston for two years as a kid.

Here is my WAMC profile:
1. cGPA: 3.81, sGPA: 3.76
2. MCAT: 514 (128, 131, 128, 127)
3. Minnesota Resident
4. ORM (white)
5. Wake Forest University
6. Clinical Experience: 160 hours as a volunteer cancer strategist through the American Cancer Society at urban and rural hospitals
7. Research experience: 2500+. Summer research fellowship, Summer Clinical Research Program, Senior Honors Thesis, ongoing research for 2 years during school year. 3 conference posters and 1 oral presentation. Two manuscripts to be published in next few months. (all cardiology)
8. 120 Hours shadowing in OBGYN, Gen Surg, Preventive cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatrics, Interventional Cardiology, Radiation Oncology, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine
9. Non-Clinical Volunteering: 120 hours delivering food to individuals in food deserts (over the course of 4 years). 10 hours tutoring local elementary students
10. Women-in-STEM Club Secretary, Food Delivery Organization Leadership Team, Sorority Philanthropy and DEI committees, Hobby of indoor cycling
11. Won undergraduate presentation award for an oral presentation on CV research, graduated Cum laude with Honors in my major, Dean's list every sem.
12. Studied abroad 1 semester. Gap year job as cardiovascular research associate with integrated shadowing, leadership, and publication opportunities, strong LORs and school committee letter.