Where should I apply? And what to do while I wait?

[Basil246]

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Hi! So I applied for the 2017-2018 cycle and got a couple of interviews MD and DO that turned into waitlists and/or rejections all around. My MCAT score is a 509 with a breakdown of CARS 129, Chem/Phys 125, Biological 126, and Psych 129. My cGPA is a 3.65 and my sGPA is about a 3.49. I'm a Florida Resident and was considering only applying to Florida schools this cycle. Should I retake MCAT? Go to a graduate program? Or just continue volunteering at a research lab?

Last year I applied to:
Albany(interview and rejection)
Drexel(pre interview hold)
Eastern Virginia
FIU
FAU
FSU
George Washington
Georgetown
NOVA MD(interview->waitlist->reject)
Penn State
Seton Hall (interview->no response/likely reject)
UVermont
USF(interview->waitlist)
UCF
UF
Virginia Commonwealth
Wakeforest
West Virginia
DO: LECOM(interview->rejection), NSUCOM(interview, waitlist), MWU AZCOM, Rocky Vista

 

[Faha]

When did you apply and complete your secondaries? Do you have any shadowing or clinical volunteering hours?

 

[Basil246]

When did you apply and complete your secondaries? Do you have any shadowing or clinical volunteering hours?

I submitted my primary the first day it was open, each secondary within 24-48 hours of getting them. ~170 hours of shadowing

 

[Faha]

You could still receive acceptances from USF, Seton Hall and NSU-COM. Did you receive any feedback from the schools that interviewed you and then rejected you ? How did your interviews go?

 

[Basil246]

You could still receive acceptances from USF, Seton Hall and NSU-COM. Did you receive any feedback from the schools that interviewed you and then rejected you ? How did your interviews go?

I requested some recently and am waiting to hear back. I don't think they were particularly strong

 

[Faha]

You may need to work on your interviewing skills. Your lack of clinical patient exposure may be hurting your chances. Do you plan to accumulate any patient contact clinical volunteering hours or clinical job ?

 

[Basil246]

You may need to work on your interviewing skills. Your lack of clinical patient exposure may be hurting your chances. Do you plan to accumulate any patient contact clinical volunteering hours or clinical job ?

Yeah I’m going to start volunteering in a free clinic over the summer

 

[Goro]

Hi! So I applied for the 2017-2018 cycle and got a couple of interviews MD and DO that turned into waitlists and/or rejections all around. My MCAT score is a 509 with a breakdown of CARS 129, Chem/Phys 125, Biological 126, and Psych 129. My cGPA is a 3.65 and my sGPA is about a 3.49. I'm a Florida Resident and was considering only applying to Florida schools this cycle. Should I retake MCAT? Go to a graduate program? Or just continue volunteering at a research lab?

Last year I applied to:
Albany(interview and rejection)
Drexel(pre interview hold)
Eastern Virginia
FIU
FAU
FSU
George Washington
Georgetown
NOVA MD(interview->waitlist->reject)
Penn State
Seton Hall (interview->no response/likely reject)
UVermont
USF(interview->waitlist)
UCF
UF
Virginia Commonwealth
Wakeforest
West Virginia
DO: LECOM(interview->rejection), NSUCOM(interview, waitlist), MWU AZCOM, Rocky Vista

Rewrite your essays and work on your interview skills.
Shadow DOs and get LOR from same.

 

[Basil246]

Rewrite your essays and work on your interview skills.
Shadow DOs and get LOR from same.

Thank you! Is my school list okay?

 

[Goro]

Thank you! Is my school list okay?

Need to add more DO schools and all FL schools.

 

[Basil246]

Need to add more DO schools and all FL schools.

The only fl school I didn’t have was UM because they’re so stats heavy. Will do with the DO though. Thank you so much!

 

[Faha]

If you are not accepted off the wait list somewhere you can reapply to all your Florida MD schools but apply more broadly to DO schools-at least 10 schools.

 

[Basil246]

If you are not accepted off the wait list somewhere you can reapply to all your Florida MD schools but apply more broadly to DO schools-at least 10 schools.

Thank you!!

 

[shopsteward]

You need clinical experience. Shadowing does not count.

 

[Basil246]

You need clinical experience. Shadowing does not count.

What does count as clinical experience then? And how much should I have?My advisor said shadowing was fine

 

[Basil246]

You need clinical experience. Shadowing does not count.

Approx how many hours?

 

[PreMedScuba]

You got this!

 

[Shotapp]

You need a 100 hrs of clinical volunteering at minimum. Do you have any non-clinical volunteering?

 

[Basil246]

You need a 100 hrs of clinical volunteering at minimum. Do you have any non-clinical volunteering?

Yeah I have a lot, around 900-1000

 

[Shotapp]

Quickly find a clinical volunteering gig so you can start building some hours. Also look into getting some interview practice/feedback from a physician. Do you get nervous during your interviews? Do you articulate your answers in a lucid manner?

 

[Basil246]

Quickly find a clinical volunteering gig so you can start building some hours. Also look into getting some interview practice/feedback from a physician. Do you get nervous during your interviews? Do you articulate your answers in a lucid manner?

I found a rehab clinic that will let me volunteer there!
And yeah I do, my interviews definitely need improvement

 

[Shotapp]

It's normal to be nervous during your interview but preparation will help minimize your jitters. Don't drink any caffeinated drinks a few days before your interviews. Try drink teas that have a calming effect such as chamomile or Kava (Kava is not intended for long-term consumption). These are just suggests to help.

 

[Basil246]

It's normal to be nervous during your interview but preparation will help minimize your jitters. Don't drink any caffeinated drinks a few days before your interviews. Try drink teas that have a calming effect such as chamomile or Kava (Kava is not intended for long-term consumption). These are just suggests to help.

Thank you! I really appreciate all your advice 🙂

 

[Basil246]

It's normal to be nervous during your interview but preparation will help minimize your jitters. Don't drink any caffeinated drinks a few days before your interviews. Try drink teas that have a calming effect such as chamomile or Kava (Kava is not intended for long-term consumption). These are just suggests to help.

Do you think a masters is necessary? Or just focus on clinical experience and continued research?