worth reapplying now?

[jdletap]

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hi everyone, i would appreciate some insight on my situation...

I applied 2011-2012 cycle as a junior with the following stats: (25 schools, 2 interviews, 1 WL) 🙁

3.6cGPA/ 3.5 sGPA, 29 (11 V, 10 BS, 8 PS)
1.5 years of research with a few presentations, 50 hours shadowing, 1.5 years community service, work for 3 years, hospital volunteering 4 years, camp counselor for the summer

I would like to reapply this 2012-2013 cycle (30 schools) with the following improvements:

Graduated in June with a 3.7 cGPA/ 3.6 sGPA, continued research and completed an honors thesis and honors presentation, 1 more year hospital volunteering, 30 hours shadowing, mentor for kids at risk, started hospital clinical research last week

Is it worth applying this cycle? because of my premed committee, I will only be complete in early october

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Complete by Oct? For MD that's simply going to kill your application, you might have a somewhat decent shot at DO though.

 

[JFK90787]

I think an MCAT retake would help you more than anything, because the rest sounds pretty good. What was your breadkdown?

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Wait, how didn't you get in during the first round? Your stats make it seem doable.

 

[jdletap]

I was complete in October as well last cycle and I thought it wasn't too detrimental because of the many med schools in NY (state resident). I only got interviews from state schools.

my MCAT breakdown is (11 V, 10 BS, 8 PS) - I didn't want to retake because I don't think I'll do much better in PS...and may end up doing worse on the other two sections if I try bringing my PS score higher

 

[serendipity007]

Wait, how didn't you get in during the first round? Your stats make it seem doable.

He/she might not have applied broadly enough. It can't be the interviews since only 2 were offered out of 25? OP, did you apply to enough schools within your gpa/mcat range? Also, why would your premed committee not be complete until october? Did you not abide by their deadlines?

Either way, I would honestly advise you to take a year off. Complete by october will kill your application. It will be a waste of time and money. Applying to 30 schools instead of 25 will not get you in if your 30 schools are more competitive than your stats. Good job on research and presentations! 🙂 And your clinical volunteering sounds great too! Keep up your clinical volunteering for another year. Study harder for you MCATs. If your practice tests show a significant improvement from a 29 (there is no reason for them NOT to! use this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=623898), take the MCAT and be on top of everything in terms of deadline. Don't forget to practice before you get your interviews in the next applicant cycle. That will ensure that you're not weak when it comes to interviewing.

You can do it! Be positive!

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I was complete in October as well last cycle and I thought it wasn't too detrimental because of the many med schools in NY (state resident). I only got interviews from state schools.

I'm glad you've learned your lesson.

 

[carnelian]

I was complete in October as well last cycle and I thought it wasn't too detrimental because of the many med schools in NY (state resident). I only got interviews from state schools.

my MCAT breakdown is (11 V, 10 BS, 8 PS) - I didn't want to retake because I don't think I'll do much better in PS...and may end up doing worse on the other two sections if I try bringing my PS score higher

I think the two main reasons you didn't get in last cycle are:
1) late application
2) low MCAT

Also average GPA didn't help much. I recommend against reapplying this cycle b/c neither of those two problems will be solved. Your app will still be completed around october, and your mcat is the same. Wait another year, live and breath MCAT, get that score >30 and apply EARLY next year. Keep up with the ECs or raise your gpa by doing a master's program. You should be good to go.

 

[JFK90787]

Is being complete by say Oct 1 really a death sentence for an app? Early October could be a late July primary submission at the rate verification is going this year.

 

[jdletap]

He/she might not have applied broadly enough. It can't be the interviews since only 2 were offered out of 25? OP, did you apply to enough schools within your gpa/mcat range? Also, why would your premed committee not be complete until october? Did you not abide by their deadlines?

I used the online MSAR and applied to 25 mostly Northeastern lower-tier med schools, with a few mid-tier and only 4 "reaches" (Cornell, NYU, Tufts, Mount Sinai). The premed advisor who writes the committee letter only starts writing letters in Sept and takes up to 2 weeks to complete it- I cannot do anything about this..

Thanks for your encouragement, I'll stay positive 🙂

 

[jdletap]

raise your gpa by doing a master's program

My PI said trying to raise a 3.7/3.6 is unnecessary (time, money) because all other things being decent, that should suffice to get me in somewhere in the U.S.
Not sure what else I could do to increase my chances, except retake the MCAT 🙁

 

[serendipity007]

I used the online MSAR and applied to 25 mostly Northeastern lower-tier med schools, with a few mid-tier and only 4 "reaches" (Cornell, NYU, Tufts, Mount Sinai). The premed advisor who writes the committee letter only starts writing letters in Sept and takes up to 2 weeks to complete it- I cannot do anything about this..

Thanks for your encouragement, I'll stay positive 🙂

Well NE med schools are on average much more competitive in terms of numbers than others. Keyword: on average. That being said, look at geographical diversity. Cut schools that are public and have a terrible OOS acceptance reputations and look at schools that are not just in the NE. All 4 of your reaches are pretty high reaches considering your MCAT score. Keep 'em if they're your dream schools. BUT, you need to improve your MCAT! Since you're taking the year off, might as well do that first.

Also, I feel your pain in terms of the committee letter. That is super-late 😱 I would suggest sending in separate letter of recommendations and having your application complete early on. Get your primary in early June. Aim to finish your secondaries within a week or two. Idk you can forgo a committee letter if your school is being that annoying (Since you are a reapplicant, any chance you can request getting that letter in early? Never hurts to ask!). Med schools will ask for an explanation. Just let them know that the committee letter won't be complete till mid-September! Send your letter of recs separately.

My PI said trying to raise a 3.7/3.6 is unnecessary (time, money) because all other things being decent, that should suffice to get me in somewhere in the U.S.
Not sure what else I could do to increase my chances, except retake the MCAT 🙁

Your sGPA is a bit low. This coupled with a low MCAT doesn't look too good. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a SMP unless everything else fails (if you don't get in another cycle e.g.). Even then it is more likely you can find faults in other places. At that point call the admission offices of the schools that rejected you to try to figure out your weakness. If it is your GPA, do an SMP.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Well NE med schools are on average much more competitive in terms of numbers than others. Keyword: on average. That being said, look at geographical diversity. Cut schools that are public and have a terrible OOS acceptance reputations and look at schools that are not just in the NE. All 4 of your reaches are pretty high reaches considering your MCAT score. Keep 'em if they're your dream schools. BUT, you need to improve your MCAT! Since you're taking the year off, might as well do that first.

Also, I feel your pain in terms of the committee letter. That is super-late 😱 I would suggest sending in separate letter of recommendations and having your application complete early on. Get your primary in early June. Aim to finish your secondaries within a week or two. Idk you can forgo a committee letter if your school is being that annoying (Since you are a reapplicant, any chance you can request getting that letter in early? Never hurts to ask!). Med schools will ask for an explanation. Just let them know that the committee letter won't be complete till mid-September! Send your letter of recs separately.




Your sGPA is a bit low. This coupled with a low MCAT doesn't look too good. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a SMP unless everything else fails (if you don't get in another cycle e.g.). Even then it is more likely you can find faults in other places. At that point call the admission offices of the schools that rejected you to try to figure out your weakness. If it is your GPA, do an SMP.

3.7/3.6 isn't keeping anyone out of getting in somewhere.

OP, I would suggest sitting this cycle out and retaking the MCAT. I would advise against an SMP, masters, whatever since it's really the 29 that is holding you back, not the gpa. Don't throw more money at grad school unless it's something you really want do. If you insist on working on the gpa, take a few upper division science classes to keep the upward trend going. Plus, it won't cost nearly as much.

 

[1289]

OP your pre med committee really screws you over. I think with an earlier submission you might've been okay for reapplication right now but it won't matter since your letters wont be there until October. so idk how premed committees work but you should get your letter from them as if you're applying right now.. but then apply next cycle. early.

 

[serendipity007]

3.7/3.6 isn't keeping anyone out of getting in somewhere.

OP, I would suggest sitting this cycle out and retaking the MCAT. I would advise against an SMP, masters, whatever since it's really the 29 that is holding you back, not the gpa. Don't throw more money at grad school unless it's something you really want do. If you insist on working on the gpa, take a few upper division science classes to keep the upward trend going. Plus, it won't cost nearly as much.

Yeah you're right. I was trying to say that if the OP exhausts ALL possibilities of improvement even then it is unlikely that it is his/her gpa. But, yes an MCAT improvement is in order

 

[jdletap]

Well, I guess I'll sit this cycle out and get started on MCAT studying. thanks everyone for the all the great advice. 🙂

 

[sector9]

Thread moved to "What are my chances"

 

[Supisak]

Hey OP, take a year off doing something worthwhile, study up and do better on the MCAT and then reapply next year WITHOUT the committee letter, medschools are very tolerant of students that are post graduation not having a committee letter. keep those letters you do have and send them over to interfolio and then reapply.....
just a thought.....I agree that your MCAT and late app are what can hold many good applicants back...