Hello, not sure if I should have posted this in the more general Pre-Med forum but here it goes. I know it is still very early in the cycle to start making these kinds of judgements, but I am getting the feeling that this cycle is going to be a repeat of last year's cycle for me, and so I want to get a jump start on planning for the possibility/eventuality that I will have to apply for a third time.
So a little about my application. I applied last year with a 3.34 science GPA and 3.56 cumulative GPA from a top 10 undergrad, and a 513 MCAT in 2020. I had approx 200 hrs community service, 300 hrs scribing, and 1,000 hrs research. I applied to 20 schools received one interview, and was waitlisted. Reapplying this year, I have the same GPA and MCAT, but I now have approx 500 hrs community service, 100 hrs med volunteering, 2,600 hrs scribing, 2,000 hrs research., and 300 hrs in medical paid employment. I applied to 30 schools and have yet to receive any interview invites.
Assuming that I do not receive any interview invites by January, I am planning on starting to prepare to retake the MCAT between April and June 2022 since by the time I reapply, my MCAT score will probably be expired. I am also considering applying to a SMP. I feel like my app is solid enough except for my science GPA, especially because it is almost exclusively because of three quarters of orgo. So I was thinking that a SMP would be a good way of improving my app before I reapply. However, doing so would also require me to stop doing research and paid employment. I am also not sure if doing a SMP would actually make a big difference in increasing my chances.
I know this post is long and all over the place so I apologize for that, I am just trying to get all of my thoughts out now as I think this through. I am not currently considering DO programs but if applying a third time does not go well then I guess I will have no choice. If you stuck with me through this rambling post, I would appreciate any advice or insights into how I should proceed. Thank you.
So a little about my application. I applied last year with a 3.34 science GPA and 3.56 cumulative GPA from a top 10 undergrad, and a 513 MCAT in 2020. I had approx 200 hrs community service, 300 hrs scribing, and 1,000 hrs research. I applied to 20 schools received one interview, and was waitlisted. Reapplying this year, I have the same GPA and MCAT, but I now have approx 500 hrs community service, 100 hrs med volunteering, 2,600 hrs scribing, 2,000 hrs research., and 300 hrs in medical paid employment. I applied to 30 schools and have yet to receive any interview invites.
Assuming that I do not receive any interview invites by January, I am planning on starting to prepare to retake the MCAT between April and June 2022 since by the time I reapply, my MCAT score will probably be expired. I am also considering applying to a SMP. I feel like my app is solid enough except for my science GPA, especially because it is almost exclusively because of three quarters of orgo. So I was thinking that a SMP would be a good way of improving my app before I reapply. However, doing so would also require me to stop doing research and paid employment. I am also not sure if doing a SMP would actually make a big difference in increasing my chances.
I know this post is long and all over the place so I apologize for that, I am just trying to get all of my thoughts out now as I think this through. I am not currently considering DO programs but if applying a third time does not go well then I guess I will have no choice. If you stuck with me through this rambling post, I would appreciate any advice or insights into how I should proceed. Thank you.