This year I applied to a handful of osteopathic programs and I have one interview up and coming. I haven’t had any official rejections yet, though I am expecting them as interviews are tapering off for this cycle and I have not been invited anywhere else. I’m in limbo about how best to proceed with re-applying, so if anyone might be able to offer some advice, I will describe my situation below. It’s turned out to be very long, but if you have the time and could offer any advice I would be most grateful! Thank you!
I completed undergrad in 2007 with a degree in biology and a 3.57 GPA. I took a handful of courses post-bacc, including second semester physics and organic chemistry and completed an MPH in December of 2010 with a 4.0 GPA. Grade-wise, I have 4 “withdrawn” courses from undergrad, addressed briefly in my personal statement and a C+ in first semester Organic chem and second semester physics. Other low grades were repeated courses, so original grades don’t impact my GPA for AACOMAS. The one course I have not taken is biochemistry.
I took the MCAT in 2009 and got a score of 31-O(12 verbal, 10 bio, 9 phys).
I worked for about 9 months in an assisted living facility (prior to grad school) and have tons of research experience including two publications on which I am 2nd author.
My thought is that my biggest shortcomings are:
a) I applied late in the cycle
b) Though I repeated several courses, I feel my transcript looks a bit wishy-washy with withdraws and repeats
c) Lack of recent and prolonged clinical experiences
I feel I have a shot at being accepted by the school I’m interviewing with in April, but it is not a top choice especially given location and I am worried about my partner being able to find work in the area.
SO - long story not made short very effectively - if I am not accepted anywhere or if even if I am accepted, but find the school is not a good match, any thoughts on what would be most beneficial in enhancing my credentials? I’m looking into post-bacc programs, but starting to think it may be better to take just one or two courses rather than an entire program (at least take biochem) and work on clinical experience through volunteering - or with a job if I am lucky, as I’m currently unemployed.
How late did you apply? Don’t throw in the towel yet.
Have you called the schools you’ve applied to, to let them know that you are still very interested in attending?
If they tell you you’re rejected, ask for clarification and what you can do to be more competitive next cycle
Thanks for your response. Primary applications were sent just before the new year, though the process date was Jan 5 or so. Unfortunately there was an issue with one of my letters of recommendation so I was right down to the March 1 wire for my first choice school. I have been in contact with them, though I think I am not reaching the right person - at any rate the woman answering the phone for admissions has been of little help. She verified that my application was complete, my next step was to wait for an interview or rejection, which should come by the end of April.
I do plan to contact them again if rejected to ask that question, great thought!
Realize that medical schools work on a rolling admissions basis. By the time you applied in January and the application was verified and received and you received secondaries and filled them out and they were processed by the school, about 85-90% of the class has already been filled. Your best best is to prepare for the upcoming application season and get started on the application when it opens up in May. You have 1 month to prepare it and send in your transcripts before you have to submit it.
Really your application is solid. Just make sure you have your application in on the day they are available. Talking with admissions at my school you have a very slim chance of getting in when interviewing past the new year, but if you interview in the early-mid fall you have a very high chance. As the interview year moves forward they get more selective since they have fewer spots left. You seriously have a competitive resume so if you don’t land a slot this year go again and get them in on day 1.
The secret to gaining admission to med school is applying early.
I met with several admin directors and they all told me the same thing. They each had late applicants that were perfect but the incoming class was already full by January. So if you don’t get in this year continue taking a course or two, continue with giving back to the community, and apply early next year. From what I heard from the admin directors you have a solid package…assuming your PS ain’t BS. 
I think you would have been attending school this fall if you had applied in June. I would say the only thing you should really try t sterngthen is clinical experience. Possibly if your Science GPA is lower maybe a few upper level Sci. But aside from that the 31 MCAT is super
Timing is definetly important. For the places that you have not been rejected by, I would contact them…Possibly send in a update on your year…something to let them know you are still interested and willing to interview if they have spots open.
In the meantime get ready to reapply, have everything ready to go for the the second or third day the system is open. I alwasy advise waiting a day or so after it opens in case there are any glitches.
Which school did you interview at? Are you coming to the conference? There will be adcoms there to speack with. 
Gonnif…any other suggestions?
Marcia
Thanks for all the replies. I definitely underestimated the importance of early application. I interviewed at LECOM and VCOM, am currently wait listed at VCOM and waiting to hear from LECOM.
I’m thinking I should submit the application for next cycle even though I’m still likely to be wait listed at that point in time. I realize that I probably shouldn’t submit the exact same personal statement, but is it acceptable to make only minor “update” type changes? Similarly, with the descriptions of work and volunteer experiences, I don’t see any reason why I’d need to re-write those, just add as needed?
I’m hoping to make it to the conference - trying to figure out finances and make sure I can get the time off from work (currently working on a farm, and they are really short of help right now).
have everything ready to go for next cycle, but if you are waitlisted at VCOM (and still haven’t heard form LECOM- (Erie or Bradenton?)) than you may still have a chance this year.
I had students in my class pulled from the waitlist during orientation and one lucky one got in on the second day of classes! They were already there about to start a post bacc and so it was easy to slide into our class!
You probably do not need to rewrite the narratives…I didn’t. And you can always just do minor edits on your personal statment. I think i rewrote mine each year as things changed but I knew others who didn’t touch theirs.
SO : prepare for the worse (reapplying) and hope for the best (that VCOM or LECOM call and accept you)
Find a way to come to the conference (share a room, skip disney, etc)…trust me the farm will still be there a few days later, but the amount of knoweldge and experience about this process in a room together …all there to help you… is priceless.
The two adcoms I spoke with both mentioned that it was very important to write a new personal statement. Saying that if they saw the same one, it was basically an instant trip to the circular file. It really sucks if you have a good one already written.
My question, and possibly nobody here knows, but is if you are applying to some schools for the first time, can they see your past AMCAS application? Say there were five schools I was reapplying to, and five new schools. I know there is a place on the AMCAS application asking if you had applied before, but do the new schools also see your old app? Or just the schools for which you had applied before?
Just curious.
I wanted to thank everyone again for their responses, and give a (very exciting!) update. I’ve been accepted at LECOM-Erie! I’m still hoping for some waitlist movement at VCOM, which was one of my top choices, but am incredibly excited to know that I have a spot and won’t have to go through the application process again next year.
Jimi44, I don’t think schools you didn’t previously apply to can see old applications, but I can’t say for sure (I applied only osteopathic and you’re asking about AMCAS).
congrats phcat! that’s great news. good start to the week.
Congrats, PHCat!! That’s marvelous!
Kate
Congrats PHCat. It’s a great feeling to know you are going to medschool. isn’t it. Celebrate
Hey PHCat
certainly not ideal to find out just now, but jeez, this is a great news. It probably feels better now that it would have a few month ago, doesn’t it?
Enjoy the ride.
I’d really been kicking myself for applying so late this year, thinking that I should have saved the time/money/emotional turmoil and just waited for next cycle… so better late than never and I am thrilled!
Which pathway did you pick PH?
LDP - I definitely feel I’m a more “traditional” learner who likes structure, although I’m sure at some point I’ll be griping about all the hours spent in lecture.