Medical School Admissions - rejection, gap year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a student applying this cycle? Are they a senior, or did they do a gap year(s)? If a gap year, what are they doing in the gap? How is it going?

DC did not apply widely and was "R"'d from top choice. May be forced to do gap year and reassess. Trying to determine what most valuable experience would be in the interim. Paramedic? Research? Not sure about research opportunities if not actively a student.

Depends on her weaknesses. Clinical related is always helpful. Reapplying applicants will have harder time next year. Why didn’t she just take a gap year to begin with. Hindsight is 20/20 I know.

Why will reapplying applicants have a harder time next year?

She can reapply obviously, but she needs to show "significant" changes from this cycle application. What makes it difficult is they know she got R'ed this cycle and if her application looks the same/similar, that's an easy reject. Each school has so many well qualified applicants, it makes it that much more difficult.

eh, this will only be true for the schools she's applied to this year. she'll apply more widely next cycle.

what about a post-bacc?

This isn’t true. Reapplicants have a lower admission (at all schools, not just the one they applied to) and they want to see significant improvements on the second application. That’s why it’s risky to throw out an application before the applicant is ready and the application is looking good and to not widely apply. I have one in this application cycle and they took a gap year last year to round of their application and avoid this situation. They did research in the gap year (which is hard to find, we had connections). They have received three acceptances so far this cycle. If you can get published that’s probably best as so many kids are doing EMT and CNA type jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Getting into medical school has always been challenging. Though it may not seem like any consolation, it seems as if the chances of an applicant in this era is easier than when I applied two decades ago when only about 1/3 of very qualified applicants could gain admission to ANY US medical school. I recall interviewing with folks from all the top schools knowing full well that only about 4-5 of the accomplished folks in the room (out of about 15) would get in anywhere.

There are so many more options now, not including foreign institutions, DO, and Podiatry programs.

It is less likely to encounter folks who have re-applied 10+ times and still get rejected. The door was closed to so many likely qualified students then.

Get the MCATs up. That is the key.

This seems like you’re patting yourself on the back and out of touch with med school admissions! It’s a very different process now, and I don’t think most would agree it’s easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting into medical school has always been challenging. Though it may not seem like any consolation, it seems as if the chances of an applicant in this era is easier than when I applied two decades ago when only about 1/3 of very qualified applicants could gain admission to ANY US medical school. I recall interviewing with folks from all the top schools knowing full well that only about 4-5 of the accomplished folks in the room (out of about 15) would get in anywhere.

There are so many more options now, not including foreign institutions, DO, and Podiatry programs.

It is less likely to encounter folks who have re-applied 10+ times and still get rejected. The door was closed to so many likely qualified students then.

Get the MCATs up. That is the key.

This seems like you’re patting yourself on the back and out of touch with med school admissions! It’s a very different process now, and I don’t think most would agree it’s easier.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting into medical school has always been challenging. Though it may not seem like any consolation, it seems as if the chances of an applicant in this era is easier than when I applied two decades ago when only about 1/3 of very qualified applicants could gain admission to ANY US medical school. I recall interviewing with folks from all the top schools knowing full well that only about 4-5 of the accomplished folks in the room (out of about 15) would get in anywhere.

There are so many more options now, not including foreign institutions, DO, and Podiatry programs.

It is less likely to encounter folks who have re-applied 10+ times and still get rejected. The door was closed to so many likely qualified students then.

Get the MCATs up. That is the key.

This seems like you’re patting yourself on the back and out of touch with med school admissions! It’s a very different process now, and I don’t think most would agree it’s easier.

Maybe they have good intentions, but how old could this poster possibly be if there were no D.O., podiatry, or foreign school options when they applied? These all existed at least a century ago, right?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's tough. Odds are typically only 50/50 even after interview. People are emphasizing MCAT, but many apply with the same score; It's not that huge of a point spread.

[Anonymous]

Maybe med schools should be test optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a student applying this cycle? Are they a senior, or did they do a gap year(s)? If a gap year, what are they doing in the gap? How is it going?

DC did not apply widely and was "R"'d from top choice. May be forced to do gap year and reassess. Trying to determine what most valuable experience would be in the interim. Paramedic? Research? Not sure about research opportunities if not actively a student.

Depends on her weaknesses. Clinical related is always helpful. Reapplying applicants will have harder time next year. Why didn’t she just take a gap year to begin with. Hindsight is 20/20 I know.

Why will reapplying applicants have a harder time next year?

She can reapply obviously, but she needs to show "significant" changes from this cycle application. What makes it difficult is they know she got R'ed this cycle and if her application looks the same/similar, that's an easy reject. Each school has so many well qualified applicants, it makes it that much more difficult.

eh, this will only be true for the schools she's applied to this year. she'll apply more widely next cycle.

what about a post-bacc?

This isn’t true. Reapplicants have a lower admission (at all schools, not just the one they applied to) and they want to see significant improvements on the second application. That’s why it’s risky to throw out an application before the applicant is ready and the application is looking good and to not widely apply. I have one in this application cycle and they took a gap year last year to round of their application and avoid this situation. They did research in the gap year (which is hard to find, we had connections). They have received three acceptances so far this cycle. If you can get published that’s probably best as so many kids are doing EMT and CNA type jobs.

This is a little doomsday and judgmental. Obviously, if you're not a full-time student who is working and studying for the MCAT, you have more time to focus on research and "rounding off" your app. Seems like admissions committee would be aware of this and not hold initial application against the applicant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at a med school.

My advice = consider doing a master's program in anatomy/physiology during the gap (Georgetown has one and their med school admits many from it, and I think VCU has a similar master's degree as well but I'm less familiar with that one). Consider applying to DO programs.

I do, too. This year very few first years have taken a single anatomy class. Most of them have done coding or AI projects, though. This is a new trend. Can’t wait to see how they do on testing, without anatomy background.

[Anonymous]

Keep on trying. Someone has to finish in the bottom half of medical school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone with kids considering med school, recommend they spend some time speaking with practicing docs in the field/setting they are interested in. Physician burnout is a real thing and with the loss of nurses and other support staff during and following COVID, docs are having to do a lot more of the administrative tasks that leave less time to actually practice medicine. Also a lot of private practices are getting bought out by larger companies that reward quantity of patients seen over quality of time with patient.

For experience during a gap year, I've seen med students not coming directly from college who worked as lab managers/research assistants/lab techs in an academic research setting or at biotech/pharma, clinical research assistant, work associated with clinical trials support. Also support roles in work supporting patients (ie palliative care, hospice, hospitals).

A lot of these are hiring PAs as well, with just a few doctors as supervising physician on record. PAs are cheaper to employ and for routine treatment (non surgery) a PA can do the same as an MD. My kid’s dermatologist and ENT providers are PAs. And when we need to see the pediatician on short notice, we book with a PA or nurse practitioner to get in sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep on trying. Someone has to finish in the bottom half of medical school

Good point! And when they’re employeed and folks like us book with them, we don’t even know what rank they were at graduation …. Just that they are “Doctor”!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a student applying this cycle? Are they a senior, or did they do a gap year(s)? If a gap year, what are they doing in the gap? How is it going?

DC did not apply widely and was "R"'d from top choice. May be forced to do gap year and reassess. Trying to determine what most valuable experience would be in the interim. Paramedic? Research? Not sure about research opportunities if not actively a student.

Depends on her weaknesses. Clinical related is always helpful. Reapplying applicants will have harder time next year. Why didn’t she just take a gap year to begin with. Hindsight is 20/20 I know.

Why will reapplying applicants have a harder time next year?

She can reapply obviously, but she needs to show "significant" changes from this cycle application. What makes it difficult is they know she got R'ed this cycle and if her application looks the same/similar, that's an easy reject. Each school has so many well qualified applicants, it makes it that much more difficult.

eh, this will only be true for the schools she's applied to this year. she'll apply more widely next cycle.

what about a post-bacc?

This isn’t true. Reapplicants have a lower admission (at all schools, not just the one they applied to) and they want to see significant improvements on the second application. That’s why it’s risky to throw out an application before the applicant is ready and the application is looking good and to not widely apply. I have one in this application cycle and they took a gap year last year to round of their application and avoid this situation. They did research in the gap year (which is hard to find, we had connections). They have received three acceptances so far this cycle. If you can get published that’s probably best as so many kids are doing EMT and CNA type jobs.

This is a little doomsday and judgmental. Obviously, if you're not a full-time student who is working and studying for the MCAT, you have more time to focus on research and "rounding off" your app. Seems like admissions committee would be aware of this and not hold initial application against the applicant.

That made me laugh.

[Anonymous]

Agree with poster who said there needs to be a significant change, unless they only applied to a very small number of schools and are a stellar candidate who was unlucky.

Better MCAT score if not standout always a plus.

Goal of gap year activity should be to get relevant experience *and* an additional letter of recommendation in which DC sparkles.

Admission committee will look favorably on this (esp as it's likely to be DC's full time gig and thus boss/letter writer may in fact be writing from a more informed view that others).

Depending on what that experience is, it could be the basis of a new and improved personal statement.

Disagree with doing an additional degree. “Why did you get X degree?” “So I could get into med school.” Bad idea, and expensive. (I also work at a med school and disagree with the other posters here. Totally makes no difference to me how well prepared you are in advance for anatomy class.) And DC doesn’t need a post bac. That’s for kids who haven’t completed all the med school prerequisites. Yours has.

Research opportunities – if DC is in DC area, NIH is normally a great avenue for 1-2 year jobs as research coordinator, lab tech etc. Not sure what’s that like now. Same for med schools/universities…lots of places with freezes except for funded projects and sometime even those have some pushback.

Best job – depends on DC. I think paramedic training takes at least a few months – program prob won’t want DC if they know DC is planning to leave after 1 year.

Also, not clear from OP post whether DC has been rejected everywhere they applied or only from top choice. If they do get in somewhere, go! Way better than pain of reapplying with higher bar next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with poster who said there needs to be a significant change, unless they only applied to a very small number of schools and are a stellar candidate who was unlucky.

Better MCAT score if not standout always a plus.

Goal of gap year activity should be to get relevant experience *and* an additional letter of recommendation in which DC sparkles.

Admission committee will look favorably on this (esp as it's likely to be DC's full time gig and thus boss/letter writer may in fact be writing from a more informed view that others).

Depending on what that experience is, it could be the basis of a new and improved personal statement.

Disagree with doing an additional degree. “Why did you get X degree?” “So I could get into med school.” Bad idea, and expensive. (I also work at a med school and disagree with the other posters here. Totally makes no difference to me how well prepared you are in advance for anatomy class.) And DC doesn’t need a post bac. That’s for kids who haven’t completed all the med school prerequisites. Yours has.

Research opportunities – if DC is in DC area, NIH is normally a great avenue for 1-2 year jobs as research coordinator, lab tech etc. Not sure what’s that like now. Same for med schools/universities…lots of places with freezes except for funded projects and sometime even those have some pushback.

Best job – depends on DC. I think paramedic training takes at least a few months – program prob won’t want DC if they know DC is planning to leave after 1 year.

Also, not clear from OP post whether DC has been rejected everywhere they applied or only from top choice. If they do get in somewhere, go! Way better than pain of reapplying with higher bar next time.

i am the pp who said there has to be "significant" changes to this year's app. I generally agree with this pp's post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with poster who said there needs to be a significant change, unless they only applied to a very small number of schools and are a stellar candidate who was unlucky.

Better MCAT score if not standout always a plus.

Goal of gap year activity should be to get relevant experience *and* an additional letter of recommendation in which DC sparkles.

Admission committee will look favorably on this (esp as it's likely to be DC's full time gig and thus boss/letter writer may in fact be writing from a more informed view that others).

Depending on what that experience is, it could be the basis of a new and improved personal statement.

Disagree with doing an additional degree. “Why did you get X degree?” “So I could get into med school.” Bad idea, and expensive. (I also work at a med school and disagree with the other posters here. Totally makes no difference to me how well prepared you are in advance for anatomy class.) And DC doesn’t need a post bac. That’s for kids who haven’t completed all the med school prerequisites. Yours has.

Research opportunities – if DC is in DC area, NIH is normally a great avenue for 1-2 year jobs as research coordinator, lab tech etc. Not sure what’s that like now. Same for med schools/universities…lots of places with freezes except for funded projects and sometime even those have some pushback.

Best job – depends on DC. I think paramedic training takes at least a few months – program prob won’t want DC if they know DC is planning to leave after 1 year.

Also, not clear from OP post whether DC has been rejected everywhere they applied or only from top choice. If they do get in somewhere, go! Way better than pain of reapplying with higher bar next time.

Still has apps pending, but reading about students with 15-20 apps only getting a few interviews and no acceptances, for example. Applying narrowly doesn’t give one many opportunities. DC knows some
who’ve already received a few “R”s, with or without interviews.