4rth time reapplicant!! My chances to get in

[bruchko]

This is my 4rth time applying. First and second years I was testing the waters with zero interviews. Third year (last year) I got 4 interviews but was wait listed but eventually denied by all of them.

 

Cumulative GPA- 3.4

Science GPA- 3.3

Pre-req GPA- average is 3.55 to 3.62

GRE- verbal 153, quant 149, writing 4.0

Post bacc hours included in this. Last 30 units all A's

 

These are my current stats:

26 years old

Direct patient care- 5200 hours as EMT in private company (911 and IFT), patient care associate in hospital in the float pool where I work pretty much in ER triage and in the psych units.

Volunteer and community service- 484 hours ER and orthopedic volunteer at LAC/USC medical center. Been on 8 medical mission trips to Mexico that spanned from 3-6 days each. 30 day Mission trip to Hawaii. 21 day church mission trip to South Africa. Volunteer teacher and leader in local Christian church since September 2015.

 

Shadowing hours- 70 in family practice and over a 100 in orthopedics cause of volunteering at LAC/USC

 

E-submitted my application to Caspa July 10.

 

The 4 schools I got interviews from last year was USC, western, Stanford, and touro CA. Do you think I will receive interviews again? What else can I do? Do schools take interest in reapplicants more? Thanks!

[corpsman89]

I'm going to get it out of the way. This is your 4th time applying, so you really shouldn't be asking questions like this, you're an expert.

 

Also, why did you wait so long to apply? Your chances increase significantly the earlier you apply. July 10th is, well, meh (Again, you should already know this).

 

First things first, your GPA is average to below average. HCE is about average to above average. GRE is average and if this is your fourth time I would have expected you to take it again and try to raise your quant to at least above 150.

 

Maybe I am being a little rude, but this is your fourth time. I feel after doing this 3 previous times you wouldn't have to ask this question and you would know exactly what you need to get accepted.

 

I see that you have some good community service, maybe that will help you out?

 

I do applaud you for not giving up though!

 

Good luck

[Petunia]

If I was in your shoes, I'd be applying to 30+ programs and focusing on schools that may not be so hard to get into

[mtnpa]

Another thing I would really focus on is your interview skills. This might have been your limiting factor. You got 4 interviews! So obviously your stats got you that far at least. And who knows if you'll get them again, but at the least there should've been some increase in hours and a revision of your personal statement on what you've done to improvwork between this cycle and last cycle.

[MT2PA]

Schools don't necessarily take more interest in reapplicants unless those applicants have IMPROVED their apps from the previous cycle.

 

I would expect you have to have a lot more HCE if this is your 4th time applying - unless the first 2 times you were 'testing' you didn't have any HCE in which case you weren't even a contender.

 

If your app hasn't improved from last year, you will not be getting interviews at those schools.  You didn't make the cut the first time - you better prove that you have made yourself a better applicant to warrant any interest.  Have you taken any recent courses to raise your GPA or show that you are still actively learning?  Have you retaken the GRE? Have you shadowed more?

 

Like Petunia said, I'd be applying to a whole host of schools where your stats meet the matriculating averages.  If you were a first time applicant with your stats I might say you're on the bubble  - could go either way.  You have better chances at schools who don't know this is your 4th time applying, probably.

[bruchko]

Thank you for your responses!!!

I applied in July cause I retook the gre but I only scored 1 point higher between the two. So that did not work out as expected.

the first two cycles I applied, I did not have any healthcare experience and my cum Gpa was 3.2 and science was 2.95. My 3rd attempt I took 7 post bacc science courses including retakes at community college all A's and got my gpa up to where it is about now. I had 2900 direct care hours by end of 3rd attempt. I received the 4 interviews because as they said, I significantly improved from the previous cycles. But in the interviews I don't think I did so hot as I should have done. Plus California schools have so so so many applicants to each one.

Since last cycle, I have taken pathophysiology class got an A, gained 2200 hours additional experience, retook gre but I remained kind of the same score, increased and continued community service but not by much, shadowed a family practice PA for 16 hours. So I believe I have improved since last cycle. Personal statement and supp apps kind of remain the same with a little tweaks that include what I have just mentioned I have improved in so far. I'm applying to like 10 schools but I guess I'll aplomb for more but I don't really want to go out of California.

So do you think I have improved enough to get interview again?

[corpsman89]

Alright, now I understand a bit more.

 

Yes, it sounds like you have really tried to improve, and If your PS and LORs look good, I cant imagine not getting some more interviews this cycle.

 

The real problem is your interviewing ability. Focus on this. This will be your gatekeeper so to speak.

 

Good luck.

[UGoLong]

The fact that you got some interviews is a good thing, but the lack of offers suggests you might not be coming across in person the way you might want. That seems like a good place to concentrate.

 

I am also surprised that you are applying for the 4th time with essentially the same personal statement, in spite of all you have done over those years to improve your grades, etc. A personal statement is not a box-checker; it's a chance to make the review want to meet and talk with you. Don't sell it short!

 

Good luck this time out.