I Was Waitlisted for Medical School. Now What? | Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A Ep. 133

How should you prepare to reapply if you are on a waitlist? Should you register to take the MCAT again when you could end up getting accepted last minute? How do I know what went wrong with my application? All those questions and more on today's Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A!

This week on Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A, I spoke to a student who applied to medical school and received 5 interviews. After being waitlisted at all 5 interviews, she is wondering if her MCAT might be the obstacle on the road to a med school acceptance.

We discuss:
• When to start thinking about reapplying to medical school when on a waitlist.
• What did she do to prepare for interviews, and how did it go?
• What should be done differently for MCAT prep as she retakes it a 3rd time.
• How she has been preparing for medical school since applying.
• Should you keep your essays and activity descriptions the same when applying again to medical schools.
• The biggest missed opportunities to tell medical schools about who you are.

[sashaoosting]

I know it's totally anecdotal, but I had a 518 MCAT and interviewed at 7 schools and got waitlisted at 5 and accepted to 2. I didn't wait to see the waitlists because of how stressful the process was, so I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I feel like there's so much waitlist movement at this time, I'd be really surprised if you didn't get in. Either way, good luck! There's a lot of people at my school who were accepted after being rejected the first time around, so the fact you got interviews is amazing and you definitely have a better chance of getting in, especially if you can ask the admissions team about specific areas they thought you were lacking and improve!

[cchan]

I am actually quite surprise she had 5 interviews with a 506, which is pretty low for MDs. I assume she had interviews from DO schools.

[nicholashaynes]

I got a 508 - big drop from practice tests (which were 515+) - really hoping I am lucky enough to get in to med school with this score but am worried - I like Dr. Gray a lot and he does give extremely helpful advice, but I think he trivializes the importance of your MCAT score a little bit too much - or maybe I'm wrong (I hope so).

[medcatmcat]

Good advice from Dr. Gray—if you end up waiting for a waitlist offer and aren't ready to apply again, you're looking at waiting another 2 years before matriculation.

[ilyaazad]

I am a premed and already 27. I am so sad and disappointed of my life path every day I see or hear someone much younger than me got into medical school. I “differed dream” is mine!

[gabbyinmedicine]

Honestly I was also told my issue was a stats thing after I interviewed, but 5 years later after looking at my old application it was definitely more than just stats. Especially since I interviewed at my state school. I wonder if she were actually take a deep dive into what her application is telling the reader than she could identify the actually issue. I would constantly tell myself and others that I was doing all the right things for my application, but my application didn't show that. So maybe that's the issue here. Because a 505/506 sounds reasonable to me.

[janadublin]

Hi, Dr. Gray (or anyone else who has any advice). I currently have an academic misconduct allegation against me. It will most likely be on my record. I was wondering if you had any advice for me if you happen to see this comment. I was planning on submitting my application this month but upon this occurring I am currently losing my mind. I’m extremely devastated and have been told left and right that my med school dream is over. It’s been really heart breaking.

[anaaltonaga]

I have done many interviews in my job, and I have some advise for her. Eye contact. Don’t let your eyes wander. You want to connect with your interviewer. I know she said her interviews went well, but you never know.

[kathleenchrist]

I think she needs an MCAT study course if she's potentially facing a third application cycle with a 506

[iconiccMMM]

Did we get an update on this student since this was recorded before March?

[caralooney]

I guess I’m a little confused. Is she only applying MD? 506 is a good score for most programs. Why take it again?

[brookem]

I wonder if she's heard anything yet- best of luck!

[TseeDu]

What a horrifying story. Thanks for anxiety doc.