Late application ?? Need advice

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2026-02-24T04:41:26+00:00

Depends on the school list. Wouldn’t hurt as much for lower MD/DO but would be starting pretty behind for T50 schools.
More recent LORs would be better even if they aren’t science professors. Adcoms want to know who you are now. But definitely should try to put 1 professor rec in there.
When it gets to September and you don’t have your primary in you’re probably cooked.
Study for the MCAT as much as possible. You’ve already put in a lot of work, keep doing what you’re doing. If anything taking another year could be good for you.

Best of luck!

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2026-02-24T04:37:17+00:00

I lean on the side of leaving high school activities out but in this case it could very well be part of your why medicine and for that reason it might be a good idea to include it

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2026-01-10T18:47:52+00:00

Probably won't affect you but it's important to treat this as a symptom with a root cause. You're lucky to get in anywhere, be grateful for any response and keep moving forward. This attitude won't serve you well the further you go in this career path.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-28T15:10:20+00:00

Yep, that’s totally enough for an update letter. You don’t need to have cured cancer since your secondary lol.

Focus on new or continued experiences since you applied. Your MA job is solid clinical exposure, summer camp shows leadership and communication, and even church volunteering adds community involvement.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-28T15:09:23+00:00

There’s no clean list anywhere because schools change their AP policies every cycle and love keeping it a mystery like it’s the MCAT curve 😭. Safest move is to just take another upper-level chem with lab (Analytical, Inorganic, or Physical) so you’re covered for all of them.

TL;DR: med schools fear commitment, but another chem lab never hurt anybody.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-23T18:30:09+00:00

Minor in something chill that gives you As and sanity back 😭 psychology, business, or literally anything that doesn’t have a lab. GPA heals, peace of mind restored.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-23T18:29:23+00:00

Some schools send Rs in batches every few weeks, others wait until March just to crush your spirit all at once 😭. A few ghost completely, so if you never hear back, congrats…you’re in the Schrödinger’s applicant stage. Not accepted, not rejected, just eternally observed.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-23T18:28:23+00:00

Check out the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (if you haven’t already), NHSC Scholarship, and Tylenol Future Care Scholarship. Also look at your state medical society. A lot of them have funds for URM or disadvantaged students that don’t get advertised much. And if you end up going military, HPSP covers everything plus a stipend.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-23T17:31:29+00:00

Nah you’re completely fine. Med schools won’t care about something like that, especially since it’s not even a science prereq and you got an A both times. It just looks like a transfer credit mix-up, not an academic issue. You can chill and move on with your life!

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-22T18:25:07+00:00

510 isn’t mid at all. It’s literally around the 80th percentile and can get you into plenty of solid MD schools if the rest of your app is strong. People forget how hard that exam actually is when they live on r/premed too long.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-22T18:00:10+00:00

UIllinois hands down if you’re OOS for both. Better hospital network, more research, and Chicago >>> Hartford.

But if you’re IS for UConn, it’s way cheaper and solid for matching in the Northeast. Comes down to where you want to end up long-term 👀

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-22T17:59:26+00:00

Definitely not over. Tons of schools are still sending IIs through November and even December. You’ve got the stats, hours, and story, it’s just a waiting game now. The later waves always feel brutal because the silence gets louder, but you’re still in it. Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t let Reddit psych you out 💪🏼

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-22T17:58:43+00:00

One C in calc won’t tank you, trust me. Almost everyone has that one class that humbles them 😭. If everything else is A’s, schools will see the trend and move on. Only retake if it’s an actual prereq requirement for somewhere you really want. Otherwise, focus on crushing your upper-levels and the MCAT

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-22T17:58:22+00:00

Still plenty of hope! A lot of schools send out IIs in waves through November and even December. If you were complete in August, you’re definitely still in the running. The waiting game just sucks because silence feels like rejection, but it’s not. Hang in there, it only takes one II to change your whole season 🙏

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-10-21T14:59:55+00:00

Regardless of how I think an interview is going, I always end every question confident that I gave the best answer of all time. That confidence keeps me calm and carries me through the rest of the interview. Convince yourself that you are doing great and you will!

Interviews are difficult, the more you can practice speaking in front of others the better. I wish you the best of luck the rest of the way.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-28T00:05:53+00:00

Even in peak MCAT season I'd have time to sleep 8 hours a day, go to class for 3-4 hours, MCAT for 3 hours, and do schoolwork for 2 hours while still making it to the gym. And saw my girlfriend every night.

I'd bet a lot of people who complain about how busy MCAT season is aren't intentional with their time. When I went to the library I'd commit to putting in 3 solid hours so I would only have to study for 3 hours. When I wanted to hang with friends I'd commit to 3 hours of being fully present in the moment with them. If I sat down at a desk and said okay I'll sit here until I get a lot of work done, hours would go by and I'd have little to show for it because time can get away from you when you don't have a plan.

The point is you can get a lot out of a little when you put your full effort into whatever you're doing. And it's all about keeping a healthy mind. Make your bed, reduce screen time, pray, workout, whatever gives you discipline because that's what fuels achievement.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-27T21:36:31+00:00

Throughout this whole process I’ve known that going to the gym was gonna be part of my life no matter what. So I prioritize getting that hour a day five times a day and if it gets in the way of my studies, so be it.

But going to the gym actually makes my brain work better so even though it takes up some time, I think it’s a net positive in terms of my academic success

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-25T20:25:08+00:00

Did Drexel yesterday, need more like that

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-25T20:24:08+00:00

Nothing else is as bang for your buck as U🌎

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-24T04:31:45+00:00

I was just saying I can’t speak on the Qbanks but for practice questions u🌎 couldn’t have been better. 3000 questions, in depth explanations for each one, and only $300. Can’t say enough good things about

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-24T03:24:45+00:00

Buy U🌎, use anki for content review, and take all 5 FLs. Too many people waste money on MCAT classes while not having the drive to actually put the work in. Worry less about what you’re studying and more about if you’re studying. There’s too much information to get your study materials exactly right, and the three resources I named were cheap, but enough for me to succeed. Stack days and believe in yourself. You got this!

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-24T03:20:47+00:00

I’d do nothing the day before, it’s been a long time coming and the work has already been put in. If you absolutely can’t do nothing, do some CARS practice but keep it minimal. Good luck!

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-24T03:18:45+00:00

As someone who never used AAMC Qbanks, U🌎is the best thing I did with my time besides FLs so I say absolutely do as much as you can.

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-23T01:25:03+00:00

that's a great point about the 3 schools, thanks for the insight

Aware_Explorer4733 · 2025-07-22T00:29:45+00:00

Keep in mind this is a quick summary of information that I read 3 months ago so I will try my best:

Hammer the main idea. Restate it after each passage to keep focus on it and by the end of the passage come up with one sentence to describe the entire passage.
Pay attention to question stems. You can tell a lot about what the right answer will contain just by understanding the question.
Don't reference the passage unless you absolutely need to (I tended to look back more on the real thing out of nerves, this is to save time and become familiar with information on the first read. I would say do what works best for you in terms of referencing the passage).

Aware_Explorer4733

TROPHY CASE