Today we're looking through the AMCAS application of a premed who applied last year and didn't get in. She's struggled with science classes and she had a technical error that botched her first try at the MCAT. What does she need to improve before reapplying?

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Our student this week believes the biggest weaknesses in her app were probably her MCAT score and her science GPA. Looking through her app, here are some of the things we discuss:

• Her grades—she has a bit of a downward trending GPA with quite a few Cs, one D, a 3.06 cumulative GPA, and a 2.43 science GPA. She has a graduate degree with a bit better GPA, but without many science credits. How does she move forward from here?
• How a technical error on her MCAT test day made her retake a month later and ultimately left her with a 493 (much lower than her full-length practice tests).
• Why you shouldn't sell yourself in your activity descriptions (it's not believable and it doesn't actually stand out).
• Why you shouldn't focus on being thanked in your activity descriptions and personal statement.
• Generic types of statements you should avoid in your reflections in your application.
• When to label activities as "medical/clinical" experience versus other kinds of experience.
• How to really show impact in your activity descriptions.
• What to do about big gaps in your experiences.
• One of the biggest mistakes in explaining global health experiences that students make all the time (she made it, too).
• Is it okay if you don't quit your non-clinical job as a premed and get a clinical job instead?
• Why she may have gotten too creative in her personal statement.
• The biggest overarching problem with her personal statement, which lots of students fall into.
• Why her school list is pretty on-point.
• Why MPH programs will not really help you overcome a low GPA as a premed.
• Some good ways to get clinical experience without a certification.

Wrapping up, we talk about her retaking the MCAT and which other steps to take. I recommend a full year (or 3 semesters) of science classes, done as a DIY postbac. I suggest just starting with one class to make sure she figures out the best way she studies before layering on more at the same time.

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