I am not an expert and I know nothing about reapplying. @WayOutWestMom can speak to that. If I had to guess, I would think it is better to apply when your application is strong rather than apply a second time.
My daughter went a different route but I will say that the 2-3 years she spent working in underrepresented communities following graduation (as well as during college) was extremely helpful and meaningful when she interviewed for her current program.
Reapplicants are held to higher standards than first time applicants. Also, it’s strongly recommended that reapplicants take at least 1 gap year between applications to strengthen and improve their CV.
Additionally a number of med schools limit the number of times they will look an applicant. (Typically 3 times but a few say only 2. )
Every secondary asks a reapplicant what they have done to improve their app.
MCAT scores expire after 3 years from the test date. Some med schools only accept MCATs that are less than 2 years old.
Edit to add: do not underestimate the emotional toll that a cycle of med school applications entails . It’s an emotional roller coaster and there’s a whole, whole lot of rejection— even for successful applicants.
@ttb1263 as noted above, reapplying is not a Plan B.
Keep in mind that many Plan Bs require additional schooling, additional/different prerequisites, volunteering etc. Many Plan Bs are also competitive. It could also be a long process, unless of course the student finds acceptable employment right out of college.
It sounds like your daughter knows she wants medical school (at least right now), which is all the more reason for her to take her time and apply when she is truly ready.
Also consider that med school adcomms are reluctant to accept students who are in the midst of advanced degrees or other career training programs. They don’t want applicants who are willing to bail on other degrees/programs. (It raises questions about their commitment to finish med school if they’re willing to drop out of other degrees/programs.)
Alternatively, some Plan Bs do not want to hear that they were a “backup” for medical school. That is viewed unfavorably, as some of these programs have limited spots and they want students who really want to be there.
Again, another reason for students to take their time and apply to med school when they are truly ready. Do not underestimate the strength of the applicant pool (not saying you are, and not suggesting your daughter will not be a strong applicant).
I am confused about the shadowing hours. You indicated that your daughter has “a couple of in person shadowing activities,” and also reported later that “she also has around 200 hours of doctor and clinical shadowing.”
Are these 200 hours virtual or in person? Is this why you asked about the validity of virtual shadowing?
Can you please clarify? How many hours does she have of in person shadowing?
It seems to me that if the virtual shadowing activity was for 2 weeks (as noted), that would mean about 50 (maybe more) virtual shadowing hours. That means she has over 100 (give or take) in person hours. Is that correct?
She had about 120 hours-ish in person shadowing for 2 doctors during 2 summer breaks and 80 hours virtual (2 weeks program). As for clinical volunteers, I don’t have the the exact numbers of hours.
Hopefully she has some primary care hours. This is where the need is and this is (I think?) what most medical students will end up doing (that is my understanding, and somebody will correct me if I am wrong).
My daughter spent a lot of time shadowing orthopedic surgeons. She loved it and always came home very excited. Then she shadowed primary care and changed her mind about medical school. I am not saying that your D will have the same experience or feeling, but I do think it is important to shadow primary care. Your daughter will figure that out.
True story. One of our kids has a degree in engineering. She will never be an engineer. She loved the coursework, but hated the idea of working in the field. She picked up a double major in biology and is much happier with her chosen profession than engineering. So even IF your daughter decides to get a degree in engineering, there is no guarantee she will work a day in that field (and yes…our DD knew what engineering was all about…her dad is an engineer).
It sounds like your daughter has plenty of shadowing hours, she does not need to shadow primary care. There are plenty of medical school applicants who don’t do so. If she gets to medical school, she will most definitely be doing at least one rotation in primary care.
At this point, she has other things to do as a prospective medical school applicant. She needs patient facing experience of some sort…before she applies to medical school…AND she needs volunteer work with less privileged populations. And I seriously doubt all of that can be done between when she gets her MCAT score and when she has to apply.