Okay, so I'm really freaking stressed about getting into a top med school. I have relatively good stats, and am confident I'll get into A med school, but obviously it would be really nice to get into a top tier. Anyway, I just wanted to get a variety of opinions on my chances. Not just my chances of getting in, but mostly my chances of just getting an interview. Because I seem pretty average on paper, but I relate well with people so... I feel like an interview might be that last little thing that puts me over the edge. Any who... my stats:
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Minor: Sociology
Top 50 school
GPA: 3.73
Science GPA: 3.70
MCAT: 38
ECs
-I was in a club where you built a go kart from scratch for 2 semesters
-AMSA for 5 semesters
-Colleges Against Cancer for 6 semesters
-Baking Club for 4 semesters (does it help having other fun interests? I honestly don't know...)
-Religious club for 6 semesters
-Mali Water Project, which I took a trip to Mali for. I was part of the club for 4 semesters, vice president for 2
Non-clinical Volunteer
-Mentor, kind of like a big brothers, big sisters thing for 4 semesters (4 hours a week for the year)
-Soup kitchen volunteer for about 150 hours
-Animal shelter for about 150 hours
-Assisted Living Facility for about 100 hours
Clinical Volunteer
Hospital volunteer for about 200 hours
Shadowing
I've shadowed a plethora of specialties for about 150 hours total
Research
-Lab studying Parkinson's disease and misc. movement disorders for 2 semesters and a summer (about 450 hours total), published once
-Currently participating in a neurology lab, so far 2 semesters and a summer (about 450 hours total), published twice
-I have a research abroad opportunity for this summer at the University of Zurich
So, as you can see, I have relatively solid ECs, but my GPA is a little low for a top tier. My top schools are Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, UWash, UCLA, UCSF and UChicago. I would absolutely love to go to Harvard, which I know is a top research, so I'm hoping my research experience helps. Also, my freshman year was awful. I finished with about a 3.2ish GPA and basically worked my ass off for the next 4 semesters to bring it up and get my life in order. My second semester I ended up with a 2.86 due to a lot of personal issues. I was wondering if that would affect my application. Or if it might even help because I've persevered through difficult times? Idk. I'm just a naturally high-strung person, so your guy's input would be quite helpful. Thanks so much!
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Minor: Sociology
Top 50 school
GPA: 3.73
Science GPA: 3.70
MCAT: 38
ECs
-I was in a club where you built a go kart from scratch for 2 semesters
-AMSA for 5 semesters
-Colleges Against Cancer for 6 semesters
-Baking Club for 4 semesters (does it help having other fun interests? I honestly don't know...)
-Religious club for 6 semesters
-Mali Water Project, which I took a trip to Mali for. I was part of the club for 4 semesters, vice president for 2
Non-clinical Volunteer
-Mentor, kind of like a big brothers, big sisters thing for 4 semesters (4 hours a week for the year)
-Soup kitchen volunteer for about 150 hours
-Animal shelter for about 150 hours
-Assisted Living Facility for about 100 hours
Clinical Volunteer
Hospital volunteer for about 200 hours
Shadowing
I've shadowed a plethora of specialties for about 150 hours total
Research
-Lab studying Parkinson's disease and misc. movement disorders for 2 semesters and a summer (about 450 hours total), published once
-Currently participating in a neurology lab, so far 2 semesters and a summer (about 450 hours total), published twice
-I have a research abroad opportunity for this summer at the University of Zurich
So, as you can see, I have relatively solid ECs, but my GPA is a little low for a top tier. My top schools are Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, UWash, UCLA, UCSF and UChicago. I would absolutely love to go to Harvard, which I know is a top research, so I'm hoping my research experience helps. Also, my freshman year was awful. I finished with about a 3.2ish GPA and basically worked my ass off for the next 4 semesters to bring it up and get my life in order. My second semester I ended up with a 2.86 due to a lot of personal issues. I was wondering if that would affect my application. Or if it might even help because I've persevered through difficult times? Idk. I'm just a naturally high-strung person, so your guy's input would be quite helpful. Thanks so much!
