Do I have a chance at a top medical school?

[neurocatgirl]

Deleted this thread.

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[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

I'm not an expert by any means, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

I think top 10 med schools aren't just looking for high stats. They're looking for innovators and people who will change the way medicine is practiced. I'm hoping someone at one of those top schools respond and give you better advice though. Good luck!

 

[Sharknad0]

516+ most likely with URM status

 

[neurocatgirl]

I'm not an expert by any means, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

I think top 10 med schools aren't just looking for high stats. They're looking for innovators and people who will change the way medicine is practiced. I'm hoping someone at one of those top schools respond and give you better advice though. Good luck!

Thank you so much! Hopefully someone responds

 

[neurocatgirl]

516+ most likely with URM status

I LOVE YOUR USERNAME! Hilarious. Okay, thank you! I'll have to study really hard.

 

[stickgirl390]

Do you have any experience shadowing physicians, working/volunteering with patients, and any non clinical volunteer work?

 

[neurocatgirl]

Do you have any experience shadowing physicians, working/volunteering with patients, and any non clinical volunteer work?

Yes, sorry I should add that.

I have 200 hours of shadowing 3 different doctors in 3 different specialties. Otherwise I do have other volunteer work. I will add all that in right now.

 

[Welshman]

Yes, sorry I should add that.

I have 200 hours of shadowing 3 different doctors in 3 different specialties. Otherwise I do have other volunteer work. I will add all that in right now.

what is vastly more important than shadowing hours and more nonclinical volunteering is clinical experience, shadowing is the lowest form of this since it is passive. If you do anything you should invest time into getting clinical experience, though this shouldn't be a problem if you work clinically for a year

 

[Microbug]

You chance doesn’t look good for top schools. In fact, your chance doesn’t look good for any school because I see ZERO clinical volunteering or paid experiences.

How many hours of volunteering is it for reading to children and suicide hotline? I don’t trust years, I can do things on Jan 1 and December 31st and it would be one year.

Your club stuff seem like typical premed fillers, nothing is longer than 2 years, they won’t count for much.

How are you Chinese, Mexican AND White? Can you claim URM status?

 

[radiculating spines]

A little bit about me:
I went to two different 4-year undergraduate schools (transferred out of the first one due to clinical depression). Let's call them college 1 and college 2 (the most recent college I am at).

Currently a senior in undergrad, with 3 quarters left of school (hoping I can raise my GPA in that time). I am planning on taking a gap year and in that time working with a local community in a healthcare-related way.
Race/ethnicity: Chinese, Mexican, White
Current GPA: 3.5
MCAT: Not yet taken
Major: By the time I graduate I will have earned a double degree: BS Biology, BA Public Health
1 year as undergraduate in neuroscience lab
3 years as undergraduate in biology lab
2 years as undergraduate in public health research (1 publication)
Vice President of Jewish Cultural Club (1 year, at college 2)
Member of Latina/Latino Club (2 years at college 2)
President of Latina/Latino Club (1 year at college 1)
President of Mixed Race Coalition (1 year at college 1)
President of Environmental Club (1 year at college 1)
President of Japanese Cooking Club (1 year at college 1)
Campus tour guide (2 years at college 1)
Volunteered reading to local elementary school students in Spanish and English (2 years)
Volunteered as a suicide hotline specialist (1 year)

200 hours of shadowing.

I understand my MCAT is essential in knowing my chances, so I am wondering what range my MCAT should be if I want to be a competitive applicant for one of the top 10 medical schools? Or if I even have a chance? I'm worried I will only be able to raise my GPA to a 3.65 by the time I graduate, which I know is on the low end. It would've been higher if I hadn't been depressed, as my GPA dropped a lot because of that.


First time posting on here. Thanks so much!

Best,

Neurocatgirl

Given your GPA and weak ECs at this time you need >520. Actually if your ECs, especially regarding clinical experience aren't dramatically improved I think you'd have no shot period. Sorry

 

[neurocatgirl]

what is vastly more important than shadowing hours and more nonclinical volunteering is clinical experience, shadowing is the lowest form of this since it is passive. If you do anything you should invest time into getting clinical experience, though this shouldn't be a problem if you work clinically for a year

Okay, I will do that. Thank you!

 

[neurocatgirl]

You chance doesn’t look good for top schools. In fact, your chance doesn’t look good for any school because I see ZERO clinical volunteering or paid experiences.

How many hours of volunteering is it for reading to children and suicide hotline? I don’t trust years, I can do things on Jan 1 and December 31st and it would be one year.

Your club stuff seem like typical premed fillers, nothing is longer than 2 years, they won’t count for much.

How are you Chinese, Mexican AND White? Can you claim URM status?

Reading to children was 100 hours and suicide hotline was 300 hours. My clubs I was there for 3 years most of them but worked my way up starting as a regular member, then like a secretary, then a president. I just included the 1 year I was president/vp.
Umm.. people can be many different races at once? I am 1/2 Mexican, 1/4 Chinese and 1/4 White. My dad is Mexican and my mom is half Chinese half White.

 

[neurocatgirl]

Given your GPA and weak ECs at this time you need >520. Actually if your ECs, especially regarding clinical experience aren't dramatically improved I think you'd have no shot period. Sorry

That is okay, I appreciate your honest answer. I will work on my clinical experience. I have focused the majority of my time in undergrad doing research, so I know I need to branch out.

 

[neurocatgirl]

Reading to children was 100 hours and suicide hotline was 300 hours. My clubs I was there for 3 years most of them but worked my way up starting as a regular member, then like a secretary, then a president. I just included the 1 year I was president/vp.
Umm.. people can be many different races at once? I am 1/2 Mexican, 1/4 Chinese and 1/4 White. My dad is Mexican and my mom is half Chinese half White.

And yes, I can claim URM status. Thank you for helping me. I am willing to put off applying, since I know I need clinical hours.

 

[stickgirl390]

My clubs I was there for 3 years most of them but worked my way up starting as a regular member, then like a secretary, then a president. I just included the 1 year I was president/vp.

I had some club office positions in undergrad as well. I attended 5 interviews and clubs weren’t brought up in the slightest at any of them. It does show some leadership experience, but I don’t think adcoms value them very much. Just my opinion.

 

[mwsapphire]

You need clinical experience and volunteer experience, or your app isn't even complete for any program.

 

[Goro]

Reading to children was 100 hours and suicide hotline was 300 hours. My clubs I was there for 3 years most of them but worked my way up starting as a regular member, then like a secretary, then a president. I just included the 1 year I was president/vp.
Umm.. people can be many different races at once? I am 1/2 Mexican, 1/4 Chinese and 1/4 White. My dad is Mexican and my mom is half Chinese half White.

To get the benefit of bona fide URM status, you're going to need evidence of service to Hispanic communities. Love the avatar.

 

[neurocatgirl]

To get the benefit of bona fide URM status, you're going to need evidence of service to Hispanic communities. Love the avatar.

Yes my Latino/a studies professor is helping me serve in my local community! Thanks so much! Am going to put off my application so I can do clinical hours I also just got into a clinic to volunteer, too!

 

[gyngyn]

Yes my Latino/a studies professor is helping me serve in my local community! Thanks so much! Am going to put off my application so I can do clinical hours I also just got into a clinic to volunteer, too!

Learn Spanish. Well.