I decided to apply to medical school as a nontrad this year, but both of my grandfathers were diagnosed with terminal cancer within two months of each other and it has left no possibility for volunteering. I took a leave of absence from my job (high school science teacher) to move 2000 miles back home to be the primary caregiver of my one grandfather, and I help with my other grandfather as well. I have taken over medication, appointments, etc for my first grandfather and assist my uncle with my other grandfather who is in inpatient hospice care. I currently spend 4-5 days/week in hospitals/hospice. The other complication is that my grandfather receives care both here and at his other home 13 hours away where there is a major research hospital so we are constantly on the move.
My background: I was pre-med in undergrad. I am from a very small town rural area and wanted to learn more about other cultures and the rest of the world before medical school.
My college stats (2001-2005):
3 yrs: neuroendocrinology/surgery research
1 summer: Neuroscience intern at major research hospital
1 summer: Intern for gay/lesbian youth health program
2 yrs: executive board of gay and lesbian student org
1 yr: ER volunteer
My stats (2006-2012):
2005-2006: international healthcare ngo
2005-2007: health outreach volunteer, needle exchange for IV drug users
2006, 2 months: medical shadowing scholarship to Amazon rainforest
M.A. in area studies focusing on Latin American culture, languages; fully funded fellowship (let's call it like a "top 10 university")
1 yr: teaching science in South America (in Spanish)
3 yrs: bilingual high school science teacher (urban school with underserved population), head teacher of afterschool (40 hrs/wk + 11 hrs/wk) and private tutor (5 hrs/wk), on all sorts of volunteer equity committees for the school
tidbits: Spanish bilingual, extensive travel (Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe), formal academic study of 5 other languages
cGPA: 3.88, scGPA: ~3.75, all other GPA: 3.97, GRE:1520/1600, MCAT: 33Q
The problem: I have not been able to volunteer to get recent clinical experience due to my family obligations. I might get some shadowing in before the AMCAS (perhaps 4-5 days worth) is due in June, but other than that my most recent clinical experience was in 2006. Before 2006, I did all the typical ECs (leadership, ER volunteer, tutoring, medical missions), but will no recent clinical experience really damage my chances?
I really don't want to delay another year because I am already 29, and I have known since undergrad I want to be a surgeon - I just wanted to learn some other things before committing to medical school.
Thanks for reading!
My background: I was pre-med in undergrad. I am from a very small town rural area and wanted to learn more about other cultures and the rest of the world before medical school.
My college stats (2001-2005):
3 yrs: neuroendocrinology/surgery research
1 summer: Neuroscience intern at major research hospital
1 summer: Intern for gay/lesbian youth health program
2 yrs: executive board of gay and lesbian student org
1 yr: ER volunteer
My stats (2006-2012):
2005-2006: international healthcare ngo
2005-2007: health outreach volunteer, needle exchange for IV drug users
2006, 2 months: medical shadowing scholarship to Amazon rainforest
M.A. in area studies focusing on Latin American culture, languages; fully funded fellowship (let's call it like a "top 10 university")
1 yr: teaching science in South America (in Spanish)
3 yrs: bilingual high school science teacher (urban school with underserved population), head teacher of afterschool (40 hrs/wk + 11 hrs/wk) and private tutor (5 hrs/wk), on all sorts of volunteer equity committees for the school
tidbits: Spanish bilingual, extensive travel (Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe), formal academic study of 5 other languages
cGPA: 3.88, scGPA: ~3.75, all other GPA: 3.97, GRE:1520/1600, MCAT: 33Q
The problem: I have not been able to volunteer to get recent clinical experience due to my family obligations. I might get some shadowing in before the AMCAS (perhaps 4-5 days worth) is due in June, but other than that my most recent clinical experience was in 2006. Before 2006, I did all the typical ECs (leadership, ER volunteer, tutoring, medical missions), but will no recent clinical experience really damage my chances?
I really don't want to delay another year because I am already 29, and I have known since undergrad I want to be a surgeon - I just wanted to learn some other things before committing to medical school.
Thanks for reading!
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