Hello all!
I applied to 21 schools this cycle, sending in my primary immediately and secondaries back from July-August. I think my PS was compelling but I plan to rewrite it using new meaningful scribing, shadowing, research, and volunteering anecdotes. I also plan to apply to DO schools this upcoming cycle now that I know more about osteopathic medicine. However, I have found it difficult to obtain shadowing and potential letters of recommendation while working ~50 hours a week. I was hoping for some advice regarding DO applications, a school list for next cycle, and a review of my app to get some advice on what else needs to be addressed. All hours are estimates of completed hours at time of reapplication and * indicates new hours/experiences. Thank you!
Thanks for any advice, I really appreciate it!
I applied to 21 schools this cycle, sending in my primary immediately and secondaries back from July-August. I think my PS was compelling but I plan to rewrite it using new meaningful scribing, shadowing, research, and volunteering anecdotes. I also plan to apply to DO schools this upcoming cycle now that I know more about osteopathic medicine. However, I have found it difficult to obtain shadowing and potential letters of recommendation while working ~50 hours a week. I was hoping for some advice regarding DO applications, a school list for next cycle, and a review of my app to get some advice on what else needs to be addressed. All hours are estimates of completed hours at time of reapplication and * indicates new hours/experiences. Thank you!
- cGPA: 3.87 and sGPA: 3.86
- MCAT scores: 501 (2020), 508 (127/125/127/129) (2021)
- State of residence: MN
- White
- Undergraduate institution: UCLA (first gen)
- Clinical experience:
- 400 hrs eye clinic covid screener/ clinic assistant
- 50 + 950* hrs gastroenterology medical scribe (just started at time of first app)
- 100* hrs free/underserved clinic volunteer
- Research experience and productivity
- 700 + 400* hrs volunteering + 300* hrs paid pathology & laboratory medicine non clinical research + 2 first author published reviews* + first author abstract* + conference poster presentation* + poster award*
- 10 + 190* hrs summer clinical research internship + first author abstract* + conference presentation* (just started at time of first app)
- Shadowing experience and specialties represented
- 10 hrs Ophthalmology
- 10* hrs Cardiologists/Cardiothoracic Surgeons/Anesthesiologists
- 60 + 50* hrs HEAL virtual shadowing - MD/DO internists/PCPs/medical students
- Non-clinical volunteering
- 50 hrs undergrad Rotaract (beach cleanup, tutoring, thank you's to local healthcare workers, etc.)
- 130 hrs volunteer with local Rotary club during summers at home (face shield making, organized a Pride month 5k, assembled living/hygiene kits for homeless youth, mountain bike festival safety, youth summer camp classroom assistant, etc.)
- 50* hrs LA Community rotaract (various volunteer opportunities)
- Other extracurricular activities
- 40 hrs Premed mentoring club
- 300 hrs Fraternity board member (philanthropy committee, recruited pre-med members, captain of intramural teams)
- 700 hrs work study assistant (maintain research plants and train new employees at campus greenhouse to pay for rent and school expenses)
- 100 hrs* healthy lifestyle app development
- Relevant honors or awards
- Dean’s list, fraternity scholarships, poster award
- Anything else not listed you think might be important:
- I finished my secondaries within 2 weeks and had them reviewed, however some may have been a bit rushed due to other time constraints. I know to spend more time prewriting this cycle.
- Obviously I wish my MCAT score were higher but is it worth retaking? Should I focus on retaking before the upcoming cycle or just strengthen other parts of my application?
- My letters of recommendation from my science professors may not have been great. I graduated in 12/2021 and had not had in person class since 03/2020. I found it extremely difficult to make meaningful relationships with professors over Zoom with large classes. I would appreciate any advice about obtaining better letters or ensuring my letters from current professors are sufficient. My second science professor finished her letter in August due to extenuating circumstances and I had to explain this to schools requiring 2 science letters.
- Recommendation letters:
- Research PI - volunteered with and work for as research assistant
- Work Study Supervisor
- Public Health Professor
- Biology and Genetics professor - did well in his classes (didn’t know him super well)
- Biology and Marine Science professor - didn’t use letter
- Assistant Researcher/Professor - work with in the lab
- Doctor I scribe for*
- Recommendation letters:
- Schools I applied to this cycle (currently have received 1 II, 3 holds, 6 rejections): Albany, TCU, Rosalind Franklin, Drexel (H), Eastern Virginia, Temple, Loyola, Medical College of Wisconsin, New York Medical College (H), Nova Southeastern, Oakland, Vermont, Rush (R), Tulane (H), Colorado, Minnesota (R), North Dakota (II, R), Wisconsin (R), Virginia Tech, Wake Forest (R), Wright State
- I could become a CA resident if this increases my chances significantly, but I would like to attend medical school closer to home.
Thanks for any advice, I really appreciate it!
