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Hello SDN,
Just trying to get advice on my situation, appreciate any feedback.
Oregon Resident
White male
Major: Biochemistry/Biophysics (this is one major, not double) --> Graduated in 2015, will have 2 gap years before matriculation.
uGPA: 3.9
sGPA: 3.9
MCAT: Taken twice --> 507, 518
Research: 2.5 years total, spent 1.5 of it at virology lab which I got a second author publication, and the other year in an organic chemistry lab with no publications or posters (+2000 hours)
Medical Volunteering: Spent a week at a free clinic in Peru (~50 hours)
Non-Medical Volunteering: Classroom aide at my high school summer school (50 hours)
Medical Employment: Internal Medicine Scribe, plan to continue until matriculation (if I get in) in 2017 (~2000 hours)
Regular Employment: Warehouse staff for bouncy castle company (worked for one summer ~500 hours)
ECs:
1. President of philanthropy club at my university for 2 years, apart of the club for 4 years
2. Completed a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) class but did not get certified (had about 80 clinical hours included) so I finished with an NA (Nursing Assistant) (Total ~160 hours).
3. Upper Division Biochemistry TA for 6 months (+200 hours)
4. Study Abroad Program for one month taking summer Spanish classes in Spain (fair ability to speak Spanish)
Shadowing: 30 hours with vascular surgeon, 10 hours with cardiothoracic surgeon, 8 hours with family medicine, 4 hours with orthopedic surgeon, 4 hours with opthamology
LOR: These are good --> have a committee letter to wrap them all together
Here's where it gets problematic: I also have an IA for trespassing onto my school's football stadium after hours which happened a little over a year ago. Followed up with the courts for a misdemeanor that was eventually dismissed, but the IA at my school still remains. I owned up to it on my app, but its really hard to get a picture of how badly this will impact me. Hearing from someone with experience in this kind of stuff would be really helpful.
Overall, the IA and my lack of volunteering are the big weak points from my perspective. I will try to have more volunteer hours while I work this next year to strengthen that part of my app, but I'm not sure whether to have medical or regular volunteering.
That being said, here are the schools on my list:
Reach Schools:
Vanderbilt
Northwestern
Duke
UCSF
UCLA
Target Schools:
OHSU (State school)
Tufts
University of Michigan
Ohio State University
UNC (I am aware that they don't accept many OOS applicants)
University of Wisconsin (This is my top choice, but I have no solid connection to the school)
Tulane (My dad went here for med school)
University of Minnesota
University of Virginia
University of Colorado
Case Western
University of Nebraska
Dartmouth
Thanks for any feedback in advance!
EDIT: Adding my shadowing hours
Just trying to get advice on my situation, appreciate any feedback.
Oregon Resident
White male
Major: Biochemistry/Biophysics (this is one major, not double) --> Graduated in 2015, will have 2 gap years before matriculation.
uGPA: 3.9
sGPA: 3.9
MCAT: Taken twice --> 507, 518
Research: 2.5 years total, spent 1.5 of it at virology lab which I got a second author publication, and the other year in an organic chemistry lab with no publications or posters (+2000 hours)
Medical Volunteering: Spent a week at a free clinic in Peru (~50 hours)
Non-Medical Volunteering: Classroom aide at my high school summer school (50 hours)
Medical Employment: Internal Medicine Scribe, plan to continue until matriculation (if I get in) in 2017 (~2000 hours)
Regular Employment: Warehouse staff for bouncy castle company (worked for one summer ~500 hours)
ECs:
1. President of philanthropy club at my university for 2 years, apart of the club for 4 years
2. Completed a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) class but did not get certified (had about 80 clinical hours included) so I finished with an NA (Nursing Assistant) (Total ~160 hours).
3. Upper Division Biochemistry TA for 6 months (+200 hours)
4. Study Abroad Program for one month taking summer Spanish classes in Spain (fair ability to speak Spanish)
Shadowing: 30 hours with vascular surgeon, 10 hours with cardiothoracic surgeon, 8 hours with family medicine, 4 hours with orthopedic surgeon, 4 hours with opthamology
LOR: These are good --> have a committee letter to wrap them all together
Here's where it gets problematic: I also have an IA for trespassing onto my school's football stadium after hours which happened a little over a year ago. Followed up with the courts for a misdemeanor that was eventually dismissed, but the IA at my school still remains. I owned up to it on my app, but its really hard to get a picture of how badly this will impact me. Hearing from someone with experience in this kind of stuff would be really helpful.
Overall, the IA and my lack of volunteering are the big weak points from my perspective. I will try to have more volunteer hours while I work this next year to strengthen that part of my app, but I'm not sure whether to have medical or regular volunteering.
That being said, here are the schools on my list:
Reach Schools:
Vanderbilt
Northwestern
Duke
UCSF
UCLA
Target Schools:
OHSU (State school)
Tufts
University of Michigan
Ohio State University
UNC (I am aware that they don't accept many OOS applicants)
University of Wisconsin (This is my top choice, but I have no solid connection to the school)
Tulane (My dad went here for med school)
University of Minnesota
University of Virginia
University of Colorado
Case Western
University of Nebraska
Dartmouth
Thanks for any feedback in advance!
EDIT: Adding my shadowing hours