quandary03
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2026
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
- Pre-Medical
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hey everyone! I’m planning on applying this cycle and would love guidance on what a potential school list would look like, and a potential reason to delay my cycle. I’ll start with my app:
Overall gpa: 3.78
sGPA: 3.77
MCAT: 516(129, 128, 130, 129). (Retake of a 514 8 months prior, 128 127 130 129)
State of Residence: New Hampshire
Undergrad: University of Michigan(transferred from an in-state public school following sophomore year)
Major: Neuroscience
Reapplicant: No
URM: Yes(?) (South American mixed)
Gap years: 0.5?(graduated a semester late due to credits, legit took one class)
Shadowing experience: colorectal surgery(20 hrs) emergency(36) neurosurgery(15) oral surgery(25) for a grand total of 96 hrs
Volunteer experience: 140 hrs crisis text line, 125 hours in an oral surgery clinic, a few other smaller commitments around 25 hours per
Research: 450 hours wet lab(no pubs), 200 hours on a social science/sociology correlational study(poster @
University symposium)
Employment: 600 hours as a healthcare tech, 150 hours in memory care, 450 hours retail/customer service
Other ECs: powerlifting club(1 year), general chemistry peer tutor(1 semester), pre-med frat finance chair, Eagle Scout, 700-800 hours caretaking for a direct family member during first two years of college. My personal statement is structured around this experience and how it solidified my interest in/inspired me to commit to a career in medicine
LORs: Gen chem prof(strong), physics prof(likely weaker), neurosurgeon I shadowed(strong), physician I work with as a tech(not written, but likely stronger), professor/PI from research project I worked on(medium-strong?)
Potential red flags/ other info: bulk of volunteering really only happened in the last calendar year. GPA initially dipped upon starting classes @ Michigan(thanks organic chem).
Gap year plans/question: I have a few interviews for a CRC position lined up at pretty prominent hospitals. I know having a year of this under my belt would help a lot for writing, interviewing, etc. I understand a lot of these jobs want a 2 year commitment from applicants. I’m already well underway on my P/S so it’d be annoying having to adjust it, but I feel that if it’s going to be a true needle mover to wait another year and have a chance at some better schools, I’d be down.
Thanks in advance for your help, and let me know if there’s anything I can clear up!
Overall gpa: 3.78
sGPA: 3.77
MCAT: 516(129, 128, 130, 129). (Retake of a 514 8 months prior, 128 127 130 129)
State of Residence: New Hampshire
Undergrad: University of Michigan(transferred from an in-state public school following sophomore year)
Major: Neuroscience
Reapplicant: No
URM: Yes(?) (South American mixed)
Gap years: 0.5?(graduated a semester late due to credits, legit took one class)
Shadowing experience: colorectal surgery(20 hrs) emergency(36) neurosurgery(15) oral surgery(25) for a grand total of 96 hrs
Volunteer experience: 140 hrs crisis text line, 125 hours in an oral surgery clinic, a few other smaller commitments around 25 hours per
Research: 450 hours wet lab(no pubs), 200 hours on a social science/sociology correlational study(poster @
University symposium)
Employment: 600 hours as a healthcare tech, 150 hours in memory care, 450 hours retail/customer service
Other ECs: powerlifting club(1 year), general chemistry peer tutor(1 semester), pre-med frat finance chair, Eagle Scout, 700-800 hours caretaking for a direct family member during first two years of college. My personal statement is structured around this experience and how it solidified my interest in/inspired me to commit to a career in medicine
LORs: Gen chem prof(strong), physics prof(likely weaker), neurosurgeon I shadowed(strong), physician I work with as a tech(not written, but likely stronger), professor/PI from research project I worked on(medium-strong?)
Potential red flags/ other info: bulk of volunteering really only happened in the last calendar year. GPA initially dipped upon starting classes @ Michigan(thanks organic chem).
Gap year plans/question: I have a few interviews for a CRC position lined up at pretty prominent hospitals. I know having a year of this under my belt would help a lot for writing, interviewing, etc. I understand a lot of these jobs want a 2 year commitment from applicants. I’m already well underway on my P/S so it’d be annoying having to adjust it, but I feel that if it’s going to be a true needle mover to wait another year and have a chance at some better schools, I’d be down.
Thanks in advance for your help, and let me know if there’s anything I can clear up!
