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[supernaturalDNA]

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Hey guys, these are my current stats/EC'S. Just trying to get some recommendations on how I could improve my app, or ECs you have done and enjoyed that you could recommend to me? Thanks.

GPA: 3.82
MCAT: TBA
1200+ hours as an ED scribe (will have a few LOR from physicians I worked with)
30 hrs at a food bank
50 hrs at a nonprofit for kids with life threatening illnesses (planning to earn more here before applying)
Currently volunteering in the PICU
No research yet
25 hours shadowing a general surgeon
Honors student

I'll be applying during the 2020 cycle so I have about a year to get it all together, but I know my app is really weak and I want some ideas.

 

[Catalystik]

Hey guys, these are my current stats/EC'S. Just trying to get some recommendations on how I could improve my app, or ECs you have done and enjoyed that you could recommend to me? Thanks.

GPA: 3.82
MCAT: TBA
1200+ hours as an ED scribe (will have a few LOR from physicians I worked with)
30 hrs at a food bank
50 hrs at a nonprofit for kids with life threatening illnesses (planning to earn more here before applying)
Currently volunteering in the PICU
No research yet
25 hours shadowing a general surgeon
Honors student

I'll be applying during the 2020 cycle so I have about a year to get it all together, but I know my app is really weak and I want some ideas.

Perhaps you could define your role at the two non-medical community service activities. What I'd most want to see is face-to-face interaction with the people you are serving.

Add some primary care physician shadowing, ideally some of it office-based so you get a view of longitudinal care. About 50 total shadowing hours is average.

Peer leadership and teaching experiences would be of benefit to your application.

 

[AllBleedingStops]

MCAT: TBA

Need a score to be able to properly judge chances.

(will have a few LOR from physicians I worked with)

Get one from a DO if you can (if you plan on applying MD and DO).

30 hrs at a food bank

Get more hours. Also, super cookie cutter. If you were in some form of leadership role there then it would be more impressive.

50 hrs at a nonprofit for kids

Get more hours.

No research yet

Okay. Get some if you can, if not, it will not kill your app.

25 hours shadowing a general surgeon

Try to shadow a primary care specialty too.

Honors student

I don't think this is going to matter at all.


Overall, you need some leadership.

 

[Catalystik]

Sorry to hijack the post but thought it'd be better than creating a new thread.

I am almost done w secondaries but seeing everyone that has better stats and was completed before me struggling is making me nervous. I also fear that my list may have been a bit of a long shot as I applied to many top 30 programs. Was wondering if there are any specific experiences I should pursue that could help me out next cycle if worst comes to worst. State of residence is FL.

Stats
uGPA 3.2 sGPA 3.2 (Upward trend with some post-bacc work completed), masters in microbio GPA 3.78
MCAT: 516 (127,128,131,130)
URM - Latino, first gen, low SES.

Extracurriculars
Volunteer - worked with disadvantaged communities through the school department to connect them with resources like scholarships.
Volunteer - fundraising for pediatric hospitals
Clinical - volunteered in a free clinic for underserved pop
Shadow - 100 hours in different specialties
Clinical - Hospice volunteer
Leadership - created a mentorship program for prehealth URM
Research - nothing major did some grunt work in 2 separate labs, unpublished no poster presentations.
Hobbies - cooking, tied it in a lot in diversity statements and how it has helped me connect w people who are unlike myself (everybody's gotta eat)


I am mostly concerned about my GPA hindering me from some top schools. I would be interested in doing more research but I am no longer affiliated with a school and not sure how productive 8 months of research would be. Also would retaking the MCAT be a bad idea? Didn't study super hard and could probably score a few points higher. I want to invest my time as best as possible this coming year. I am not that willing to commit to something that will take more than a year (Teach for America.)

Any advice is appreciated.

Please start your own thread. It gets confusing when two people are getting suggestions about two different concerns.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Hey guys, these are my current stats/EC'S. Just trying to get some recommendations on how I could improve my app, or ECs you have done and enjoyed that you could recommend to me? Thanks.

GPA: 3.82
MCAT: TBA
1200+ hours as an ED scribe (will have a few LOR from physicians I worked with)
30 hrs at a food bank
50 hrs at a nonprofit for kids with life threatening illnesses (planning to earn more here before applying)
Currently volunteering in the PICU
No research yet
25 hours shadowing a general surgeon
Honors student

I'll be applying during the 2020 cycle so I have about a year to get it all together, but I know my app is really weak and I want some ideas.

Get involved with a research project, better if it is your project. Keep working on the EC hours. Obviously your MCAT will be critical.