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[Smart-hair]

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[Mr.Smile12]

When did you submit your application? Why not Ph.D.?

Please break down your clinical and non-clinical experiences, including community service activities. What are your responsibilities in clinical research and medical assisting?

 

[Smart-hair]

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[Mr.Smile12]

My interests are in surgical oncology research. Therefore, a Ph.D. would not suffice for my career goals.

That's a long road, so good luck! This specialty comes as a fellowship after residency for what I can gather. Is this department where you are working as a CRA/CRC?

What is Surgical Oncology? Q&A with the Director of the New Division of Surgical Oncology | Columbia Surgery

A conversation with Sam Yoon, MD, Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Vice Chair of Surgical Oncology Research and Education.What is surgical oncology?Surgical oncology is an area of expertise that focuses on the surgical treatment of various cancers.

columbiasurgery.org

https://ccr.cancer.gov/training/clinical/surgical-oncology-fellowship

Shadowing specialties that are not represented in the work you are doing will help you, but until you are in a position to choose your niche in surgery/oncology, you need to be receptive to all the specialties where you have frequent cancer diagnoses. You also need to embrace interprofessional contributions and ultimately show teamwork and collaboration is a strength (and growing). The disabilities volunteering work you do is fantastic (need more consistency/year-roundwork if possible), but it doesn't connect with your goal as a surgical oncologist (as you describe it). Neither does the research, though that's not as critical... you can always try to pick up the bench research as a medical student, definitely if you go PhD.

Research as an MD is possible but requires a strong time management and mentorship component. Your letters, especially with residency and fellowship, will be key here.

Every major academic hospital should have surgical oncology, so what is your purpose as a physical? What is your mission match with the schools on your list?

 

[Smart-hair]

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[chilly_md]

You will need 50 hours of shadowing, with some of that being in primary care.

If you have interest in service oriented schools, then it would be better to volunteer at a homeless shelter or food bank as opposed to an animal shelter. You don’t need to divert time to clinical volunteering anymore. You’ve already done enough as an MA. And the abroad volunteering may be seen as voluntourism.

Your current list is rather top heavy for a 513 MCAT. I suggest:

UC Irvine
UC Davis
UCR (only if from the IE)
CUSM
NYMC
Albany
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Dartmouth
Hackensack
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Vermont
George Washington
Georgetown
VCU
EVMS
Wake
Nova MD
Wayne State
Oakland
MCW
Rosalind Franklin
St Louis
Creighton
TCU
Tulane
Colorado

 

[Smart-hair]

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[gyngyn]

Why do I need 50 hours of shadowing? And why in primary care?

Schools want to see that you understand what it means to be a physician.
They are educating you to be trained in any number of specialties and the majority of those jobs are in longitudinal care specialties.

 

[Smart-hair]

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[wysdoc]

Does my work as an ophthalmologist's medical assistant check off that box? Part of my job was assisting the doctor with the patient examinations and writing the clinical notes. Many of the patient were under longitudinal care.

That’s a clinical/health care job so it will go in a different category on your application.
Since you seem to have doctor contacts though, ask a few of them if you could spend a few afternoons shadowing.

 

[Smart-hair]

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[wysdoc]

I shadowed a little bit in the past (shadowed an orthopedic sports medicine doc for about 8 hours). The problem is that I find shadowing to be very passive and unengaging. I prefer doing more hands-on/active activities, such as research, medical assisting, volunteering, etc.

How would I be able to convey the significance of shadowing in my med school app description?

The point of shadowing is to observe how a doctor interacts with patients, and to see all the parts of their work day. See what approaches and communication styles you would like to adopt later. You don’t engage or interact with the patient encounter at all.
Not having 40-50 hours on your app will be seen as a lack.

 

[Smart-hair]

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[gyngyn]

On my app I would list medical assisting for an ophthalmologist as a paid clinical experience. Then list shadowing the same ophthalmologist as a shadowing experience.

Double-dipping in an ophthalmologist's office will not give you the experience one gets in a primary care office.
...and we will see right through it.

 

[Smart-hair]

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[chilly_md]

Aren't I already helping the underserved by volunteering at a dialysis clinic and teaching children with disabilities how to swim? Why a homeless shelter or a foodbank?
Are you saying to not include the abroad volunteering in my app?

Dialysis clinic is clinical experience, not non-clinical volunteering. Teaching children with disabilities is admirable, but it is unlikely you will end up with substantial hours for service-oriented schools doing it at 2 hrs/wk (especially if that stops during part or all of winter). It would be best to have experience in the community with underserved adults.

Do not include the abroad volunteering.

 

[Smart-hair]

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[Mr.Smile12]

Lots

I see. I will look for opportunities to volunteer at a foodbank/homeless shelter/underserved. Besides that, is there anything else I should do to best prepare myself for the upcoming application cycle?

Read the articles.

Building Your Best School List | SDN

Your success in any application cycle depends on how well you match a school’s metrics profile and the schools where you send your application - your

www.studentdoctor.net

Write Your Secondary Essays First | SDN

Most advice to applicants focuses on the personal statement and description of work or activities required to complete the initial centralized application

www.studentdoctor.net

Other Impactful Experiences Essay: Exploring Your Unique Story | SDN

Beginning with the 2024 cycle, the AAMC allowed AMCAS and ERAS applicants an opportunity to describe Other Impactful Experiences (OIE) that have helped

www.studentdoctor.net

Mission Fit: Key to Your Success | SDN

Every application cycle, applicants request expert reviews on the Student Doctor Network to help them assess “What Are My Chances” (WAMC) at getting

www.studentdoctor.net

Eight Questions About the Pre-Health “Committee Letter” | SDN

For over 40 years, medical and dental school applicants have been asked to provide an institutional “committee letter” packet of recommendations if their

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[Smart-hair]

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[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks for sending those. But I meant is there anything else I could do in terms of ECs, GPA, MCAT.

You have received advice on your activities, which I concur with.

 

[chilly_md]

Thanks for sending those. But I meant is there anything else I could do in terms of ECs, GPA, MCAT.

GPA and MCAT are locked in where they are. Retaking the MCAT is not advisable, and even if you score higher, many schools will average the results. Your clinical research is more than enough already too.

My point on shadowing had already been addressed, so don't forget that.

 

[Smart-hair]

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