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BU Medical Sciences
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You can add more reaches if the ivys are of interest, because your MCAT is stellar and your GPA is out of this world for majoring in engineering. Your prior career will help a ton, especially if you add Carle Illinois (they are looking for people specifically with an engineering background. Also would recommend adding more Texas schools.

That said, many would consider you DOA without any non/tutoring volunteering, particularly none to disadvantaged communities. Things like food banks, shelters, senior centers, etc. You might get leeway given your career, but I doubt it. Ditch the weekend tutoring and volunteer at a soup kitchen until you reach 150 hours.
 
TheRealBibFortuna said:
You can add more reaches if the ivys are of interest, because your MCAT is stellar and your GPA is out of this world for majoring in engineering. Your prior career will help a ton, especially if you add Carle Illinois (they are looking for people specifically with an engineering background. Also would recommend adding more Texas schools.

That said, many would consider you DOA without any non/tutoring volunteering, particularly none to disadvantaged communities. Things like food banks, shelters, senior centers, etc. You might get leeway given your career, but I doubt it. Ditch the weekend tutoring and volunteer at a soup kitchen until you reach 150 hours.
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It's just that Im applying this may, and I can't make more than 16 hours in a food bank when I apply. I work on average 60 hour weeks, the only volunteering I can do is on the weekends.

The tutoring targets low SES students studying for the MCAT. You think I can make it with such low hours or should I apply next year instead?
 
yogurtpimple said:
It's just that Im applying this may, and I can't make more than 16 hours in a food bank when I apply. I work on average 60 hour weeks, the only volunteering I can do is on the weekends.

The tutoring targets low SES students studying for the MCAT. You think I can make it with such low hours or should I apply next year instead?
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There are armies of premed applicants who tutor, especially low-SES students and countless for the MCAT. It won't make you stand out, and it doesn't confer a sense that you understand service orientation outside of a clinical context. You might get a little slack for having to work for your education and your masters, but most applicants below 150 hours get screened out.

www.studentdoctor.net

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www.studentdoctor.net www.studentdoctor.net
 
Mr.Smile12 said:
There are armies of premed applicants who tutor, especially low-SES students and countless for the MCAT. It won't make you stand out, and it doesn't confer a sense that you understand service orientation outside of a clinical context. You might get a little slack for having to work for your education and your masters, but most applicants below 150 hours get screened out.

www.studentdoctor.net

How to Engineer a Health Professional Career | SDN

Access free resources, expert advice, and tools to advance your medical career.
www.studentdoctor.net www.studentdoctor.net
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Go it, but should I just not apply this year? Take another year to volunteer? Idk what to do, I only have 1 month till applications open.
 
yogurtpimple said:
Go it, but should I just not apply this year? Take another year to volunteer? Idk what to do, I only have 1 month till applications open.
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Volunteer every weekend in a food bank until the end of June or mid July before submitting your application.
Submitting in July is early enough.
Even with your great academics I can't tell you how many applicants have been screened out because they don't have community service.
Yes, it is really that important.
You don't need to delay a year.
 
wysdoc said:
Volunteer every weekend in a food bank until the end of June or mid July before submitting your application.
Submitting in July is early enough.
Even with your great academics I can't tell you how many applicants have been screened out because they don't have community service.
Yes, it is really that important.
You don't need to delay a year.
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I don't quite understand why the tutoring wouldn't count as volunteering... I made a website, established it with another volunteering org. Gave presentations every weekend, and met with students 1 on 1 for 5-6 hours every Saturday for 7 months....
I put alot of effort into it. :/
 
yogurtpimple said:
I don't quite understand why the tutoring wouldn't count as volunteering... I made a website, established it with another volunteering org. Gave presentations every weekend, and met with students 1 on 1 for 5-6 hours every Saturday for 7 months....
I put alot of effort into it. :/
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Volunteering in your own community for those in need is the key aspect.
 
yogurtpimple said:
I don't quite understand why the tutoring wouldn't count as volunteering... I made a website, established it with another volunteering org. Gave presentations every weekend, and met with students 1 on 1 for 5-6 hours every Saturday for 7 months....
I put alot of effort into it. :/
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You must show that you can get your hands dirty when serving and improving your community. Tutoring/teaching is an academic activity, and establishing a website and doing presentations is still very comfortable for students. You must show us you are comfortable being uncomfortable.
 
Mr.Smile12 said:
You must show that you can get your hands dirty when serving and improving your community. Tutoring/teaching is an academic activity, and establishing a website and doing presentations is still very comfortable for students. You must show us you are comfortable being uncomfortable.
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Thank you. I understand your point. But what is the best path moving forward in your opinion?

This process has already taken so much from me, I really worked hard. None of the tutoring was comfortable, it was a lot of hard work. My pre-med advisor is supervising it and said I can count it as volunteering. but im getting alot of mixed signals 🙁

I know i can be a good doctor, and do good work. Please, give me your recommendation on what to do next. I can't quit my job because I rely on it. I signed up as an ESL volunteer tutor, and can likely do 8 hours before my application in May. It is the only activity in my area i can do during the weekend. I was an ESL student in highschool and It had a massive impact in my life.
 
yogurtpimple said:
Thank you. I understand your point. But what is the best path moving forward in your opinion?

This process has already taken so much from me, I really worked hard. None of the tutoring was comfortable, it was a lot of hard work. My pre-med advisor is supervising it and said I can count it as volunteering. but im getting alot of mixed signals 🙁

I know i can be a good doctor, and do good work. Please, give me your recommendation on what to do next. I can't quit my job because I rely on it. I signed up as an ESL volunteer tutor, and can likely do 8 hours before my application in May. It is the only activity in my area i can do during the weekend. I was an ESL student in highschool and It had a massive impact in my life.
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I'm not sure you really understand my point. You can count on tutoring as volunteering, but it is an academic activity.

It is up to you to decide what you should do. You can try to go forward, but what if you don't get an interview or an offer because you lack this type of service orientation activity? We see that a lot on this forum, and it is your decision to go forward despite advice given from experts. I would prefer you ensure that your application profile is the absolute best one possible, even if it means you have to change course with your activities. I've seen a lot more applications get rejected than accepted from a ton of candidates who feel they can be good doctors and do good work. This is not a judgment about you, but about your readiness for the next 20+ years of grueling education, training, and expectations.

If teaching has had such an impact on your life, you should look into being a teacher. We desperately need good teachers, even more than good doctors (I can argue).
 
Mr.Smile12 said:
I'm not sure you really understand my point. You can count on tutoring as volunteering, but it is an academic activity.

It is up to you to decide what you should do. You can try to go forward, but what if you don't get an interview or an offer because you lack this type of service orientation activity? We see that a lot on this forum, and it is your decision to go forward despite advice given from experts. I would prefer you ensure that your application profile is the absolute best one possible, even if it means you have to change course with your activities. I've seen a lot more applications get rejected than accepted from a ton of candidates who feel they can be good doctors and do good work. This is not a judgment about you, but about your readiness for the next 20+ years of grueling education, training, and expectations.

If teaching has had such an impact on your life, you should look into being a teacher. We desperately need good teachers, even more than good doctors (I can argue).
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Ok thank you.
 
I appreciate you making that your life goal. I'm just making sure you know others facilitate that journey by admitting your application, which should be the best possible and on par with their expectations for applicants. For what is worth, your urgency does not give you bonus points in this process. Nor does doing things "your way" (if it is perceived this way).

That's why we ask for Plan B and C. I've sent rejections to strong candidates. That's business.
 
Mr.Smile12 said:
I appreciate you making that your life goal. I'm just making sure you know others facilitate that journey by admitting your application, which should be the best possible and on par with their expectations for applicants. For what is worth, your urgency does not give you bonus points in this process. Nor does doing things "your way" (if it is perceived this way).

That's why we ask for Plan B and C. I've sent rejections to strong candidates. That's business.
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You're right. Ill see if I can take another gap year and work on my application for next year. It's harsh, but Thank you for the input.
 
jvquarterback said:
You don’t need a gap year. You need 150-200 hours at a food bank. If you work like a resident you can get that done in eight weeks even with a full time job.
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I can make 60 hours before my application. I already started. I work 60-80 hour weeks and on some weekends. I'd have to quit my job but I need the money for rent.
 
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yogurtpimple said:
I can make 60 hours before my application. I already started. I work 60-80 hour weeks and on some weekends. I'd have to quit my job but I need the money for rent.
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Your call. I'd scale back my work hours to save a year. It isn't a long term job since you want med school anyway, right.
 
jvquarterback said:
Your call. I'd scale back my work hours to save a year. It isn't a long term job since you want med school anyway, right.
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I cant scale down my hours, if I work less I risk getting fired. Wouldn't it look horrible if I just cram in all the hours 1 month before my application?
 
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yogurtpimple said:
I cant scale down my hours, if I work less I risk getting fired. Wouldn't it look horrible if I just cram in all the hours 1 month before my application?
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Both of those things sound better than sitting on my hands for a year.
 
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