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- May 24, 2014
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Hello everyone!
I have been reading the "what are my chances?" posts and finally gathered the courage to ask for advice with regard to my own situation. Here is a paragraph describing what I believe to be the sum of events that made me who I am today.
I started college two years after dropping out of high school. During that time I experimented with many types of drugs. I was homeless and felt defeated. [EDIT] I live in Pennsylvania and I was convicted of two misdemeanors in PA during this time. One is expunged (paraphernalia) and the other is still on my record (criminal mischief), but I have completed probation for both. [/EDIT] After a series of traumatic events I decided to try to turn my life around. I stopped using drugs and applied to college. Getting the acceptance letter was one of the happiest days of my life. Despite my struggle with the addiction recovery process, I managed a 2.89 cGPA after my first semester which I was and still am very proud of. After taking a neuropsychology class my fourth semester I decided I wanted to pursue medical studies as my means to give back to the world. [EDIT] I really hope my criminal record will be pardoned by the admission committees, as I am a changed man - hopefully evident via my accomplishments over the last 4.5 years. [/EDIT]
Please let me know what you think my chances are for getting into D.O. schools and what I can do to improve my chances!
Also, I am thinking about taking a gap year. Suggestions for what to do during gap year are appreciated!
Major: Neuropsychology
Cumulative GPA: 3.45 (upward trend from 2.89)
Science GPA: 3.34
Major GPA: 3.50
*Have not taken MCAT yet.
Assuming I score average on the MCAT, I feel like these will be what sets me apart from other applicants. On the day I apply I will have accomplished the following:
Research
2 years research experience (one as undergraduate lab coordinator) in a Neuropsychology TBI lab
2-3 published papers (one first author) on TBIs
Internship/Shadowing/Volunteer
1 year university health clinic internship (includes ~200 shadowing hours + direct patient contact hours)
~400 hours volunteering in emergency and physical therapy departments at local hospital
1 year volunteer exam proctoring for the psychology department
Employment
1 year working as introductory biology lab instructor
1.5 years waiting tables for conference center
Honors/Leadership
1 year as president + 1 year as philanthropy chair of Psi Chi (psychology honor society)
Alpha Epsilon Delta membership
I have been reading the "what are my chances?" posts and finally gathered the courage to ask for advice with regard to my own situation. Here is a paragraph describing what I believe to be the sum of events that made me who I am today.
I started college two years after dropping out of high school. During that time I experimented with many types of drugs. I was homeless and felt defeated. [EDIT] I live in Pennsylvania and I was convicted of two misdemeanors in PA during this time. One is expunged (paraphernalia) and the other is still on my record (criminal mischief), but I have completed probation for both. [/EDIT] After a series of traumatic events I decided to try to turn my life around. I stopped using drugs and applied to college. Getting the acceptance letter was one of the happiest days of my life. Despite my struggle with the addiction recovery process, I managed a 2.89 cGPA after my first semester which I was and still am very proud of. After taking a neuropsychology class my fourth semester I decided I wanted to pursue medical studies as my means to give back to the world. [EDIT] I really hope my criminal record will be pardoned by the admission committees, as I am a changed man - hopefully evident via my accomplishments over the last 4.5 years. [/EDIT]
Please let me know what you think my chances are for getting into D.O. schools and what I can do to improve my chances!
Also, I am thinking about taking a gap year. Suggestions for what to do during gap year are appreciated!
Major: Neuropsychology
Cumulative GPA: 3.45 (upward trend from 2.89)
Science GPA: 3.34
Major GPA: 3.50
*Have not taken MCAT yet.
Assuming I score average on the MCAT, I feel like these will be what sets me apart from other applicants. On the day I apply I will have accomplished the following:
Research
2 years research experience (one as undergraduate lab coordinator) in a Neuropsychology TBI lab
2-3 published papers (one first author) on TBIs
Internship/Shadowing/Volunteer
1 year university health clinic internship (includes ~200 shadowing hours + direct patient contact hours)
~400 hours volunteering in emergency and physical therapy departments at local hospital
1 year volunteer exam proctoring for the psychology department
Employment
1 year working as introductory biology lab instructor
1.5 years waiting tables for conference center
Honors/Leadership
1 year as president + 1 year as philanthropy chair of Psi Chi (psychology honor society)
Alpha Epsilon Delta membership
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