Hey everyone,
I've used these forums and the website alike for as long as I've been a Pre-Med, but only just decided to make an account as application for Fall 2018 looms nearer. I was looking to gain some insight on what you all think my chances for acceptance might be based on the details below. Thank you in advance for any help or constructive criticism.
1) As mentioned in the thread title, my cGPA is a 3.47, and my sGPA is a 3.44. This could change based on end of the semester grades, I calculated it with "worse case scenario" in mind (regarding this current semester as a senior).
2) 508 MCAT (126/126/128/128)
3) United States resident of Florida, Caucasian Male.
4) I go to an Honors College in South Florida that is a 'satellite campus' of a much larger University. 90% or more of the students here are pursuing graduate degrees in medicine.
5) Clincal: I took Global Medical Brigades trip to an impoverished nation for 9 days treating under served locals from mostly remote villages. I also spent two semesters volunteering at a Pediatric Oncology Children's Hospital (nationwide top 10 hospital, if that would even matter) with a focus on direct patient contact/ interaction.
6) Research: I have spent two years at the Scripps Research Institute's South Florida campus. I am currently developing a thesis on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and its effects on abnormal behaviors, and the alterations in neural circuitry that give rise to them. Part of my thesis requirement for graduation of the Honors College also includes a poster and presentation on this work. Thus far, I truthfully don't know enough about the publication process to comment on that.
7) Shadowing: I have spent a couple hundred hours shadowing a Facial and Cranial Surgeon, roughly 100 hours shadowing a Mohs surgeon, and will begin shadowing a General Practitioner in the near future. Additionally, while on the medical mission trip I mentioned above, I spent two days shadowing Internists.
8) Non-clinical involvement: From high school (does something this far back even matter?) into my first year of college, I spent over 500 hours working in a Speech Pathology practice doing mostly clerical work. I have also organized "fundraisers" (blood donation days on campus) for OneBlood, and raised several thousand dollars for Children's Hospitals in my area. During my first couple years of college, I was Officer of Philanthropy for my fraternity, and our organization we benefited was MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association). We raised more than $15,000 annually for two years straight. Lastly, I am a Big Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters association of America, which I dedicate several hours every Friday to.
9)Miscellaneous
-Vice President of the Pre Medical Society at my Univeristy
- Global Medical Brigades member
- Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society member
- I was fortunate enough to participate in an Environmental/Ecological startup company that was awarded a federal government contract to remove harmful, phosphorus-rich runoff in Florida's intracoastal waters (if you're from FL, you know how massive of a problem this is at the moment I'm sure)
- Contributing writer for a political website (I don't know if I would include this, as politics can obviously be a hot button issue, and the website itself was on the Conservative side).
- My undergraduate career lasted 5 years rather than the traditional 4. I lost my Mom to brain cancer weeks before my first semester (this is part of my motivation for wanting to go into Oncology). It took a toll on me, and my first few semesters were not only lacking in volume but also in quality. Once again, this is also a reason that my grades have a strong upward trend.
-I have worked several jobs throughout my undergraduate career.
LOR:
-my Cell Biology professor, who happened to also be my faculty and thesis advisor
- my supervisor at the research institution I am completing my thesis at
- a successful physician who owns and operates a renowned private practice in my area, and attended my reach school.
Lastly, SCHOOLS:
-University of Miami (a huge reach, I know. I have family friends that attended here and a LOR from a physician that obtained his MD from this college however)
-Univeristy of South Florida
-Florida State Univeristy
-University of Central Florida
-Nova Southeastern University (their MD school)
- Florida Atlantic University
I know this was lengthy, thank you to anyone that took the time to read or skim through it and offer their insights or opinions.
I've used these forums and the website alike for as long as I've been a Pre-Med, but only just decided to make an account as application for Fall 2018 looms nearer. I was looking to gain some insight on what you all think my chances for acceptance might be based on the details below. Thank you in advance for any help or constructive criticism.
1) As mentioned in the thread title, my cGPA is a 3.47, and my sGPA is a 3.44. This could change based on end of the semester grades, I calculated it with "worse case scenario" in mind (regarding this current semester as a senior).
2) 508 MCAT (126/126/128/128)
3) United States resident of Florida, Caucasian Male.
4) I go to an Honors College in South Florida that is a 'satellite campus' of a much larger University. 90% or more of the students here are pursuing graduate degrees in medicine.
5) Clincal: I took Global Medical Brigades trip to an impoverished nation for 9 days treating under served locals from mostly remote villages. I also spent two semesters volunteering at a Pediatric Oncology Children's Hospital (nationwide top 10 hospital, if that would even matter) with a focus on direct patient contact/ interaction.
6) Research: I have spent two years at the Scripps Research Institute's South Florida campus. I am currently developing a thesis on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and its effects on abnormal behaviors, and the alterations in neural circuitry that give rise to them. Part of my thesis requirement for graduation of the Honors College also includes a poster and presentation on this work. Thus far, I truthfully don't know enough about the publication process to comment on that.
7) Shadowing: I have spent a couple hundred hours shadowing a Facial and Cranial Surgeon, roughly 100 hours shadowing a Mohs surgeon, and will begin shadowing a General Practitioner in the near future. Additionally, while on the medical mission trip I mentioned above, I spent two days shadowing Internists.
8) Non-clinical involvement: From high school (does something this far back even matter?) into my first year of college, I spent over 500 hours working in a Speech Pathology practice doing mostly clerical work. I have also organized "fundraisers" (blood donation days on campus) for OneBlood, and raised several thousand dollars for Children's Hospitals in my area. During my first couple years of college, I was Officer of Philanthropy for my fraternity, and our organization we benefited was MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association). We raised more than $15,000 annually for two years straight. Lastly, I am a Big Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters association of America, which I dedicate several hours every Friday to.
9)Miscellaneous
-Vice President of the Pre Medical Society at my Univeristy
- Global Medical Brigades member
- Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society member
- I was fortunate enough to participate in an Environmental/Ecological startup company that was awarded a federal government contract to remove harmful, phosphorus-rich runoff in Florida's intracoastal waters (if you're from FL, you know how massive of a problem this is at the moment I'm sure)
- Contributing writer for a political website (I don't know if I would include this, as politics can obviously be a hot button issue, and the website itself was on the Conservative side).
- My undergraduate career lasted 5 years rather than the traditional 4. I lost my Mom to brain cancer weeks before my first semester (this is part of my motivation for wanting to go into Oncology). It took a toll on me, and my first few semesters were not only lacking in volume but also in quality. Once again, this is also a reason that my grades have a strong upward trend.
-I have worked several jobs throughout my undergraduate career.
LOR:
-my Cell Biology professor, who happened to also be my faculty and thesis advisor
- my supervisor at the research institution I am completing my thesis at
- a successful physician who owns and operates a renowned private practice in my area, and attended my reach school.
Lastly, SCHOOLS:
-University of Miami (a huge reach, I know. I have family friends that attended here and a LOR from a physician that obtained his MD from this college however)
-Univeristy of South Florida
-Florida State Univeristy
-University of Central Florida
-Nova Southeastern University (their MD school)
- Florida Atlantic University
I know this was lengthy, thank you to anyone that took the time to read or skim through it and offer their insights or opinions.
, but I'll be sure to send an application to all of the in state ones.
