3.7 GPA, 3.61 BCPM and 34 MCAT

[DrJC]

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My grades are not bad, but the problem is that i have almost no EC. I did research for like a month and did barely did anything clinical in college. I did about 150 volunteer hours at the hospital the summer after my sophomore year. I did do about 800 hours of hospital volunteer work when I was in high school though would that count? I have great LORs from professors and a doctor I shadowed. I would really like to get into an American MD school, and D.O is my second option. What are my chances? Do you think I should work as an EMT or something for a year and then apply?

 

[MedAdComMD]

My grades are not bad, but the problem is that i have almost no EC. I did research for like a month and did barely did anything clinical in college. I did about 150 volunteer hours at the hospital the summer after my sophomore year. I did do about 800 hours of hospital volunteer work when I was in high school though would that count? I have great LORs from professors and a doctor I shadowed. I would really like to get into an American MD school, and D.O is my second option. What are my chances? Do you think I should work as an EMT or something for a year and then apply?

We have admitted quite a few students who did not have significant EC hours, but had a strong GPA/MCAT like yours. Apply Broadly and at least gain from the interview experience.

 

[Mobius1985]

My grades are not bad, but the problem is that i have almost no EC. I did research for like a month and did barely did anything clinical in college. I did about 150 volunteer hours at the hospital the summer after my sophomore year. I did do about 800 hours of hospital volunteer work when I was in high school though would that count? I have great LORs from professors and a doctor I shadowed. I would really like to get into an American MD school, and D.O is my second option. What are my chances? Do you think I should work as an EMT or something for a year and then apply?

You have very nice numbers, and i don't think you're sunk with the ECs you have. Only 60% of MD applicants have any research to list, so don't worry about your lacking there. It will look odd that you did not gain any clinical experience in the last year, though if the shadowing happened during the last school year it would help fill in the gap. You generally should not list a HS experience in the AMCAS activities section, but I absolutely would bring it up on the Personal Statement. One exception: If the HS volunteer experience continued into the college years you may list it.

Other ECs it would be good to mention are leadership, teaching, sports, hobbies, and other community service. Do you have anything among these?

If you wanted to have the most solid application possible, I'd try to get in more research this year, and do some other type of clinical experience: EMT is fine, or ER scribe, or free clinic, or nursing home. It would help to demonstrate a greater breadth of experience. If you wanted to go ahead and apply, t might be a good idea to start these things anyway, so you have good stuff to mention in future update letters that may help adcomms make a decision in your favor.

I'm pretty sure the same advice would be applicable to a DO application.

 

[camaras2480]

One exception: If the HS volunteer experience continued into the college years you may list it.

Get it OP? lol

 

[movax]

One exception: If the HS volunteer experience continued into the college years you may list it.

This (kind of) I hope will save me - I continued two years worth of HS volunteering about six months into college before I just had no time for it, so I did end up listing it. Guess I'll just hope.

 

[Mobius1985]

This (kind of) I hope will save me - I continued two years worth of HS volunteering about six months into college before I just had no time for it, so I did end up listing it. Guess I'll just hope.

Good for you.

 

[camaras2480]

This (kind of) I hope will save me - I continued two years worth of HS volunteering about six months into college before I just had no time for it, so I did end up listing it. Guess I'll just hope.

Yes it will help, unless you went around blowing up hospitals playing with CO2 tanks.

 

[JJMrK]

I think you might be fine. Not everyone has research, and 150 hours isn't bad (although as your only significant EC, it's not very good, either). As always, apply broadly.