3.94 sGPA and cGPA, 32P, Schreyer Honors College Penn State

[JustinSMD]

Hey Guys,
I am a reapplicant and I was wondering what are my chances?

My stats are as follows:
B.S. Premedicine (It's a major at my school)-3.94 GPA
B.A. Political Science-3.95 GPA
cGPA = 3.94

MCATs: 32P

ECA:

1) President- Pi Sigma Alpha (Honors PL SC Society)
2) Chair-Honors College Speaker Series
3) VP-College of Science
4) Coordinator-Math Tutoring Center
5) Organic Chemistry/Math Tutor
6) Organic chemistry Grader
7) Morale for THON (committee member for largest student run philanthropy in the world-raises money for pediatric cancer)


Also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi

I have shadowed but I have not had clinical experience. I felt hands on shadowing was better than getting clinical experience in changing bed sheets and such. I did get to interact with patients and scrub in in surgery during my shadowing experience. I also have done community service with THON (see above) and I was involved in relay for life which supports the American Cancer Society.


I think what hurt my application last time is that I applied very late (Primary was not turned in until August 15th, but my committee letter didn't get sent until October 6th).

Thoughts on what may be hurting my application (timing or anything else)?

Thanks for the help

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[canjosh]

Which schools did you apply to?

 

[NeuroPhD2010]

No clinical experience outside of shadowing.

 

[4LoveoftheGame]

No clinical experience other than shadowing is gonna be tough to overcome.

 

[NeuroPhD2010]

No clinical experience outside of shadowing. Also, you don't mention any research experience. Do you have any?

Everything else looks great though.

Good luck to you!

 

[JustinSMD]

I did research for 2 years with a Rhodes Scholar and MacArthur Foundation (Genius Grant) Fellow in Virology. As for clinical I got a lot of patient experience through my shadowing and got to scrub in in 5 surgeries. I felt if I discussed this it'd account for the fact that I didn't do clinical (which is usually just washing bed pans and changing sheets anyway).

Thoughts?

Thanks for the well wishes.

Applied to:

1) Penn
2) Temple
3) Hershey
4) Jefferson
5) Wake Forest
6) Maryland
7) Emory
8) Uva

Recommendations From:
Committee Letter:
1) Organic Chemistry Professor
2) Biology Course Administrator
3) Political Science Instructor
4) Associate Dean, College of Science

 

[canjosh]

Honestly, I believe it was mostly applying late and too narrowly. Continue getting more clinical exposure this year. You can never get too much of this. If you get the opportunity to get some clinical research experience, this could help kill two birds with one stone. Was your previous research productive for you (presentations, pubs)?

Aim to apply to 20 schools this time around.

 

[JustinSMD]

Yes for the presentations and pubs but I didn't like it all that much. I believe I would like clinical research better so that may be my best bet-as well as further elucidating upon my shadowing experience in any essay I render. As for applying late, when would be a good time to turn in primaries (and for that matter secondaries)?

 

[canjosh]

Not sure I understand your question...the good time to turn in apps is the moment they are available. Why would you wait? For instance, I was complete at all my schools by July.

 

[JustinSMD]

I mean-should my primary be turned in now? What I was asking is when is a good time to have them all in by to be competitive?

 

[blaithnaid]

primary within the next 2 weeks.

start doing whichever 2ndaries are already up.