35/3.85 - Questions about ECs for top tiers

[whambam]

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I have a 35 on my MCAT (12 BS, 12 PS, 11, VR), a 3.85 overall GPA, and a ~3.91 science GPA.

I will be graduating in the spring with a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Chemistry (conc. in Bio).

ECs:
~1000 hours of research experience over the past two years - two labs: one with a biology focus, the other with a synthetic organic chemistry focus.
~1000 volunteer experience with the American Cancer Society over the past three years - have gained more leadership with every year with the ACS. I've been involved with Colleges Against Cancer and Relay For Life (both ACS sponsored programs.)
~200 hours of volunteer experience at a camp for kids with chronic illnesses - this gave me some clinical exposure in a nontraditional sense. For the most part, I was hanging out with the campers, but there was also a medical aspect to it in the sense of witnessing patient care when necessary.
~300 hours of paid employment as a tutor at my university.
10 hours of shadowing experience of a family physician.
Received university scholarship out of high school based on academic performance.
Recognized as a promising individual in the chemical field by my university's chemistry department while receiving scholarship for said recognition.
Received university fellowship to continue my research in the synthetic organic chemistry lab.

I'm wondering how you guys think I sit with some of the top tier schools with my MCAT, GPA, and ECs. I feel like my shadowing experience the weakest link of my application. I plan on getting more of it during the summer and into the fall semester of next school year, but the application I'm sending in as soon as I can will not reflect that.

What do you all think about where I sit with some of the top-tiers? I appreciate any feedback!

 

[ORU2Medicine]

I would also look in to volunteering at a local hospital in order to gain more clinical experience/shadow some doctors you meet. Although the camp thing was great, it just doesn't seem like most adcoms will view it as a legitimate clinical experience because that was not its primary function. Fortunately your research experience is looking good for top tiers, but unless you get in the clinic asap I would not expect a ton of acceptances. If you want to apply early you can always contact schools individually and inform them of your new clinical experience. Great stats and awesome research, just show them why you want to be a doctor by more clinical exp (and shadowing of course)

 

[mcloaf]

I would also look in to volunteering at a local hospital in order to gain more clinical experience/shadow some doctors you meet. Although the camp thing was great, it just doesn't seem like most adcoms will view it as a legitimate clinical experience because that was not its primary function. Fortunately your research experience is looking good for top tiers, but unless you get in the clinic asap I would not expect a ton of acceptances. If you want to apply early you can always contact schools individually and inform them of your new clinical experience. Great stats and awesome research, just show them why you want to be a doctor by more clinical exp (and shadowing of course)

I agree. To be on the safe side I'd add some more clinical experience, ideally both shadowing and volunteer.

Do you have any output from your research experiences?

 

[darkjedi]

You have a very strong application. The only thing that I see that is missing are leadership activities, which are quite important for top-tier applications.

You should also definitely get a lot more clinical shadowing experience in, but don't expect it to boost your application. At best it will prevent your application from being red-flagged. Volunteerism doesn't necessarily have to be medical, so you're okay on that front.

 

[October88]

Your ECs are weak in that according to what you write you have only spent 10 hours in a hospital setting.

Also as was mentioned a lot of the top schools look for applicants with leadership experiences. And they also look for applicants who have unique/interesting experiences - not just your typical cookie cutter ECs, which yours kind of strike me as as long as you have more clinical hours.

Numberswise - you are fine - but to get into the more competitive schools you really need to stand out in other ways.

 

[whambam]

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[whambam]

I agree. To be on the safe side I'd add some more clinical experience, ideally both shadowing and volunteer.

Do you have any output from your research experiences?

I have my name on two posters that have been presented (one from each lab.)

In the synthetic organic lab I'm in right now, we're looking to publish soon. It won't be in by the time I submit my application, but it definitely gives me something to talk about in an interview down the road.

 

[whambam]

You have a very strong application. The only thing that I see that is missing are leadership activities, which are quite important for top-tier applications.

You should also definitely get a lot more clinical shadowing experience in, but don't expect it to boost your application. At best it will prevent your application from being red-flagged. Volunteerism doesn't necessarily have to be medical, so you're okay on that front.

Thanks for the feedback. A lot of my leadership experience comes from the ACS volunteering and the tutoring program. I'm definitely going to be more specific in my application about the two and show just how they demonstrate leadership. I've been asking around, but would you recommend submitting the application prior to getting more shadowing hours? I'm stuck trying to decide if I want to get my app in early to get secondaries finished early as well and waiting until I have more shadowing experience.

 

[darkjedi]

Thanks for the feedback. A lot of my leadership experience comes from the ACS volunteering and the tutoring program. I'm definitely going to be more specific in my application about the two and show just how they demonstrate leadership. I've been asking around, but would you recommend submitting the application prior to getting more shadowing hours? I'm stuck trying to decide if I want to get my app in early to get secondaries finished early as well and waiting until I have more shadowing experience.

There is no perfect answer. On one hand, having only 10 hours of shadowing experience will likely screen you pretty early in the process. On the other hand you want to submit ASAP, even late July is starting to get into sketchy territory. If you can manage to just build your shadowing experiences substantially in the next few weeks, I suggest you get started on it immediately.