39T, 4.0 GPA...What else do I need?

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farf

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I am a junior this year, applying next cycle. I'm trying to fill in gaps that I'll have in my application while still doing things I like to do, so even though I don't play any varsity sports, I'm not really interested in trying out for a team or something just because it'll look good.

School: Top tier (ranked top 5 or 10 in the country)
MCAT: 39T (14BS-11VR-14BS)
GPA: 4.0 (Math & Bio double major) (BCMP also 4.0)

Research: From a bioinformatics project I started in high school, I got 1 second author pub, 1 second author poster, first-authored a textbook chapter in the field but I will not be getting a recommendation from the advisor as I haven't even seen or talked to him in almost 2 years. I also have some experience from high school in computer science and biology. Now, I work in one of my school's biggest labs in biochemistry. The project is a little boring and it's going very slowly, so probably no pubs coming any time soon. I spend about 12 hours a week doing it.

Shadowing/Volunteering:
+Spent 1 month in clinic in India last winter volunteering (the clinic is a free clinic run completely by volunteers), shadowing, and using some computer experience I had to set up a primitive electronic medical records system for them (TOTAL: about 100 hours volunteering, 20 hours shadowing)
+Volunteer program at local hospital. Did about 45 hours in a patient transport job. Got to talk to lots of patients. This is when I decided for sure I wanted to go into this
+Volunteered in high school at hospital for 100 hours
+Shadowed various cardiologists (30 hours), infectious disease (5 hours), geriatrician (80 hours). Also, spent considerable time speaking to MDs in various specialties about why they like medicine, what they don't like, etc. (this is when I was still figuring out if I wanted to go into it).
+Big Brother to a 9 year old kid (over 2 years, total probably about 100 hours).

ECs: (nothing too impressive...)
+TA for biology course
+Leadership roles in cultural club
+Leadership roles in club that trains ~40 students a year to promote health on campus (we give out OTC meds, bandaids, and tell students about the medical resources available at school). This year I am in charge of redesigning the entire training curriculum.
+Spent 2 years on organizing committee for school's career fair
+Did martial arts for 9 years up till college started
+Currently working on setting up a program to let high school students do research at my university (but this may not work out due to complex liability issues).

Recs: Should be all good. One of them will be really stellar, another science one probably really good. Research PI will give one, will hopefully be good but he doesn't know me very well. Non-science rec. is going to be a problem though... Also, I will ask a doctor I have shadowed extensively to write one.

Motivation: I think I will be able to convey my motivation for going into medicine well in a personal statement. I was going to go into engineering or finance, but after doing an internship saw that medicine was much more fulfilling. I spent the next year or so talking to as many people as possible and really figuring out the fields, and now I have a lot of solid reasons to go into medicine.

Sorry that was long. I am shooting to apply to top 20 schools, but obviously also broadly. What am I missing right now?

[Edit] Also, I MAY be applying MD/PhD (right now though, 90% set on MD only), because everyone I know tells me that I'm going to be bored as an MD, even though I don't see that happening. Anyways if I do MD/PhD, then what else should I work on?
 
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Your application is extremely competitive, and I can't think of a single thing that it is "missing" based on your description. Moreover, you have already taken into account the risks associated with applying to only top tier schools, so that should not be a problem for you. Keep up the good work, apply wherever you like, interview well, and you should be all set.
 
Make your PS sparkling.
- Only use your highschool experiences as a lead in to something that you did in University, but do not go into any depth. In fact, in most cases it would be better to leave them out altogether.
- The exception is if you've done something consistently from childhood to adulthood (for me, singing and athletics), and you continued an activity from highschool into University. For instance, your bioinformatics project. If I were you, I'd just say something like, "project started in highschool, continued in University", then only talk about what you did in University and how that motivates you to practice medicine.
Remember that your PS should be about motivation, motivation, motivation. Preparedness to learn about medicine should be a peripheral, but implied effect of you talking about your motivation to practice medicine.

My 2cents.
 
I can't think of anything that would necessarily hold you back at this point, unless you went into your interviews acting like a tool. Basically, as long as your personal statement is legible, I think you're a shoo-in. Keep up the good work.
 
Vihsadas said:
Make your PS sparkling.
- Only use your highschool experiences as a lead in to something that you did in University, but do not go into any depth. In fact, in most cases it would be better to leave them out altogether.
- The exception is if you've done something consistently from childhood to adulthood (for me, singing and athletics), and you continued an activity from highschool into University. For instance, your bioinformatics project. If I were you, I'd just say something like, "project started in highschool, continued in University", then only talk about what you did in University and how that motivates you to practice medicine.
Remember that your PS should be about motivation, motivation, motivation. Preparedness to learn about medicine should be a peripheral, but implied effect of you talking about your motivation to practice medicine.

My 2cents.
Click to expand...

What if my bioinformatics project didn't motivate me to practice medicine? How does singing motivate you to practice medicine? I did bioinformatics before I wanted to go into medicine, and my research experience didnt' really point me towards medicine. I am still thinking about an MD/PhD though, so that could play in there.

If I am thinking about MD/PhD, what is missing/should I work on?
 
farf said:
What if my bioinformatics project didn't motivate me to practice medicine? How does singing motivate you to practice medicine? I did bioinformatics before I wanted to go into medicine, and my research experience didnt' really point me towards medicine. I am still thinking about an MD/PhD though, so that could play in there.

If I am thinking about MD/PhD, what is missing/should I work on?
Click to expand...

Singing was not in my PS. 😉

EDIT: But I see your point. My post makes it seems as if I included singing in my PS. Sorry for the confusion. I should have emphasized that you should only include things in your PS that speak to your motivation and career goals, or somehow helped you get there. The other stuff should be in your activities section, IMHO.
 
L.O.L.
And even funnier that there are serious responses.
 
Everyone is entitled to ask questions and to do everything in their power to make the best of their application. There's nothing wrong with that 🙂, and from the OP's original post I think he/she is aware that even if he was to do nothing, he'd be in good shape.
 
farf said:
[Edit] Also, I MAY be applying MD/PhD (right now though, 90% set on MD only), because everyone I know tells me that I'm going to be bored as an MD, even though I don't see that happening. Anyways if I do MD/PhD, then what else should I work on?
Click to expand...
Although I'm no expert on MD/PhD admissions (am applying MD), I have read that applicants should demonstrate a vested interest in research on their applications. Your 12 hours/week in the Biochemistry lab certainly make you competitive in that regard, so continue with that, expand into other (possibly clinical) areas of resarch if that interests you, and look into research-based "EC's" (such as poster presentations) to supplement your work. You may also want to strengthen your relationship with your PI (and other research-oriented faculty that you interact with regularly), as I would guess that research-oriented LoR's are far more critical for MD/PhD programs than they are for MD programs.

The Physician Scientist forum is a great place to go to learn more about the programs and (more importantly in your case) find out how to make your application stronger.
 
I agree with the above that there is nothing further you need to do, but keep in mind what NOT to do. If enough people keep telling a person how wonderful their application is, some might inject a note of entitlement into their personal statement, or come off as arrogant in their interviews. Either attitude is enough to ruin ones chances at many schools. Keep a humble, but confident, attitutude, and it will serve you well.
 
retake the mcat and get 40+.
 
You need to stop feeding the trolls
 
For the nth time, LOL. Yea everyone is entitled to ask questions on how to improve their app, but you would think people with apps like the OP's have some common sense about the application process...and I do apologize if this post provides no help whatsoever.
 
I don't think this is a troll.
 
Oh goodness...your stats make me jealous! lol

On a serious note, everything looks perfect. Keep up the awesome work, and good luck with everything! Just focus on making a good "in person" fist impression. Make sure you are relaxed and pleasurable in your interviews.

Good luck! 🙂
 
write your admissions essay in third person

also, make it sound like you are interviewing them, i.e.:

Do you have a cutting edge cirriculum and a commitment to helping people, if so, you might be the right med school for farf (insert real name here)...

anyway, you get the picture, i hope this helps...
 
good luck dude, you have harvard written all over your name.

Glad I don't have to compete with people like you.😎
 
Hmm, with that MCAT score, you might want to try to raise your GPA. See if you can bump it up to at least a 4.1 and then you may have a shot.
 
chewsnuffles said:
write your admissions essay in third person

also, make it sound like you are interviewing them, i.e.:

Do you have a cutting edge cirriculum and a commitment to helping people, if so, you might be the right med school for farf (insert real name here)...

anyway, you get the picture, i hope this helps...
Click to expand...

To add on, watch some of The Rock's old interviews from his days in wrestling. The Rock says...
 
well seriously the numbers are there, you are pretty much straight...if you can hold a conversation with humans (interview) then you are on your way...GOOD LUCK!
 
I think there are enough posts in this thread to justify my invocation of the word

Hitler!
 
make sure you apply broadly, at least 2 schools
 
The validity of your GPA is undermined with that MCAT score. Don't let my status as PreDent fool you as I am a member of the admissions committee at a top tier MD school. Retake MCAT for at least a 43.
 
It seems that you haven't cured cancer -- I'd expect you to. Hmmm, for that your chances have significantly decreased from 100% to 95%. I'm sorry.
 
apply to a wide range of schools md, do, carribean. i wouldn't throw out playing a sport...perhaps badminton, waterpolo, handball.


just kidding man. you're a legit applicant for any school you want.
 
farf said:
I am a junior this year, applying next cycle. I'm trying to fill in gaps that I'll have in my application while still doing things I like to do, so even though I don't play any varsity sports, I'm not really interested in trying out for a team or something just because it'll look good.

School: Top tier (ranked top 5 or 10 in the country)
MCAT: 39T (14BS-11VR-14BS)
GPA: 4.0 (Math & Bio double major) (BCMP also 4.0)

Research: From a bioinformatics project I started in high school, I got 1 second author pub, 1 second author poster, first-authored a textbook chapter in the field but I will not be getting a recommendation from the advisor as I haven't even seen or talked to him in almost 2 years. I also have some experience from high school in computer science and biology. Now, I work in one of my school's biggest labs in biochemistry. The project is a little boring and it's going very slowly, so probably no pubs coming any time soon. I spend about 12 hours a week doing it.

Shadowing/Volunteering:
+Spent 1 month in clinic in India last winter volunteering (the clinic is a free clinic run completely by volunteers), shadowing, and using some computer experience I had to set up a primitive electronic medical records system for them (TOTAL: about 100 hours volunteering, 20 hours shadowing)
+Volunteer program at local hospital. Did about 45 hours in a patient transport job. Got to talk to lots of patients. This is when I decided for sure I wanted to go into this
+Volunteered in high school at hospital for 100 hours
+Shadowed various cardiologists (30 hours), infectious disease (5 hours), geriatrician (80 hours). Also, spent considerable time speaking to MDs in various specialties about why they like medicine, what they don't like, etc. (this is when I was still figuring out if I wanted to go into it).
+Big Brother to a 9 year old kid (over 2 years, total probably about 100 hours).

ECs: (nothing too impressive...)
+TA for biology course
+Leadership roles in cultural club
+Leadership roles in club that trains ~40 students a year to promote health on campus (we give out OTC meds, bandaids, and tell students about the medical resources available at school). This year I am in charge of redesigning the entire training curriculum.
+Spent 2 years on organizing committee for school's career fair
+Did martial arts for 9 years up till college started
+Currently working on setting up a program to let high school students do research at my university (but this may not work out due to complex liability issues).

Recs: Should be all good. One of them will be really stellar, another science one probably really good. Research PI will give one, will hopefully be good but he doesn't know me very well. Non-science rec. is going to be a problem though... Also, I will ask a doctor I have shadowed extensively to write one.

Motivation: I think I will be able to convey my motivation for going into medicine well in a personal statement. I was going to go into engineering or finance, but after doing an internship saw that medicine was much more fulfilling. I spent the next year or so talking to as many people as possible and really figuring out the fields, and now I have a lot of solid reasons to go into medicine.

Sorry that was long. I am shooting to apply to top 20 schools, but obviously also broadly. What am I missing right now?

[Edit] Also, I MAY be applying MD/PhD (right now though, 90% set on MD only), because everyone I know tells me that I'm going to be bored as an MD, even though I don't see that happening. Anyways if I do MD/PhD, then what else should I work on?
Click to expand...

lol..."aww only 39 and 4.0 gpa..what do I need to improve!?"..

Seriously though...I am sure you realize your applicant is strong as hell. There is no possible way you could think that is weak...

Make sure you can answer the question "what do you do for fun?". With that record they will want to make sure you still have a life and have fun. You should add on your hobbies like music/weightlifting/working out/dance/ whatever else you do- it will help you out a lot
 
yeah, listen to muscle man...hahaha!
 
don't put down body building -- that's Alaska's thing =P

People need to stop commenting on this thread... it's old-hat
 
Lol wut
 
Demas567 said:
How about a life?
Click to expand...

Agreed

To be honest, I've seen a lot of people like you...and I've seen them not get in to those top tier schools. I hope you've done all these things because you wanted to. If they were just a means to an end...good luck.


Also, what's your Name and SSN?
 
LAWLZ.

Seriously, what was the point of this? 🙄

If you were as smart as your post says you are, you could've used the search function and figured out you didn't even to make this thread.
 
This post is the reason why a lot of adcoms say people with ridiculous stats don't get into their schools..... that they're crazy.
 
lol.jpg
 
Dang everyone here is so ridiculously jealous of the OP.

He's better than you, get over it.
 
You obviously have great credientals for getting into medical school. The only thing I can think for you to work on is your self-confidence. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are geniunely seeking advice on here, but you need be able to look at all you have accomplished and be appropriately confident going forward into interviews. If you are not appropriately confident, interviewers will pick up on that VERY quickly. Unfortunately, I can't give you a magic solution to build self-confidence.
 
farf said:
I am a junior this year, applying next cycle. I'm trying to fill in gaps that I'll have in my application while still doing things I like to do, so even though I don't play any varsity sports, I'm not really interested in trying out for a team or something just because it'll look good.

School: Top tier (ranked top 5 or 10 in the country)
MCAT: 39T (14BS-11VR-14BS)
GPA: 4.0 (Math & Bio double major) (BCMP also 4.0)

Research: From a bioinformatics project I started in high school, I got 1 second author pub, 1 second author poster, first-authored a textbook chapter in the field but I will not be getting a recommendation from the advisor as I haven't even seen or talked to him in almost 2 years. I also have some experience from high school in computer science and biology. Now, I work in one of my school's biggest labs in biochemistry. The project is a little boring and it's going very slowly, so probably no pubs coming any time soon. I spend about 12 hours a week doing it.

Shadowing/Volunteering:
+Spent 1 month in clinic in India last winter volunteering (the clinic is a free clinic run completely by volunteers), shadowing, and using some computer experience I had to set up a primitive electronic medical records system for them (TOTAL: about 100 hours volunteering, 20 hours shadowing)
+Volunteer program at local hospital. Did about 45 hours in a patient transport job. Got to talk to lots of patients. This is when I decided for sure I wanted to go into this
+Volunteered in high school at hospital for 100 hours
+Shadowed various cardiologists (30 hours), infectious disease (5 hours), geriatrician (80 hours). Also, spent considerable time speaking to MDs in various specialties about why they like medicine, what they don't like, etc. (this is when I was still figuring out if I wanted to go into it).
+Big Brother to a 9 year old kid (over 2 years, total probably about 100 hours).

ECs: (nothing too impressive...)
+TA for biology course
+Leadership roles in cultural club
+Leadership roles in club that trains ~40 students a year to promote health on campus (we give out OTC meds, bandaids, and tell students about the medical resources available at school). This year I am in charge of redesigning the entire training curriculum.
+Spent 2 years on organizing committee for school's career fair
+Did martial arts for 9 years up till college started
+Currently working on setting up a program to let high school students do research at my university (but this may not work out due to complex liability issues).

Recs: Should be all good. One of them will be really stellar, another science one probably really good. Research PI will give one, will hopefully be good but he doesn't know me very well. Non-science rec. is going to be a problem though... Also, I will ask a doctor I have shadowed extensively to write one.

Motivation: I think I will be able to convey my motivation for going into medicine well in a personal statement. I was going to go into engineering or finance, but after doing an internship saw that medicine was much more fulfilling. I spent the next year or so talking to as many people as possible and really figuring out the fields, and now I have a lot of solid reasons to go into medicine.

Sorry that was long. I am shooting to apply to top 20 schools, but obviously also broadly. What am I missing right now?

[Edit] Also, I MAY be applying MD/PhD (right now though, 90% set on MD only), because everyone I know tells me that I'm going to be bored as an MD, even though I don't see that happening. Anyways if I do MD/PhD, then what else should I work on?
Click to expand...

on paper, you're pretty much awesome man..like some others have said, my only advice is not to come off as a hotshot/tool at your interviews..just be yourself and don't try to be too formal with the interviewers-- that way they get a look into your true personality..honestly, w/ those #'s and a good interview, you should be competitive for a scholly in addition to an acceptance ..gluck 👍
 
farf said:
I am a junior this year, applying next cycle. I'm trying to fill in gaps...

farf what your missing is a Felony, that will def. spice things up a bit and make your application stand out. 😉
Click to expand...
 
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