For top schools your GPA is fine. Usually when it comes to top tiered schools you need a high MCAT score (>35) and you need extensive research in your ECs. Back to your original post a 24 before reading is pretty decent. I would say with thorough preparation you can expect a 10 point gain on the actual exam from your diagnostic. I personally gained 12 points, in the end it all comes down to effort and effective studying.
Thanks! I don't know about how much extensive research I'll have. Unfortunately, I came from a community college and transferred to a University this year (hard to get research in CC) and am applying at the end of my 1st year in university. I did join a research lab, however, at the start of Fall semester. By the time I apply in June will that be enough? Of course I plan on staying with my lab until I graduate.
Basically, is 1 year Research in a Cancer Research Lab good enough?
In addition, I also had a random question. My dream school is Stanford, and I actually have an aunt (who I'm not incredibly close to, but she is a very nice person and I see her a few times a year at Thanksgiving/etc) who is an associate professor at Stanford's medical school. Any chance this could help at all (LOR or something?)
I think I'm really concerned for my ec's for top schools. So far I'll have by the time I apply:
1 Year research in cancer lab
I've also been tutoring my girlfriend in physics for 6 hours every 2 weeks and it increased her scores from failing to getting 95% +++ . I know it would sound ******ed if I wrote that down, but maybe I can say I tutored a friend? I do spend a lot of time doing so as she also lives 2 hours away from me :[
I taught an 8 week chemistry course at a underpriveledged elementary school. (Along with 3 other students, we made lesson plans etc). I also had to write essays each week regarding the experience. I plan on doing this next semester as well.
So I'll have taught 2 courses each 8 weeks in length + a couple of weeks of work preparing beforehand and writing/talking about it afterwards.
I have volunteered about 100 hours in a Veterans Affair Hospital/Ambulatory center in the care unit (elderly people). Pretty much offered them company /coffee/ played games etc. I'll probably be able to add in another 50+ hours when I first apply and will contunue to volunteer through the summer (maybe I can update and get it to 200 hours by July/Augist ish).
1 year intramural football
random: Can play the drums, somewhat guitar, somewhat piano. I'm also a gym rat
😛
My girlfriend and I have also been having some talks of creating and organizing a can food drive through FB/friends over Winter. I'm most likely going to do this.
In addition I plan to atleast get 15+ hours of shadowing done by then.
Unfortunately, besides this I doubt I have time to do much more (lacking leadership experience :[ Maybe the food drive thing will count if it goes through successfully?)
Do My ec's suck for top schools?
