Advice on Areas to Improve

[loveoforganic]

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Sorry for this information being a bit scattered - wasn't sure of the best way to group it.

I'm a chemistry/psychology double major, and a current second semester sophomore.

I had a 3.0 after freshman year, but pulled that up to a 3.5 first semester of sophomore year, with a 4.2 something for that semester, and this coming semester is looking to be similar. 4.2 is a pretty high mark to continue to get, but I figure I can pull off a 3.8 or higher GPA pretty comfortably by the end of junior year.

Have yet to take the MCAT, will be taking it immediately prior to fall of junior year.

As far as jobs, I worked summer of senior year (highschool) and summer of freshman year (college) in FEMA parks co-running a kids' summer program, and I went through hurricane-affected communities distributing hurricane relief information and networking resources. This coming summer, I will (hopefully) be working as a psychiatric assistant in a mental hospital.

I have done one semester of chemistry research (unpublished), will be going to Germany during junior year summer to do more, and am currently doing an independent study in NMR.

This current semester (spring of sophomore year), I'm volunteering at a middle school, doing afterschool activities with the kids.

I'll be shadowing a doctor at a hospital as part of a 2 credit hour class, during at least one semester of junior year (potentially more).

The main area I'm concerned about is my lack of activity in extracurricular programs associated with my college, but there just hasn't been that much that I've seen and been interested in. However, advice in whatever parts that may be lacking is more than welcome!

Thanks 🙂

 

[starfishprime]

I had a 3.0 after freshman year, but pulled that up to a 3.5 first semester of sophomore year, with a 4.2 something for that semester, and this coming semester is looking to be similar.

Advice: don't do drugs.

 

[chessknt]

It sounds like your university weights your grades somehow (unless the >4.0 is a typo). If that is the case, scale everything down to:

A+/A=4.0
A-=3.7
B+=3.3
B=3.0
B-=2.7 etc etc.

Recalculate your GPA and come back with a new number.

 

[loveoforganic]

The university does factor grades such as an A+ as a 4.33, but only if it doesn't bring your cumulative GPA over a 4. Reworks to a 3.35 currently, and realistically to a 3.48 after this semester. Bummer on no A+'s!

 

[loveoforganic]

Any advice on anything else?

 

[thailandluv]

it looks good to me. dont worry if your ECs are school activities or outside of school activities. just do what you love.

good luck with mcats 🙂

 

[loveoforganic]

Thanks 🙂

 

[Catalystik]

I see plenty of community service and teaching/mentoring, but no leadership experience. Your planned shadowing and employment in a mental health facility look good, but be sure to eventually get some face-to-face interaction with medically-ill patients as well. The research looks fine. Joining clubs usually doesn't help much unless you have an officer position.

 

[loveoforganic]

Oh, I was considering mentoring as a leadership type experience, but I suppose leadership among peers might be something more to work toward - would tutoring peers count? The only other thing I can really think of is an officer type position in a club.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Mobius1985]

IMO, it depends on the way you tutor your peers as to whether it would be a leadership experience. If you are available to answer questions you are asked, or stand in front of a group and regurgitate information, that is not really leadership. If you inspire to go beyond the text, motivate to excel, cause to go in a direction that might not have been considered, teach critical thinking skills, demand better than what is provided, organize, take responsibility for success, etc. then that is more like leadership. The narrative you provide in describing the experience should make clear in what way you led.