Advice on improving app

[peaceloveandmedicine]

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Hi all,
I’m approaching the end of my premed career and I’m fearful about stacking up.
My undergrade cgpa: 3.5 (slight upward trend)
sgpa: 3.3 (at a top 50 school, “public ivy”)

Research: 1,500+ a development/cognitive psychology lab on infants with autism
-one poster and one oral presentation (awards for both)
-school research fellowships and conference travel grants
-currently working on my honor thesis in this lab (in talks about publishing a paper)

Volunteer hours: ~80 tutor/mentoring high school age children in disadvantaged areas

Clinical hours: ~200 Research Assistant in Neuro lab that conducts MRIs on infants
-conduct MRI screenings on moms and babies
-swaddle babies for MRI
-sit in the MRI room with them to make sure they’re ok
Shadowing: 20 hrs

ECs: Student government board (Committee Chair, 1 year), MAPS (volunteer chair, 1 year), BSU member, TA for chem and ochem (2 years)

So I don’t plan to apply until the 2020-2021
cycle because I’m getting my MPH (Behavioral & Community Health) through my schools accelerated masters program.
I intend to get somewhere between a 510-520 on my MCATs. I know I need more shadowing and volunteering. But is there anything else I need to do to improve my app? I really don’t want to go to DO schools.

 

[tanbrucewayne]

Hi all,
I’m approaching the end of my premed career and I’m fearful about stacking up.
My undergrade cgpa: 3.5 (slight upward trend)
sgpa: 3.3 (at a top 50 school, “public ivy”)

Research: 1,500+ a development/cognitive psychology lab on infants with autism
-one poster and one oral presentation (awards for both)
-school research fellowships and conference travel grants
-currently working on my honor thesis in this lab (in talks about publishing a paper)

Volunteer hours: ~80 tutor/mentoring high school age children in disadvantaged areas

Clinical hours: ~200 Research Assistant in Neuro lab that conducts MRIs on infants
-conduct MRI screenings on moms and babies
-swaddle babies for MRI
-sit in the MRI room with them to make sure they’re ok
Shadowing: 20 hrs

ECs: Student government board (Committee Chair, 1 year), MAPS (volunteer chair, 1 year), BSU member, TA for chem and ochem (2 years)

So I don’t plan to apply until the 2020-2021
cycle because I’m getting my MPH (Behavioral & Community Health) through my schools accelerated masters program.
I intend to get somewhere between a 510-520 on my MCATs. I know I need more shadowing and volunteering. But is there anything else I need to do to improve my app? I really don’t want to go to DO schools.

Other than more volunteering, preferably with underserved communities as you have done, and getting like 50+ shadowing hours, I don't see anything else you can do to improve your app. With a 510+ MCAT and well-written secondaries, I don't think you would need to apply to DO

 

[AliBabaMD]

maybe do something with the MPH (maybe a senior thesis) that will be unique and add value to your future career as a doc.

 

[WestCoast33]

Intending to score in the 510-520s is different from actually scoring in that range.

Why are you opposed to DO schools?