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- May 26, 2014
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Hi folks! Long time lurker, finally made an account.
I want to apply MD/PhD to mid-top tier schools, here's a quick rundown of my stats: 3.93 cGPA/3.88 sGPA, big national science scholarship, 3.5 years of research, multiple posters and 2 competitive summer programs, submitting a first author paper to a top journal in our field in the next month, lots of nonprofit science outreach leadership and science writing, ~ 50 hours of specialty shadowing this past semester and 200 hours rural primary care to come this summer. If it's relevant: female, non URM.
Here's my dilemma: just graduated with my BS, between research and ECs I have had very little time over the past semester to study for the MCAT and my June 5th test date.
My practice tests (just 2) were a 30 (PS 8, VS 11, BS 11) and 32 (PS 10, VS 12, BS 10), so not where I want them to be (35-38). I know I can get them up to this level, I'm a good test taker and have improved quite a bit since starting but just haven't had enough time--I won't be ready until the end of the summer.
I was already planning on taking a gap year but now am either considering taking the MCAT late this year and thus applying late (bad for rolling admissions), or taking 2 gap years. I will continue to do full-time research and be productive with that, and will also pursue a big nonprofit project overseas (have this set up already).
I'm concerned chiefly (and perhaps I'm being paranoid) because I wonder if MD/PhD programs won't consider me as highly since I took 2 gap years and thus may come off as inefficient? I know they really want people to graduate the program within 8 years. To my credit, I'm also a year younger than my peers and will thus only be 22 when I apply next year.
Please let me know what you think!
I want to apply MD/PhD to mid-top tier schools, here's a quick rundown of my stats: 3.93 cGPA/3.88 sGPA, big national science scholarship, 3.5 years of research, multiple posters and 2 competitive summer programs, submitting a first author paper to a top journal in our field in the next month, lots of nonprofit science outreach leadership and science writing, ~ 50 hours of specialty shadowing this past semester and 200 hours rural primary care to come this summer. If it's relevant: female, non URM.
Here's my dilemma: just graduated with my BS, between research and ECs I have had very little time over the past semester to study for the MCAT and my June 5th test date.
My practice tests (just 2) were a 30 (PS 8, VS 11, BS 11) and 32 (PS 10, VS 12, BS 10), so not where I want them to be (35-38). I know I can get them up to this level, I'm a good test taker and have improved quite a bit since starting but just haven't had enough time--I won't be ready until the end of the summer.
I was already planning on taking a gap year but now am either considering taking the MCAT late this year and thus applying late (bad for rolling admissions), or taking 2 gap years. I will continue to do full-time research and be productive with that, and will also pursue a big nonprofit project overseas (have this set up already).
I'm concerned chiefly (and perhaps I'm being paranoid) because I wonder if MD/PhD programs won't consider me as highly since I took 2 gap years and thus may come off as inefficient? I know they really want people to graduate the program within 8 years. To my credit, I'm also a year younger than my peers and will thus only be 22 when I apply next year.
Please let me know what you think!