Advice - What should I do?

[chillinillinkillin007]

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I'm currently a junior double majoring in Biology and Psychology at a small private school...im taking an easy schedule next semester so I'm most likely going to get a 4.0 (hopefully) so my cum gpa will be 3.51 at the end of the spring semester (BCMP=3.32). My gpa is low due to the double major and I have a upward trend but last semester I did bad (3.2)...MCAT is 30 right now but after studying I should be at 33+ (again...hopefully)

My EC are...

Shadowing = 50 hours
Lacrosse Club = 2 years (will be 3)
Psych Research = 1 Semester currently (will be 2)

I'm trying to get some volunteer work the past few months at a hospital but they have been full...So I'm asking for advice of what I should do this coming semester to make my application stronger. If I do end up getting my 3.5 w/ 3.3 science and a 33 MCAT will I be a strong enough applicant to apply MD? How should I get more volunteer work/ECs and is it really that necessary? I truly want to be a doctor to help people out but I just believe if I go volunteer at a soup kitchen I will be "using "the people and the program to strengthen my application - it doesn't seem right. Any advice on my application or personal experience's you guys might have had? what would you guys do if you were me this semester? PS: I really don't want to take a gap year...thanks for the help btw

 

[justAstudent]

Your GPA is not the best, but it will be fine even with your current MCAT. A higher MCAT will definitely help. As far as your ECs go, it is a little sparse. I would try to find something that you truly enjoy doing. It doesn't have to be medically related. But you definitely want to volunteer a bit. I would also suggest some type of leadership / teaching activity. Maybe you can find a tutoring gig on campus for a class you did well in?

 

[bunionberry]

Yeah, if you're gonna go the volunteering route (which you should get a little bit of), try to find something worth your time. For me, I could have done some volunteer work in the hospital, but I had zero interest in that because I know all I'd be doing is answer phones or deliver gifts. If that's something you don't mind doing, go for it. But for me, I decided to get a little more involved with people/patient care, so I ended up at a nursing home that mainly housed people with Alzheimer's. It was interesting seeing the various stages of the disease and was enjoyable in that I could just hang out with the residents there and help the staff out with anything if they needed assistance.

I think you should be okay with shadowing, and the research is definitely a plus. If you really put in your time for the MCAT I think a 33 will be a big improvement over a 30 for sure. I wouldn't say you're noncompetitive with your current stats, but they definitely can be better. Ultimately depends on which schools (and how many) you plan on applying to though.

 

[chillinillinkillin007]

Yeah, I'm trying to think outside the box on volunteering but my school doesn't have many resources nearby on campus and I dont have a car. I just feel as if everyone on this forum has outstanding GPA's and on top of that crazy EC's and what not - makes my doubt that my ordinary shadowing would suffice.

anyone else have extra advice? thanks so far guys or gals

 

[justAstudent]

Is there a student service office on campus? You can maybe find a tutoring gig there. Do you like sports? Maybe you can coach a little league team at a park within walking/running distance.