MD All things considered, how do my ECs look?

[akb5633]

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I will be entering my senior year this fall. Here is a summary of my current stats:

ACADEMICS
Major - Neuroscience
Minor - Chemistry
GPA - 3.96
sGPA - 3.95
MCAT - test date Aug. 20th (yes, I am taking a gap year btw)


RESEARCH
3 semesters in neuroscience lab (credit, 10 hrs/week), continuing this summer (paid, 5 hrs/week). Involves reconstructing neurons from mice PFC after OGD/MCAO using confocal microscopy. Thus far, no publications. Hoping to at least participate in a poster presentation senior year.

Senior year I may also get involved with clinical research involving intraoperative neuromonitoring. My supervisor at my current internship said the PI pumps out publications frequently.


CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
CNA in a nursing home (paid, ~400 hrs)

OR internship (paid, ~500 hrs. Part of the surgical team assisting with intraoperative neuromonitoring in the OR)

Have yet to shadow. Again, don't freak out, taking a gap year, so I will be shadowing during my senior year.


VOLUNTEERING/COMMUNITY SERVICE
Project sunshine member (volunteering at Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, etc. ~50 hrs.)

Baby Cuddler Program at hospital for babies in the NICU (~50 hrs)

*UG School Name* Make A Difference Day (annual event to help improve local neighborhoods that aren't in the best condition, participated each year)

Relay for Life (annual event, participated each year. Team Captain for my team in 2016)


LEADERSHIP
Teaching Assistant (3 semester so far, biology and human phys. May TA for orgo this fall)

Swim Club Volunteering/Fundraising Chair (without boring you guys with details, this was a big time commitment)


AWARDS/HONORS
University Scholar (2015-2016. awarded to top 2% of students in their class)

Freshman Biology Award (given to 3 freshman who have excelled in the Biology 1+2 lectures and labs, based on recommendations from professors and TAs)

Dean's List (all semesters)


OTHER
Swim Club (member since freshman year)

*Insert city* Half Marathon 2016, Participant (is this worth mentioning? training was somewhat of a time commitment, but I don't want this looking like a filler)


GAP YEAR PLANS
I will be taking an EMT class that my university offers during the fall semester, so working as an EMT for a year is a possibility.



I don't have a list of schools I want to apply to, as that would be pointless currently since I haven't yet taken the MCAT.

But....assuming I do relatively well on the MCAT, are my ECs looking strong enough to be a competitive applicant? I'm most concerned with my research (esp. if I want to apply to any "top-tier" schools) because I have been there for a bit of time with little to show for it - additionally, while I have found research to be helpful in gaining more knowledge about my major/improved my ability to read scientific literature, I KNOW that I could not do this as a career. I feel my clinical work is my strongest, and that is the area that I truly am passionate about.

So sorry for the long post, but I would appreciate your opinions and constructive criticism!

 

[Faha]

Your EC's are fine and once you obtain at least 50 shadowing hours will be even better. How you do on the MCAT will be more important at this point in determining which schools you can apply to.

 

[Doctor-S]

Hi akb5633,

Your ECs look wonderful. So does your sGPA, and your tutoring experience (biology, human phys, and possibly o-chem).

Go ahead, and add shadowing to your ECs. Keep track of your shadowing hours, and score well on the MCAT, too.

Here is a suggestion regarding your research lab work and clinical neurophysiology internship: you can try to schedule a face-to-face appointment with the PIs and respectfully ask each PI if it would be possible for you to contribute ENOUGH work (or enough material) to a research project (or in connection with a clinical study) to merit "adding your name" to a proposed publication, or to a publication in the future. It can't hurt to ask. I include my assistants and residents in publication credits, if they actually (and truly) merit such credit. After all, they've earned it!

Thank you.

 

[Goro]

With shadowing, you are golden!!!

These are the types of EC'S I have seen on Harvard or UCSF matriculants

I will be entering my senior year this fall. Here is a summary of my current stats:

ACADEMICS
Major - Neuroscience
Minor - Chemistry
GPA - 3.96
sGPA - 3.95
MCAT - test date Aug. 20th (yes, I am taking a gap year btw)


RESEARCH
3 semesters in neuroscience lab (credit, 10 hrs/week), continuing this summer (paid, 5 hrs/week). Involves reconstructing neurons from mice PFC after OGD/MCAO using confocal microscopy. Thus far, no publications. Hoping to at least participate in a poster presentation senior year.

Senior year I may also get involved with clinical research involving intraoperative neuromonitoring. My supervisor at my current internship said the PI pumps out publications frequently.


CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
CNA in a nursing home (paid, ~400 hrs)

Clinical neurophysiology internship (paid, ~500 hrs. Part of the surgical team assisting with intraoperative neuromonitoring in the OR)

Have yet to shadow. Again, don't freak out, taking a gap year, so I will be shadowing during my senior year.


VOLUNTEERING/COMMUNITY SERVICE
Project sunshine member (volunteering at Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, etc. ~50 hrs.)

Baby Cuddler Program at hospital for babies in the NICU (~50 hrs)

Pitt Make A Difference Day (annual event to help improve local neighborhoods that aren't in the best condition, participated each year)

Relay for Life (annual event, participated each year. Team Captain for my team in 2016)


LEADERSHIP
Teaching Assistant (3 semester so far, biology and human phys. May TA for orgo this fall)

Swim Club Volunteering/Fundraising Chair (without boring you guys with details, this was a big time commitment)


AWARDS/HONORS
University Scholar (2015-2016. awarded to top 2% of students in their class)

Freshman Biology Award (given to 3 freshman who have excelled in the Biology 1+2 lectures and labs, based on recommendations from professors and TAs)

Dean's List (all semesters)


OTHER
Swim Club (member since freshman year)

Pittsburgh Half Marathon 2016, Participant (is this worth mentioning? training was somewhat of a time commitment, but I don't want this looking like a filler)


GAP YEAR PLANS
I will be taking an EMT class that my university offers during the fall semester, so working as an EMT for a year is a possibility.

Also, if the neurophysiology internship that I have right now goes well, and I take the CNIM, maybe could work as a neurophys tech for a year.

(which would be better? I think working as an EMT would be great considering that would give me clinical experience in 3 different settings - nursing home, operating room, and as a first responder - but I also really like my internship position, and could see myself continuing in the OR for a year)



I don't have a list of schools I want to apply to, as that would be pointless currently since I haven't yet taken the MCAT.

But....assuming I do relatively well on the MCAT, are my ECs looking strong enough to be a competitive applicant? I'm most concerned with my research (esp. if I want to apply to any "top-tier" schools) because I have been there for a bit of time with little to show for it - additionally, while I have found research to be helpful in gaining more knowledge about my major/improved my ability to read scientific literature, I KNOW that I could not do this as a career. I feel my clinical work is my strongest, and that is the area that I truly am passionate about.

So sorry for the long post, but I would appreciate your opinions and constructive criticism!

 

[akb5633]

Your EC's are fine and once you obtain at least 50 shadowing hours will be even better. How you do on the MCAT will be more important at this point in determining which schools you can apply to.

Okay, thank you! And yep, can't wait to get that monster over and done with :/

Hi akb5633,

Your ECs look wonderful. So does your sGPA, and your tutoring experience (biology, human phys, and possibly o-chem).

Go ahead, and add shadowing to your ECs. Keep track of your shadowing hours, and score well on the MCAT, too.

Here is a suggestion regarding your research lab work and clinical neurophysiology internship: you can try to schedule a face-to-face appointment with the PIs and respectfully ask each PI if it would be possible for you to contribute ENOUGH work (or enough material) to a research project (or in connection with a clinical study) to merit "adding your name" to a proposed publication, or to a publication in the future. It can't hurt to ask. I include my assistants and residents in publication credits, if they actually (and truly) merit such credit. After all, they've earned it!

Thank you.

Thanks for the feedback! My PI in the current lab I am mentioned hopefully publishing something around end of 2016 or 2017, and said that my name could be included in that if I were still around. However, I have the feeling that might happen after I graduate. But I will certainly keep your suggestion in mind about talking with the PI of the neurophys research.

With shadowing, you are golden!!!


These are the types of EC'S I have seen on Harvard or UCSF matriculants

Wow, thanks! That's really good to hear.

 

[confidentandgood]

Relay for Life (annual event, participated each year. Team Captain for my team in 2016)

This could go under leadership, no?