Am i being too paranoid?

[PreparationIsKey]

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Hello guys!

What do you guys think I should be doing? What more should I be committing myself too?


A little background info:

1. I go to a community college(4.0 GPA at the moment)
2. I've taken gen. chem and bio
3. Rising sophomore
4. Transferring to Rutgers in spring
5. I completed Princeton, Kaplan, EK MCAT prep (old versions, haven't touched the new ones yet)

So, basically I document all the big ideas in every subject I take. I constantly read articles like the economist, newyorker, nytimes, and do SAT reading constantly to help VR skills for the MCAT. Also, I've finished the chapters in my brother's orgo book for orgo I syllabus. For the gen chem/bio/orgo I have, thus far, documented big/tricky ideas in my notebook(which is huge).
This summer I did a pre-med program called NERA medprep at Rutgers NJMS(where we dissected cadavers and whatnot). After that I comitted myself to orgo/bio systems review. Am I overdoing it? Should I relax a bit?

As for extra curriculars, I shadowed my doctor(pediatric) for 8 months in my freshman year + volunteering at my local hospital(ER laision) from April till present. This is all for now. I'm trying to become an EMT. I just really need to know what other extracurriculars would med schools be looking for? If possible please provide examples you did.

Also, I noticed for the VR section of the MCAT it requires a different approach to reading and avoiding traps in questions. If possible please provide helpful tips that may have helped you(any would do).

THANK YOU ALL INFINITELY!!

P.S. I'm taking the 2016 MCAT(2 years exactly) and so I am aware of the changed + have read to 128 page PDF for it.

 

[allantois]

Hmm, a new poster...

If you are as great as you describe it, then take some time reading SDN where all your questions have already been answered throughout. (Find time by cutting on SAT reading)

Otherwise, I don't see the issue.

But in all seriousness, I'm calling it a troll!!

 

[PreparationIsKey]

Hmm, a new poster...

If you are as great as you describe it, then take some time reading SDN where all your questions have already been answered throughout. (Find time by cutting on SAT reading)

Otherwise, I don't see the issue.

But in all seriousness, I'm calling it a troll!!

With all due respect, it isn't trolling. The heading already established that I'm paranoid about med school admissions. And if you call this great, you must be new to pre-med my friend because the field in its entirety has people way more competitive than this. So please don't make remarks unwittingly. Otherwise, thank you for the response!

 

[Doctor Dream]

Hello guys!

What do you guys think I should be doing? What more should I be committing myself too?


A little background info:

1. I go to a community college(4.0 GPA at the moment)
2. I've taken gen. chem and bio
3. Rising sophomore
4. Transferring to Rutgers in spring
5. I completed Princeton, Kaplan, EK MCAT prep (old versions, haven't touched the new ones yet)

So, basically I document all the big ideas in every subject I take. I constantly read articles like the economist, newyorker, nytimes, and do SAT reading constantly to help VR skills for the MCAT. Also, I've finished the chapters in my brother's orgo book for orgo I syllabus. For the gen chem/bio/orgo I have, thus far, documented big/tricky ideas in my notebook(which is huge).
This summer I did a pre-med program called NERA medprep at Rutgers NJMS(where we dissected cadavers and whatnot). After that I comitted myself to orgo/bio systems review. Am I overdoing it? Should I relax a bit?

As for extra curriculars, I shadowed my doctor(pediatric) for 8 months in my freshman year + volunteering at my local hospital(ER laision) from April till present. This is all for now. I'm trying to become an EMT. I just really need to know what other extracurriculars would med schools be looking for? If possible please provide examples you did.

Also, I noticed for the VR section of the MCAT it requires a different approach to reading and avoiding traps in questions. If possible please provide helpful tips that may have helped you(any would do).

THANK YOU ALL INFINITELY!!

P.S. I'm taking the 2016 MCAT(2 years exactly) and so I am aware of the changed + have read to 128 page PDF for it.

Well I'll bite, if you're a troll OP you got me. I'll preface my advice by saying I'm only a pre-med, so take my advice for what it's worth but...

1) You sound kind of gunner-ish to me, your MCAT isn't for 2 more years yet, take it down a notch! Unless you're Rain man or Sheldon Cooper, I think you're wasting your time studying now. Focus on other EC's now and worry about the MCAT when it's at least <1 year away. Also, how do you complete the MCAT prep from all those companies if you've only taken gen chem and bio?

2) All of your EC's are medically related/med school oriented. Adcoms are going to wonder what do you care about/do with your time other than doing well in school and spending time in a hospital. Volunteer in other places, join some fun clubs or something, live life dude! Right now it sounds like you've got yourself holed up in your room reading newspapers, SAT reading and MCAT prep stuff, or in a hospital shadowing, volunteering and EMT later. If you put those EC's on your med school app, you'll be a strong candidate (with good grades/MCAT and some research experience) but you'll make adcoms yawn. They'll take someone who has the same stats AND interesting profile over you in the blink of an eye.

3) In general to answer your question, yes you should relax a bit, at least with the MCAT stuff. Do some non-clinical volunteering, get involved with research, pick up some cool hobby, etc.

 

[PreparationIsKey]

Well I'll bite, if you're a troll OP you got me. I'll preface my advice by saying I'm only a pre-med, so take my advice for what it's worth but...

1) You sound kind of gunner-ish to me, your MCAT isn't for 2 more years yet, take it down a notch! Unless you're Rain man or Sheldon Cooper, I think you're wasting your time studying now. Focus on other EC's now and worry about the MCAT when it's at least <1 year away. Also, how do you complete the MCAT prep from all those companies if you've only taken gen chem and bio?

2) All of your EC's are medically related/med school oriented. Adcoms are going to wonder what do you care about/do with your time other than doing well in school and spending time in a hospital. Volunteer in other places, join some fun clubs or something, live life dude! Right now it sounds like you've got yourself holed up in your room reading newspapers, SAT reading and MCAT prep stuff, or in a hospital shadowing, volunteering and EMT later. If you put those EC's on your med school app, you'll be a strong candidate (with good grades/MCAT and some research experience) but you'll make adcoms yawn. They'll take someone who has the same stats AND interesting profile over you in the blink of an eye.

3) In general to answer your question, yes you should relax a bit, at least with the MCAT stuff. Do some non-clinical volunteering, get involved with research, pick up some cool hobby, etc.

1) I usually only practice VR and Physical Sciences section(requiring Physics and chem only and I took physics in High School)

2) You are 100% percent correct on this note but do you think I should join any random club? What else aside from clubs? And I like to play soccer, although not officially on a team. I also like chess. I'm a tutor at my college(paid). Would tutoring get admissions to say "oh hmm that's pretty interesting"?

3) And I'm actually trying to learn violin + soccer freestyle.

Thanks so much for your response Doctor Dream!

 

[user12]

1) I usually only practice VR and Physical Sciences section(requiring Physics and chem only and I took physics in High School)

2) You are 100% percent correct on this note but do you think I should join any random club? What else aside from clubs? And I like to play soccer, although not officially on a team. I also like chess. I'm a tutor at my college(paid). Would tutoring get admissions to say "oh hmm that's pretty interesting"?

3) And I'm actually trying to learn violin + soccer freestyle.

Thanks so much for your response Doctor Dream!

Im a tutor too and I like it a whole lot. in terms of whether it will help you, it depends on the school. I mean, obviously I guess none of the schools I interviewed at cared all that much since I didn't get in... but it was at least discussed during interviews. tutoring is good stuff in my opinion. shows leadership and that you're good at instructing and teaching others... which is partially what a doctor does.

 

[Doctor Dream]

1) I usually only practice VR and Physical Sciences section(requiring Physics and chem only and I took physics in High School)

2) You are 100% percent correct on this note but do you think I should join any random club? What else aside from clubs? And I like to play soccer, although not officially on a team. I also like chess. I'm a tutor at my college(paid). Would tutoring get admissions to say "oh hmm that's pretty interesting"?

3) And I'm actually trying to learn violin + soccer freestyle.

Thanks so much for your response Doctor Dream!

Again, let me reiterate I'm just a pre-med so take my advice with a grain of salt. Anyways, the reaction probably won't be "oh that's interesting" but more like "oh this guy has some leadership experience, teaching experience and interpersonal skills". Tutoring doesn't really make you stand out, but it does show that you've been in the leader/teacher role for an extended period of time. Doctors communicate and teach constantly on the job, your tutoring shows that you've been developing these skills.

 

[Flashfan]

You are lacking research, so that would be something to consider.
You could add non-clinical volunteering. Schools like to know that you care about people, so homeless shelters, after-school programs, etc would be good.

 

[PreparationIsKey]

Im a tutor too and I like it a whole lot. in terms of whether it will help you, it depends on the school. I mean, obviously I guess none of the schools I interviewed at cared all that much since I didn't get in... but it was at least discussed during interviews. tutoring is good stuff in my opinion. shows leadership and that you're good at instructing and teaching others... which is partially what a doctor does.

Oh well I don't mean to get personal into your application but when you got interviewed, did you have ECs like me + what was your MCAT? Again, if this is personal I apologize in advance.

 

[PreparationIsKey]

You are lacking research, so that would be something to consider.
You could add non-clinical volunteering. Schools like to know that you care about people, so homeless shelters, after-school programs, etc would be good.

Rightly so but what if I do them and they turn out to be undocumented? What if the work cannot be proven because for example there is no way to contact the volunteering supervisor nor was it official?

 

[user12]

Oh well I don't mean to get personal into your application but when you got interviewed, did you have ECs like me + what was your MCAT? Again, if this is personal I apologize in advance.

my mcat was a 33 and my gpa was a 3.8 and I had some ECs like yours, even shadowed a pediatrician like you plus 2 other doctors (pediatrics might have actually been my favorite though)

 

[PreparationIsKey]

my mcat was a 33 and my gpa was a 3.8 and I had some ECs like yours, even shadowed a pediatrician like you plus 2 other doctors (pediatrics might have actually been my favorite though)

Based off of these credentials, doesn't this basically mean I don't have a shot? Simply because even with outstanding credentials like that, you didn't get accepted?
Or maybe I'm missing something? Do you know why you didn't get accepted(e.g. a criminal record or something)?? Thank you.

 

[user12]

Based off of these credentials, doesn't this basically mean I don't have a shot? Simply because even with outstanding credentials like that, you didn't get accepted?
Or maybe I'm missing something? Do you know why you didn't get accepted(e.g. a criminal record or something)?? Thank you.

im sure you have a shot. but it's ****ing hard to get in. i went into the cycle having shadowed only 1 doctor and picked up the other two during the year, along with some non-clinical volunteering. so MAYBE that had something to do with it. my advice is.... you better GO INTO the application cycle having shadowed AT LEAST 2 doctors, with a good 300-400 hours of all sorts of volunteering- hospitals, nursing homes, soup kitchens, homeless shelters- and it goes without saying the "primary stuff" like grades and mcats better be solid. you're going to want every single box checked.

 

[Flashfan]

Rightly so but what if I do them and they turn out to be undocumented? What if the work cannot be proven because for example there is no way to contact the volunteering supervisor nor was it official?

For research you can get the contact information of the PI, or a letter, which would be even better. If you volunteer for an organization, it would be easy to get their contact information.
You do seem to be missing a point about volunteering. It will make you a more well-rounded person to interact with a wide variety of people. It helps you learn to communicate, to experience failure, to learn humility. At the very least, it will give you stories to tell in interviews.

 

[TheStudyOfLife]

Relax and live life man.. Take your face out of the books for a minute and explore what's out there. This is the time of your life right now. You look good besides no research.. And who cares if there's no pub from the research, as long as you can talk about your research and explain what you were testing etc. it counts. Stop studying for the MCAT, you have plenty of time to prepare for that..

Your OP made me furious TBH, pre-meds should be obsessive to an extent, what are you gonna do when Adcoms ask you about hobbies and what you did in your free time, oh wait, you don't leave your damn room..