I am a freshman student and I recently created a plan for the remaining years of undergrad. FYI, I did some hospital volunteering here and there during my spring semester but mostly focused on academics to maintain a 4.0 GPA. So this is what I plan to do in order to prepare for the MD/PhD application:
Summer after freshman year: Take Microbio with my current gen bio professor (he only offers it in summer and I like his conceptual approach to the courses)
Probably work with a professor at my college for a paid position conducting research on making universal cancer vaccine
Volunteer at a hospital
Volunteer for the American Cancer Society advocating as a Legislative Ambassador
Volunteer for Feed My Starving Children
Maybe participate in outreach activities for local high school students
Study for the MCAT (CARS, Biology, and Chemistry section)
Volunteer at the Welcome week/move-in day for my university at the start of next semester
Sophomore: Work with the professor on research for course credit (Already registered)
Work as a lab instructor (IA) for my General Biology professor
Probably tutor a group of students for gen chem course as an SI Leader
Continue volunteering at the hospital (2 shifts a month)
Continue volunteering for the American Cancer Society
Continue volunteering for Feed My Starving Children
Run a non-clinical volunteer club (I will be an officer of the new club)
Summer after Sophomore: Participate in a summer research program or continue the research at my institution
Shadow a physician
Continue volunteering at the hospital (2 shifts a month)
Continue volunteering for the American Cancer Society
Continue volunteering for Feed My Starving Children
Study for the MCAT (Physics, Chemistry, and the behavioral sections)
Junior: Start working on the Honors thesis (with either my bio professor or the research professor)
Continue doing the same activities from the sophomore year (research, IA, tutor, volunteer, and club)
Take the MCAT in the spring and/or summer
Summer after Junior: Continue doing research and volunteering/shadowing
If possible, participate in global volunteering experience with a club that I am a member of
Senior: Apply to MD/PhD programs (in-state and out-of-state)
Finish and defend my honors thesis
Continue the same activities
Does this plan sound good or there are some areas that I should modify and focus more/less on? I plan on going directly to medical school so I wanted to know if this is good enough to be a competitive applicant. Any guidance is highly appreciated as I navigate my path to becoming a physician-scientist!
Summer after freshman year: Take Microbio with my current gen bio professor (he only offers it in summer and I like his conceptual approach to the courses)
Probably work with a professor at my college for a paid position conducting research on making universal cancer vaccine
Volunteer at a hospital
Volunteer for the American Cancer Society advocating as a Legislative Ambassador
Volunteer for Feed My Starving Children
Maybe participate in outreach activities for local high school students
Study for the MCAT (CARS, Biology, and Chemistry section)
Volunteer at the Welcome week/move-in day for my university at the start of next semester
Sophomore: Work with the professor on research for course credit (Already registered)
Work as a lab instructor (IA) for my General Biology professor
Probably tutor a group of students for gen chem course as an SI Leader
Continue volunteering at the hospital (2 shifts a month)
Continue volunteering for the American Cancer Society
Continue volunteering for Feed My Starving Children
Run a non-clinical volunteer club (I will be an officer of the new club)
Summer after Sophomore: Participate in a summer research program or continue the research at my institution
Shadow a physician
Continue volunteering at the hospital (2 shifts a month)
Continue volunteering for the American Cancer Society
Continue volunteering for Feed My Starving Children
Study for the MCAT (Physics, Chemistry, and the behavioral sections)
Junior: Start working on the Honors thesis (with either my bio professor or the research professor)
Continue doing the same activities from the sophomore year (research, IA, tutor, volunteer, and club)
Take the MCAT in the spring and/or summer
Summer after Junior: Continue doing research and volunteering/shadowing
If possible, participate in global volunteering experience with a club that I am a member of
Senior: Apply to MD/PhD programs (in-state and out-of-state)
Finish and defend my honors thesis
Continue the same activities
Does this plan sound good or there are some areas that I should modify and focus more/less on? I plan on going directly to medical school so I wanted to know if this is good enough to be a competitive applicant. Any guidance is highly appreciated as I navigate my path to becoming a physician-scientist!
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