Am I on the right track for med school?

[U23527]

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Hey, I just wanted to know if I’m the right track for med school. I’m a sophomore, and here’s what I have so far:

GPA: 3.61 (I messed up first semester of freshman year, but I know what I did wrong and I’m sure I’ll end up with a ~3.8 by the time I apply to med schools)

Volunteering: Ive been volunteering at a hospice since July (~4 hrs/week). I’m about to start volunteering at 2 hospitals and a temple. So I’ll prpbably get around 10-12 hrs/week once those start

Research: I started working in a lab mid-August (8 hrs/week), I’m going to continue this and hopefully I’ll get my own project

Leadership: I’m on the board of a Hindi club at my school. I help with marketing events and stuff like that. Since the current presidents are seniors, there’s a good chance that it will be me and this other girl as co-presidents next year. I’m also starting this spirituality club with my friend next semester

I feel like I just have “typical” pre med stuff so far. I’m not sure how much I would stand out if I continue this. I know I still have the MCAT to take but even if I get a good score on that, it may not make me stand out. I have interests in learning languages and playing instruments, but I’m not sure how I’d be able to talk about those in a way that adcoms would be interested.

Do you guys have any advice for me on how I can improve myself and/or my chances?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Catalystik]

Hey, I just wanted to know if I’m the right track for med school. I’m a sophomore, and here’s what I have so far:

GPA: 3.61 (I messed up first semester of freshman year, but I know what I did wrong and I’m sure I’ll end up with a ~3.8 by the time I apply to med schools)

Volunteering: Ive been volunteering at a hospice since July (~4 hrs/week). I’m about to start volunteering at 2 hospitals and a temple. So I’ll prpbably get around 10-12 hrs/week once those start

Research: I started working in a lab mid-August (8 hrs/week), I’m going to continue this and hopefully I’ll get my own project

Leadership: I’m on the board of a Hindi club at my school. I help with marketing events and stuff like that. Since the current presidents are seniors, there’s a good chance that it will be me and this other girl as co-presidents next year. I’m also starting this spirituality club with my friend next semester

I feel like I just have “typical” pre med stuff so far. I’m not sure how much I would stand out if I continue this. I know I still have the MCAT to take but even if I get a good score on that, it may not make me stand out. I have interests in learning languages and playing instruments, but I’m not sure how I’d be able to talk about those in a way that adcoms would be interested.

Do you guys have any advice for me on how I can improve myself and/or my chances?

You have a good starting lineup, but it appears you'll be so busy, I'd worry about your GPA, so take care not to over-extend yourself. Other activities to keep in mind are Physician Shadowing, and Teaching (TA, tutor, coach, mentor). Your interest in music can be listed as a Hobby, unless you perform for others, in which case I'd call it an Artistic Endeavor. Learning languages is great, but it will attract more adcomm interest if you use the language in a volunteer or work environment. You might also ask yourself, where could you play your music where you'd have an appreciative audience that couldn't otherwise gain exposure to the arts. Have you asked at the hospice?

-Why two hospitals?
-What is your planned role at the temple?

 

[U23527]

You have a good starting lineup, but it appears you'll be so busy, I'd worry about your GPA, so take care not to over-extend yourself. Other activities to keep in mind are Physician Shadowing, and Teaching (TA, tutor, coach, mentor). Your interest in music can be listed as a Hobby, unless you perform for others, in which case I'd call it an Artistic Endeavor. Learning languages is great, but it will attract more adcomm interest if you use the language in a volunteer or work environment. You might also ask yourself, where could you play your music where you'd have an appreciative audience that couldn't otherwise gain exposure to the arts. Have you asked at the hospice?

-Why two hospitals?
-What is your planned role at the temple?

Thank you for you advice.

I’m definitely going to focus on my GPA. I found a study method that works for me, so I’m on track for a 4.0 this semester, and hopefully it works out for future classes as well. As for shadowing, I have about 60 hours currently, and I might add some more but I’m not too worried about it. I’m thinking about becoming a TA for either chem or bio after I take the MCAT (most likely 1st semester junior year), that way I won’t have to worry about losing time as much.

I’ve looked into playing music where I volunteer, but I haven’t had any luck. For the hospice, I go to the patient’s home, and since I play piano, it depends on whether or not the patient hasn’t one. I’m learning guitar right now, so it would be much easier to bring a guitar than a keyboard. I’m not sure about the hospitals, so I’ll ask them.

For application of languages I guess I could be a translator for a hospital or something, but I’m not sure how practical the languages I know would be (Hindi, Punjabi, French, Russian). I don’t know Spanish, but I think I it might be worth investing some time into learning it.

I’m volunteering at 2 hospitals because I plan on doing this research program next summer, which would mean I might not get enough time to volunteer. As a safety precaution, I’m volunteering as much as I can now that way I if I don’t get time next summer, it won’t be a major problem. Also I plan to study for the mcat next summer, which would take up a lot of time.

At the temple I’ll be doing basic stuff like serving food, greeting people, helping with events, stuff like that.

 

[Catalystik]

I’m definitely going to focus on my GPA. I found a study method that works for me, so I’m on track for a 4.0 this semester, and hopefully it works out for future classes as well.
1) As for shadowing, I have about 60 hours currently, and I might add some more but I’m not too worried about it. I’m thinking about becoming a TA for either chem or bio after I take the MCAT (most likely 1st semester junior year), that way I won’t have to worry about losing time as much.

I’ve looked into playing music where I volunteer, but I haven’t had any luck. For the hospice, I go to the patient’s home, and since I play piano, it depends on whether or not the patient hasn’t one. I’m learning guitar right now, so it would be much easier to bring a guitar than a keyboard.
2) I’m not sure about the hospitals, so I’ll ask them.

3) For application of languages I guess I could be a translator for a hospital or something, but I’m not sure how practical the languages I know would be (Hindi, Punjabi, French, Russian). I don’t know Spanish, but I think I it might be worth investing some time into learning it.

I’m volunteering at 2 hospitals because I plan on doing this research program next summer, which would mean I might not get enough time to volunteer. As a safety precaution, I’m volunteering as much as I can now that way I if I don’t get time next summer, it won’t be a major problem. Also I plan to study for the mcat next summer, which would take up a lot of time.

4) At the temple I’ll be doing basic stuff like serving food, greeting people, helping with events, stuff like that.

1) If your shadowing was in the US and includes a primary care doc, you already have enough, 50 hours being the average listed. TA sounds good and could result in a particularly strong LOR if done for a professor with whom you took a class.

2) One would think that waiting rooms would be a good venue for relaxing music.

3) Official hospital translators usually have to pass a test which includes legal and medical terms.

4) You might like to keep track of your separate roles. Serving food to the hungry (if open to the public) would be looked on as a community service.

 

[U23527]

1) If your shadowing was in the US and includes a primary care doc, you already have enough, 50 hours being the average listed. TA sounds good and could result in a particularly strong LOR if done for a professor with whom you took a class.

2) One would think that waiting rooms would be a good venue for relaxing music.

3) Official hospital translators usually have to pass a test which includes legal and medical terms.

4) You might like to keep track of your separate roles. Serving food to the hungry (if open to the public) would be looked on as a community service.

Duly noted. Thank you so much for your advice!

 

[Catalystik]

Duly noted. Thank you so much for your advice!

Happy to help.