- Joined
- Apr 25, 2015
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- 7
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Hello SDN community, I am a first time poster so I hope that what i post is okay!
I am currently a sophomore (Indian nationality) at a UC university in California. My goal is to ultimately go to an MD school and was just wondering if I am taking the correct steps of getting there.
My current cGPA is 3.704 (3.692/3.908/3.300 - Freshman year Fall, Winter, Spring Quarters respectively) and (3.885 - Sophomore year Fall quarter). Took 3 non science courses in that frame, getting 2 A's and 1 B+, so I think my sGPA is a bit lower.
My spring GPA was low because I received B+'s in all 3 of my classes as my mental state was not in the right place (struggled with depression for half the quarter). However, I have not received anything lower than a B+ in any of my classes, if it matters (probably not because I'm assuming medical schools only look at gpa). Nevertheless, I am trying to bounce back from that quarter and received A/A+/A- in 3 science classes (physics, stats, and Ochem) my fall quarter of freshman year, coming out to a gpa of 3.885. I hope to continue the upward trend and strive for straight A's/A-'s for the remaining time in college.
In regards to MCAT plans, I hope to take it during winter quarter of Junior year (most likely March 2018), and prepare for it by self-studying all summer and taking a prep course during the winter.
I currently have around 300 hours of clinical volunteering from an internship (help patients and staff out on different floors of the hospital/observe the environment/talk to medical staff) I am doing at the university hospital that I am close to (started winter quarter of freshman year). I plan to continue the volunteering for the rest of my time in undergrad, and maybe try to receive a leadership position if possible.
I shadowed my PCP during the summer for 2 hours every week for a total of ~4o hours. I hope to get into contact with more doctors around my home during the summer so I can experience different fields and get more shadowing hours. If I cannot, I will most likely continue to shadow this physician during the next summer as well.
Also, I joined a research program (about studying the gene expression of nematodes and seeing the affect on behavior/applying to human nervous system) at my school during fall quarter of this year and hope to continue with it until I finish undergrad (commit 4-6 hours per week). The PI strongly supports making publications/papers and I hope that I will be able to publish something in the upcoming years.
For my other extracurriculars, I
Is there anything I need to focus on particularly? I am concerned that my mess up in freshman year will haunt me when I apply for medical school.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this very long post! Again, I apologize if I did something incorrectly when posting on here.
I am currently a sophomore (Indian nationality) at a UC university in California. My goal is to ultimately go to an MD school and was just wondering if I am taking the correct steps of getting there.
My current cGPA is 3.704 (3.692/3.908/3.300 - Freshman year Fall, Winter, Spring Quarters respectively) and (3.885 - Sophomore year Fall quarter). Took 3 non science courses in that frame, getting 2 A's and 1 B+, so I think my sGPA is a bit lower.
My spring GPA was low because I received B+'s in all 3 of my classes as my mental state was not in the right place (struggled with depression for half the quarter). However, I have not received anything lower than a B+ in any of my classes, if it matters (probably not because I'm assuming medical schools only look at gpa). Nevertheless, I am trying to bounce back from that quarter and received A/A+/A- in 3 science classes (physics, stats, and Ochem) my fall quarter of freshman year, coming out to a gpa of 3.885. I hope to continue the upward trend and strive for straight A's/A-'s for the remaining time in college.
In regards to MCAT plans, I hope to take it during winter quarter of Junior year (most likely March 2018), and prepare for it by self-studying all summer and taking a prep course during the winter.
I currently have around 300 hours of clinical volunteering from an internship (help patients and staff out on different floors of the hospital/observe the environment/talk to medical staff) I am doing at the university hospital that I am close to (started winter quarter of freshman year). I plan to continue the volunteering for the rest of my time in undergrad, and maybe try to receive a leadership position if possible.
I shadowed my PCP during the summer for 2 hours every week for a total of ~4o hours. I hope to get into contact with more doctors around my home during the summer so I can experience different fields and get more shadowing hours. If I cannot, I will most likely continue to shadow this physician during the next summer as well.
Also, I joined a research program (about studying the gene expression of nematodes and seeing the affect on behavior/applying to human nervous system) at my school during fall quarter of this year and hope to continue with it until I finish undergrad (commit 4-6 hours per week). The PI strongly supports making publications/papers and I hope that I will be able to publish something in the upcoming years.
For my other extracurriculars, I
- Am a writer for an online "blog" website that takes complicated health jargon or stuff people don't have time to research about and presents it in a way where everyone can understand (specifically I write about different topics to promote health and wellness).
- volunteer at a Boy's and Girl's Club organization near my school for 4-6 hours a week, helping URM high schoolers understand the college application process and assist with other club activities.
- Volunteer at a senior center home for 8 hours every week (have been doing this since high school) during the summer
- Tutor kids for free at a local Indian temple during the summer
- Coach a youth basketball team during the summer
- *In the future I hope to become a medical assistant at a local clinic near my school, volunteer at a homeless shelter during the summer as well (did in high school, looking to continue again).
Is there anything I need to focus on particularly? I am concerned that my mess up in freshman year will haunt me when I apply for medical school.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this very long post! Again, I apologize if I did something incorrectly when posting on here.
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