Am I on track? What else do I need to start doing?

[seals44]

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[theseeker4]

My story so far:

I completed 34 credits at a local 4-year university at a 4.0 GPA during highschool. I then began college in earnest at my current school, which is much higher ranked, as a Japanese major. I completed freshman year (27 credits) with a 3.86 GPA. This semester I am taking 13 credits, but don't look to be doing as well, as physics is giving me lots of trouble. I plan on spending all summer studying for the MCAT and then taking it in August (I will not have had biochemistry or genetics by this point though). I will study abroad in Japan most likely the summer between junior and senior year.

I have completed over 400 hours of research so far, in a lab where I get to interact with my PI every day, and have my own project. My PI has promised me co-authorship if any publications ever come of my research, and expressed interest in me presenting at a conference. I will continue to work in this lab for the rest of undergrad, probably ending up with around 700 hours total.

I have just begin clinical volunteering at a children's hospital. It is a position where I play with hospitalized children, so it is volunteering involving patient contact 100% of the time. I plan on 6 hrs/week for the rest of undergrad, putting me at a very rough 400 hours total.

During the summers (for the past 4 years), I volunteer for 5 days at a camp for children born with the same congenital defect I was.

I am a TA for Biology I.

I have shadowed two physicians of different specialties for a combined total of 50 hours. Plan on trying to get 50 more.

Where is my app weak? I know most things need to be done for an extended period of time or for a large amount of time to hold any real weight on an application, and I am nearing the middle of my sophomore year, so I feel like I should fill in any weak spots ASAP.

Any advice?

You just need to relax. If you are honestly worried with your above stats and accomplishments, you are edging into the unhealthy side of the neuroticism spectrum. If you are just checking to see if you need more, again, relax, do something for fun that isn't focused on "will this help me get into med school?" and try to enjoy your life a little more.

Only note is, if you are applying the same summer you will be studying abroad, make sure you can still apply early and submit your application near the date AMCAS opens. Many people with stellar stats didn't get into their first-choice schools, or worse yet, didn't get in at all, by assuming they could apply late and rely on their good scores. Don't make that mistake, and you will be fine.

 

[woltej1]

Only thing missing from your EC's is practical clinical experience, like a job. Volunteer work is great and all, but you miss out a lot because you aren't involved in the actual healthcare part. If you don't have any certifications, look at becoming a clinical scribe.