Annual Check Up

[BirdIsTheWord]

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Members don't see this ad.

I'm a sophomore and I'm just here for my annual check up

EC's:

40 hrs shadowing a pediatric radiologist
Shadowing an EM doc this summer
Shadowing a Cardiologist this summer

100 hrs (so far) Science Museum of Virginia volunteer
-continuing for at least 2 more years

40 hrs of one free clinic (quit because I didn't really like doing paperwork all day)

Fan Free Clinic
-medical clinic volunteer
EMT-B volunteer
-EMT-B

Will continue both of these activities for at least 2 more years

Grades:

Freshman year

3.07 cGPA
3.00 sGPA

Sophomore year (currently 1st semester)

3.3 cGPA
3.0 sGPA

URM (African-American/Black)


How does it look doc? What more do I need to do besides GPA improvement

 

[Catalystik]

Raise the GPAs, office-based primary care shadowing, research, leadership, maybe teaching, with "raise the GPAs" being your first priority.

 

[BirdIsTheWord]

Thanks for the advice. What if I don't have any interest in primary care, should I still shadow at one?

What counts as leadership besides an officer position?

 

[Catalystik]

Most of your clinical training in med school will be in primary care. Even if you eventually train as a specialist, your referrals come from primary care docs. Thus, it's a good idea to have a view of medicine from the trenches. This experience will also enable you to field questions at interviews with some level of grace.

Leadership for application purposes means peer leadership. You might start an club and make it grow, train or organize others at work or in a community service group, run a committee or fund raiser, become a student senate member and act for change, become captain of a team, direct a play, etc.

 

[BirdIsTheWord]

There are some FM docs in the free clinic I work in, would it be okay if I shadowed them? Or do I have to go to an actual doctors office?

Is leadership a key part that ADCOMs look at? If I were get a leadership position, I would probably only have it for a year or so before I apply

 

[Catalystik]

1) There are some FM docs in the free clinic I work in, would it be okay if I shadowed them? Or do I have to go to an actual doctors office?

2) Is leadership a key part that ADCOMs look at? If I were get a leadership position, I would probably only have it for a year or so before I apply

1) Perfect! As long as you have their contact information, you're in good shape. Just keep track as best you can of the actual hours, date span, etc, which will be harder for you since I expect the shadowing will be entertwined with your duties. Do your best.

2) Leadership is not required, but it is a component that is looked for. If you have it, it makes any application stronger, even if it's only a year's activity. If you don't have it, be sure something else is more substantive to compensate.

 

[BirdIsTheWord]

1) Perfect! As long as you have their contact information, you're in good shape. Just keep track as best you can of the actual hours, date span, etc, which will be harder for you since I expect the shadowing will be entertwined with your duties. Do your best.

2) Leadership is not required, but it is a component that is looked for. If you have it, it makes any application stronger, even if it's only a year's activity. If you don't have it, be sure something else is more substantive to compensate.

Cool, thank you so much Cat. I'll just stop by the receptionist to schedule my next appointment before I leave

Thanks again

 

[Catalystik]

I'll just stop by the receptionist to schedule my next appointment before I leave

LOL