Any Advice?

[boardgal]

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Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this!

I am a junior at the Univ of Tennessee Knoxville and am planning on applying to medical school for the fall of 2010. There seem to be just so many factors that go into acceptance, and I am worried that there is not much that sets me apart. I have not taken the MCAT yet, but I am planning on taking it in May. I'm an Exercise Science major and have a 3.9 GPA. I have taken all of the prereqs as well as genetics, microbiology, and biochem. I may minor in biochem, but I really want to graduate in 4 years so I might not be able to do so. I am a little worried that my major may affect my chances in a negative way.

As far as other extraciriculars go, I am a supplemental instruction leader for the second semester of general chemistry. Basically, I hold review sessions, and I have been doing this for three semesters. I have shadowed an orthopedic surgeon (50 hours) and a family practice physician (25 hours), and I have volunteered in an emergency room (35 hours). Right now, I am a research assistant in the Conformational Diseases and Therapeutic Research Lab at UT Med Center working on research for Huntington's Disease.

Also, I was a counselor at a camp for kids with mental and physical disabilities and worked in a production lab at a chemical company (not really relavent to medicine).

Like everyone else, I was just wondering what my chances were and if there is anything that I can do to improve my chances. I also have put off my letters of rec so right now I am in a rush to get those taken care of. Any advice would be helpful! Also, what are my chances at a more prestigious school? Should I even apply? Thanks again!🙂

 

[Mobius1985]

Until you have an MCAT score, it's hard to say if you have a chance at the more selective schools, but they tend to be research-intense, so without substantial research experience it would usually be hard to get into them. You did not specify how many years of research you've done. If you have been collecting data from patients, your time with the lab may also count as clinical experience. Your time in the camp may as well, depending on what you did. Hopefully so, as your interaction with sick people is a bit thin otherwise. I'd definitely stay with the hospital volunteering to gain more. Your shadowing is fine. The teaching/mentoring will be good to list. Do you have something to list under leadership? Do you have anything else to list under community service?

Your major will not impact your application negatively. You've got a great GPA, you've done more than the prerequisites to show you can handle med school level science. In fact you will stand out because you are different. Don't worry about not having an officially declared minor as adcomms won't regard it anyway.

 

[boardgal]

Thanks for the advice.

I began my research assistant position in January. It does not involve patient interaction, but rather investigates the protein aggregates that are thought to be responsible for the disease. My camp experience was through UTK. During the semester we planned a weeklong, overnight camp or kids with disabilities with a 1:1 camper:counselor ratio. I was paired with a 14 girl with autism, but I was also the member of a cabin that includes girls with various other disabilities as well.

I didn't realize that clinical experience and shadowing were different. It seems like my weakness right now is clinical experience. Is it too late for me to try to boost this part of my application? Or should I focus on getting stellar MCAT scores? Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Mobius1985]

I would certainly continue to boost the face-to-face interactions you have with sick people. I believe the camp experience will count toward this expectation and I would present it emphasizing that component of the experience, whether it was volunteer or paid employment.

Yes, shadowing is different as it is passive and doesn't require you to serve/benefit the patient in any way. Also, for AMCAS purposes, it is not considered "volunteer."