Any tips/advice?

[Cfarrington96]

I'm currently 21 years old, and I am determined to become a physician. I encountered some family difficulties my senior year of high school and hardly attended. Even with my extremely poor attendance I graduated with a 3.85 GPA and I got a 32 on the ACT. I was offered 2 different full ride scholarships, but I was not in the position mentally or emotionally to accept the offers. Now, four years later, after working several different jobs, owning a business for roughly 18 months, and being exposed to many different life lessons, both good and bad, I feel that now's the time for me to start working towards this.

At this point I'm planning on attending a community college for 2 years and then transferring to a four year university. I am planning on majoring in business, but that may change. What I'm looking for is advice on what I need to be doing now as far as EC's, and schooling in general, besides a good GPA and MCAT. What do I need to do now to ensure that I stand out in my med school applications?

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[Goro]

Shadow clinicians
Here's the deal: You need to show AdComs that you know what you're getting into, and show off your altruistic, humanistic side. We need to know that you're going to like being around sick or injured people for the next 40 years.

Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimers or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.

Service need not be "unique". If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients. Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.

And shadow clinicians. 50 hrs will be enough.

 

[Goro]

And read this book:
Med School Rx: Getting In, Getting Through, and Getting On with Doctoring Original Edition by Walter Hartwig

ISBN-13: 978-1607140627

ISBN-10: 1607140624

 

[RNtoMD87]

Just ordered that book. Gonna take awhile to ship from amazon but I'll have plenty of time to read.

 

[Cfarrington96]

Thank you for all the advice Goro! I really appreciate it!