Application Advice Needed (Should I Apply or Wait) + Looking for Advisor/Mentor

[Ivan880]

So, I am graduating from college in 2025, and I am contemplating my whether or not I should apply for the 2025 application cycle. I want to lay out a general outline of what my stats are and is seeking out any advice on what I should focus on to improve my application and let me know would it be better if I take a gap year to work on the application further.

Currently attending University of Washington (Seattle); Resident state is Idaho

Current cGPA: 3.91 ; Science GPA: 3.86

MCAT Score: 512 (Not sure if I should push for a retake, advice would be nice)

Clinical: Volunteering at hospital (Around 100 hours, would be around 150 by the time I apply); Shadowed my pediatric doctor (around 15 hours); Worked as in person interpreter (Chinese) for 10 hours and transitioned to online video interpreting with around (800 hours, paid); Will probably do scribing full time once I graduate (Not sure if I can put future expected hours on the application);

*** Main red flag here is that the bulk of my clinical hours are online (Much easier to get more interaction with doctor virtually than in person)

*** No non-clinical volunteering, might seek out some opportunity that fit my schedule if I can find them prior to application

Research: Nothing yet, in talks with a few professors about volunteering in their lab for this academic year (will be around 10 hours a week until I graduate)

LOR: 1 confirmed LOR from upper-level science professor, 1 tentative from science professor and 1 tentative from the hospital volunteer coordinator, will definitely look for a LOR from my PI if I do get to work under them

Other experience: Worked as an assistant director for the dorm council for 3 years that I was in my dorm. Worked to organize events and coordinate campus projects.

(The school I want to get into the most is UW's medical school; rate my current odds, assuming that worst case scenario in which I don't do labs please)

My big question here is what are some of the weaknesses in is my application? and is it worth delay my application for a year to work on getting it beefed up before applying.

If anyone is willing to mentor me through the process, I am more than happy to pay for some guidance through the entire application journey. (please DM me if you are interested)

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[Hollow Knight]

I'll mentor you. DM me.

The "main red flag" here is your lack of volunteer work. Not having volunteering is lethal. You need to fix that. Like, today. Go to a soup kitchen for an hour a week or something. It doesn't have to be overly time-consuming, but you need to show that altruism is a consistent part of your life and character (or at least fake it for the bleeding hearts like me because we're all over the place in academia).

Otherwise, your app is pretty solid. I think scribing or being an MA after you graduate would be a great idea. Yes, you can put expected hours. It would hold weight if you already had the job when you applied. I think the fact you translated virtually won't hinder you at all, that's how most medical translators work.

Go ahead and volunteer for that lab as well and see if you can make a poster for a "science day" or whatever at your undergrad. Most premeds don't get pubs, but having experience in a research setting is helpful.

I would not retake your MCAT. A 512 is a good score. You need to fix the other places your app is lacking. If you do decide to retake against better advice, you better be working like 90 hours a week. That's what it's gonna take to do everything I'm suggesting (which matters more than improving an already good score) and improve beyond a 512.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

It's better to have a tight circle of trusted mentors. We have resources here and with Becoming a Student Doctor. Let us know.