1. New SDN Article! 3 Things to Know About Medical School Waitlists
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Download free Tapatalk for iPhone or Tapatalk for Android for your phone and follow the SDN forums with push notifications.
    Dismiss Notice
  3. Hey Texans—join us for a DFW meetup! Click here to learn more.
    Dismiss Notice
Article: Waitlists Tapatalk Meetup
Dismiss Notice

Interview Feedback: Visit Interview Feedback to view and submit interview information.

Interviewing Masterclass: Free masterclass on interviewing from SDN and Medical College of Georgia

Applying in June

Discussion in 'What Are My Chances?' started by MisterPeco, Dec 10, 2008.

Previous Thread Next Thread
Loading...
  1. MisterPeco

    MisterPeco
    2+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2008
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Status:
    Pre-Medical
    Hi all, I'm just wondering what are my chances. I'm planning to apply in June. I'm currently a 3rd year in Cali. I am also wondering what I should do more and what should my target MCAT scores be

    My science GPA is 3.78 and cum. GPA is 3.76 but will drop after this quarter I think.
    extracirculars I've done are a summer quarter of hospital admin stuff overseas and a quarter at a hospital both are on transcript notations
    I didn't really join any clubs that relate to health... so I duno if that counts even if I was an officer in it
    taking MCAT in april so duno what score I need..
    I haven't gotten any LORs yet but I'm planning to get one from a doctor I worked with over last summer but what I did wasn't on transcript notations...
    Also plan to get one from my bio prof..

    thanks,
     
    #1 MisterPeco, Dec 10, 2008
    2. Note: SDN Members do not see this ad.

  2. GoSpursGo

    GoSpursGo Allons-y!
    Administrator Physician 10+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2008
    Messages:
    28,223
    Likes Received:
    943
    Status:
    Fellow [Any Field]
    Did you get actual patient contact doing "hospital admin stuff?" Regardless, even if you did, a half a year of clinical experience seems to be considered a bit low by others on these boards. What other extracurriculars do you have? Research? Leadership in other places/clubs?

    If you want to stay in Cali for med school, you really probably need at LEAST a 33-34 to have a shot, unless you have some stellar ECs you didn't tell me about. More likely, you'll need a 35+; CA's just the hardest state to get into med school in. Make sure you apply broadly as well outside of CA; a 30+ should get you a look from most of the low and some mid tier out of state privates.
     
    #2 GoSpursGo, Dec 10, 2008
  3. Mobius1985

    Mobius1985
    7+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2007
    Messages:
    3,484
    Likes Received:
    1
    Status:
    Fellow [Any Field]
    From your ECs, adcomms will like to see evidence of at least a year and a half of sustained interest in a career as a physician (usually demonstrated as clinical exposure/physician shadowing). Many schools, especially CA schools will like to see research; about a year seems average. A semester's worth, or a summer three-month gig is the minimum. Your are expected to have a pattern of altuistic service via volunteerism. Leadership and evidence of teamwork are needed too.

    Your GPA is great right now. Don't let it go down too much. The overseas experience sounds interesting. Was it maybe required for a course, since it is on your transcript? It's never too early to start collecting your Letters of Recommendation, so i'm glad you're on top of that.

    If you don't have all the expected elements I've mentioned, either get it going ASAP, or change your plan for application and wait a year to make it as solid as it can be.

    Joining clubs is not necessary and there are other ways to demonstrate leadership besides officership. I've seen it said here on SDN that adcomms don't care about clubs if all you did was show up for the meetings.
     
    #3 Mobius1985, Dec 10, 2008
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2008
  4. MisterPeco

    MisterPeco
    2+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2008
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Status:
    Pre-Medical
    Thanks for all your comments. I appreciate it.

    let me add more stuff or be more detailed about the experiences I listed
    the overseas wasnt required for a course.. umm I applied because I was overseas for the summer and is possible to get it on transcript as proof that I did it...
    is hard to find something that lasts a year because all the internship/volunteering here is like 1-2 quarter committment only so getting it again is hard
    oh i also worked this summer at kaiser shadowing a pediatrican and also got patient contact
    the quarter at the hospital was learning how to do EKGs on patients and then doing it on them
    the hospital admin stuff... the patient contact I had was asking them if they would like to fill out a survey to see how the hospital is doing then I average their responses to see the hospital's overall status. but the rest didn't have patient contact such as patient chart audit and such.
    I was active in my position as a public relations officer for a chinese club lol.. had to go meet managers resturant to see if they would sponsor us and such.
    i joined ncsc and planning to join golden key and they do volunteering and stuff
    i think i'll join premed amsa too and do their volunteering and fundraising events next quarter
    also got a volunteering award showing proof that i volunteered over 100 hours from my UC.
    but yea... trying to get sustained clinical experience is hard since they don't really offer it
     
    #4 MisterPeco, Dec 10, 2008
  5. alibai3ah

    alibai3ah
    5+ Year Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2008
    Messages:
    1,423
    Likes Received:
    1
    Status:
    Pre-Medical
    I'm from Cali too, and the schools here realllly stress volunteering or doing some activity like americorp or doing something that demonstrates your humanitarian self. You have a great GPA and depending on which UC you would like to attent. I would say 32+ is good for schools like Davis/Irvine. And maybe 34+ for UCSD, UCLA, UCSF. Good luck
     
    #5 alibai3ah, Dec 10, 2008
Previous Thread Next Thread
Loading...
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page