Average Applicant--Advice?

[premedfem]

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Hi-- I'm a CA resident with cGPA 3.56 and sGPA 3.40. MCAT 30O (12PS/ 8V/ 10BS).

ECs: Clinical research for two years with a neurosurgeon
Health group that goes to Mexico for 3 years (1 as an officer)
For over one year, I have started and maintained a music tutoring group that provides free private music lessons to kids.
For one quarter, I have been part of the feminist group on campus and volunteer on Saturdays as a clinic escort for a center that provides abortions.

I am a third year microbiology major with a Spanish minor, and I am not sure whether to apply this year. If I do apply, where can I apply and have some hope of getting into? I am mostly interested in the MD route if possible.

Thanks!!

 

[MiniMoo]

While getting experience abroad is great, it's really important to get exposed to clinical patient care on US soil. Your work at the abortion clinic counts, but one quarter of experience is not enough. I also see no shadowing. Without either of these two components, I would hesitate to recommend that you apply this year.

Also, if you were looking to apply to any of the Jesuit schools (SLU, Georgetown, Loyola, Creighton) or to a school like Loma Linda, I would highly encourage you to find clinical experience in another local setting than just the abortion clinic (this would be good to have anyways to broaden your experiences as well).

 

[Catalystik]

If MD is important to you, I'd suggest another year of GPA improvement first. It would be particularly important to demonstrate an upward grade trend in upper-level sciences to reassure adcomms that you'll survive in a science-intense med school curriculum. On the other hand, your numbers are excellent right now for DO applications.

The clinical research counts toward the Clinical Experience expectation, provided you worked directly with sick people. If that wasn't the case, then you need to continue gaining US-based clinical experience, ideally on a weekly basis. (IMO, the abroad experience should be the frosting on the cake, not the main meal.) If the clinic you provide escort services for provides other wellness and family-planning care, perhaps you could broaden your involvement there. I agree that formal shadowing experience is important. The neurosurgeon is a logical doc to hit on for this, but I'd also suggest a primary care doc and one other specialist as well.

Your leadership, research, community service/teaching, and artistic envolvement all have an important place on the application and will strengthen your appeal.

 

[ThaliaNox]

I agree with the sentiment that you need to shadow at least one doctor before you should apply. I would also say that it is possible that you're a bit low on the volunteering end. Finally, its risky to put that abortion clinic activity on your application. One conservative application reviewer could smash your chances at a particular school. It's not a long term or extensive activity, so I'd probably leave it off or coach it in vague terms under a heading for the feminist group such as "patient support at a women's clinic." Probably I would leave it off entirely, but it is up to you.

That being said, do know that for a californian applicant you are below average, and even nationally slightly below average on both MCAT and GPA. I estimate your chances at around 50%

 

[flip26]

I agree with the sentiment that you need to shadow at least one doctor before you should apply. I would also say that it is possible that you're a bit low on the volunteering end. Finally, its risky to put that abortion clinic activity on your application. One conservative application reviewer could smash your chances at a particular school. It's not a long term or extensive activity, so I'd probably leave it off or coach it in vague terms under a heading for the feminist group such as "patient support at a women's clinic." Probably I would leave it off entirely, but it is up to you.

That being said, do know that for a californian applicant you are below average, and even nationally slightly below average on both MCAT and GPA. I estimate your chances at around 50%

Agreed. OP is below average, not average, and in CA, that is the kiss of death.

OP: most CA applicants in your situation apply to most/all of their instate schools, but then add about 20 others from the rest of the country. Californians probably apply, on average, to more schools than those from any other state.

 

[MiniMoo]

Ah I missed that the OP is a CA resident. If you're looking to stay in state, then I would not only recommend that you bring the sGPA up to at least a 3.5, but that you get a broader range of volunteering experiences and retake the MCAT as well. Unfortunately, CA schools are just that competitive and it's not uncommon for a CA resident with below average stats to apply to 25-30+ schools.

 

[premedfem]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I will definitely take it all into consideration. I have shadowed about 20 hours with the neurosurgeon and some with primary care physicians in Mexico, but I had not put it as a priority. This is more productive advice than what I have received from my career center. 🙂

 

[flip26]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I will definitely take it all into consideration. I have shadowed about 20 hours with the neurosurgeon and some with primary care physicians in Mexico, but I had not put it as a priority. This is more productive advice than what I have received from my career center. 🙂

There are many knowledgeable and helpful folks here. Keep posting questions and somebody will help you.