Cancelled MCAT

[QueenofValyria]

My summer internship was recently canceled, and I can’t get any more shadowing or clinical volunteer hours right now (I only have 50 hours of clinical volunteering and 20 of shadowing). I’m worried the lack of clinical experience and any competitive advantage I may have had with my internship will prevent any acceptances. My MCAT date was also canceled and I am still waiting to reschedule. Should I push my application back a year? I know almost everyone else applying this cycle is experiencing the same thing, but I would rather wait to apply with a strong application than apply now and not get into any of the schools I'm applying to.

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[Goro]

My summer internship was recently canceled, and I can’t get any more shadowing or clinical volunteer hours right now (I only have 50 hours of clinical volunteering and 20 of shadowing). I’m worried the lack of clinical experience and any competitive advantage I may have had with my internship will prevent any acceptances. My MCAT date was also canceled and I am still waiting to reschedule. Should I push my application back a year? I know almost everyone else applying this cycle is experiencing the same thing, but I would rather wait to apply with a strong application than apply now and not get into any of the schools I'm applying to.

You have way too little clinical exposure and shadowing. Apply next year (or, more accurately, when you have the best possible app). You're not the only one in this boat.

You need > 150 hrs of clinical exposure, + same for nonclinical volunteering, and 50ish hrs in shadowing.

 

[CoitusInterruptus]

My summer internship was recently canceled, and I can’t get any more shadowing or clinical volunteer hours right now (I only have 50 hours of clinical volunteering and 20 of shadowing). I’m worried the lack of clinical experience and any competitive advantage I may have had with my internship will prevent any acceptances. My MCAT date was also canceled and I am still waiting to reschedule. Should I push my application back a year? I know almost everyone else applying this cycle is experiencing the same thing, but I would rather wait to apply with a strong application than apply now and not get into any of the schools I'm applying to.

@Goro just saved you thousands of dollars!

 

[aSagacious]

What's the rest of your app look like? (GPA and research).

Just to play devil's advocate, you can't just look at the application cost (which is a couple grand). If you delay a year you're losing at least $250k in opportunity cost of attending salary, additional tuition (if you're going to fill your gap year in with coursework), etc.

 

[QueenofValyria]

What's the rest of your app look like? (GPA and research).

Just to play devil's advocate, you can't just look at the application cost (which is a couple grand). If you delay a year you're losing at least $250k in opportunity cost of attending salary, additional tuition (if you're going to fill your gap year in with coursework), etc.

As far as the rest of my application goes, I've been very involved in campus activities like our marching band since Freshman year. I'm also a biology tutor, work part-time on campus, and have been working in a research lab since freshman year (2 presentations and 1 publication). I feel confident about a lot of the other aspects of my application, and I know there's no secret recipe that will ensure an acceptance, but again I'm worried my lack of clinical experience will be too much to overlook. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Talldoctor96]

As far as the rest of my application goes, I've been very involved in campus activities like our marching band since Freshman year. I'm also a biology tutor, work part-time on campus, and have been working in a research lab since freshman year (2 presentations and 1 publication). I feel confident about a lot of the other aspects of my application, and I know there's no secret recipe that will ensure an acceptance, but again I'm worried my lack of clinical experience will be too much to overlook. Thanks for the advice!

Not having clinical experience is a hugeeee red flag. Nothing in your app tells me you are ready for medicine. If anything it sounds like you are ready to apply for a PHD!