So I am applying to a lot of medical schools (rankings about 10-50) in the Midwest and east coast. I have good grades from Haverford College and high test scores but no medical volunteer work. I've spent the last 4 summers working at an overnight YMCA camp with kids working my way up from counseling to administrative staff and I expressed interest in pursuing pediatrics on my application. I'm worried I won't be considered due to lack of experience in the health/medical field. What do you think/what are my chances?
cGPA 3.81, sGPA 3.76, MCAT 32, no medical volunteer/work
- Thread starter joeho5
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Pretty much zero. You need to show Adcoms that you know what you're getting into, and that you actually want to spend the next 30-40 years being around sick people.
At my school, and other, high GPA/high MCAT people were rejected because they lacked clinical experience.
At my school, and other, high GPA/high MCAT people were rejected because they lacked clinical experience.
What school do you go to? I mean I know what I'm getting into, I've been exposed to it
hoo
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He's an ADCOM. Trust his word.
well see
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Seriously? This is your argument?
It's OK, I've heard all about what's like to be an investment banker and roll in CA$H.... oh wait.
Moms a doctor, heard all of what she does for decades and know what the job entails, met and talked to scores of her colleagues. Sister just graduated medical school so I know what Im getting myself into. Shadowed And talked to a couple doctors in London when studying there. Pretty sure I've been exposed, rude commenter.
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My students (and others) will eat you alive.
Moms a doctor, heard all of what she does for decades and know what the job entails, met and talked to scores of her colleagues. Sister just graduated medical school so I know what Im getting myself into. Shadowed And talked to a couple doctors in London when studying there. Pretty sure I've been exposed, rude commenter.
Moms a doctor, heard all of what she does for decades and know what the job entails, met and talked to scores of her colleagues. Sister just graduated medical school so I know what Im getting myself into. Shadowed And talked to a couple doctors in London when studying there. Pretty sure I've been exposed, rude commenter.
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But have you ever actually worked with patients? That's the key piece you're missing here.
So if I don't get it I'll work for a year and get the experience that's all I'm asking, no need to act like pretentious children. All I asked was for my chances this cycle. Goro you may be a doctor and have smart students but you're a rude individual trying to disservice others by (unsuccessfully) dissuading me from going to med school.
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Tbh, I don't think he was dissuading you, just advising you that an application at this time might not be the most advisable thing to do. But that's neither here nor there.
The best piece of advice I've seen around here is to treat your application cycle like you're going to be a reapplicant. So basically, do things to improve your application. You can start that now, whether it be at a hospital, nursing home, clinic, or wherever, it doesn't hurt to start.
Thank you, I'm already looking for clinical experience for this upcoming year no matter what.
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Oh jeez OP, you can't be serious.
Clinical involvement evokes a particular range of responses unique to FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE. The only kind of experience, really, that tells you/adcom whether you're ready to take on years SERVING others at their most vulnerable states. @Goro wasn't discouraging you from becoming a doctor (you need a new set of serious people skills if you think otherwise) - he was simply telling you to reconsider your choices this year.
I like that Goro doesn't mince his words. It's time to take off the training wheels.
Clinical involvement evokes a particular range of responses unique to FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE. The only kind of experience, really, that tells you/adcom whether you're ready to take on years SERVING others at their most vulnerable states. @Goro wasn't discouraging you from becoming a doctor (you need a new set of serious people skills if you think otherwise) - he was simply telling you to reconsider your choices this year.
I like that Goro doesn't mince his words. It's time to take off the training wheels.
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I would advise against applying this cycle. As stated beforehand, You need to convince Adcoms that medicine is your absolute dream not because you claim that it is, but because you have proven so by devoting your time to the field when you could be doing something else (I.e volunteering, shadowing, what have you).
GPA and MCAT are important and weigh much heavier than clinical exposure and volunteering; however medical schools look for the full package, and not having the full package means you're not going anywhere.
Unfortunately, the fact that you haven't done anything at all this late shows Adcoms that you have shown no interest in the medical field and that in itself will get you rejected from even the least competitive schools.
In any case, good luck.
GPA and MCAT are important and weigh much heavier than clinical exposure and volunteering; however medical schools look for the full package, and not having the full package means you're not going anywhere.
Unfortunately, the fact that you haven't done anything at all this late shows Adcoms that you have shown no interest in the medical field and that in itself will get you rejected from even the least competitive schools.
In any case, good luck.
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why waste money when you have super minimal chances to get in? Apply next year and volunteer a lot in hospitals and shadow before applying.
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If your only shadowing was in the UK, that might not go over well, because adcoms want to see that you're familiar with medicine in the US.
Chances are that during interviews, they will ask you about your lack of clinical experience. You need a better answer than what you gave on this thread. It's better to show through experiences than tell. You can start volunteering now and you can talk about it during interviews.
