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Hey all,
I'm applying to roughly 15 midwest MD and DO schools. I'd like to know what my chances are given my GPA and ECs, primarily, and which schools in the midwest I should apply towards. I'm hoping for the best on my most recent MCAT (I feel that my recent test went very well, but am gun-shy given my previous attempt 4 months ago - a 26 (8/7/11), despite an average AAMC of 31.5 - so will withhold conjecture and continue being superstitious). --- UPDATE: Score is a 33 (12/10/11).
Background: Graduated in May, 2011. MN resident. Private undergrad. White male. I didn't know I wanted to be a doctor until after I graduated. I was 90% sure I wanted to be a PA, but after scribing for a month and spending every subsequent waking minute on Medscape, looking over medical school lectures, etc. when not scribing, I changed my mind.
cGPA: 3.42 (B.S. Biology).
ECs:
- 4-year starter for college football team (1 year all-conference; senior year captain).
- 1 year as a medical scribe; 7 months training (hand-selected by MDs to train in after 5 months).
- 6 months as a PCA for a male quadriplegic.
- 6 months (still employed here) as a surgical/hospital technician in charge of assisting with placement, maintenance, and troubleshooting of arterial/venous/PA lines, temporary pacemakers, intra-aortic balloon pumps (certified "specialist"), helping with point-of-care lab testing, as well as newer techniques involving platelet-rich plasma and bone-marrow aspirate (stem cell) injections, autologous blood transfusions, assistance with regional nerve blocks, and basically anything an anesthesiologist, surgeon, CRNA, nurse, etc., needs help with.
- Several summers volunteering at a therapeutic riding center, but this trailed off during college (worth putting in app?)
- ~50 hours volunteering at Shriner's Children's Hospital.
- Typical shadowing experiences with PCP, but don't feel much more is needed given the literal shadowing I've done as a scribe and with current job.
I'd like to get involved in clinical research as well, and will be taking on a second job part-time now that I'm done with the MCAT for the year, so I hope to work with the cardiologists at the heart institute connected to our hospital. I also realllly want to get involved in a non-profit I can see myself sticking with for the long haul.
My clinical ECs I feel are the strongest part of my app (GPA is worst), but any suggestions on improvements to my resume (even what MCAT score I likely need), comments, and ideas on where to apply are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I'm applying to roughly 15 midwest MD and DO schools. I'd like to know what my chances are given my GPA and ECs, primarily, and which schools in the midwest I should apply towards. I'm hoping for the best on my most recent MCAT (I feel that my recent test went very well, but am gun-shy given my previous attempt 4 months ago - a 26 (8/7/11), despite an average AAMC of 31.5 - so will withhold conjecture and continue being superstitious). --- UPDATE: Score is a 33 (12/10/11).
Background: Graduated in May, 2011. MN resident. Private undergrad. White male. I didn't know I wanted to be a doctor until after I graduated. I was 90% sure I wanted to be a PA, but after scribing for a month and spending every subsequent waking minute on Medscape, looking over medical school lectures, etc. when not scribing, I changed my mind.
cGPA: 3.42 (B.S. Biology).
ECs:
- 4-year starter for college football team (1 year all-conference; senior year captain).
- 1 year as a medical scribe; 7 months training (hand-selected by MDs to train in after 5 months).
- 6 months as a PCA for a male quadriplegic.
- 6 months (still employed here) as a surgical/hospital technician in charge of assisting with placement, maintenance, and troubleshooting of arterial/venous/PA lines, temporary pacemakers, intra-aortic balloon pumps (certified "specialist"), helping with point-of-care lab testing, as well as newer techniques involving platelet-rich plasma and bone-marrow aspirate (stem cell) injections, autologous blood transfusions, assistance with regional nerve blocks, and basically anything an anesthesiologist, surgeon, CRNA, nurse, etc., needs help with.
- Several summers volunteering at a therapeutic riding center, but this trailed off during college (worth putting in app?)
- ~50 hours volunteering at Shriner's Children's Hospital.
- Typical shadowing experiences with PCP, but don't feel much more is needed given the literal shadowing I've done as a scribe and with current job.
I'd like to get involved in clinical research as well, and will be taking on a second job part-time now that I'm done with the MCAT for the year, so I hope to work with the cardiologists at the heart institute connected to our hospital. I also realllly want to get involved in a non-profit I can see myself sticking with for the long haul.
My clinical ECs I feel are the strongest part of my app (GPA is worst), but any suggestions on improvements to my resume (even what MCAT score I likely need), comments, and ideas on where to apply are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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