Chance Me?

[kj8210]

---

Members do not see this ad.

cGPA: 3.47
sGPA: 3.49
Downward trend sophomore year, but upward trend junior year.

NY State Resident

MCAT: 35 (12,12,11)

My story: Hey guys I just had a quick question about whether or not I should still look to volunteer at a hospital. I called the hospital that my is closest to my school and they said that almost all of their positions are filled up. Also none of them have any real direct patient contact, its mostly filing papers or taking out the garbage. But I do have some previous experience in a hospital setting. Last year, around midway through my first semester as a sophomore, my parents cut my off financially. My grades were good ( around a 3.7 at the time) but I was in a relationship with someone they didnt approve of because her skin color was different and if I didn't cut ties with her, they would stop helping me pay for college. Well I decided to keep seeing her and they cut me off. I had to find a way to pay for school since I only had a few grand in my savings account to keep me going. I found a small job on campus and usually worked 12 hours a week. Then I found a job in the office of a trauma surgeon I met volunteering at Westchester Medical Center when I was in high school and she gave me job in her office. I would work for her about 20-25 hours a week and while I was working, if she was scheduled for surgeries she would let me stand in and watch and also allow for me to come with her as she checked up on some patients following their procedures. I did this for about a year and a half until my parents finally got over themselves and helped me out again.

ECs:
- Residential Safety Patrol (paid job during school): 320+ hours
- President of MedLife (volunteer organization that helps get medical supplies and treatment for under privileged people globally): 2 years
- Leading a Medical Mission to Ecuador on May 24th
- Sigma Beta Honor Society Member: 3 years
- Shadowed a surgeon at Westchester Medical Center: 60 hours
- Worked in the office of the same surgeon: 155 hours
- Started "Love is Grey" campaign at school and my community: 50-60 hours
- Research volunteer at on campus lab: 250+ hours

School List:
New York Medical College (#1 choice!)
NYU
SUNY Downstate
SUNY Upstate
Albany Medical College
Buffalo Medical School
Stony Brook Medical School
NYU Medical School
Drexel
Robert Wood Johnson
New Jersey Medical School
Temple

Thats all I have so far. Could you guys help me with my school list and my chances? I'm looking to stay in the Northeast so if you could convince me to add/remove schools, it is much appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Goro]

Don't worry about the "V" in your trends...it happens and what we like is to see resilience. Your story with significant other definitely adds a great human element to your PS and that you became financially independent of your parents shows a huge amount of maturity.

The GPAs are a tad below avg, but the MCAT is great.

What you write below seems more like shadowing than patient contact experience. What you did was OK, but I think you need more to help overcome the currently weaker GPA (which, BTW, is fine for any DO program). You don't need hospital experience...try nursing homes, hospice, homeless shelters, clinics, camps for sick/disable children, developmental homes/shelters.; ie, think outside the box. The key things you want to show are your altruism and humanism.

As for schools, I don't have my MSAR with me, but I suggest adding Hofstra, PCOM, NYCOM and Touro-Harlem, and think that NYU is too much of a reach. U Conn might be doable.




I just had a quick question about whether or not I should still look to volunteer at a hospital. I called the hospital that my is closest to my school and they said that almost all of their positions are filled up. Also none of them have any real direct patient contact, its mostly filing papers or taking out the garbage. But I do have some previous experience in a hospital setting

. I had to find a way to pay for school since I only had a few grand in my savings account to keep me going. I found a small job on campus and usually worked 12 hours a week. Then I found a job in the office of a trauma surgeon I met volunteering at Westchester Medical Center when I was in high school and she gave me job in her office. I would work for her about 20-25 hours a week and while I was working, if she was scheduled for surgeries she would let me stand in and watch and also allow for me to come with her as she checked up on some patients following their procedures. I did this for about a year and a half until my parents finally got over themselves and helped me out again.

ECs:
- Residential Safety Patrol (paid job during school): 320+ hours
- President of MedLife (volunteer organization that helps get medical supplies and treatment for under privileged people globally): 2 years
- Leading a Medical Mission to Ecuador on May 24th
- Sigma Beta Honor Society Member: 3 years
- Shadowed a surgeon at Westchester Medical Center: 60 hours
- Worked in the office of the same surgeon: 155 hours
- Started "Love is Grey" campaign at school and my community: 50-60 hours
- Research volunteer at on campus lab: 250+ hours

School List:
New York Medical College (#1 choice!)
NYU
SUNY Downstate
SUNY Upstate
Albany Medical College
Buffalo Medical School
Stony Brook Medical School
NYU Medical School
Drexel
Robert Wood Johnson
New Jersey Medical School
Temple

 

[Sayrah]

Hey! Out of curiosity who did you contact in regards to shadowing at westchester med? I am trying to shadow a physician there as well. Any tips?