Chances???

[hairjel246]

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Okay, so I have posted a thread about this before, but I'm taking my MCAT in 2 weeks, and I'm nervous as all get out. I want to be able to make sure that if I do not get in the 30 range that I still have the EC's and LORs that can still make me competitive. Of course if I need to retake the MCAT, I will, but I want to make sure I have a solid extracurricular background to supplement my score. Also, where should I think of applying?

I officially have an overall GPA of 3.80 and sGPA of 3.70! Woo!
-over 400+ hours of research with Thermo Fisher Scientific and created abstract, poster, and did presentation
-performed organic chemistry research at Loyola University Chicago
-over 100+ hours of research with cancer cells at UIC College of Medicine and accepted into SMaRT summer internship program and will create poster, abstract, and presentation and quite possibly be able to publish work (at least that's what my boss told me!)
-100+ hours of volunteering at local hospital
-20+ hours volunteering at local nursing homes
-created program in which I teach Spanish to local fire department
-certified EMT-B
-over 100+ hours of tutoring (also an IL state certified tutor if that matters)
-about 20+ hours shadowing various doctors (I definitely need to increase this)
-will be the Alpha Helix (science club) president this coming fall semester
-will be an orientation leader this coming fall semester
-will be performing bacterial research with a few of my professors this coming fall
- committee head for big event on campus called April Weekend - get to organize an event in which we blow stuff up in science demonstrations for the public (I'm so excited)
-active member in multicultural club on campus

-consistently worked 8-15 hours per week during each school year
-4 years I was a summer camp counselor
-worked 1 year at local tanning salon until it closed
-worked 1 year as tutor at local community college
-worked at Thermo Fisher for summer internship program in 2012
-currently working 8 hours/week at UIC College of Medicine, but will work full time in the summer

LORs
1) My boss at the UIC College of Medicine (known for her contribution to cancer research and used to teach at Johns Hopkins)
2) Dean of my college (he's a former NASA physiologist! so cool!)
3) my genetics professor (known for his contribution to researching antibiotic resistant bacteria in water and is on the executive board for UIC College of Medicine)
4) my organic chemistry professor

21yo/female/white
IL resident

Please let me know. I'm really nervous. :/

 

[Like]

I think the work in the tanning salon will be detrimental to your application. 🙁
Sorry but people who induce skin cancer for a living seldom get accepted to higher learning institutions where the mission statements often involve curing exactly that same cancer.

...but on a more serious note, you have pretty good extra-curricula activities for a 21-year old.
If you score around a 30, you should have a good chance of getting in at least somewhere; maybe apply to a DO school or two. Try looking up a few threads in this section of the forums where the posters have similar stats to yours. Usually you can find a critiqued school list and yeah, get the MSAR.

 

[hairjel246]

I think the work in the tanning salon will be detrimental to your application. 🙁
Sorry but people who induce skin cancer for a living seldom get accepted to higher learning institutions where the mission statements often involve curing exactly that same cancer.

...but on a more serious note, you have pretty good extra-curricula activities for a 21-year old.
If you score around a 30, you should have a good chance of getting in at least somewhere; maybe apply to a DO school or two. Try looking up a few threads in this section of the forums where the posters have similar stats to yours. Usually you can find a critiqued school list and yeah, get the MSAR.

It's not like I deliberately encouraged people to go tanning? It's a job...which I used to help earn money...so I could pay for my own college education. And detrimental to my application? I would have to disagree. It's not like I was going around throwing cancer into people's faces. People have a right to tan if they'd like, and I have no right to tell them what they can and cannot do. I was required to tell them the possible side effects and had them sign waivers, but ultimately had to let the customers decide. It's not like I could prohibit them from using the tanning beds.

But one a different note, I appreciate your input. I would like to exclusively apply MD, but now that you mentioned it, it would not be a bad idea to apply DO.

 

[preMedDonut]

It's not like I deliberately encouraged people to go tanning? It's a job...which I used to help earn money...so I could pay for my own college education. And detrimental to my application? I would have to disagree. It's not like I was going around throwing cancer into people's faces. People have a right to tan if they'd like, and I have no right to tell them what they can and cannot do. I was required to tell them the possible side effects and had them sign waivers, but ultimately had to let the customers decide. It's not like I could prohibit them from using the tanning beds.

But one a different note, I appreciate your input. I would like to exclusively apply MD, but now that you mentioned it, it would not be a bad idea to apply DO.

Sounds like you are on the right path! I'm just more curious about those future leadership parts you listed as EC's. are you applying this summer? Or next summer? Because you aren't in those positions now and are not gaining any experience from them, which adcoms want. So no reason to put those down.

 

[Omppu27]

Lol tanning salon job detrimental to an app??? Idk if that's a joke. Im pretty sure that if done responsibly that it can be good for you.

 

[xffan624]

Lol tanning salon job detrimental to an app??? Idk if that's a joke. Im pretty sure that if done responsibly that it can be good for you.

Yeah. I sold people cigarettes when I worked at Kmart. I guess I'm a cancer promoter too 🙄 . I wouldn't put it as my most meaningful activity and if it's between a decent volunteer job and a min wage job like that I would leave it off (you only get 15 spots on the AMCAS).

 

[Omppu27]

Yeah. I sold people cigarettes when I worked at Kmart. I guess I'm a cancer promoter too 🙄 . I wouldn't put it as my most meaningful activity and if it's between a decent volunteer job and a min wage job like that I would leave it off (you only get 15 spots on the AMCAS).

hahaha.. Honestly though, OP, if you are worried you honestly don't even need to add it. I don't think it would make a difference either way... It's be like me saying I worked at McDonalds.

 

[gyngyn]

It's not like I deliberately encouraged people to go tanning? It's a job...which I used to help earn money...so I could pay for my own college education. And detrimental to my application? I would have to disagree. It's not like I was going around throwing cancer into people's faces. People have a right to tan if they'd like, and I have no right to tell them what they can and cannot do. I was required to tell them the possible side effects and had them sign waivers, but ultimately had to let the customers decide. It's not like I could prohibit them from using the tanning beds.

But one a different note, I appreciate your input. I would like to exclusively apply MD, but now that you mentioned it, it would not be a bad idea to apply DO.

Many people feel very strongly about this. It adds nothing to your application and distracts the reader (not in a good way).

 

[Like]

Yeah. I sold people cigarettes when I worked at Kmart. I guess I'm a cancer promoter too 🙄 . I wouldn't put it as my most meaningful activity and if it's between a decent volunteer job and a min wage job like that I would leave it off (you only get 15 spots on the AMCAS).

You should be ashamed sir.

 

[hairjel246]

Sounds like you are on the right path! I'm just more curious about those future leadership parts you listed as EC's. are you applying this summer? Or next summer? Because you aren't in those positions now and are not gaining any experience from them, which adcoms want. So no reason to put those down.

I'm hoping to apply this summer, which worries me. I mean, I feel like I have a good EC background and decent grades, but you can never be too sure, ya know? I mean, i neglected to mention that I'm part of a leadership institute at my school. I am required to attend (which I already have) various leadership workshops and conferences. I will also attending a leadership luncheon with the president of the school, the trustees of the school, and the dean of the school the first week of May. I've also attended other leadership conferences and created a math club at the other school I used to go to. Guess I could put those down instead.

 

[Like]

You'll be fine hairjel, just write a decent personal statement and submit early. Oh yeah, write decent secondaries.
Update us with your score.

 

[hairjel246]

I hope I'll be okay! Everything is riding on my MCAT. Definitely will keep you guys posted though! Thank you for all your input! Good luck to everyone!!!!! 🙂