Delaying a year... How to strengthen App in the next 12 months?

[Mudkappa]

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Hi everyone. I made a career 180 and decided to pursue my passion Med School 9 months ago. I thought I could put together an app in a year but it felt too rushed and I would've had to submit it super late so I am taking another full year to prepare.

Below is what is application projects to look like when I submit in June 2026. I'm first gen and don't have anybody advising me so I can really use some suggestions on what to improve upon/add into my app in the next 12 months.

Demographics: URM, First-gen, low-SES, 28 y/o at the time of applying
MCAT: Not taken yet; Projected in April/May 2026 with Target 511
Undergrad: 3.0 undergrad Psychology from T100 Uni
Grad: 3.5 Psychology at T1 public school in the South
Makeshift Post-Bacc: 3.8-3.9 Community College; 8 classes taken online
Non-clinical Volunteering: 300+ serving at local church over 3 years (working with vulnerable/homeless populations)
Clinical Volunteering: 200 hours practicum School Psychology Masters Program working in Elementary School
Work Experience: 3000+ hours working as tech in Psych Hospital with leadership elements; 10,000+ hours working in Academic Advising/Education Administration at Local College
Extracurricular: Yoga Instructor; Church Activities and Participation
LORs: Strong letters from CC Department Head (mentor/multiple classes taken), Attending in my unit I work with/shadowed, Another attending that work with/shadowed/attends my church and spoke to that element as well; clinical staff leader on my unit
Residency: SC
Shadowing: 40 hours from attending on my unit + non-formal observation hours while working. (Should I find a PCP to shadow also??)
Personal Story: Struggled when younger from undiagnosed neurological disorder from childhood injury (Dyskenesia), history of seeking to learn more and to use it to help others. Grew up in an anti-medicine family. Treatment with yoga, physical therapy, and medication has led me to passion of improving health for self and others.
Areas of Interest: Psychiatry, Neurology, Neurosurgery, PMNR

Target Schools: All South Carolina Schools, most NY and FL Schools (family and personal ties). DO is an option. Also seeking programs that are accelerated 3-years directly into any of my target specialites.

How can I improve (besides obviously rocking the MCAT)? Is there anything I should be prioritizing to add that ADCOMS would like to see?

 

[Dral]

Undergrad GPA is obviously not optimal. While Post bacc classes were at a CC, your grades look good. I think you have the right idea with doing a few hours of shadowing primary care. It might not hurt to try to fit in a different clinical volunteering experience.

If you do well on the MCAT, you should have a pretty solid app for DO and maybe some MD schools. By the way, it's PM&R.

 

[Mudkappa]

Undergrad GPA is obviously not optimal. While Post bacc classes were at a CC, your grades look good. I think you have the right idea with doing a few hours of shadowing primary care. It might not hurt to try to fit in a different clinical volunteering clinical experience.

If you do well on the MCAT, you should have a pretty solid app for DO and maybe some MD schools. By the way, it's PM&R.

Thanks Dral, you confirmed what I was thinking as well.