EC's are old...can I still apply?

[pwuyr]

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[pwuyr]

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[Catalystik]

3.8 sGPA/cGPA, 34 balanced MCAT (Jan 2015)
Graduated from a large school in 2013

Recent stuff:
2 years of working full time in public health
3 months of weekly book club, will continue this, started attending in late 2014
15 hours of shadowing in 2015, will continue this, maybe 20 more before applying, will likely continue this in next gap year as well

In undergrad:
2 years of research- 1 2nd author publication, few posters
few semesters of TAing
2 years of volunteer tutoring kids
1 year working at a clinic
1 year prior volunteering at that clinic
20 hours of shadowing
1 leadership role for 2 years of a community service club on campus

5 good LOR's

resident in a state that does not have a huge amount of IS bias

Biggest concern is that I feel that I haven't done much to put on paper since graduating (in 2014, my only formal activity was work). I am already taking 3 gap years, would prefer not to take a 4th to beef up my post grad activities if possible.

Your older ECs look very good. What does the public health job entail?

My first thought on reading was, "Wow, no community service or clinical activity (besides shadowing) in two years." But maybe, depending on what your job role is, you can spin it to cover both areas (since service to the community isn't necessarily uncompensated)?

 

[pwuyr]

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[Catalystik]

My role was with managing grants for public health research that the office funds. I wasn't as involved with the outreach efforts that the office does, unfortunately. Do you think this will sink my app?

Not necessarily. Is it impossible to get involved in some of that outreach effort now, even if it's not your primary role, so you can include it on your application? Even if you have to do it on your own time.

 

[pwuyr]

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[Catalystik]

I am not sure if this is possible, but I will definitely ask my supervisor about it, thank you so much for this advice. I remember that I have connected the clinic that I used to work at with the materials that my group provides, is this something that I should mention in my app? It was a small outreach involvement on my part but if it is worth mentioning, I will put it in.

I think that connecting those parts of the application would be a good thing.

 

[pwuyr]

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[Catalystik]

I will definitely put it in then. Last question, I have tutored my mom's coworker's kids very sporadically for a while (like helping with last minute test prep or project). Is this something I can use to fill the community service gap? It was not official nor very often and I have not recorded how many times I've done it but maybe it's been 25-40 hours over two years.

Yes, you can use this, even though the experience was not through an official organization. Use a parent as the contact person who can confirm your involvement tutoring the kids.

 

[pwuyr]

Thank you again @Catalystik, I really appreciate it.