Hey guys, sorry for another thread like this but here it goes I'm a junior right now at a top 20 school with a 3.81 Cum 3.71 BCPM (hoping for a 3.84 Cum and 3.79 BCPM after spring semester), taking the MCATs in April, and I was wondering if my ECs would significantly hamper me in my chances for admittance, because I am considering waiting a year. Here they are. (the business clubs- I am graduating with a BBA) ECs: Biology TA, 1 Year Research Assitant in Biochemistry Lab, Summer after freshman year Princeton Review SAT teacher, 1 year Started own SAT company, very small, 1.5 years Research volunteer in Research Institute, Summer after Sophomore year ER Volunteer, started this past september Hospice Volunteer, started this past october Hospital Volunteer, started this past august VP of College Chapter of a NPO Exec Board in business club Exec Board in another business club Shadowed an ER Doctor
Your leadership experiences are well above average. Your research experience being less than a year is below average, but this is not a required element, and six months over two summers is better than nothing. Your clinical experience is broad-based, but will be less than one year's duration when you apply. One and a half years is preferred, but you might get by as you'll have the usual number of hours in total. You have an unspecified amount of shadowing. I'd say average amount to aim for would be 8-40 hours for each of 2-3 types of specialists. You have demonstrated a service-oriented mentality, but it would be good if this was of more than one year's duration (not specified when you did the NPO thing). I think it's reasonable for you to apply next summer with what you have, considering that the altruistic activities/clinical experience would be ongoing, and you can inform adcomms of continued experience via update letters. The shadowing could be improved on over the next 6 months before application time. If you want to appeal to a wider variety of schools, waiting a year and getting another solid year of research experience and additional clinical experience to list would be a reasonable strategy also. I'd also choose this option if you get a weak MCAT score, as you couldn't afford to have any other lackluster components on your application.
Your EC's lack longevity which may cause a problem with a 33 or less MCAT for top schools. I still think you are solid. Just do well on the MCAT and keep volunteering.
