Ehh GPA, and question about ECs

[Hydraclear]

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Currently have a 3.5 GPA (3.5 sGPA), pretty sure that is what I will graduate with. Have not taken MCAT yet, but assuming at least 32 (yes, I believe I can do it). What are my chances? Located in CA, so pretty much looking for any out of state opportunities.
My EC include:

2 quarters of Teaching assistant in biology upper division courses.
Summer internship in Taiwan at taiwan FDA (~2 months)
Volunteering for 2 summers with a nonprofit organization in Taiwan teaching kids.
Currently working in a company doing research on biofuels. (only about 4 months here so far)

My clinical EC is lacking:
Volunteered for a quarter at an Autism Center about 12 hr/week for 3 months.
Shadowed doctor at NTU hospital in Taiwan for ~50 hours.

Basically, I have a bunch of random ECs here and there, and it doesn't seem like I have committed too much time to especially one area. What can i do to improve my chances? What areas am I lacking in? I want to apply for fall of 2012, but doesn't seem like I will have all that much time left. What do you guys suggest?

 

[Catalystik]

I suggest you wait another year before applying and get your cGPA to 3.6 and your BCPM higher than that with some excellent consistent grades. This will give you the time you need to beef up your ECs and show some decent longevity in some more activites.

If you aim to attend a US med school, you'll need to shadow US physicians in a few specialties and get as close to 1.5 years of clinical experience as possible (that being the average that applicants list). Whether your time in the Autism Center counts as clinical or nonclinical community service depends on what you did there. It would also be nice to see you get some more weekly or twice-monthly nonmedical community service in a US community. That is not to say that your abroad experiences have zero value, but they need to be balanced with plenty of US experiences. Your teaching is really terrific. You research will still be on the light side by summer 2011, especially for California schools, so keep that up. I suggest you seek out a leadership experience as well.

 

[Hydraclear]

Few questions:
Well, I will be graduating spring quarter, so you are suggesting I continue taking classes to boost my cGPA?

Also what type of leadership experience would you recommend? I kind of thought TAing, and leading my own discussion section was somewhat of a leadership experience.

I know the type of research doesn't really matter, so I'm wondering how in depth would they ask you about your research? The company I work at is basically divided into 3 divisions, and I work in the chemistry lab and pretty much do the same thing everyday (extractions and looking at data) how much do I have to be involved to actually say I'm doing research? I'm not leading anything, basically just doing what the higher ups want me to do.

 

[Catalystik]

1) Well, I will be graduating spring quarter, so you are suggesting I continue taking classes to boost my cGPA?

2) Also what type of leadership experience would you recommend? I kind of thought TAing, and leading my own discussion section was somewhat of a leadership experience.

3) I know the type of research doesn't really matter, so I'm wondering how in depth would they ask you about your research? The company I work at is basically divided into 3 divisions, and I work in the chemistry lab and pretty much do the same thing everyday (extractions and looking at data) how much do I have to be involved to actually say I'm doing research? I'm not leading anything, basically just doing what the higher ups want me to do.

1) I thought you must be a junior since your ECs were on the light side, but even though you won't be able to raise your cGPA as much, taking more classes to raise your BCPM GPA, or at least show a steeper upward grade trend (if not present), while you work and further build your ECs, would help make you more competitive. A 3.5/32, BTW, would give you at most a 55.5% chance of an allopathic acceptance. If you were to include some DO med schools when you apply, your chances would be much higher.

2) TA is usually listed under the Teaching category, which is also valuable. For leadership ideas: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=10485059&highlight=Mobius1985#post10485059

3) Some interviewers can really grill on on picky details of your research. You might avoid this by listing the activity under Employment-Nonmilitary, naming the activity "Research Tech" or "Research Assistant," and listing your duties. Alternatively, if you have a solid understanding of the research, do some trouble shooting, and could answer detailed questions, you might list it under Research and name the activity "Researcher in XXXXX."

 

[Hydraclear]

Another question,
How do people typically list how much clinical/nonclinical community service they have done? Is it by hours? or weeks/months? Also do med school require like a proof of certificate saying you have completed these hours or whats the general procedure?

Also is there a high enough MCAT score that would supplement my weak extracurriculars?
Say i got a 35 or 36 instead of a 32.

 

[Catalystik]

1) How do people typically list how much clinical/nonclinical community service they have done? Is it by hours? or weeks/months?

2) Also do med school require like a proof of certificate saying you have completed these hours or whats the general procedure?

3) Also is there a high enough MCAT score that would supplement my weak extracurriculars? Say i got a 35 or 36 instead of a 32.

1) The AMCAS application asks for the starting date, the ending date, and the hours per week. Many applicants will give the sum total of hours in the body of the free-text narrative box provided after they describe the experience.

2) No proof is required. On the application you give a contact person for the activity.

3) A 35+ might help, but don't rely on this as we see high stat folks on SDN who applied broadly get zero acceptances to any med school due to lacking ECs.