Everything seems okay but ECs

[MostIndecisiveGirl]

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I'm a junior in college (from IL) and I intend on applying this cycle. So I have a 37 MCAT (13 PS, 13 VR, 11 BS) and a 3.88 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA and I feel pretty alright about that. But ECs are a major problem for me. What I've done:

1) Research for 2 semesters (No Publications yet, but I am submitting to a poster symposium) and I'll be doing that this summer
2) TA Orgo (2 semesters)
3) I have ~95 clinical volunteer hrs in the ER
4) I have ~75 non clinical hrs volunteer at the hospital gift shop
I'm involved in a few clubs, one with a leadership position, went on some service trips and had a healthcare tech internship. Oh I also DJed a radio show for two semesters!

But that's pretty much it. And it seems like that's a problem. I'm a BioChem major and I kind of spent a lot more time on school than I probably should have. Any suggestions on what I can do now to make myself look better?

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

As you say, your numbers are good.

How do you know that you want to be a physician? How do you know you want to work with the down and out patients?
What were you doing in the ED? Other volunteering outside of the gift shop? I know it can be hard to get vol gigs were you actually get to work with patients.

Keep up the DJing.

 

[Hospitalized]

Yikes. Neurotic much?

You are fine.

 

[referee3]

Add a little more shadowing and clinical volunteering and you're golden.

 

[MostIndecisiveGirl]

Haha, yeah at least a little neurotic. And I'm working on the shadowing/volunteering. I just feel like I don't have 12-13 things to put on the app under meaningful experiences and I wonder what I should be trying to add. I'm looking at some pretty competitive schools though, so this doesn't really seem like enough!!

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

Get as much shadowing and volunteering in before June as you can. If you are really aiming for top schools you might consider taking a gap year to get more research experience.

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

If you're worried about EC's, why not take a gap year to buff them up a little bit (although I would say that I am a big proponent of gap years in general). Your stats are solid, but your EC's are fairly cookie cutter (no offense), with the exception of DJing and the consulting company. I think one year would help personally, but really, it's up to you. Plus, applying while not balancing senior year is a very good thing.

 

[brotherin]

I have worse stats than you, and similar ECs to you, and I received 9 MD IIs and 3 MD acceptances.
You're fine.

 

[Catalystik]

Get as much shadowing and volunteering in before June as you can. If you are really aiming for top schools you might consider taking a gap year to get more research experience.

And some substantive peer Leadership experience.

 

[senzen]

And some substantive peer Leadership experience.

Hi Catalystik! I have a question as I see you make that recommendation often.

Would Vice President of a club count? Or does "President of a club" only carry weight in the admissions process?

Additionally if one holds a position like secretary or treasurer is it worth mentioning?

Technically they are executive board positions, but lower down than P/VP.

 

[caffeinemia]

Overachievers are hawt.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi Catalystik! I have a question as I see you make that recommendation often.

Would Vice President of a club count? Or does "President of a club" only carry weight in the admissions process?

Additionally if one holds a position like secretary or treasurer is it worth mentioning?

Technically they are executive board positions, but lower down than P/VP.

Peer leadership is always helpful to an application, but near-essential if one is aiming for "Top Schools". One's title isn't what makes it "count" as leadership, but rather, what one does with the position. Keeping the books as a Treasurer suggests one was trusted with bookkeeping and money management. Being President tells me you led meetings. But neither descriptor tells me if you made decisions, delegated tasks, came up with ground-breaking ideas and implemented them, led a committee, acted responsibly, etc. The potential for these roles exists if one is elected, but your description tells me what you did with the opportunity. You get to decide what is "worth mentioning."

 

[soccerman93]

Haha, yeah at least a little neurotic. And I'm working on the shadowing/volunteering. I just feel like I don't have 12-13 things to put on the app under meaningful experiences and I wonder what I should be trying to add. I'm looking at some pretty competitive schools though, so this doesn't really seem like enough!!

Lol I had like, 7. Relax, a bit more clinical time as others have said and you'll do great!

 

[jjkelly3]

I'm a junior in college (from IL) and I intend on applying this cycle. So I have a 37 MCAT (13 PS, 13 VR, 11 BS) and a 3.88 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA and I feel pretty alright about that. But ECs are a major problem for me. What I've done:

1) Research for 2 semesters (No Publications yet, but I am submitting to a poster symposium) and I'll be doing that this summer
2) TA Orgo (2 semesters)
3) I have ~95 clinical volunteer hrs in the ER
4) I have ~75 non clinical hrs volunteer at the hospital gift shop
5) I am the treasurer of AED (pre med honor society)
6) I took a medical service trip to Nicaragua
7) I took a medical service trip to Panama
8) I did an internship with a consulting company working with health care tech patents
9) I DJed a radio show for 2 semesters (really irrelevant, sorry)
10) I made Deans List several times and my colleges special honorary "top 15% after 2 years" award
11) I have some shadowing hours (~20-30) but not really a lot

But that's pretty much it. And it seems like that's a problem. I'm a CompSci and BioChem double major and I can pick up a physics minor if I take this class this summer (I enrolled, so I guess that's happening?) so I kind of spent a lot more time on school than I probably should have. Any suggestions on what I can do now to make myself look better?

Yeah you're fine quit your worrying. I'm from illinois as well, you have higher mcat, more hours clinical, more non clinical volunteer, no drinking ticket like I did, more shadowing hours, more extra curriculars, and I was still able to get 4 interviews, and an acceptance so far. Not to mention your not a generic biology major (it helps, trust me. I was a math major.)

 

[PlaqueBuster]

RELAX

 

[palatopharyngeus]

I'm a junior in college (from IL) and I intend on applying this cycle. So I have a 37 MCAT (13 PS, 13 VR, 11 BS) and a 3.88 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA and I feel pretty alright about that. But ECs are a major problem for me. What I've done:

1) Research for 2 semesters (No Publications yet, but I am submitting to a poster symposium) and I'll be doing that this summer
2) TA Orgo (2 semesters)
3) I have ~95 clinical volunteer hrs in the ER
4) I have ~75 non clinical hrs volunteer at the hospital gift shop
5) I am the treasurer of AED (pre med honor society)
6) I took a medical service trip to Nicaragua
7) I took a medical service trip to Panama
8) I did an internship with a consulting company working with health care tech patents
9) I DJed a radio show for 2 semesters (really irrelevant, sorry)
10) I made Deans List several times and my colleges special honorary "top 15% after 2 years" award
11) I have some shadowing hours (~20-30) but not really a lot

But that's pretty much it. And it seems like that's a problem. I'm a CompSci and BioChem double major and I can pick up a physics minor if I take this class this summer (I enrolled, so I guess that's happening?) so I kind of spent a lot more time on school than I probably should have. Any suggestions on what I can do now to make myself look better?

have you looked into DO schools or maybe the Caribbeans? I hear nursing is also a great career




















seriously? relax

 

[senzen]

Peer leadership is always helpful to an application, but near-essential if one is aiming for "Top Schools". One's title isn't what makes it "count" as leadership, but rather, what one does with the position. Keeping the books as a Treasurer suggests one was trusted with bookkeeping and money management. Being President tells me you led meetings. But neither descriptor tells me if you made decisions, delegated tasks, came up with ground-breaking ideas and implemented them, led a committee, acted responsibly, etc. The potential for these roles exists if one is elected, but your description tells me what you did with the opportunity. You get to decide what is "worth mentioning."

Thank you, Catalystik!

I was concerned adcom members would automatically assume that, for example, the work of a Secretary is simply to keep track of attendance and not think much of it. Even though that is certainly true, I think every executive board always comes together to come up with ideas to make a club as enjoyable and beneficial as possible! So that makes sense that the description is more important than the mere title.

 

[ridethecliche]

You should definitely write about djing in your amcas. If it helped you connect with people and you can talk about it, I'd even make it a most meaningful activity.

You're fine btw.