Extracurricular Plan

[UTLonghorns]

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Hello, I am currently a first year pre-medical biochemistry student at the university of texas. I am trying to plan out my path to medical school. My ultimate goal would be UTSW or Baylor. I know it is hard to say without numbers, but assuming I get the gpa and mcat score what type of extracurriculars would I need for these schools?

My current plan:
-5 semesters of biomedical research, 10 hours a week working on peripheral nervous system tissue engineering (I have already begun in the lab).
-5 semesters, 2 hours a week tutoring at a local elementary school
-4/5 semesters, 4 hours a week hospital volunteering
-Shadowing doctors (I have shadowed three doctors, one procedure each, and I plan to shadow a primary care office based doctor for a week along with any others I can)
-Studying abroad in Spain (Organic chemistry and spanish)
-Intramural sports (mainly basketball but any team that seems interesting)


Is this a good plan? I realize there is no real leadership. Will that hurt me?

 

[Catalystik]

Yes, your plan is good. If you shadow for a total of 60-80 hours, that would be a good goal. You'll have good longevity in a number of activities. Leadership isn't required, but does strengthen your application. It would be particularly helpful if you aspire to the two schools you've listed. Perhaps a year from now you'll be ready to become a team captain or take over some leadership role in the tutoring organization. Or start a new organization. Or take the point in a fundraising effort.

 

[UTLonghorns]

Also, do you think taking AP credit for pre-reqs will hurt my chances? I took the credit because I felt I knew the material and was ready to move to upper division. Plus it will allow me to graduate in three years so I can save money.

I took credit for:
-All general chemistry and lab
-All physics and lab
-Calculus
-All english

I will have upper division:
-Chemistry (organic 1 and 2, biochemistry 1 and 2, analytical chemistry, p chem)
-Calculus (Series sequences and multivariable, Differential equations)
-Physics ( I don't know if this will count but I started in engineering so I have a chemical engineering course that involved a lot of pressure stuff and my research involves a lot of physics because I use magnetic fields)

 

[Catalystik]

Schools not accepting AP credit: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~nss/nav/pages/school/Med%20School%20Course%20Reqs/MedSchAP08.pdf