...of hard work.
I'm 20 years old. I've been post-baccing since last May, shooting to apply this year for MSTP, and I feel like I'm losing my inner flame (not to mention my inner mind).
Stats-wise, do I even compete for MSTP? Starting with the bad stuff, to keep you interested:
MCAT. I'm freaked about the MCAT, and have yet to really study. I average 30R on practice tests (P7,V11,B12), but I feel like a 35 is within reach.
Gap year. After graduating, I feel like I dropped off the face of the earth. I've a full-time research job at a medical school; I've 4 different PIs, but am doing all the research and writing by myself. ECs have dissipated.
Now the good stuff (because we care):
So I was kind of the "golden child" of my science graduating class - got awards for outstanding graduate in both my majors, plus the one for top grad in the College of Science - all 1-person/year honors. 4.0c, 3 departmental scholarships, a summer internship and honors thesis. But then again, all that was at a state school, so I don't feel like it stacks up. I'm not trolling, I'm serious. Does coming from the boonies invalidate this stuff by any measure?
--3y+ research experience (well over 2200h), all paid. A few abstracts and ppts, no papers. Lots of in-lab teaching (UG & MS students), lots of techniques, lots of independence - I tended to get handed fledgling projects, hence the large amount of work with no pubs.
--Not much shadowing, ~60h. But I candy-striped at a hospital for ~100h in UG, had classes in diagnostics and history-taking, I sneak into Grand Rounds a lot, and read a ton of medical literature - does that count?
-Lots of clubs. founded & presided over a sports club for 2y, did 1y medical club service work, 6mo notetaking service, 2y class tutoring (some paid), 8mo ESL tutor-conversation partner, environmental science & anthropology research, just whatever caught my interest. Undisciplined, I know.
I desire an MSTP at my state school; I dream of a top-tier MD.
Where do I start (over)?
I'm 20 years old. I've been post-baccing since last May, shooting to apply this year for MSTP, and I feel like I'm losing my inner flame (not to mention my inner mind).
Stats-wise, do I even compete for MSTP? Starting with the bad stuff, to keep you interested:
MCAT. I'm freaked about the MCAT, and have yet to really study. I average 30R on practice tests (P7,V11,B12), but I feel like a 35 is within reach.
Gap year. After graduating, I feel like I dropped off the face of the earth. I've a full-time research job at a medical school; I've 4 different PIs, but am doing all the research and writing by myself. ECs have dissipated.
Now the good stuff (because we care):
So I was kind of the "golden child" of my science graduating class - got awards for outstanding graduate in both my majors, plus the one for top grad in the College of Science - all 1-person/year honors. 4.0c, 3 departmental scholarships, a summer internship and honors thesis. But then again, all that was at a state school, so I don't feel like it stacks up. I'm not trolling, I'm serious. Does coming from the boonies invalidate this stuff by any measure?
--3y+ research experience (well over 2200h), all paid. A few abstracts and ppts, no papers. Lots of in-lab teaching (UG & MS students), lots of techniques, lots of independence - I tended to get handed fledgling projects, hence the large amount of work with no pubs.
--Not much shadowing, ~60h. But I candy-striped at a hospital for ~100h in UG, had classes in diagnostics and history-taking, I sneak into Grand Rounds a lot, and read a ton of medical literature - does that count?
-Lots of clubs. founded & presided over a sports club for 2y, did 1y medical club service work, 6mo notetaking service, 2y class tutoring (some paid), 8mo ESL tutor-conversation partner, environmental science & anthropology research, just whatever caught my interest. Undisciplined, I know.
I desire an MSTP at my state school; I dream of a top-tier MD.
Where do I start (over)?
