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- Pre-Medical
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Hey everyone I just have a few questions and could use some advice on how to improve my chances of getting into med school in the future.
Academics
I just finished my freshman year of college in May with a 4.0 GPA and completed 2 semesters of general biology and 2 semesters of general chemistry courses (I am a bio major and minoring in both chem and religion). In the fall I will be completing organic chemistry 1, anatomy and physiology 1, cell biology, and an independent study looking at the relationship between medicine and religion (in which I will be writing a 30 page paper). In the spring I will be taking organic chem 2, anatomy and physiology 2, genetics, and another religion course that involves 4 hours of volunteering in the community each week.
Volunteering/Shadowing
As of now, I only have 20 hours of volunteering at a local hospital in the emergency department but should have 80-100 hours total by the end of the summer. I also applied to 3 additional hospitals and should hear back from them soon to gain more volunteer experience this summer. I have no shadowing hours yet but am working on finding a doctor to shadow this summer to start getting hours and to learn more about specific specialties.
Research
I completed a 20 page research paper on religion during the spring and spent 40-50 hours on it. This research meant a lot to me and I was able to explore a religious institution and learn about diversity, the challenges facing minority groups, and develop a new passion for understanding those from a different background than myself. I will be publishing this paper and attending research conferences as part of my independent study in the fall. QUESTION: does this qualify as research for med school applications? I know it isn't the typical lab research but it is something that I am passionate about and learned a lot from.
Other
I am also part of a leadership group on campus and am in the process of starting up a non-profit organization with a friend in which we raise money to purchase backpacks filled with school supplies for children in need in our community.
I apologize for such a long post but would appreciate any feedback you may have. Am I on the right track for being a successful applicant to med school? How can I improve my chances and make my application stand out?
Thanks again!
Academics
I just finished my freshman year of college in May with a 4.0 GPA and completed 2 semesters of general biology and 2 semesters of general chemistry courses (I am a bio major and minoring in both chem and religion). In the fall I will be completing organic chemistry 1, anatomy and physiology 1, cell biology, and an independent study looking at the relationship between medicine and religion (in which I will be writing a 30 page paper). In the spring I will be taking organic chem 2, anatomy and physiology 2, genetics, and another religion course that involves 4 hours of volunteering in the community each week.
Volunteering/Shadowing
As of now, I only have 20 hours of volunteering at a local hospital in the emergency department but should have 80-100 hours total by the end of the summer. I also applied to 3 additional hospitals and should hear back from them soon to gain more volunteer experience this summer. I have no shadowing hours yet but am working on finding a doctor to shadow this summer to start getting hours and to learn more about specific specialties.
Research
I completed a 20 page research paper on religion during the spring and spent 40-50 hours on it. This research meant a lot to me and I was able to explore a religious institution and learn about diversity, the challenges facing minority groups, and develop a new passion for understanding those from a different background than myself. I will be publishing this paper and attending research conferences as part of my independent study in the fall. QUESTION: does this qualify as research for med school applications? I know it isn't the typical lab research but it is something that I am passionate about and learned a lot from.
Other
I am also part of a leadership group on campus and am in the process of starting up a non-profit organization with a friend in which we raise money to purchase backpacks filled with school supplies for children in need in our community.
I apologize for such a long post but would appreciate any feedback you may have. Am I on the right track for being a successful applicant to med school? How can I improve my chances and make my application stand out?
Thanks again!
