This is my first time posting on this forum, and I really wish that I had found this website much earlier. Here are my stats:
Demographic Info
Age: 19 (will be 20 for applications though - will this hurt me?)
Ethnicity: Caucasian
State of Residence: Rhode Island
Academic Info
School: a small state school
Major: B.S. in Biology
GPA: 4.00
MCAT: 39Q
ECs/Research
About 20-30 hours of shadowing doctors from various specialties (I plan to do more shadowing this semester)
~ 200 hours of volunteer work recruiting patients for a clinical research study (upgraded to paying position now)
One year of research (no publications)
No leadership positions
I'm graduating this May, and was planning on sending in my application in June. However, I would like to get into a top 25 school, and I know my ECs are far too weak for that. Do you think I should go for it and add some more volunteer/research experience for 2013 or take a second year off after school to build up my portfolio?
Demographic Info
Age: 19 (will be 20 for applications though - will this hurt me?)
Ethnicity: Caucasian
State of Residence: Rhode Island
Academic Info
School: a small state school
Major: B.S. in Biology
GPA: 4.00
MCAT: 39Q
ECs/Research
About 20-30 hours of shadowing doctors from various specialties (I plan to do more shadowing this semester)
~ 200 hours of volunteer work recruiting patients for a clinical research study (upgraded to paying position now)
One year of research (no publications)
No leadership positions
I'm graduating this May, and was planning on sending in my application in June. However, I would like to get into a top 25 school, and I know my ECs are far too weak for that. Do you think I should go for it and add some more volunteer/research experience for 2013 or take a second year off after school to build up my portfolio?