Good round numbers to aim for?

[ichor]

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I'm a rising sophomore trying to plan what I do in the coming years. Assuming I'm trying for the best GPA and MCAT I can get:
* 2-3 summers of internship (how the hell do so many of you get papers out of these. Seems like the ultimate right time/place thing)
* 300 hours clinical volunteering
* 50 hours shadowing
* 50 hours non-clinical volunteering

Is there any of those that's not strong enough? Any other type of activity to have? Assume that I'm aiming for top medical schools.


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[WedgeDawg]

If your MCAT is a 40 and you have a 4.3 at a school that gives A+s, then you have to hit 800 hours of clinical volunteering, 270 hours of shadowing, 400 hours of non-clinical volunteering, and 2 first name papers in high impact journals to actually be competitive for ANY medical school.

Source:

MCAT*10+GPA*100+ClinicalVOL+Shadowing+NonClinicalVOL+(Papers/AuthorPositiononPaper)*100=Score

ClinicalVOL/NonClinicalVol should equal roughly 2 and Shadowing+NonClinicalVOL should equal almost 0.7*ClinicalVOL

Score - 2400 / USNWR research ranking = chance of them throwing away your application

...


On a more serious note, don't aim for numbers, aim for depth and exposure so that you can intelligently reflect upon your experiences in ways that ensure you want to go into medicine and you can explain to others why this is the case.

 

[Euxox]

@WedgeDawg, that's hilarious, but I can understand why someone would want more concrete numbers to aim for.

Ichor, your list looks good as is, but if you're comfortable with doing a lighter amount of research during the academic year, I would advise doing that as well. For reasons of personal enrichment. You don't need to do research during the academic year to get into med school.

how the hell do so many of you get papers out of these. Seems like the ultimate right time/place thing

It absolutely is. Working hard increases the chances that you'll get publishable results, but ultimately (and especially from the viewpoint of an undergrad who doesn't have complete control over the project) luck accounts for so much more.

 

[ichor]

bump

 

[lmn]

Only 50 hours of volunteering that isn't clinical? This is extremely low imo. You should be showing some commitment to bettering your community in a non-clinical way

Where is your leadership as well?

Also if you want top programs, you really have to find some activity that really puts you over the top and makes you stand out. Research work, Clinical work, Volunteer work, Music performances, Athletics, anything that makes you really stand out as exceptional. Right now you seem to be aimed more at average at best if all your application consists of is what you are listing.

 

[Goro]

You're looking good. Try for more non-clinical Ecs to show off your altruism and humanism.

I'm a rising sophomore trying to plan what I do in the coming years. Assuming I'm trying for the best GPA and MCAT I can get:
* 2-3 summers of internship (how the hell do so many of you get papers out of these. Seems like the ultimate right time/place thing)
* 300 hours clinical volunteering
* 50 hours shadowing
* 50 hours non-clinical volunteering

Is there any of those that's not strong enough? Any other type of activity to have? Assume that I'm aiming for top medical schools.


Posted using SDN Mobile

 

[Sean Lee]

I don't think publication is needed at all, even for top places.

And if you can't find a paid research position, it might be worthwhile to seek out unpaid positions in which you basically "volunteer" at a lab. That's what I am currently doing, and I am learning lots of cool things in addition to being guaranteed a spectacular LOR.

 

[605536]

Do what you enjoy and have fun doing it. Get good grades and score well on the MCAT. There is no formula...

And please don't volunteer for the sake of getting hours. Seriously. Do what you enjoy and you get fulfillment from doing.

 

[dechristine]

I agree that you could increase the number of hours spent on non-clinical volunteering -- there should be many opportunities (hopefully some that are of interest to you!) that have a relatively small time commitment of 1-2 hours per week. I know that my university has an extracurricular fair and a volunteer fair every year, which is a good place to start. It's also a nice way to branch out your friend group and get more involved in your university community.

As for research, I suspect that the majority of applicants who have a publication are working in a lab during the school year. I've found research pretty rewarding, but it's also time consuming. A lot of PIs I know are looking for undergraduates who can spend enough time in the lab to do something meaningful (10-15 hours/week), and when collecting data from participants I have spent well over that in the lab. You'd have to decide whether or not the time commitment for research and its possible effects on your GPA/sleep/social life is worth it to you.