Guidance required!

[cubie]

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Hello, SDN! I've been lurking recently, but finally made an account in order to gain some helpful advice from all you who are much more experienced than me!

Here are my two problems:

Problem I) I am an incoming junior who just transferred from a CA CC to a UC as a Bio major. My GPA as of now is 3.66, I can probably get it up to 3.7+, which is my goal. My GPA has an upward trend if that helps. I have around 250 clinical volunteering hours at a hospital (which I am still at), was vice-president of the pre-med club at my CC, and was also an officer for Phi Theta Kappa (It's the Phi Beta Kappa equivalent for CC's). I participated in some clinical research at my local UC with a physician for about 4 months and although I was asked to stay on, I decided to leave so I could focus on my classes (I had 3 B+ I needed to get to A's, which I fortunately did pull up!)

All that being said, my ultimate goal is to be a physician no matter what, and I would be extremely honored with an acceptance from any MD/DO school, but I would like to stay in CA for medical school ideally. A review of how I am doing so far and ANY tips for strengthening my application so I can be the best possible candidate for a CA MD school would be very much appreciated.

Problem II) Now, with the above said, I am sure many will say "we need to know your MCAT score". Another problem is that I do not know when I should take it. The only pre-req I am missing for my MCAT is physics, which I will begin to take this Fall quarter. I do not want to take more than one gap year, so naturally that would mean I would take it Early September 2015? I would finish physics in June and start my senior year September 2015. I would then apply for Med schools during June 2016. Would mid June to September be ample time in order to get an amazing MCAT score? I have looked at SN2ed strategy but am a bit confused how I will work in the new Physc/Soc sections. Suggestions would be very much welcomed!

Thank you for taking the time to read this! I very much appreciate it!

 

[Jojokarade]

Your plan seems on track. I would take the MCAT at the end of summer 2015 and I would apply to schools beginning summer 2016. Once you have finished physics that will be fresh in your head so you can easily go over the other subjects over the summer. In terms of how to study, I'm going to let other SDNers answer since I am so removed from the MCAT.

Since you are coming from a community college, you have to finish your junior and senior year at the university before you apply to medical school. ADCOMs do not weigh community colleges that high unless there are a couple years at a university proving the good academic trend. Having a really good junior and senior year will go a very long way in helping you get into medical school.

Since you are going to have a gap year, do your best to get a job you enjoy (easier said than done) and continue to volunteer and get more shadowing experience (multiple doctors/multiple specialties). The more different exposures you can get, the more talking points you will have when asked questions about medicine during interviews.

Good Luck!

 

[cubie]

Thank you for your reply jojo! I forgot to mention that I already have a part-time job at a restaurant! And yes, I will do my best in order to land a shadowing position but from what I have been told (and correct me if I am mistaken) not having shadowing hours will not kill your application assuming you have enough clinical volunteering? Of course, I should gain some so I can strengthen my app but I am just relaying to you what I have been told.

 

[NervousNerd]

Start studying for the MCAT last year. Attain one of those Nobel prizes next year.

All sarcasm aside, keep on your track. Keep the GPA as high as humanly possible and crush the MCAT when ready. But no matter what, don't let the process change you for the worse. It's a long battle soldier

 

[Jojokarade]

Thank you for your reply jojo! I forgot to mention that I already have a part-time job at a restaurant! And yes, I will do my best in order to land a shadowing position but from what I have been told (and correct me if I am mistaken) not having shadowing hours will not kill your application assuming you have enough clinical volunteering? Of course, I should gain some so I can strengthen my app but I am just relaying to you what I have been told.

Not shadowing is ok if you have the clinical volunteering. However, if that clinical volunteering doesn't get you close to the doctors then it is not enough. While you can never know exactly what you are getting into, being close to a doctor and having the ability to probe his/her mind will go a long way in A: proving that this is the right field for you, and B: Proving to ADCOMs that you have an idea of what to expect.

Also, be sure to mention the restaurant somewhere in your application and how it has really helped you with interacting with a large diversity of people. I worked four years in a restaurant and I can't tell you how much that is helped me with dealing with super nice patients to the super angry patients.