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- Aug 24, 2018
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Hello SDN! Just looking for some feedback on my app's process, and job advice.
Degree: Biomedical Sciences Graduated May 2018 local state university
Cumulative GPA: 3.82 Science GPA: 3.81
MCAT Score: Test date April 2019 (Fingers Crossed! Just started studying.)
Targeted Application Date: June 2019 (Have started draft PS, Autobiography, and in-State secondaries)
Background: Female, White, FL resident, 23
Research: 230 hours (Biomedical research with tissue culture and DNA work + project design) + 1 poster
Clinical Volunteering: 110 hours hospital volunteer (ER, ICU, Nurses Station)
Paid Clinical: Easter Seals: 600 Hours as a camp counselor providing personal care, and support to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
Physician shadowing: 65 hr Pediatric Cardiology, 12 hr ENT, 10hr Family Practice, 20hr Rheumatology
Non-clinical volunteering/Employment: 1450 Hours Volunteer + 1800 Hours Paid as a Camp Counselor through the Serious Fun Network (SFN). (Working with children with life threatening and chronic illnesses. Providing care, support, helping facilitate activities and friendships between kids, helping them grow in confidence, Mentoring teenagers, being responsible for kid’s safety and well-being.)
Extracurricular activities: Art ~1000 hours Something that gives me great peace of mind. I have lead and facilitated with kids and other counselors, have been commissioned to make various projects for people. I was thinking of creating online art gallery or blog to post work.
Leadership:
-vTA Human Anatomy 88 hours + uTA Quantitative Biological Methods 45 hours
-Supplemental Instruction Leader for Biochemistry and Microbiology: 260 hours
-Program Assistant at SFN 800 Hours (Helping train 60+ volunteers, run programming, supporting the parents and their children living with chronic illness, continuously looking out for and supporting the emotional and physical safety of families and volunteers, helping a multi-million dollar fundraiser team, creating and leading activities, promoting of camp, etc)
LOR: In order: 1 MD, 1 my SFN boss, 1 non-science (close adviser), science #1 (tutored for class), science #2 (was also my research PI).
I know I currently do not have 15 activities, should this be a goal to strive for? Also am I lacking in any of the categories? I realize most of my experience has been in hands on medical camping which falls into the tricky borderline clinical and non-clinical category. Do I have enough primary care shadowing?
I have to work partially this spring, to pay living expenses. I wanted to do research (I loved it!) but live in a rural area and worry about commute time with MCAT prep. Also, I worry for my qualifications for a lot of the research jobs out there. Additionally, there are not many places employment near my current home. And if I move now I probably will not have enough money to apply this upcoming cycle. Will it hurt my application if I get a job at McDonalds or something that I would be comfortable quitting right before or right after my MCAT?
Finally, I applied for one final summer at SFN for a competitive leadership role. What can I say when a place changes your life it’s hard to leave. Anyone’s suggestions for fun service, non-for-profit, research, or anything that helps make a difference to others, gap year ideas would be appreciated!
Suggestions for Spring Improvements and Gap Year #2 plans?
Thanks for any suggestions and your time!!!
Degree: Biomedical Sciences Graduated May 2018 local state university
Cumulative GPA: 3.82 Science GPA: 3.81
MCAT Score: Test date April 2019 (Fingers Crossed! Just started studying.)
Targeted Application Date: June 2019 (Have started draft PS, Autobiography, and in-State secondaries)
Background: Female, White, FL resident, 23
Research: 230 hours (Biomedical research with tissue culture and DNA work + project design) + 1 poster
Clinical Volunteering: 110 hours hospital volunteer (ER, ICU, Nurses Station)
Paid Clinical: Easter Seals: 600 Hours as a camp counselor providing personal care, and support to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.
Physician shadowing: 65 hr Pediatric Cardiology, 12 hr ENT, 10hr Family Practice, 20hr Rheumatology
Non-clinical volunteering/Employment: 1450 Hours Volunteer + 1800 Hours Paid as a Camp Counselor through the Serious Fun Network (SFN). (Working with children with life threatening and chronic illnesses. Providing care, support, helping facilitate activities and friendships between kids, helping them grow in confidence, Mentoring teenagers, being responsible for kid’s safety and well-being.)
Extracurricular activities: Art ~1000 hours Something that gives me great peace of mind. I have lead and facilitated with kids and other counselors, have been commissioned to make various projects for people. I was thinking of creating online art gallery or blog to post work.
Leadership:
-vTA Human Anatomy 88 hours + uTA Quantitative Biological Methods 45 hours
-Supplemental Instruction Leader for Biochemistry and Microbiology: 260 hours
-Program Assistant at SFN 800 Hours (Helping train 60+ volunteers, run programming, supporting the parents and their children living with chronic illness, continuously looking out for and supporting the emotional and physical safety of families and volunteers, helping a multi-million dollar fundraiser team, creating and leading activities, promoting of camp, etc)
LOR: In order: 1 MD, 1 my SFN boss, 1 non-science (close adviser), science #1 (tutored for class), science #2 (was also my research PI).
I know I currently do not have 15 activities, should this be a goal to strive for? Also am I lacking in any of the categories? I realize most of my experience has been in hands on medical camping which falls into the tricky borderline clinical and non-clinical category. Do I have enough primary care shadowing?
I have to work partially this spring, to pay living expenses. I wanted to do research (I loved it!) but live in a rural area and worry about commute time with MCAT prep. Also, I worry for my qualifications for a lot of the research jobs out there. Additionally, there are not many places employment near my current home. And if I move now I probably will not have enough money to apply this upcoming cycle. Will it hurt my application if I get a job at McDonalds or something that I would be comfortable quitting right before or right after my MCAT?
Finally, I applied for one final summer at SFN for a competitive leadership role. What can I say when a place changes your life it’s hard to leave. Anyone’s suggestions for fun service, non-for-profit, research, or anything that helps make a difference to others, gap year ideas would be appreciated!
Suggestions for Spring Improvements and Gap Year #2 plans?
Thanks for any suggestions and your time!!!