Help me smooth out my application! (New to this)

[Myopicvisions]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi guys

I'm definitely a Non-trad (Early 4.Zeros) and I would love any suggestions that could help me finesse my application.
I'm finishing my undergraduate degree and will probably be done in the Spring. I will only be doing 1 class in the Spring, unfortunately, there are no equivalent classes within my school system but I think this will work for me.
My stats
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Political Science

Math/Science GPA : 3.5
Undergrad GPA : 3.65

Clinical Hours(Health Aide) : 250hrs
Volunteer Hours Hospice) : 416hrs
Research Projects
Literary research for a published textbook
Fieldwork for MetaSub
Project for Student Parents Consortium
Poster Presentation at TriState Project

LOR Promised

History mentor/Professor (He writes awesome reference letters)
Orgo Professor
Physics Professor
Lab Professor
Calculus Professor
Biochem Professor

My professors like me so I believe I will have a strong set of LORs.

I have no shadowing hours but I have been able to see what physicians do whilst working as an Aide and in Hospice.

I think my experience reflects my PoliSci/Biochem coursework but would love any suggestions as to how to improve.
I have been looking for clinical research but until now its been difficult to get anything solid although there is a high possibility that I will be able to get some time in a BioChem/Physics lab in the fall.
On Edit

I have one of those crazy background stories. Undocumented, abandoned by spouse, child died suddenly, other child won the cancer battle, started undergrad degree 8 months pregnant, won awards and am fellow of Womens group in NYC. I feel that I have a story that is pretty crazy.. but I made it.. so thats some additional background.

 

[evasive fish]

From what I understand, non-trads of your age who get accepted usually have compelling life stories and experiences, which you definitively have: you've gone through a lot and your persistence and resilience is truly admirable.
Other members may be able to provide better advice on what to add, but I can say that, with a decent MCAT score, you are on good track with regard to your application.

 

[Myopicvisions]

Just to update on my journey. Since that post

Clinical Research Interviewing for a project in which the PI is about to testify in front of congress in order to implement the program as part of Medicare. 200 hours (I just started working with them on March.)
Cancer Disparity Study on African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans. I will be presenting my poster at Temple Medical School next week
My student parents study resulted in a published paper.

My LOR's changed.
I decided to only get letters from those who knew me well and were willing to write me a strong letter.

GPA has also changed. Terrible Biochem lab that handed me a surprise grade. In retrospect I should have argued for something better but its now 3.55

Im doing a late Mcat (July 20th) I feel saturated with advanced chem courses and so strong with the content. Ill do a practice Mcat on Saturday to see where I am at. Im hoping for no less than 510 at this point. My weak points are the behavioral stuff as that was years ago.

I do not know how the heck I did this with a 5yr old and getting up at 5.30am to get her to school and the multitude of life issues that have dogged me but Im still here.

 

[Myopicvisions]

Congrats for doing this. We are in the same boat but you are younger than me.

What is the secret?

Be authentic. One of the graces we older people have is that we are not insecure, we don't care about the opinions of others and we have husbands/spouses/significant others/friends who support us even if the kids think we are crazy but admire us from afar.

be you. Forget the noise in your head and negative forces around you. You are a mom. You're in school. You've got grit. And besides, 50 is the new 30 so you are a spring chicken!!!

medical schools look at us, at least the ones that I have contacted in person, as outliers, a good thing to be. They want to know about our successes, how we pulled off this great experiment called Life, they want to see at least a B grade in the sciences of courses, but you need to tell them and show them with volunteering and work experience, how you impacted those around you. If you can demonstrate (past test) that you did in fact interface with the downtrodden, made their lives a little bit better, worked in the medical field and have proof that demonstrates you worked with patients hand's on, then don't sweat the other stuff. I dont have a 4.0 GPA but my life doesn't scream flunky either. that's what medical schools want to see: driven, successful track, problem solver and healer with an above average intellect - can you think through issues and solve them so as to achieve favorable outcomes? isn't that what life demands from us?

quite possibly the old rubric of how to discern worthy medical school applicants is on the way out (good riddance) and the decision makers are starting to see people who have excelled at life are a safer bet to win.

Thanks for that! Its very appreciated.