How am I doing? (Brutally Honest)

[ScaryName]

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General Information: First Year Student (Second Semester), URM (Black), Biochemistry

• Compiled GPA: 3.49
• Science GPA: 3.13
• Clinical Volunteering: Negligible (high school)
• Research: 50+ hours (2 research labs)
• Shadowing: None
• Non-Clinical Volunteering: 80+ hours (90+ if I include high school)
• Leadership: Tutoring Elementary (last semester) and High school (this semester)
• EC: Swimming, Alto Sax

The major flag so far is my GPA. I have A's in all of my lecture classes, except for math(2 C's). The first C came from my high school connections Math class, which for some reason was worth FOUR credit hours. The second C came from my last semester Precalc class (many people failed, ridiculous tests and PROOFS). These are literally the only classes I did bad in. The 7 to 6 point grading scale we're on doesn't help. Funnily enough, Calculus 1 is already easier than my previous math class.

• Prereqs: Biology 1 and 2:A, Chemistry 1:A, English 1:A

If possible asses me as a URM and non-URM. What should I add?

 

[FeinMS]

Improve all aspects that you listed.

 

[WheezyBaby]

You're doing fine. I wouldn't take any more math classes than you need to though. If you continue to do well in your non math classes, your GPA will be fine and will have a great upward trend (urm or not). Get your academics sorted out then expand your ECs as possible, particularly clinical experience.

 

[BurghStudent]

General Information: First Year Student (Second Semester), URM (Black), Biochemistry

• Compiled GPA: 3.49
• Science GPA: 3.13
• Clinical Volunteering: Negligible (high school)
• Research: 50+ hours (2 research labs)
• Shadowing: None
• Non-Clinical Volunteering: 80+ hours (90+ if I include high school)
• Leadership: Tutoring Elementary (last semester) and High school (this semester)
• EC: Swimming, Alto Sax

The major flag so far is my GPA. I have A's in all of my lecture classes, except for math(2 C's). The first C came from my high school connections Math class, which for some reason was worth FOUR credit hours. The second C came from my last semester Precalc class (many people failed, ridiculous tests and PROOFS). These are literally the only classes I did bad in. The 7 to 6 point grading scale we're on doesn't help. Funnily enough, Calculus 1 is already easier than my previous math class.

• Prereqs: Biology 1 and 2:A, Chemistry 1:A, English 1:A

If possible asses me as a URM and non-URM. What should I add?

Get A's from here on out. Do well in your sciences, and your sGPA should surpass 3.5 by the time you apply.

Clinical exposure. You have negligible clinical volunteering and no shadowing. If you are going to spend any extra hours during the week on something, get clinical exposure. It adds weight to the statement, I want to be a doctor. Look for a volunteer gig you are interested in. Eventually look for shadowing opportunities. It could be a few hours a week.

You're still a Freshman, you have plenty of time.

 

[benjamin94559]

That math really hurt you but if you do well from here on out and arent gunning for things like HST or other md programs that care about math ability you should be fine by the time you apply.

 

[Lucca]

You are a freshman so those 2 Cs are really killing your GPA. Luckily, you seem to have a handle on non-math science courses. Keep that up and do well in the labs as well and your sGPA should be OK.

ECs look good, you are getting started early with all of the check boxes. However, why are you in 2 research labs? Or did you simply change labs from one semester to the next? It would probably be more productive and meaningful for you to focus on work in a single lab at a time. The number of hours is not nearly as important as what you are able to get from the research experience or what you are able to produce as a result of it (posters, conferences, publications).

 

[jqueb29]

Research looks pretty good so far. All other areas are lacking.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

Raise your sGPA. You asked for blunt honesty, so that's as blunt as it gets.

Additionally, you should excel on your MCAT. A strong MCAT will not overcome the subpar GPA that you have, but it certainly won't admissions committees dislike you either.

 

[ScaryName]

Get A's from here on out. Do well in your sciences, and your sGPA should surpass 3.5 by the time you apply.

Clinical exposure. You have negligible clinical volunteering and no shadowing. If you are going to spend any extra hours during the week on something, get clinical exposure. It adds weight to the statement, I want to be a doctor. Look for a volunteer gig you are interested in. Eventually look for shadowing opportunities. It could be a few hours a week.

You're still a Freshman, you have plenty of time.

I plan on spending my summer volunteering at a hospital and shadowing. My options are kind of closed for it now because I don't have my car on campus. My weekends are kind of empty right now, so I might try and work something out, since we have a med school near campus.

That math really hurt you but if you do well from here on out and arent gunning for things like HST or other md programs that care about math ability you should be fine by the time you apply.

What if I can at least get A's in the rest of my math classes? I think I have the hang of it now. I'm not really too big on Harvard, so I won't worry about that. I'm just worried about getting into any school at all.

You are a freshman so those 2 Cs are really killing your GPA. Luckily, you seem to have a handle on non-math science courses. Keep that up and do well in the labs as well and your sGPA should be OK.

ECs look good, you are getting started early with all of the check boxes. However, why are you in 2 research labs? Or did you simply change labs from one semester to the next? It would probably be more productive and meaningful for you to focus on work in a single lab at a time. The number of hours is not nearly as important as what you are able to get from the research experience or what you are able to produce as a result of it (posters, conferences, publications).

The 2 research labs was to increase the amount of hours I could get and for diversity. The one I started last semester was a bit nontraditional (ecology) and didn't seem very rigorous, but it can get me a guaranteed poster. The second lab that I started this semester was more traditional and almost cookie cutter (protein purification, cell culturing), but it's much more interesting and has significant implications in healthcare. I kind of want to make my own independent project as an offshoot to my second lab.

 

[ScaryName]

Research looks pretty good so far. All other areas are lacking.

Even the nonclincal? I thought that was relatively my strongest area.

Raise your sGPA. You asked for blunt honesty, so that's as blunt as it gets.

Additionally, you should excel on your MCAT. A strong MCAT will not overcome the subpar GPA that you have, but it certainly won't admissions committees dislike you either.

I still have 3.5 more years though. The vast majority of my sophomore and up classes will be Chemistry classes (which I'm really good at). Will this not counteract those 2 bad math classes? I already have an MCAT book, but studying for it now (as a freshman) is probably not advisable, right?

 

[Lucca]

I plan on spending my summer volunteering at a hospital and shadowing. My options are kind of closed for it now because I don't have my car on campus. My weekends are kind of empty right now, so I might try and work something out, since we have a med school near campus.


What if I can at least get A's in the rest of my math classes? I think I have the hang of it now. I'm not really too big on Harvard, so I won't worry about that. I'm just worried about getting into any school at all.


The 2 research labs was to increase the amount of hours I could get and for diversity. The one I started last semester was a bit nontraditional (ecology) and didn't seem very rigorous, but it can get me a guaranteed poster. The second lab that I started this semester was more traditional and almost cookie cutter (protein purification, cell culturing), but it's much more interesting and has significant implications in healthcare. I kind of want to make my own independent project as an offshoot to my second lab.

Independent project is a great idea. Like I said, nobody gives a **** if you had 100 more hours or not in the lab than someone else. Do one lab at a time, you will thank yourself and be far more productive / will get more out of the experience.

Getting As in the rest of math courses would be great but...evidence does not seem promising in that department. If you really do want to take more math, do so because you want to and are interested not because you have something to prove. In the long run, nobody cares about what classes you took or how you did other than yourself -- but in the short run adcoms will care a lot if your GPA is sub par.

As for hospital volunteering....do so if you can get a position with significant patient interaction. Look for free clinics in your area, in my experience much better volunteering positions can be found there than in hospitals where you are like to be stuck behind a gift shop counter or spend the whole day shuttling bed pans and meal trays.

Are you having fun? Are you enjoying undergrad? Don't make your entire college experience about getting into med school.

 

[aldol16]

That math really hurt you but if you do well from here on out and arent gunning for things like HST or other md programs that care about math ability you should be fine by the time you apply.

HST is something that's too far in the future now for OP to worry about it. Also, a C in a math class early on in your undergraduate years doesn't make you uncompetitive for HST, as long as you can show that you can do math. If you get C's in all your math classes, then that will be an issue. But one C followed by strong grades in two or three more advanced math courses (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations - all courses required by HST) will be sufficient.

 

[aldol16]

OP, being in two research labs at one time isn't particularly recommendable. Your time will be divided and the chance of you getting something meaningful out of either one goes down. Doing a project takes a lot of time in even one lab, much less two.

 

[jqueb29]

Even the nonclincal? I thought that was relatively my strongest area.

Unless you're doing something ridiculously impressive, nobody is going to care about nonclinical volunteering. Lots of people get in without any nonclinical volunteering. Your effort will be better spent focusing on the things that will actually get you an acceptance.

 

[Lawpy]

Unless you're doing something ridiculously impressive, nobody is going to care about nonclinical volunteering. Lots of people get in without any nonclinical volunteering. Your effort will be better spent focusing on the things that will actually get you an acceptance.

what? nonclinical volunteering is actually very important. in fact, it's more important than research.

2013 AAMC Survey

For experiences, the priority ratings are

Healthcare experience > community service/volunteer experience > leadership experience >> research experience

 

[Lawpy]

General Information: First Year Student (Second Semester), URM (Black), Biochemistry

• Compiled GPA: 3.49
• Science GPA: 3.13
• Clinical Volunteering: Negligible (high school)
• Research: 50+ hours (2 research labs)
• Shadowing: None
• Non-Clinical Volunteering: 80+ hours (90+ if I include high school)
• Leadership: Tutoring Elementary (last semester) and High school (this semester)
• EC: Swimming, Alto Sax

The major flag so far is my GPA. I have A's in all of my lecture classes, except for math(2 C's). The first C came from my high school connections Math class, which for some reason was worth FOUR credit hours. The second C came from my last semester Precalc class (many people failed, ridiculous tests and PROOFS). These are literally the only classes I did bad in. The 7 to 6 point grading scale we're on doesn't help. Funnily enough, Calculus 1 is already easier than my previous math class.

• Prereqs: Biology 1 and 2:A, Chemistry 1:A, English 1:A

If possible asses me as a URM and non-URM. What should I add?

so the most important thing you need to realize is longevity and quality of experiences matter. not so much for hours besides perhaps 200+ clinical exposure hours (doesn't have to be clinical volunteering) and 50+ shadowing hours (preferably shadowing a primary care provider, which includes family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, psychiatry, and general OB/GYN). so besides for clinical exposure + shadowing, there is no need to focus on the hours for the rest.

if you can stick with only one research lab that allows you to be independent (so the cell culture one) throughout your four years at undergrad, it would be ideal. same with continuing your nonclinical volunteering + tutoring + clinical exposure over the next several years. your additional ECs of swimming and alto sax are great, so keep doing them. just remember that quality of experiences matter a lot, so don't fixate on the hours.

your GPAs are low but you can work hard and improve your study habits for next semesters to ensure you can maintain near-4.0. being URM will help significantly, but do not allow yourself to slack off in grades because of it. if you can maintain strong grades, do well on the MCAT, and excel in your ECs, literally any medical school in the US will be yours.

 

[ScaryName]

OP, being in two research labs at one time isn't particularly recommendable. Your time will be divided and the chance of you getting something meaningful out of either one goes down. Doing a project takes a lot of time in even one lab, much less two.

Independent project is a great idea. Like I said, nobody gives a **** if you had 100 more hours or not in the lab than someone else. Do one lab at a time, you will thank yourself and be far more productive / will get more out of the experience.

It really isn't too intrusive to my schedule. I have the maximum amount of hours I can squeeze out with respect to class schedule, so the labs themselves don't interfere with each other. The first one will already yield 2 results. If anything, I want to increase the amount of time spent in my labs, since they're the most enjoyable things I do. I also always have the weekends to move stuff around.

Getting As in the rest of math courses would be great but...evidence does not seem promising in that department. If you really do want to take more math, do so because you want to and are interested not because you have something to prove. In the long run, nobody cares about what classes you took or how you did other than yourself -- but in the short run adcoms will care a lot if your GPA is sub par.

Well, so far I'm doing well in my Calculus class and I'm spending more time studying than I did last semester. The problem with my previous math class was the randomness of test questions, focusing less on the concept and more on specifics. It was probably harder than high school Calculus in my opinion.

Are you having fun? Are you enjoying undergrad? Don't make your entire college experience about getting into med school.

All I can say is that I enjoy the research. The only reason I'm here is because I want to go to med school really.

50+ shadowing hours (preferably shadowing a primary care provider, which includes family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, psychiatry, and general OB/GYN).

I'll make sure to shadow diversely, but what if I want to focus more on surgical shadowing. I'm more interested in general surgery than the others. I also understand why healthcare and community service is valued more than research, but it's still a little disappointing, seeing as that's my preferred activity.

 

[Lawpy]

I'll make sure to shadow diversely, but what if I want to focus more on surgical shadowing. I'm more interested in general surgery than the others. I also understand why healthcare and community service is valued more than research, but it's still a little disappointing, seeing as that's my preferred activity.

surgery shadowing is fine. it helps your app a bit more by also having primary care shadowing. focusing on research and making it a central part of your application is also fine (especially for the top tier med schools and research powerhouses). it's important though to also have clinical and nonclinical experiences.

 

[mistafab]

Mainly - improve your GPA.

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

Only red flag I noticed was your GPA. It's well below average accepted non-URM students and probably a touch low even for an URM--especially the Science GPA. Advice is work really hard to do very well in all remaining science classes, get a tutor if needed for any additional math classes, and don't take any more math than you need. Also doing some clinical volunteering can always help to show you understand what being a physician is all about and that you know what you're getting yourself into.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[ScottTenorman54]

All I can say is that I enjoy the research. The only reason I'm here is because I want to go to med school really.

But med school and on is going to be all medicine. This is your biggest chance to at least dabble in other stuff and not be an incredibly one-dimensional person. I wouldn't suggest passing that up so quickly.

 

[benjamin94559]

I plan on spending my summer volunteering at a hospital and shadowing. My options are kind of closed for it now because I don't have my car on campus. My weekends are kind of empty right now, so I might try and work something out, since we have a med school near campus.


What if I can at least get A's in the rest of my math classes? I think I have the hang of it now. I'm not really too big on Harvard, so I won't worry about that. I'm just worried about getting into any school at all.


The 2 research labs was to increase the amount of hours I could get and for diversity. The one I started last semester was a bit nontraditional (ecology) and didn't seem very rigorous, but it can get me a guaranteed poster. The second lab that I started this semester was more traditional and almost cookie cutter (protein purification, cell culturing), but it's much more interesting and has significant implications in healthcare. I kind of want to make my own independent project as an offshoot to my second lab.

If you want to prove to an Adcom you can handle math go ahead and take more math but in the grand scheme of things if youre only going for MD programs it probably isnt going to matter at all. Just do well in the rest of your other science classes and get that gpa up.