How am I doing? (checking in after a year)

[Rooks]

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Hi! I made a thread last year, when I started community college and my premed journey. I want to thank you all for all the no-nonsense advice!
I'm a sophomore now, about to start my third semester. So... opinions and advice? Thanks. <3

Current stats:

Letters of rec
One from hospice coordinator - I'm gonna continue with volunteering and get an updated one when I apply, in med school format - for scholarships as well
One from history professor - nothing special - probably not going to use for anything
One from stats professor - excellent - for scholarships

Volunteering
120 hours of hospice volunteering - gonna continue until med school! CLINICAL
100 hours of suicide hotline volunteering NONCLINICAL

Mentorship
This semester I got hired to teach a one-on-one study skills course for students in science classes. It's a job. How does this look on an application? Can I call it leadership, or does it have its own category? I'm not sure how to describe it... it's like tutoring, but teaches students how to study effectively and balance priorities and wellness.

Shadowing
None yet - in the next two weeks I'm gonna shadow a family physician. ~twenty hours

Research
nothing - planning on doing it one summer in the future

Current GPA
4.0 (yay!)

I want to volunteer at a local museum, as non-clinical volunteering, but I'm worried it's gonna be seen as too easy. I used to volunteer there in high school, and I would maintain the historic grounds and gardens, mostly. Basically a gardener, lol. Is it ill-advised to spend my time volunteering there?

Is there anything I'm missing?

 

[Agentcross]

I’d definitely volunteer at the museum. Sounds pretty neat. Maybe you can work your way up to other volunteer positions. You also did it in high school so it shows some long-term commitment.

In the application, your teaching gig can/will be labeled “teaching”. Don’t worry about how it looks on the application. If it’s something your interested in and will find rewarding, do it.

you might look to see if your 4-year institution offers a committee letter. If not, you will need to start thinking about getting your science professor LoRs

 

[Blueprint Med School]

You're doing great. Research will definitely help, but you might want to do it for longer than one summer, especially if you want to have a potential publication by the time you apply. You'll also want to get more shadowing than 20 hours. At minimum, you'll want LORs from two science professors and one science, unless your school offers a committee letters. Finally, you'll want to consider some leadership positions. While not mandatory, this will definitely help round out your application.

With all that being said, it's still incredibly early and you are doing great. Your focuses should be on maintaining your GPA and eventually acing the MCAT. These are your #1 priorities, and all the other stuff is just fluff.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Cornfed101]

You can do the museum volunteering, but I don't think it will add a lot to your application. Just do it if it's something you want to do. You shouldn't be spending all of your time doing things that will look good to medical schools. Speaking of which, what are your hobbies and other interests?

 

[Rooks]

You can do the museum volunteering, but I don't think it will add a lot to your application. Just do it if it's something you want to do. You shouldn't be spending all of your time doing things that will look good to medical schools. Speaking of which, what are your hobbies and other interests?

I like sewing clothes and other stuff, piano, reading fantasty novels, video games and plant-based cooking mostly. I also have a herb and veg garden in my yard. 🙂