How am I doing?

[mayo-cactus]

Hi all, thanks in advance for taking a look. I'm 29 and am planning on applying next cycle to both DO and MD programs.

Here's where I stand today:

• Undergrad (BS Chemistry) cGPA: 3.33
  • AMCAS sGPA: 3.27
  • AACOMAS sGPA: 3.35
• Grad (MS Computer science) cGPA: 3.41
• MCAT: 515 (127/131/127/130)
• LizzyM: 67.10
• Shadowing hours: 22.5 between two physicians
• Clinical hours: 0
• Volunteering: 0

I did a lot of research in undergrad but only got on one publication, a review article where I was 7th author. Recently, I helped out on an ophthalmology publication where I was third author, and I am expecting another publication or two with these researchers before the application cycle opens. No primary authorship expected. I might be getting into some research with one of the physicians I've been shadowing, but I'm not sure how that'll shake out.

I work full time as a software engineer but am going part time in January and February to do clinical hours (hopefully as a scribe,) more shadowing, and more volunteering.

In terms of extracurriculars:

• My wife and I started a business that serves a niche patient population in her (clinical) area of expertise. She's not a physician but is a health professional with a rather unique specialty. I handle all the admin stuff: bookkeeping, finances, scheduling, our website, bills.
• I am something of an expert in personal finance and have helped many friends and acquaintances climb out of debt and lead better financial lives over the years.
• I volunteer in our building by managing the system that controls building access and also serving on a committee adjacent to the HOA board (we adjudicate fines that the HOA charges unit owners, make sure that they're fair, hear out the person's story, etc)
• I'm a hobbyist programmer in addition to my day job. I run a home server and have helped friends set up their own for e.g. blocking ads on their network, serving media, running software on their network. Little things but stuff I can talk about.

My plan for recommendation letters is:

• My old PI from undergrad / grad school (I did one year in a PhD program before transferring to the MS in CS)
• One of the physicians I've been shadowing if I end up publishing with him
• The two physicians I've been working with on the ophthalmology research

I'm a white Hispanic man and a first generation American. My mom is college educated (she got a graduate degree in the US) and my dad never finished college and was here illegally for twenty years. He was a medical student in his home country before he was forced to flee it.

As far as I see it, my weaknesses are:

• GPA is not great.
  • Nothing to do about this one; just mentioning it for completeness.
• 0 clinical hours.
  • I am working on getting a scribe position soon (more below.)
• Effectively 0 volunteering hours
  • I am planning on starting at a soup kitchen this weekend and being consistent with that until (hopefully!) starting school in '26.
• Low quantity of recommendation letters.
• Not having the standard "mix" of recommendation letters (I believe they mostly expect professors from undergraduate coursework.)

My goal is to be accepted to any medical school; my wife and I are flexible as to the location. I'm from Florida (and still live here) so I'll be applying to all the ones down here. Based on where friends and family live, I'm also looking to apply to both of the Pittsburgh schools, all of the schools in Philly, SUNY Downstate, UMich, GW, Howard, AWSOM, UT Austin. I know many of these are reach schools with my GPA and that my selection method isn't particularly principled; I haven't done too much research on schools just yet so this list is very much tentative.

Am I doing ok? Are my planned activities for next year in line with what I'd need to get accepted next cycle?

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[Mr.Smile12]

You must have clinical experience. That is your top priority. Shadowing is good, but you must set aside time to meet patients where doctors are (and where they need to be). The opportunity with your wife sounds interesting; find out how there are physicians you can shadow with the clients/patients you serve.

 

[mayo-cactus]

You must have clinical experience. That is your top priority. Shadowing is good, but you must set aside time to meet patients where doctors are (and where they need to be). The opportunity with your wife sounds interesting; find out how there are physicians you can shadow with the clients/patients you serve.

Does scribing fit this need? Or should I be looking into another type of clinical work?

 

[deleted1197125]

None of your extra currics have anything to do with healthcare. How could you convince an admissions board you’re right for medicine if you don’t have clinical experience?

 

[Faha]

You should accumulate 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering at the soup kitchen before you submit your application. You also need 200+ hours of clinical volunteering/work with patient contact. I suggest these schools if you accumulate those hours:
U Florida
Florida State
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Central Florida
NOVA MD
Miami
USF Morsani
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
Albany
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Ponce (St. Louis)
Belmont
Alice Walton
TCU
For DO schools I suggest these:
LECOM-Bradenton
NOVA
PCOM (all schools)
NYITCOM
Touro-NY
MU-COM
DMU-COM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
UIWSOM
ACOM
TUNCOM
AZCOM