How can I be a competitive applicant

[Doe22]

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So, I'm applying next cycle and thinking about ways to improve my application and increase my chance of getting into medical school. I'm also graduating in two semesters. My GPA is 3.85 with a science GPA of ~3.8.
Extracurricular activities: clinical volunteering 420 hrs in 3 different hospitals over 3 years. I still volunteer and will continue.
Community volunteering: ~ 100 hrs in a soup kitchen in my community.
Leadership: by the time I'm applying I should have ~ 14 months as a board member of a CPR org in my school, with which I also volunteer to teach CPR in my community.
I also was a volunteer mentor in a program concerned with kids health. The program duration was 10 weeks.
Research: by the time I'm applying I should have ~ 500 hrs. I just started in a lab and have over 80 hrs so far.
Shadowing: 0 hours
Haven't taken the MCAT yet.

 

[AnMDtoB]

Need shadowing (definitely with at least some primary care) & crush the MCAT

Also just browse through some schools' secondary questions & make sure the experiences you've had so far will allow you to provide non-superficial/meaningful answers

 

[Doe22]

Need shadowing (definitely with at least some primary care) & crush the MCAT

Also just browse through some schools' secondary questions & make sure the experiences you've had so far will allow you to provide non-superficial/meaningful answers

My initial plan was to not apply until the summer of 2021 so I can get more clinical/shadowing experience. But my advisor thinks it's insane and I don't really need to wait that long!

 

[AnMDtoB]

My initial plan was to not apply until the summer of 2021 so I can get more clinical/shadowing experience. But my advisor thinks it's insane and I don't really need to wait that long!

it's really hard to advise & tell you what to shoot for without an MCAT score unfortunately

 

[Goro]

So, I'm applying next cycle and thinking about ways to improve my application and increase my chance of getting into medical school. I'm also graduating in two semesters. My GPA is 3.85 with a science GPA of ~3.8.
Extracurricular activities: clinical volunteering 420 hrs in 3 different hospitals over 3 years. I still volunteer and will continue.
Community volunteering: ~ 100 hrs in a soup kitchen in my community.
Leadership: by the time I'm applying I should have ~ 14 months as a board member of a CPR org in my school, with which I also volunteer to teach CPR in my community.
I also was a volunteer mentor in a program concerned with kids health. The program duration was 10 weeks.
Research: by the time I'm applying I should have ~ 500 hrs. I just started in a lab and have over 80 hrs so far.
Shadowing: 0 hours
Haven't taken the MCAT yet.

Shadowing, and more service to others less fortunate than yourself.

And do well on MCAT!

 

[710118]

Start early with MCAT prep. From a friend who was a student interviewer on a top med school committee "nothing can save you from a bad MCAT". His words not mine

 

[Doe22]

It's hard to say if you'll be ready to apply next year or not, honestly, that just comes down to how you feel (also the MCAT). Don't rush it and do whatever makes you feel comfortable, it's best to be one and done then have to reapply because you rushed.

unfortunately the decision of wanting to go to medical school came on late.

 

[Doe22]

Start early with MCAT prep. From a friend who was a student interviewer on a top med school committee "nothing can save you from a bad MCAT". His words not mine

Planning on starting to study very soon. I did pretty well on most of my science classes, especially chem and bio. So, most of it should be reviewing and practice exams. I have high hopes for the MCAT.

 

[Doe22]

Shadowing, and more service to others less fortunate than yourself.

And do well on MCAT!

I'm going to shadow a cardiologist next week 😀

 

[pinkowl250]

Honestly you're not that late at all! I was almost exactly where you were about a year out from applying. I ended up taking a gap year and working as a scribe during that time. Focus on getting some shadowing and crush the MCAT since you have plenty of time to study for it. Good luck!

 

[Doe22]

Honestly you're not that late at all! I was almost exactly where you were about a year out from applying. I ended up taking a gap year and working as a scribe during that time. Focus on getting some shadowing and crush the MCAT since you have plenty of time to study for it. Good luck!

This gives me some hope

 

[gyngyn]

I'm going to shadow a cardiologist next week 😀

Ask them if they can recommend one of their referral docs to shadow.
Primary care shadowing is golden.

 

[Doe22]

Ask them if they can recommend one of their referral docs to shadow.
Primary care shadowing is golden.

I'm actually going to ask my doctor tomorrow, too.