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Hi All, Thank you for reading this. I would like advice on what areas of my overall application I should improve.
I have bolded the most important sections, but added a lot of detail. I really want to be a doctor and will be leaving a career in the biotech/pharma world to pursue it. I currently work full-time and part-time. I am not taking any classes currently and just prepping for a possible MCAT re-take.
I still need to take g-chem II lab and o-chem I and II lab and that will wrap-up the courses portion of my pre-med journey. I think my biggest negative is that I took classes one at a time, though I did pretty well over all. Also, my MCAT score is 26 (9 PS, 8 VR, 9 BS).
I'm a 31 year old, African-American/Caucasian New York resident. I graduated from an Ivy League college as a member of the Class of 2005. Neither of my parents attended college, but I have siblings that did. I will be applying as an economically disadvantaged applicant. I am aiming to start medical school in the Fall of 2015.
Here is my work experience (have solid recommendations from M.D.s at all places (and one D.O. at Stanford)):
- From 2011 to current, I worked as an oncology clinical research monitor for Pfizer till August 2012. I did similar work for Ariad Pharmaceutical from August, 2012 till April 2014. I now work with Johnson & Johnson.
- From 2008 to 2010, worked in the biotech field (full-time) at a start-up company as a clinical research associate. I helped develop, run and monitor Phase I and II trials for leukemia and influenza.
- From 2009 to current, work part-time as a regulatory and data consultant for the Stanford pediatric oncology department assisting with sorting through all regulatory (FDA compliance) work.
- From 2007-2008, worked full-time in the Stanford pediatric oncology department as the lead clinical research coordinator, managing a team of seven employees and doing pediatric clinical oncology research (primary focus: Hodgkin's disease, Neuroblastoma, Wilms Tumors).
- From 2005-2007 worked at the Dana-Farber Havard Cancer Center working on clinical research focused on pediatric sarcomas.
Here are my extra-curriculars / summer work experience / awards (starting to compile an extensive list as I don't remember everything, but here are the main ones):
- Have shadowed physicians at all the jobs listed above so, while I haven't kept a running count of hours, I'd easily say hundreds of hours shadowing pediatric oncologists, pediatric ENTs, pediatric radiologists and could shadow more, but think this might be overkill.
- Volunteer work over the summers of my freshman and sophomore year at the Mass Eye and Year Infirmary (worked in the pediatric ENT office and got to play with children and shadow the ENT. I also worked on the surgery floor).
- Summer work with underpriviliged kids in Baltimore teaching english. I received a citation of merit from the mayor of Baltimore for this work. This was during my junior year.
- A number of activities during college and post: Was a teaching assistant for one course in management and worked as a peer tutor. Worked with a science outreach program teaching science to elementary school kids throughout college. Involved in the college swing dance club (still do this locally), the international student club, student radio, wrote for a publication, played soccer and basketball at the intramural level (still play locally at the YMCA) and was a tour guide for my college. Also, ran a number of races (such as the Boston Half-Marathon, Providence 5K). Also, worked as a chemistry lab assistant for three years (sophomore through senior) and as part of the college annual fund for a year (as a freshman). I volunteer as an alumni interviewer for my alma mater.
Here are my stats based on the Johnny Equizabal AMCAS calculator:
Undergraduate (Ivy League - triple major (biology, sociology, organizational theory)).
Overall GPA (to date): (c: 3.61, s: 3.55 for M.D.) (c: 3.67, s: 3.77 for D.O.)
(Broken down by year):
Freshman: (c:3.25, s:3.0)
Sophomore (c: 3.14, s: 2.67)
Junior (c: 3.67, s: 3.5)
Senior (c: 4.0, s: 4.0)
Post-bac - multiple institutions (c: 3.80, s: 3.87) - pending G-Chem II lab and O-Chem I lab.
Academic References I have obtained two science recommendations (my o-chem professor and a physics lab instructor), one non-science recommendation (a sociology professor from college) and two physician recommendations (one from an M.D. and another from a D.O.).
I have bolded the most important sections, but added a lot of detail. I really want to be a doctor and will be leaving a career in the biotech/pharma world to pursue it. I currently work full-time and part-time. I am not taking any classes currently and just prepping for a possible MCAT re-take.
I still need to take g-chem II lab and o-chem I and II lab and that will wrap-up the courses portion of my pre-med journey. I think my biggest negative is that I took classes one at a time, though I did pretty well over all. Also, my MCAT score is 26 (9 PS, 8 VR, 9 BS).
I'm a 31 year old, African-American/Caucasian New York resident. I graduated from an Ivy League college as a member of the Class of 2005. Neither of my parents attended college, but I have siblings that did. I will be applying as an economically disadvantaged applicant. I am aiming to start medical school in the Fall of 2015.
Here is my work experience (have solid recommendations from M.D.s at all places (and one D.O. at Stanford)):
- From 2011 to current, I worked as an oncology clinical research monitor for Pfizer till August 2012. I did similar work for Ariad Pharmaceutical from August, 2012 till April 2014. I now work with Johnson & Johnson.
- From 2008 to 2010, worked in the biotech field (full-time) at a start-up company as a clinical research associate. I helped develop, run and monitor Phase I and II trials for leukemia and influenza.
- From 2009 to current, work part-time as a regulatory and data consultant for the Stanford pediatric oncology department assisting with sorting through all regulatory (FDA compliance) work.
- From 2007-2008, worked full-time in the Stanford pediatric oncology department as the lead clinical research coordinator, managing a team of seven employees and doing pediatric clinical oncology research (primary focus: Hodgkin's disease, Neuroblastoma, Wilms Tumors).
- From 2005-2007 worked at the Dana-Farber Havard Cancer Center working on clinical research focused on pediatric sarcomas.
Here are my extra-curriculars / summer work experience / awards (starting to compile an extensive list as I don't remember everything, but here are the main ones):
- Have shadowed physicians at all the jobs listed above so, while I haven't kept a running count of hours, I'd easily say hundreds of hours shadowing pediatric oncologists, pediatric ENTs, pediatric radiologists and could shadow more, but think this might be overkill.
- Volunteer work over the summers of my freshman and sophomore year at the Mass Eye and Year Infirmary (worked in the pediatric ENT office and got to play with children and shadow the ENT. I also worked on the surgery floor).
- Summer work with underpriviliged kids in Baltimore teaching english. I received a citation of merit from the mayor of Baltimore for this work. This was during my junior year.
- A number of activities during college and post: Was a teaching assistant for one course in management and worked as a peer tutor. Worked with a science outreach program teaching science to elementary school kids throughout college. Involved in the college swing dance club (still do this locally), the international student club, student radio, wrote for a publication, played soccer and basketball at the intramural level (still play locally at the YMCA) and was a tour guide for my college. Also, ran a number of races (such as the Boston Half-Marathon, Providence 5K). Also, worked as a chemistry lab assistant for three years (sophomore through senior) and as part of the college annual fund for a year (as a freshman). I volunteer as an alumni interviewer for my alma mater.
Here are my stats based on the Johnny Equizabal AMCAS calculator:
Undergraduate (Ivy League - triple major (biology, sociology, organizational theory)).
Overall GPA (to date): (c: 3.61, s: 3.55 for M.D.) (c: 3.67, s: 3.77 for D.O.)
(Broken down by year):
Freshman: (c:3.25, s:3.0)
Sophomore (c: 3.14, s: 2.67)
Junior (c: 3.67, s: 3.5)
Senior (c: 4.0, s: 4.0)
Post-bac - multiple institutions (c: 3.80, s: 3.87) - pending G-Chem II lab and O-Chem I lab.
Academic References I have obtained two science recommendations (my o-chem professor and a physics lab instructor), one non-science recommendation (a sociology professor from college) and two physician recommendations (one from an M.D. and another from a D.O.).
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. My only advice for MCAT study is to do practice exams. I did them every other week, even before I studied. Also with the side from TPR, try out ExamKrackers. Although there are fully more in depth, they really elaborate on materials and pointers that will help you. it worked for me! 4 more days till I get my results!!! best of luck
Your future patients will certainly benefit from consulting you. Onwards & all the best!
