Hello! I've been hoping to get some advice on my current standings and what to do before I apply for the 2023-2024 cycle. I was actually planning to apply this year but a family problem came up so I'm hoping to use another gap year to help build my EC. Just as reference, my GPA is about 3.73 (cGPA: 3.871 and sGPA: 3.88 at my graduating college but I had a bit of trouble before I transferred my sophomore year with a C). The MCAT I took this year was 507 which I'm retaking early next year.
So far, I have:
120 hours of tutor volunteering with two different organizations, one geared towards children with ADHD (250 or so by the time I apply) 10/2021 - now
90 hours of hospice volunteering (projected total 250 by the time I apply) 12/2021 - now
290 hours of resident assistant in 8 months (cut short due to covid) 8/2019 - 3/2020
151.5 hours as learning assistant in microbiology lab 9/2019 - 5/2020
1200 hours as medical assistant 8/2020 - 9/2021
60 hours of shadowing (with only one doctor, hoping to find more) 8/2021 - 12/2021
(To be added to works and activities: awards in Dean's list? and hobby - tennis)
Currently I'm looking to find a job to commit to for the two years I will have. Should I continue as an MA at a different establishment? Should I instead try to work as a scribe? Or perhaps get a certification as a CNA or EMT? I've looked into them but most courses near me aren't offered until next year. What else could I do during my gap year? I'm aware of my glaringly obvious weak point that I had no research, and although I've tried looking for jobs as a research assistant, most require a year or two of prior experience...and the past few months I've spent simply volunteering as a tutor/hospice volunteer and trying to study for my MCAT in between trying to solve the family problem I mentioned before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
So far, I have:
120 hours of tutor volunteering with two different organizations, one geared towards children with ADHD (250 or so by the time I apply) 10/2021 - now
90 hours of hospice volunteering (projected total 250 by the time I apply) 12/2021 - now
290 hours of resident assistant in 8 months (cut short due to covid) 8/2019 - 3/2020
151.5 hours as learning assistant in microbiology lab 9/2019 - 5/2020
1200 hours as medical assistant 8/2020 - 9/2021
60 hours of shadowing (with only one doctor, hoping to find more) 8/2021 - 12/2021
(To be added to works and activities: awards in Dean's list? and hobby - tennis)
Currently I'm looking to find a job to commit to for the two years I will have. Should I continue as an MA at a different establishment? Should I instead try to work as a scribe? Or perhaps get a certification as a CNA or EMT? I've looked into them but most courses near me aren't offered until next year. What else could I do during my gap year? I'm aware of my glaringly obvious weak point that I had no research, and although I've tried looking for jobs as a research assistant, most require a year or two of prior experience...and the past few months I've spent simply volunteering as a tutor/hospice volunteer and trying to study for my MCAT in between trying to solve the family problem I mentioned before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
