How to improve my application

[CallMeMulan]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So, I know that this question is asked a lot, but it is a rather personal one that I have already done hours of research on and would like a diverse perspective!

Here are my current stats:
Neuroscience Major, Completed Spanish Minor
GPA: 4.0
MCAT: Not yet taken (will take this summer, already planned out 10 weeks of study)

Here are my extracurriculars:
Global Competencies Certificate (requires study abroad and international research components)
100 hours clinical volunteering
50 hours international clinical volunteering
100 hours lab research
100 hours non clinical
80 hours job shadowing
Two Study Abroad Trips
Volunteer Coordinator for AMSA
Teach introductory Honors class
(+ scholarships)

Here is what I plan to do:
Continue volunteering clinically, non clinically, and in a lab for the next two years
Continue to find job shadows
Take CNA classes to be a CNA during my planned gap year to get some money, volunteer, and plan a wedding

How can I improve my application?
I feel I have really grown in just my first year (I am in my second of three years of undergrad). I know that quality over quantity is most important - I have so many experiences that I can already write about and feel I have developed a mature perspective. However, if there are significant gaps that anyone sees, knowing sooner than later would be great!

Thank you for your time! 🙂

 

[CallMeMulan]

I realize I posted this in the wrong thread.. apparently my greatest weakness is technical inability. 😉

 

[zaztong]

Take MCAT, no use asking without the most basic element of an application. You also should secure great LoRs. Spanish is nice though. You don't really need to slave yourself over what seems like mediocre ECs in my opinion, frankly. Quality over quantity. I took elective course credit classes to pass off as ECs: community teaching course, leadership course, research methods, and clinical informatics with clinical site visits that were 5 hours a week at best. I ended up getting several acceptances with what I attribute to one "killer" EC - running a business in home health/skilled nursing facility EHRs and talking about important medical industry issues, such as value-based reimbursement changes. I never studied or volunteered abroad simply because adcoms are tired of the "Africa medical mission trip" cliche, and personally I felt it was a waste of time and resources.

 

[CallMeMulan]

Take MCAT, no use asking without the most basic element of an application. You also should secure great LoRs. Spanish is nice though. You don't really need to slave yourself over what seems like mediocre ECs in my opinion, frankly. Quality over quantity. I took elective course credit classes to pass off as ECs: community teaching course, leadership course, research methods, and clinical informatics with clinical site visits that were 5 hours a week at best. I ended up getting several acceptances with what I attribute to one "killer" EC - running a business in home health/skilled nursing facility EHRs and talking about important medical industry issues, such as value-based reimbursement changes. I never studied or volunteered abroad simply because adcoms are tired of the "Africa medical mission trip" cliche, and personally I felt it was a waste of time and resources.

Thanks for the input. I did Volunteer Abroad to improve my medical Spanish, so I'm not at all worried about their impression of that. With respect to my extracurriculars, I feel very confident. I didn't really go into detail and that's my bad but I feel like I have a strong case for my service. But you're right - gotta wait and see with that MCAT!

 

[Smurfette]

moving to preallo.