I am new here. Can you guys review my stats?

[DoctorC]

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I am new to the forums. I am an African American male attending UC Santa Barbara. I am going into my second year and have completed 52 units thus far. So far my overall GPA is a 3.6 and my science GPA is 3.62. My mother, a single parent, works at Stanford University Medical Center as a front office supervisor for the last seven years, this is where I want to attend. I have a very close reltaionship with one of the Biology professors so I am sure I can get an excellent letter of rec. These are some of the programs I have been invloved in so far:

1) Summer Institute in Math and Science

2) Community Service Officer/ 4 months

3) Program of Determined Students/ One Quarter

4) Preceptorship at Stanford/ 3 months

5) Research Assistant in Palo Alto/ Will continue for 2 years

6) Leadership Certificate Program/ Will continue for 2 years

7) Grader for Biology of Cancer/ One quarter this Fall

Please let me know what you guys think of me so far. I hope I can keep up the good work this year but it will be tough. Thanks for the time and the consideration. I should note that out of the 52 units I have completed about 35 of them are science based. Thanks again.

 

[AvgApplcnt]

Hi,

The fact that you're a CSO makes you're whole application look really bad. Don't take me seriously, I've got animosity towards the ones at my school. Anyways, I've got much of the same things you do and I'm applying right now. My 2 cents are don't let all the damn extra-curriculars distract you from classes and make sure you actually enjoy doing them. If you don't like the lab stuff, don't spend years there. Also, try to get some sort of clinical exposure since you'll have to have some insight into how medicine works when you apply. Too many people say "I pushed wheelchairs for 2 months and decided I want to help people". Anything you do that you enjoy and devote time and energy to will make you stand you.

 

[DoctorC]

Thanks a lot for replying to my post. I really appreciate the feedback. Sorry for being a CSO, it seemed like a really chill job and it was. After I quit I say how wack they looked.

Do any of you guys think I should stop trying to get into so many extra curriculars and focus more on the grades? Thanks.

 

[AvgApplcnt]

Good to know you've seen the error of your ways with the CSO thing. Just remember, that admis comms see numbers first. Without solid grades they don't care about the extra currs. The most important aspect of ECs is that you show genuine commitment and interest. Try different things and stick to the one or two you like. Having 30 things you did for a month each doesn't look as good as a few that show real involvement. Since you go to UCSB, look into groups that provide healthcare to underserved areas, which up there, are probably the indian reservations. My advice is grades come first, but its easy to maintain the grades and good community service. Just don't overdo the party scene up there, cuz that'll mess up everything. Take my word on that, as I've had friends with all sorts of aspirations get screwed cuz of drugs and alcohol.

 

[DrHuang]

i dunno why avgapplicant threw in a dont do drugs thingy but i think ur doing very well. keep up the good GPA and its nice to see you didnt screw up your GPA ur 1st year like alot of ppl i know.

UR ECs are great imo but i would recommend doing some other volunteer work like a soup kitchen or tutoring program. at the same time, do something that u really enjoy.

finally, make sure u pimp the mcat...importante!

with a good MCAT, those ECs and a high GPA will give u a good shot at any school, regardless of being a URM or not.

 

[TTSD]

A grader for Cancer bio?!!! AAAARGH! MUST KILL YOU! YOU DIE NOW!!

LOL, here at my uni almost 50% do not get a C the first time through, and most of the people who DO pass are the ones who already took the class before. And these are not stupid people, everyone in the class is either a junior or senior, honor rolls, people in graduate level molecular classes.. it was INSANITY!

You had to use ochem combined with molecular and genetics. INSANE class.

 

[Giving My .02]

I would look into the Medical Minority Education Program. It is on the AMCAS website and offered around the country. That would be a good summer program to become involved in to get you some type of clinical experience depending on what program you apply to. Keep up your good work. Keep your medical school options open to. Remember you might want to go to a certain school, but everyone around here knows that it is the school that accepts us which is the best school!!!!!!!! You will get in somewhere, just keep it up.

 

[DoctorC]

I really appreciate all the positive feedback. It it nice to know that I can rely on people to help me out. As for the MMEP program, a doctor I am working with told me he knows people and can probably get me into the Columbia program. I have been looking into the Columbia MMEP for a couple of months now. I have three questions I would like to ask:

1) Is there an MMEP like program at Johns Hopkins?

2) I was thinking of applying to be an Intern in the F.B.I next summer. How would that look?

3) Is it too early to start studying for the MCAT?

Thank you all. Again , I really appreciate it.

 

[DrHuang]

I was thinking of applying to be an Intern in the F.B.I next summer

i think that would be a real good idea...it sounds like real fun, something definitely unique and something good to talk about with interviews

Is it too early to start studying for the MCAT?

nope

 

[IndyZX]

if you are just starting your 2nd year, it is too early to start studying for the mcat.

 

[kanyanta]

I think you should try and get some clinical exposure, you could volunteer at a hospital. I volunteered in the distribution department of a local hospital and got alot of patient contact, I was also able to met alot of physicians there who gave some great advice and allowed me to shadow them.
About the MCAT, I think it is never too early to get familiar with it. Try some practice tests.

 

[Giving My .02]

http://www.aamc.org/students/minorities/mmep/progsites/

Go to this website... It has the list of all the MMEP program sites in a spreadsheet like format so you can compare them.

 

[Dr2007]

I agree that it is never too early to start studying for the MCAT.

I don't know of any MMEP type program at Hopkins, but there could be. I'll look into it and get back to you.

MMEP is a very good program. I never attended, but I have friends that went to the Yale and Chicago programs that got a lot out of it. It's a great way to get your foot in the door.

 

[DoctorC]

Thanks Dr2007 for volunteering to check that issue for me.

I was wondering if I should apply as a transfer student to a higer ranked school to better my chances of getting into med-school. I am afraid some med-schools might look at UCSB as a laid back party school and take people from schools that are know to be more rigourous. I was thinking of re-applying to Dartmouth, I got waitlisted at first, is this a good idea?

 

[Dr2007]

I'm really not sure about how much of a difference your undergraduate institution really makes in the medical school application prcess. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. If you like UCSB and you are doing well, then stay there.

 

[Amit1]

The adcom went to college, so im sure they hate CSO's too. The head of the CSO's at my school is this creepy fat guy who is always talking about spying on girls and standing outside of dorm rooms and listening to sex.

The guy is a sick fu*k.

 

[DoctorC]

What is "adcom?"

 

[Dr2007]

Adcom = Admissions Committee