Hello all! I'm new to the community, but figured I would join since every time I do a google search on my latest premed insecurity/question I inevitably end up here. Thank you all in advance for taking the time to look and/or respond. I start as a junior in the honors college at my state school (national merit scholar, if that's relevant at all to applications). I regret not taking control of the summer after my sophomore year and am looking for advice on how to move forward in preparing myself for medical school. Part of my hesitation about applying to specific positions this summer has been due to not being sure if I want to pursue an MD or a PhD, but after clinical shadowing and volunteering in clinical trials at my local hospital (perfect blend of research and medicine for me) I am ready to commit to the MD. I'll be graduating in spring of 2019 with a BS in biochemistry and a minor in Spanish. I'm wondering what, from here on out, I can do to make myself a competitive applicant for an MD or an MD/PhD. Any advice at all is appreciated.
(Borrowing this template as I have seen it floating around these forums)
White LGBTQ Female, AZ Resident, AZ State School
cGPA: 4.0 (this is weighted, obviously, which (weighted/unweighted) do medical schools prefer?)
sGPA: 3.9ish (B+ in biophysics)
MCAT: Have not taken yet, but I tend to test well, have already started studying, and am not anticipating that this will be a problem.
Research: Started in a genetics/molecular biology lab in October of freshman year and continued until end of sophomore year for a total of around 800 hours. I'm on leave from the lab for the summer, but intend to return come the beginning of the school year. While I have a lot of hours and have tremendously enjoyed the experience (so much so that I was convinced I only wanted to do a PhD), I have produced very little significant data. My PI has been incredibly understanding (moreso than I deserve) and taught me volumes, and has offered to help me transfer into a lab more focused on human health next semester if I desire. I will likely be on one paper (not a first author). I have already spoken with a grad student from a breast cancer lab about transitioning into working with his lab over the course of the next semester and doing my honor's thesis as well. I adore the research I currently do, but haven't had much success with it and also have a passion for human diseases as well. Should I make this switch?
Clinical: 75 hours split between surgery waiting and oncology clinical trials (started this summer, will continue in fall at lower frequency teaching painting classes to patients in trials on weekends 😀). I plan to continue this during breaks from school and next summer as well depending on where I end up!
Trials:
>specimen courier
>prep patient beds/rooms
>talk with patients and provide hospitality to those waiting for appointments/treatments
>provide patient companionship
>anything else nurses need
>direct patient contact
Surgery waiting:
>provide hospitality to patients waiting for operations
>manage waiting room desk and take patients to pre-op as scheduled
Physician Shadowing: 40 hours w/ ER doc (planning to continue shadowing in different specialties during school year), potential opportunity to shadow plastic surgeon
Non-clinical Volunteering: Mentor through Page Turners reading to children at local library (~25 hours, more if times work with my schedule next semester), ~20 through random school opportunities
Extracurricular Activities:
Outdoors Club
>regular hiking/backpacking trips throughout Southwest US
>tens of days spent roughin' it 🙂
>I would really like to turn this into a volunteer opportunity and make the club more service-centric. As backpackers we can get to places on trails that many cannot otherwise get to or do not go to for leisure. Recently a (unfortunately human-caused) fire ravaged a huge area of the wilderness I used to enjoy regularly. The area is an integral part of our state's natural and human history and I would like to set up restoration projects)
Employment/Internship History:
Lifeguard, 4 years (half high school, half college), around 2000 hours
Hostess, 2 years (20 hour work week during summers in college)
I intend to work as a tutor or hostess for about 10 hours a week during the school year as my parents are now divorced and I need money for applications/books and whatnot.
---
Illustrator (Intern), 1 semester, around 200 hours
>illustrator for published online encyclopedia focusing on reproductive health/embryology, 6 illustrations pending publication
Hobbies:
Fencing (just for fun) ~50 hours
Drawing ~? (I have a portfolio, small online following)
Thanks in advance!
