Input for improving application

[surub]

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morning everyone

I am a senior graduating in may and I will be taking a gap year. I am currently sitting at a 3.5cGPA/3.35sGPA and I plan on taking my MCAT this coming June (I took a practice AAMC exam without any review of any sort and scored a 26). I am applying this coming cycle for MD.

For my ECs:
- 5.5 years of active volunteering as an EMT (Approximately 3000 hours)
- 4.5 years of paid work as an EMT (ranging from 8-40 hours during the school year and 20-40+ hours during vacations)
- Participated in a medical brigade in Honduras for a week
- Working in a research lab for approximately 8 months and we should have a publication out for review by mid summer.
- Approximately 10 hours shadowing an ER physician. *

* I have a PA friend of mine trying to set me up with some various doctors to shadow in the hospital. It has been extremely difficult in the area I am in to find any shadowing opportunities

Other things:
- Obtained Private Pilot License at 19
- Have several scholarships
- Deans List Freshman and Junior year
- I also DJ as a hobby

After I graduate I plan to continue working EMS in addition to working in the research lab (slight change that my lab may get another publication out during the gap year).


I understand that my numbers right now aren't very good. I had a 3.7 GPA in year 1. However, it dropped significantly the following year. I don't want to sit here give excuses for my poor grades. I have been on an upward trend with my GPA. I realize that I need to push hard for my MCAT scores. As for my personal statement I really want to emphasize the fact that my strong clinical background will benefit me in the application of the didactic work I would do in M1 and M2. Any thoughts on this approach?

What else could potentially do to strengthen my application?

thanks!

 

[Boolean]

Maybe get a bit more shadowing experience but otherwise it looks great. Upward trend is good, GPA could increase a bit but it isn't terrible. Without your actual MCAT, really can't say much more.

 

[tmn]

Rock the MCAT. 45 or bust.

 

[terp720]

I understand that my numbers right now aren't very good. I had a 3.7 GPA in year 1. However, it dropped significantly the following year. I don't want to sit here give excuses for my poor grades. I have been on an upward trend with my GPA. I realize that I need to push hard for my MCAT scores. As for my personal statement I really want to emphasize the fact that my strong clinical background will benefit me in the application of the didactic work I would do in M1 and M2. Any thoughts on this approach?

talking about your background is good, but I would also include why you want to be a doctor and how your background supports that, not just why you will be a good med student.

 

[surub]

Maybe get a bit more shadowing experience but otherwise it looks great. Upward trend is good, GPA could increase a bit but it isn't terrible. Without your actual MCAT, really can't say much more.

Gotcha thanks for the reply man!

Rock the MCAT. 45 or bust.

👍

talking about your background is good, but I would also include why you want to be a doctor and how your background supports that, not just why you will be a good med student.

Right right, I just was wondering if that component of the personal statement would be good to include! thanks for the reply my friend!

 

[terp720]

Right right, I just was wondering if that component of the personal statement would be good to include! thanks for the reply my friend!

Gotchya. Well I think you could phrase it to talk about how this will help you contribute to the school/class and ultimately as a physician. But I wouldn't necessarily focus on why it would help you as a med student, since you hopefully won't be a med student forever. But that's just my opinion, so hopefully someone can chime in with other opinions, since I don't really have much experience reading personal statements!