Junior with no experience. What should I do?

[RedSox1804]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Starting my junior year next week. My GPA is 4.0. Aside from taking an EMT-basic course, I have no experience volunteering or shadowing. I never worked as an EMT after I took (and passed) the class. I have not been enrolled in any medical clubs at school either. Basically I've worked really hard on my GPA and slacked off on extracurriculars. I will be volunteering at a community health clinic starting next week. What else should I be doing to show I'm serious about medical school?

Should I count the EMT class as "experience" and should I even bother getting a year of Pre-med club under my belt before I apply next summer? In your experience, are there any worthwhile things to learn at a pre-med club? (Last time I went to a health related club on campus I was the only person in attendance out of a total of 5 who was not an "officer" and it seemed like nobody gave a hoot about anything except being able to claim status in a public health club). Would it impress at an interview? Thanks!

Forgot to add school I attend (Oklahoma State University) and state in which I'll be applying to medical schools (Texas).

Also, I'm a bit worried about letters of recommendation. I have had a few profs and TA's tell me I was a good or excellent student ect. but none with whom I feel I worked with enough to ask for and expect a solid letter from. What should I do aside from getting good grades on exams to establish myself as someone who they think they should recommend to a medical school?

 

[V5RED]

Isn't it obvious what you need to do? You need to start volunteering yesterday and find some physicians to shadow. I mean those are all but required at almost every school. You also should do some amount of research. ~70% of matriculants have some amount of research according to the MSAR. Don't get yourself behind the eight ball.

 

[RedSox1804]

How do I get research experience? I feel as if I have proved my academic qualifications to this point. Will it be a big detriment to my application if I skip research and focus my extracurriculars on clinical experience as a volunteer and shadowing?

 

[music2doc]

How do I get research experience? I feel as if I have proved my academic qualifications to this point. Will it be a big detriment to my application if I skip research and focus my extracurriculars on clinical experience as a volunteer and shadowing?

You really do need both. Most applicants have research and fewer get in w/o it. That said, if your clinical experiences were incredible, you might be able to let research go. Unfortunately, you're clinical experiences are nonexistent at this point and practically guaranteed to be mediocre at best (being as you only have about 9 months to pick up the slack now and that likely includes MCAT time, which really gives you more like 6 months of clinical experience). You should try to get in lots of both this year and seriously be ready to take a gap year (i.e., not apply until senior year or end up reapplying).

 

[V5RED]

I can not quantify how much it will hurt you to ignore research. I know that most students have that on their resume, and I know that the MSAR takes the time to report on research experience. If you are neglecting what most students have on their resume, what are you replacing it with?

To get involved in research you find out which professors at your school let undergrads work in their labs. You contact these people and they interview you for a position. Some schools have sections of their websites dedicated to listing research opportunities for undergrads.

Volunteering takes very little time. It isn't like you will spend every night in the hospital. Shadowing is also not a big time consumer. Find a few physicians to shadow once or twice and you easily hit 50 hours.

 

[RedSox1804]

Okay, so research is obviously pretty important. Got it. But I'm going to be taking 16 hours this semester, volunteering, and doing research as well? Does that sound too much or is it probably the best thing to try for? Thanks btw for your replies. Very much appreciated (and was surprised by) the stat from MSAR.

 

[V5RED]

Okay, so research is obviously pretty important. Got it. But I'm going to be taking 16 hours this semester, volunteering, and doing research as well? Does that sound too much or is it probably the best thing to try for? Thanks btw for your replies. Very much appreciated (and was surprised by) the stat from MSAR.

That does not sound like a very big load. For a pre-med, that sounds fairly mediocre as far as load size goes. If you are also working, then it would be a somewhat big load.

 

[TriagePreMed]

How do I get research experience? I feel as if I have proved my academic qualifications to this point. Will it be a big detriment to my application if I skip research and focus my extracurriculars on clinical experience as a volunteer and shadowing?

Research is not really about proving your academic qualifications. You'll have to do some to understand it.

You're seriously behind in the game. You need clinical volunteering and shadowing at the minimum. It would be good if you could come in with leadership, tutoring, research, and community volunteer work.

 

[RedSox1804]

Alrighty. Well let's say I only volunteer at the community health clinic and keep my GPA at around 3.9 or above. What do I need to get on the MCAT in order to have a decent (more likely than not) chance in your opinions. Thanks again!

 

[V5RED]

Alrighty. Well let's say I only volunteer at the community health clinic and keep my GPA at around 3.9 or above. What do I need to get on the MCAT in order to have a decent (more likely than not) chance in your opinions. Thanks again!

From 2008-2010 105 applicants with GPA's above 3.8 and MCAT's above 39 were rejected from medical schools.
https://www.aamc.org/download/157450/data/table24-mcatgpagridall2008-10.pdf.pdf
These people had what amounts to the best possible numbers and were rejected. I doubt they were all felons, so what probably happened is that a lot of them had really weak or no EC's.

There is no MCAT score that will make you a shoe in. You may end up re applying even if you get a 45.

If I were you I would just work on the EC's, try to keep good grades, and do my best on the MCAT. If you do not get in on your first try, it is probably due to weak EC's, and you know how to fix that.

 

[RedSox1804]

Ahhh. Well alrighty. Thanks for the informative numbers! I figure I'll try to keep my 4.0, at least get some clinical experience, and do well on the MCAT. If the adcoms say I'm just too short on the EC's I can always spend a year getting some experience with research and clinical stuff. Thanks for all input 🙂