Lacking EC's

[eagerinsight]

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http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=8105

As you can see in my profile my EC's are slim. I've been going to school and caring for my sick parents (Pancreatic Cancer and Asbestoses). I took the MCAT on the 15th of June, expecting 30 +/- 2. Would my chances of being excepted be hindered due to my limited EC experience.

PS. I'm from Philadelphia and would like to go to school around here.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Stupid question but:

So you have an associate's degree but not a bachelors? Don't you need a bachelors (or at least 90 credits toward a bachelors degree) to apply?

 

[eagerinsight]

I'm going into my senior year of undergrad, I will gradate spring 08.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I'm going into my senior year of undergrad, I will gradate spring 08.

Ah ok. I think you'll be fine. Do what you said you were planning on. Be sure to mention your hardships (your parents illnesses and taking care of them) in your PS and you'll be ok.

 

[SketchLazy]

http://mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?id=8105

As you can see in my profile my EC's are slim. I've been going to school and caring for my sick parents (Pancreatic Cancer and Asbestoses). I took the MCAT on the 15th of June, expecting 30 +/- 2. Would my chances of being excepted be hindered due to my limited EC experience.

PS. I'm from Philadelphia and would like to go to school around here.

Honestly, I think you're putting too much into the importance of ECs. How can having ECs compare to taking care of your sick parents? They don't. I think you show qualities of being a good doctor by forgoing what you need for medical school and taking care of them. I think that will balance out any lack of ECs and exposure to the medical field. Just make sure to mention it in a way that doesn't sound like your excusing yourself from having ECs because that would sound horrible.

 

[eagerinsight]

I really would like to avoid talking about it in an interview, I don't know how I would react. But, my parents hx and current battle with cancer are why I want to get into medicine. Thanks for the input.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I really would like to avoid talking about it in an interview, I don't know how I would react. But, my parents hx and current battle with cancer are why I want to get into medicine. Thanks for the input.

If those are the main reasons you're going into medicine and the main reason for your lack of ECs you're really not going to be able to avoid it. I understand your hesitance but I would start practicing talking about it so you'll be able to. Its too much a part of your life - I just think adcoms are going to feel like theres a huge hole in your life that they can't figure out and thats going to be a red flat.

 

[leftmid]

Taking care of a sick parent is a noble thing to do. Taking care of sick parentS is even nobler. I wouldn't worry too much about any lack of volunteer activity. Instead, I'd rather try not to overkill it so much that some adcoms desperately choke when they accept me. Let those _______ who desert their parents during the hard time go to ___________!

Besides, I've heard a sick doctor keep complaining that a lot of his colleagues never had a chance to witness clinical aspect of medicine from the patient's side. I used to believe that he referred to some of his own doctors. Now it's possible that he also meant the adcoms that you are worrying about.

Wait a minute….. How long have your parents been sick? In case that both of your parents have just got sick yesterday, was there anything else that you had accomplished since high school graduation 7-8 years ago?

 

[eagerinsight]

After highschool I thought a career in engineering would be fun and I could make some money. After 2 years of junior college and working night shift in a power plant I realized my major was boring. I hated drafting and working at a desk. Over the last 10 years my mother was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease and breast cancer. My father has been suffering with asbestoses since I was young, over the last two years he has been worst than ever. Last june my step father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he had the Whipple procedure done, currently undergoing chemotherapy. Over the last year it was hard for me to study for my classes along with studying for the mcat in june. As of last month all my parents are in good health, all of them back to work, and I was able to get a lot of studying done for the mcat.

 

[leftmid]

congrats! finally, you are able to do what you really want to do for yourself. I don't see any need to make an excuse though. let all those smart brains figure it out by themselves. more often than not, i bet it will end up in your favor. Now you can go lying in wait; kill all questions that any inquiring mind would throw at you. Good luck...

 

[Eosphorus]

You have a good GPA, and if you do get an MCAT score of around 30, then I think you have a very good chance of admittance at your state schools.

 

[154241]

As for not wanting to mention it in an interview, I totally understand your concern (I wouldn't want to either), but I agree with the poster who says it's a red flag that needs addressing (as well as probably a major reason behind your interest in medicine). I know of an applicant that was extremely well qualified for a state school but was turned down solely because she refused to discuss her parents' divorce (which had a very small effect on her GPA) during the interview. She didn't think it was any of their business, simple as that. Her mentor, a former adcom for the school, actually called the committee up and asked about it, and they responded that despite being a great candidate otherwise, if she couldn't bear to talk about a divorce, then she wouldn't be prepared for the emotional rigors of medicine or something like that (!). Not exactly the same situation, but hopefully that helps. Good luck.

 

[twohearted]

Just a quick thought . . . How are you going to care for them in med school?

 

[glamqueen]

There seem to be a lot of ec's you've brushed aside as "NA" in your medapps profile. Just bc it wasn't related to medicine doesn't mean you shouldn't mention it. Please mention all your awards from engineering, as well as non-medical ones. Please mention all your activities, and list any shadowing you've done while at the osteo med school. I think you are cutting yourself shorter than you have to. Think back through your experience and then draw up a list of everything that could be considered an EC. Then, when you get ready to apply, you can consult that list and see what fits in the AMCAS categories.

I think you will do great - good luck!

 

[eagerinsight]

Just a quick thought . . . How are you going to care for them in med school?

My sister and her husband (lived in buffalo) have moved in with my mother and stepfather. My dad can sorta fend for himself with a little help from my brother and I. Thank you again for the help and support, I think I should get started rewriting my personal statement!