ILoveSoccerManCity
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2025
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I'm a rising junior at a state college and was hoping to get some help on what I should focus on this upcoming year.
Info:
Sophmore, OH resident, Pell-eligible (Received a COA Pell-eligible scholarship), 1st-Generation (Parents were Immigrants). I'm African, so I believe I'm underrepresented. I believe I would also be a FAP recipient.
Current cGPA: 3.75 sGPA: 3.56 Haven't taken the MCAT Yet, but do plan on taking it Spring of 2026. I still have to complete Biochem, Ochem 2 LAB, and Physics 2 for my pre-reqs. will most likely be done by the summer/autumn semester.
The main reasons why I want to be a doctor are that my dad had a brain tumor, my aunt, who was from Africa, got sick there and came to the US to receive treatment, and we found that she had terminal cancer. These two experiences have been very impactful to my life and are my motivation to becoming a doctor one day.
Research:
-I am currently in researching oral carcinogenesis ( I started this research this January and it's been fulfilling and I enjoy it a lot)
-Secured a full-time research position for this summer in the same lab, will likely be a co-author on the paper (papers in the lab generally have a long turnaround period and take some time to get sent for publishing). Hoping to continue in the lab during the rest of my undergraduate career
Volunteering/Community Service:
- I just recently started volunteering at this clinic about (6hrs so far) I hope to ramp it up more in the summer, but I try to volunteer at least once a week, which is about 3 hours a week. This volunteering is more clinical (vitals, scribing) than the one mentioned below.
- I also had another interview for another free clinic associated with my university; if I do get the opportunity, that would be another 3 hrs per week of volunteering.
- Volunteer at an organization that primarily serves an underserved/immigrant community within their food pantry and their youth soccer team.
- Volunteer at my university's Student Wellness Center as a Financial Coach 1 hr per week. ( I enjoy talking about the importance of financial literacy as that's something my parents struggled with)
I'm also a youth mentor for 2 kids who recently immigrated to the US
Clinical Experience:
- I'm not too sure if this is clinical experience, but I worked as a Pharmacy Tech at CVS for 2 years. Over 1000hrs
Because of my uncertainty about Pharmacy Tech being clinical, I plan on looking for PCA jobs in the Summer.
Non-Clinical Experience:
I've been a soccer ref since 202,0 so I have about 3000 hrs of that experience.
Leadership/Clubs:
Undergraduate Student Government Senator
-In a few clubs, I will be the next President of a Cultural Organization that I've been a part of since freshman year. I was the treasurer this year. Was a Student Ambassador for a Black Male Initiative within the School's Office of Diverity and Inclusion. That program has sadly been discontinued. I will also have a leadership position in a Muslim Healthcare Student Org
General Ideas:
I want to go back home (Senegal) to potentially shadow doctors or volunteer in a clinic or hospital.
I want a career where I can focus on solving issues of international healthcare disparities.
Thought about minoring in Global Public Health
Thought about doing Fulbright maybe for a gap year?
Also thinking about being a TA or Tutor for Ochem (I feel that it would help my application)
Would it be a good idea to take a gap year in my situation (assuming I do well on the MCAT and maintain my GPA)? In terms of volunteering and clinical experience, should I prioritize one over the other at the moment? If I'm consistent with my hours by the time application season opens next year, do you think I’ll have a good chance of being accepted to medical school? Or should we wait another year to get more hours and more longitudinal involvement with potential leadership in the free clinics?
Also, I have no idea where to start besides looking at stats when it comes to building a medical school list.
Info:
Sophmore, OH resident, Pell-eligible (Received a COA Pell-eligible scholarship), 1st-Generation (Parents were Immigrants). I'm African, so I believe I'm underrepresented. I believe I would also be a FAP recipient.
Current cGPA: 3.75 sGPA: 3.56 Haven't taken the MCAT Yet, but do plan on taking it Spring of 2026. I still have to complete Biochem, Ochem 2 LAB, and Physics 2 for my pre-reqs. will most likely be done by the summer/autumn semester.
The main reasons why I want to be a doctor are that my dad had a brain tumor, my aunt, who was from Africa, got sick there and came to the US to receive treatment, and we found that she had terminal cancer. These two experiences have been very impactful to my life and are my motivation to becoming a doctor one day.
Research:
-I am currently in researching oral carcinogenesis ( I started this research this January and it's been fulfilling and I enjoy it a lot)
-Secured a full-time research position for this summer in the same lab, will likely be a co-author on the paper (papers in the lab generally have a long turnaround period and take some time to get sent for publishing). Hoping to continue in the lab during the rest of my undergraduate career
Volunteering/Community Service:
- I just recently started volunteering at this clinic about (6hrs so far) I hope to ramp it up more in the summer, but I try to volunteer at least once a week, which is about 3 hours a week. This volunteering is more clinical (vitals, scribing) than the one mentioned below.
- I also had another interview for another free clinic associated with my university; if I do get the opportunity, that would be another 3 hrs per week of volunteering.
- Volunteer at an organization that primarily serves an underserved/immigrant community within their food pantry and their youth soccer team.
- Volunteer at my university's Student Wellness Center as a Financial Coach 1 hr per week. ( I enjoy talking about the importance of financial literacy as that's something my parents struggled with)
I'm also a youth mentor for 2 kids who recently immigrated to the US
Clinical Experience:
- I'm not too sure if this is clinical experience, but I worked as a Pharmacy Tech at CVS for 2 years. Over 1000hrs
Because of my uncertainty about Pharmacy Tech being clinical, I plan on looking for PCA jobs in the Summer.
Non-Clinical Experience:
I've been a soccer ref since 202,0 so I have about 3000 hrs of that experience.
Leadership/Clubs:
Undergraduate Student Government Senator
-In a few clubs, I will be the next President of a Cultural Organization that I've been a part of since freshman year. I was the treasurer this year. Was a Student Ambassador for a Black Male Initiative within the School's Office of Diverity and Inclusion. That program has sadly been discontinued. I will also have a leadership position in a Muslim Healthcare Student Org
General Ideas:
I want to go back home (Senegal) to potentially shadow doctors or volunteer in a clinic or hospital.
I want a career where I can focus on solving issues of international healthcare disparities.
Thought about minoring in Global Public Health
Thought about doing Fulbright maybe for a gap year?
Also thinking about being a TA or Tutor for Ochem (I feel that it would help my application)
Would it be a good idea to take a gap year in my situation (assuming I do well on the MCAT and maintain my GPA)? In terms of volunteering and clinical experience, should I prioritize one over the other at the moment? If I'm consistent with my hours by the time application season opens next year, do you think I’ll have a good chance of being accepted to medical school? Or should we wait another year to get more hours and more longitudinal involvement with potential leadership in the free clinics?
Also, I have no idea where to start besides looking at stats when it comes to building a medical school list.
