Master of Science to MD or DO - very few clinical hours

[jrlff1]

Hi! I’m a student currently at UCSD about to graduate in June with a Masters of Science degree in Chemistry & Biochemistry. Before starting at UCSD, I graduated from Penn State with a BS in Biomedical Engineering. My undergrad GPA was a little low at a 3.2, and my graduate GPA is around 3.8/3.9, however, I haven’t taken many classes as my degree is centered around research and completion of a thesis.

I did research in undergrad (tissue engineering) and obviously all throughout grad school (I’m studying mRNA localization in cells and how various types of stress effects this). Ive TA’d various classes through both degrees, currently tutor high school students, and work ~10-20 hours a week as a bartender to support myself while in school.

Here is my issue:
I currently have no clinical or service hours. I now understand that this is a big part of the application and acceptance process, but i feel as if i have waited too long to begin. My worry is that even if i begin volunteering ASAP, I won’t have enough hours to submit my applications this summer— or worse— it will look bad on my applications as if I’m trying to just “check the box” on the application for necessary clinical hours. I am really hoping to apply this upcoming cycle and begin school in 2021, instead of taking another year off, thereby delaying the start of school to 2022. Currently planning on taking the MCAT on May 15.

I was just wondering if anyone has any insight/advice. Thank you!!

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[Shotapp]

I currently have no clinical or service hours.

This is an app killer. You will need to take a gap year to build your clinical and non-clinical hours.

 

[Goro]

This is an app killer. You will need to take a gap year to build your clinical and non-clinical hours.

This.

Here are some suggestions:
Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimer’s or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.



Service need not be "unique"; it can be anything that helps people unable to help themselves and that is outside of a patient-care setting.If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients.

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching literacy or ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, mentoring immigrant/refugee adults, being a friendly visitor to shut-ins, adaptive sports program coach or Special Olympics.

 

[jrlff1]

This.

Here are some suggestions:
Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, nursing homes, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics.

Some types of volunteer activities are more appealing than others. Volunteering in a nice suburban hospital is all very well and good and all, but doesn't show that you're willing to dig in and get your hands dirty in the same way that working with the developmentally disabled (or homeless, the dying, or Alzheimer’s or mentally ill or elderly or ESL or domestic, rural impoverished) does. The uncomfortable situations are the ones that really demonstrate your altruism and get you 'brownie points'. Plus, they frankly teach you more -- they develop your compassion and humanity in ways comfortable situations can't.



Service need not be "unique"; it can be anything that helps people unable to help themselves and that is outside of a patient-care setting.If you can alleviate suffering in your community through service to the poor, homeless, illiterate, fatherless, etc, you are meeting an otherwise unmet need and learning more about the lives of the people (or types of people) who will someday be your patients.

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching literacy or ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, mentoring immigrant/refugee adults, being a friendly visitor to shut-ins, adaptive sports program coach or Special Olympics.

Thank you both so much for your reply! So you would suggest spending a whole gap year doing activities like this, as just a few months might not be enough to demonstrate a real commitment?

 

[Goro]

Thank you both so much for your reply! So you would suggest spending a whole gap year doing activities like this, as just a few months might not be enough to demonstrate a real commitment?

Doing them in a few months looks like box checking

 

[deleted859689]

Thank you both so much for your reply! So you would suggest spending a whole gap year doing activities like this, as just a few months might not be enough to demonstrate a real commitment?

scribe for a year and volunteer in an underserved community and teach science classes to underprivileged children. Worked for me (DO)