Multiple questions about app

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[eteshoe]

I am a URM in my second semester of my Junior year. I don't have much time to volunteer since I must work at least 20 hrs/week to live decently. I currently work as a research assistant. I have been involved slightly (transferring data) in 4 studies and have been involved with the data collection in 2 different studies (which the Drs stated that I would have my name put on the pub when it is completed). However that time does not seem within sight.

I have approx. 200 clinical hours, if including shadowing hrs. I am sure if you are supposed to include that or not. 40 of the 200 hours is shadowing hours. As stated before, because of my time schedule I am very limited to volunteering (will be trying to get a lot of volunteering this summer) but as of right now I have only 10 hrs.

My gpa currently is 3.2, bad freshman year but last 2 semesters have been 3.7+, if continuing on such path, it is possible to reach a 3.5 (3.4 science).

No mcat yet, cannot take since my school doesn't allow to biochem until I am finished with ochem 2, which I am taking now, no biochem course til next semester.

I have a few questions. Would it be wise to self learn biochem without taking a course on it?
Besides volunteering, how to improve my app?
Family lives in Texas, I do not but I visit every year, am I considered to have strong ties? Is my app not good enough for Texas med schools?

Would like to try for MD but have nothing against DO.

Thanks.

1. Unless you are almost pathologically driven to self learn, I wouldn't self teach yourself biochem until you have mastered ochem.
2. You need more research experience, more shadowing hrs, and more volunteering hrs. More than anything - crush the MCAT
3. If you are not a TX resident, you just won't get in state prices. Visiting doesn't really count.

 

[Goro]

For the MCAT? No way.

Would it be wise to self learn biochem without taking a course on it?

Maintain the good academic trend. Service to others in greater need than yourself is always good.

Besides volunteering, how to improve my app?


It depends upon what URM community you represent. Which one? And please don't say "Arlington". Keep in mind that the TX system is mandated by law to favor Texans.

Family lives in Texas, I do not but I visit every year, am I considered to have strong ties? Is my app not good enough for Texas med schools?

 

[Dr.NickRiviera]

I am a URM in my second semester of my Junior year. I don't have much time to volunteer since I must work at least 20 hrs/week to live decently. I currently work as a research assistant. I have been involved slightly (transferring data) in 4 studies and have been involved with the data collection in 2 different studies (which the Drs stated that I would have my name put on the pub when it is completed). However that time does not seem within sight.

I have approx. 200 clinical hours, if including shadowing hrs. I am sure if you are supposed to include that or not. 40 of the 200 hours is shadowing hours. As stated before, because of my time schedule I am very limited to volunteering (will be trying to get a lot of volunteering this summer) but as of right now I have only 10 hrs.

My gpa currently is 3.2, bad freshman year but last 2 semesters have been 3.7+, if continuing on such path, it is possible to reach a 3.5 (3.4 science).

No mcat yet, cannot take since my school doesn't allow to biochem until I am finished with ochem 2, which I am taking now, no biochem course til next semester.

I have a few questions. Would it be wise to self learn biochem without taking a course on it?
Besides volunteering, how to improve my app?
Family lives in Texas, I do not but I visit every year, am I considered to have strong ties? Is my app not good enough for Texas med schools?

Would like to try for MD but have nothing against DO.

Thanks.

You probably count as a Texas resident if your parents (presumably Texas residents) still claim you as a dependent and you're only living outside of Texas for college (like if you go home to Texas every summer).

 

[Gibbward]

I'm pretty sure your parents can claim you as a dependent even if you are no longer in college.

 

[eteshoe]

Yes they do claim me. Part of the reason I would want to self-learn biochem, would be for me to be able to get my scores back in time to apply to medical school while I am still in undergrad, so that my parents will still be able to claim me. This would mean I would be a texan resident and thus be able to apply to the texas schools under instate tuition, correct?

Don't rush MCAT studying. You can still be claimed by your parents. Getting a good score on the MCAT is of the utmost importance and can open up opportunities for scholarships.

 

[Dr.NickRiviera]

Yes they do claim me. Part of the reason I would want to self-learn biochem, would be for me to be able to get my scores back in time to apply to medical school while I am still in undergrad, so that my parents will still be able to claim me. This would mean I would be a texan resident and thus be able to apply to the texas schools under instate tuition, correct?

Well, I'm no residency expert but if you don't hold a full-time job and you only live outside of Texas to attend college, then yeah, you would count as a Texas resident and get all the perks that apply.

I'm pretty sure your parents can claim you as a dependent even if you are no longer in college.

Yes, that's correct. But your parents can't claim you if you file your own taxes as an independent and if you're filing your own taxes as an independent, you're presumably holding down a full-time job. In which case, you should be considered a resident of whatever state you're working in rather than whatever state your parents live in.