Hi. I am a junior right now at a well known school. I want to know if what I have done so far is alright:
I have a 3.3 overall gpa, and my science gpa is about that as well. Everything has been with an upward trend. I started out kind of shaky, but have been getting more A's lately.
I have a 4.0 gpa in my major, which is philosophy. I hope to complete an honors thesis in philosophy, which would give me a BA, w/ honors.
I studied abroad last semester and lived in England for 6 months. Got A's while there.
Volunteering/experience:
I have just started volunteering at a hospital close to campus, volunteering among sick children. In my junior year of HS, I started volunteering at a nursing home near my house, where I clocked in about 300 hours.
I volunteered with patients that have Parkinson's Disease, and I am certified to administer lsvt, a speech therapy program which helps Parkinson's patients regain their amplified voices.
Just started shadowing a doctor -- very specialized.. in gynecological oncology, which is personally very important to me (see * below).
I have fund raised for World Vision (hunger awareness) and nat'l MS society, which holds an annual walk for MS.
Leadership:
I received a "excellence in community service award" by my uni, for my work with Parkinson's disease patients.
I was also a finalist in my university's "big give project" for a religious tolerance project that I created.
As a avid photographer, I was nationally recognized by a fine arts festival in senior yr of HS.
I have also just started becoming the editor of a major magazine on campus.
*As far as my personal story, my mother has been afflicted with cancer since I was young.... causing me to become homeschooled, before I hit HS, so I could take care of my younger siblings. Being tutored at home was very different, and then being thrown into a major university alone at 18 was even more different... so (I think understandably) my grades did suffer earlier on (C in gen chem 1, even a C in intro to psych!). Once I found my niche at uni, I was more comfortable, (philosophy may have helped).
Also, I have worked ~25 hours a week for three years at the same job, at a major department store, as a commissioned sales person. It pays very well for a retail job, and I have been unable to leave it, because of my financial situation... low income family.
EDIT: Not sure if this helps or hurts, but I am a NY state resident. Can you explain how this helps or hurts!?
What are my chances right now, even though it is early?
And second, what are my chances if....
I bring my gpa up to a 3.5, add more clinical experience, including internships...and some research.
Pending:
A study abroad summer in China, learning Mandarin
Sociology research on the subcultures of my campus (founder)
Part-time work at a hospital
What else can I add to strengthen my application in the future? I want to wait until 2015 to take the MCAT... will graduating a year late (2015) help me or hurt me, if I want to stay extra to both research and raise my gpa?
Thank you so much!
I have a 3.3 overall gpa, and my science gpa is about that as well. Everything has been with an upward trend. I started out kind of shaky, but have been getting more A's lately.
I have a 4.0 gpa in my major, which is philosophy. I hope to complete an honors thesis in philosophy, which would give me a BA, w/ honors.
I studied abroad last semester and lived in England for 6 months. Got A's while there.
Volunteering/experience:
I have just started volunteering at a hospital close to campus, volunteering among sick children. In my junior year of HS, I started volunteering at a nursing home near my house, where I clocked in about 300 hours.
I volunteered with patients that have Parkinson's Disease, and I am certified to administer lsvt, a speech therapy program which helps Parkinson's patients regain their amplified voices.
Just started shadowing a doctor -- very specialized.. in gynecological oncology, which is personally very important to me (see * below).
I have fund raised for World Vision (hunger awareness) and nat'l MS society, which holds an annual walk for MS.
Leadership:
I received a "excellence in community service award" by my uni, for my work with Parkinson's disease patients.
I was also a finalist in my university's "big give project" for a religious tolerance project that I created.
As a avid photographer, I was nationally recognized by a fine arts festival in senior yr of HS.
I have also just started becoming the editor of a major magazine on campus.
*As far as my personal story, my mother has been afflicted with cancer since I was young.... causing me to become homeschooled, before I hit HS, so I could take care of my younger siblings. Being tutored at home was very different, and then being thrown into a major university alone at 18 was even more different... so (I think understandably) my grades did suffer earlier on (C in gen chem 1, even a C in intro to psych!). Once I found my niche at uni, I was more comfortable, (philosophy may have helped).
Also, I have worked ~25 hours a week for three years at the same job, at a major department store, as a commissioned sales person. It pays very well for a retail job, and I have been unable to leave it, because of my financial situation... low income family.
EDIT: Not sure if this helps or hurts, but I am a NY state resident. Can you explain how this helps or hurts!?
What are my chances right now, even though it is early?
And second, what are my chances if....
I bring my gpa up to a 3.5, add more clinical experience, including internships...and some research.
Pending:
A study abroad summer in China, learning Mandarin
Sociology research on the subcultures of my campus (founder)
Part-time work at a hospital
What else can I add to strengthen my application in the future? I want to wait until 2015 to take the MCAT... will graduating a year late (2015) help me or hurt me, if I want to stay extra to both research and raise my gpa?
Thank you so much!
