My school is without a premed adviser, so I need your help!

[nerdalert13]

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I'm a senior at a small private college, and right after deciding that I'm definitely interested in medicine our premed adviser left. Now we have a general academic adviser filling in and being fairly useless (I don't think she knows that much more than me). I'm just looking for some general advice on things that I need to be doing, because obviously my resume isn't going to look that great due to a late decision. Here's a little info about what I've been doing:

Major: Biology w/chem minor
GPA: 3.99, science GPA: 3.97
taking the MCAT in 6 days: practice scores around 37 right now
Research: one semester with prof, and then a 9 month long fellowship through OHSU doing stem cell research
Work: This summer I will be working as a surgical team intern for a biomedical research company
Volunteer: I'm currently a med/surg volunteer at a local hospital (just started this schoool year though), and I'm trying to work out an ED research volunteer opportunity at OHSU, but getting scheduled is difficult because I'm over an hour away.
Extracurriculars: limited. I played a year of rugby, and I'm currently involved in dance ensemble and pre-health club.

I've done minor job shadowing, so I guess I'm also looking for advice on setting those up, and what kind of letters of recommendation will be best.

Sorry for the life story, but my little school that's helped me so much academically is letting me down a little now. Thanks for any help you can offer. 😳

 

[RevMD]

Overall, I say that you have a solid application with a variety of experience.

To start, you need three science (bio, chem, physics) LORs and minimum 3 non-science. For the science LORs, consider going to the professors that either you know well already by going to office hours or at the very least have done well in their class. Non-science LORs can come from any other course (need 2-3 of these) you have taken, including a psych or philosophy class, as well as ECs. Since you have a variety of ECs, consider getting one LOR from each of those hospitals or labs you worked in. Usually, you can judge the how good a letter will be based on how good your relationship with that person is and how willing they are to write a good letter. The letter from these people are the ones I would consider want to include when applying. Keep in mind that most applications will have a limit as to how many letter you can send them, typically around 5-6. Even though there will be a lot of letters left unused, still worth having several to choose from.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

To start, you need three science (bio, chem, physics) LORs and minimum 3 non-science. For the science LORs, consider going to the professors that either you know well already by going to office hours or at the very least have done well in their class. Non-science LORs can come from any other course (need 2-3 of these) you have taken, including a psych or philosophy class, as well as ECs. Since you have a variety of ECs, consider getting one LOR from each of those hospitals or labs you worked in. Usually, you can judge the how good a letter will be based on how good your relationship with that person is and how willing they are to write a good letter. The letter from these people are the ones I would consider want to include when applying. Keep in mind that most applications will have a limit as to how many letter you can send them, typically around 5-6. Even though there will be a lot of letters left unused, still worth having several to choose from.

That might be a bit much IMO.

 

[plauto]

is there a premed committee at your school? most med schools will want either a committee letter or 3 separate letters, usually at least one from a science prof and one form non-science. Some med schools might have different requirements in the absence of a committee letter.

 

[LizzyM]

Obviously, you'll be applying in June for the following Fall. Besides getting your applications completed you'll need to find something to do in the gap year that will free you up to go to interviews as needed. Provided that you have the pre-req classes, I think that you need only have a good essay describing your path thus far and why you chose medicine and how you tested that interest.

 

[Catalystik]

Do you plan on any nonmedical community service, leadership activity, or teaching? These are not essentials, but would be desirable elements to add to your application, if you can manage it. Since you already have some solid research, besides more shadowing, consider these activities rather than the too-far-away ED research volunteer opportunity at OHSU.

 

[nerdalert13]

thanks for all your help so far. To answer someone's question, I'm planning on taking a lot of Spanish next year in my year 'off' and am going to try to get a job at a hospital, like a scribe or something. I guess I'm still looking for advice on how to set up shadows.

 

[mwall003]

this is a joke right?

apply to 15-20 medical schools and they can probably be all top 30 ish med schools I bet you'll get into at least 6-7 top 30 schools. 37 MCAT with a 3.99. you're golden in my book

 

[mvenus929]

To start, you need three science (bio, chem, physics) LORs and minimum 3 non-science.

Not so much. In general, you need 3-4 letters, maybe 5, depending on circumstances. Of those letters...

2 need to be from science professors (bio, chem, physics)
1 from a non-science professor
1 needs to be in your major (obviously, if you're a bio major, this can count as a science letter; if you were an English major, it could count towards your non-science letter)

If you are employed more than like 10 hours a week, you should consider getting a letter from your employer.
If you participate in research extensively, you should have a letter from your PI as well.

Some people like to get a letter from a physician, but it's really not necessary unless you're applying to DO schools (and my understanding is that you need a letter from a DO to apply to DO schools, but I didn't apply so I don't know for sure).

 

[The Poet Sings]

Not so much. In general, you need 3-4 letters, maybe 5, depending on circumstances. Of those letters...

2 need to be from science professors (bio, chem, physics)
1 from a non-science professor
1 needs to be in your major (obviously, if you're a bio major, this can count as a science letter; if you were an English major, it could count towards your non-science letter)

If you are employed more than like 10 hours a week, you should consider getting a letter from your employer.
If you participate in research extensively, you should have a letter from your PI as well.

Some people like to get a letter from a physician, but it's really not necessary unless you're applying to DO schools (and my understanding is that you need a letter from a DO to apply to DO schools, but I didn't apply so I don't know for sure).

many recommend/require a physician letter, and it can be either md or do, but some specifically require a do letter.

 

[WashMe]

this is a joke right?

apply to 15-20 medical schools and they can probably be all top 30 ish med schools I bet you'll get into at least 6-7 top 30 schools. 37 MCAT with a 3.99. you're golden in my book

perhaps this isn't the best idea

I ran into some problems last year with a similar GPA and a higher MCAT because I only applied to top 20's and 2 in-state schools (not top 20's).

To the OP: I'd suggest sending out 16-24 applications, and be broad about it. Your problem will be convincing adcoms why you want to be a doctor. You can't tell ahead of time who will be interested in you. It was a crapshoot for me last year, anyway.

Also, you just need 3 letters (2 sci, 2 non-sci) for most schools.

edit: My buddy is taking the MCAT on the same day as you, so good luck but don't do TOO well haha 😉

 

[mcaj0n]

dont worry - premed advisers wont help much anyways!

 

[The Poet Sings]

dont worry - premed advisers wont help much anyways!

this person is right. had i listened to my advisers i'd be spending my time trying to get into a post bacc. since i'm not like you with a high gpa and hopes for an incredible mcat. so i decided to ditch their advice and just apply anyways, since i figured i could always do a post bacc if i didn't get in anywhere. so here i am with 4 interviews and i'm pretty sure i can't possibly mess them all up . sdn is where i learned everything about the application process since i didn't want to meet my school's advisers ever again.