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Hello All.
I am a non-trad with a 3.91 sGPA and 3.88 cGPA, and a 4.0 going into the last semester of my DIY post-bacc. I will be taking the MCAT April 2016 and will be applying to MD schools in the 2016/2017 cycle. I currently have ~100 clinical volunteering hours, ~16 shadowing hours, and ~300 non-clinical volunteering hours. I feel my application is most lacking in research, and with that, I am seeking advice.
I met with the PI in a very exciting cancer research lab that I have the opportunity to volunteer with today. I was told in order to be involved I would need to volunteer a minimum of 10 hrs/week in the lab. Problem is, this semester I am already taking Biochemistry, Physiology w/lab, a 4-credit Medical Terminology course, a 1-credit personal statement course, working ~12 hrs/week as a TA for a Genetics course, and volunteering 4 hrs/week in an ED. I'm worried that with the additional 10 hour time commitment in the lab, I will be spreading myself too thin and my GPA could suffer.
What should I do? I don't want to make myself less competitive by not having research experience at the time of my application. If I didn't do the research position, I could spend extra hours in the ED and get a "volunteer promotion" so to speak an become a Stabilization/Critical Care Scribe. How important is research in my case? Should I do the research, or spend the extra time in the ED?
Thanks for any and all perspectives and advice.
I am a non-trad with a 3.91 sGPA and 3.88 cGPA, and a 4.0 going into the last semester of my DIY post-bacc. I will be taking the MCAT April 2016 and will be applying to MD schools in the 2016/2017 cycle. I currently have ~100 clinical volunteering hours, ~16 shadowing hours, and ~300 non-clinical volunteering hours. I feel my application is most lacking in research, and with that, I am seeking advice.
I met with the PI in a very exciting cancer research lab that I have the opportunity to volunteer with today. I was told in order to be involved I would need to volunteer a minimum of 10 hrs/week in the lab. Problem is, this semester I am already taking Biochemistry, Physiology w/lab, a 4-credit Medical Terminology course, a 1-credit personal statement course, working ~12 hrs/week as a TA for a Genetics course, and volunteering 4 hrs/week in an ED. I'm worried that with the additional 10 hour time commitment in the lab, I will be spreading myself too thin and my GPA could suffer.
What should I do? I don't want to make myself less competitive by not having research experience at the time of my application. If I didn't do the research position, I could spend extra hours in the ED and get a "volunteer promotion" so to speak an become a Stabilization/Critical Care Scribe. How important is research in my case? Should I do the research, or spend the extra time in the ED?
Thanks for any and all perspectives and advice.
