Need Advice

[oblivious]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am applying to med schools next year, and I was hoping that the wiser and more experienced students could help me figure out how to increase my chances of acceptance. Thanks in advance.

Stats

1) Physics Major with Biology Minor from a small university (approx. 5000 students)

2) GPA = 3.81, MCAT = ? won't know until June, but should be 32-35 (figures crossed)

3) Work experience in manufacturing engineering field for 4+ yrs; supported all my financial needs by working part-time 25-35 hrs/wk during school, 40+ during summers; I don't mean to harp on this, but this is just where I have had to spend so much of my available time.

4) Meals on Wheels volunteer

5) Shadowed family doctor

6) Member of Sigma Pi Sigma (physics society)

7) Personal tutor for 4 years throughout college

8) No experience in ER or hospital volunteering

9) No research experience because I honestly couldn't financially afford to take time off work.

10) Various academic awards, but nothing too astonishing

11) Various local food drives and Relay for Life Cancer walks

I hope you guys can help me. I am sorry if I included totally useless information. Thanks again.

 

[oblivious]

Obviously, I mean "FINGERS CROSSED"

 

[oblivious]

Actually, I am signed up for EMT-Basic training starting this fall. I know this won't hurt my chances of acceptance, but will it help significantly. I know I need more clinical experience, but everything I find seems really disheartening. By this I mean, all I am offered is paperwork.

 

[BaseballFan]

why are you interested in medicine?

you might get this question during the application process...since you don't have much medical/hospital experience.

I'd try to volunteer or shadow some more, so you can get a better feel for the profession.

good luck!

 

[skiz knot]

troll under the bridge

 

[meanderson]

I think you are in good shape. I had a very similar application and did well. It's mainly going to depend on how much of a committment to medicine the schools you are targeting want to see. What state are you a resident of?

 

[oblivious]

I am absolutely sure I will get that question in my interviews. I am still trying to figure out exactly what it is that draws me to medicine, in addition to technical fields. I guess I am amazed by how the body works and how it can compensate for vastly different environments. Besides my interest in the body, diseases, and cures for those diseases, my other motivation is to make a difference. For those 4+ years working in manufacturing engineering, I have spent countless hours redesigning parts and machines, but for what purpose? Just so that my huge, international, greedy company can make more money and become more efficient so they can get rid of more and more workers. (do you sense the resentment) I feel like I haven't accomplished anything that actually benefits the average person. Do you understand what I mean?

Anyway, I am going to think all year long about whether medicine is truly my interest. But, if it is, and I confirm this by clinical experience and shadowing, I want to know how I can make myself more desirable for the admission folk.

Hopefully, you guys can help me.

 

[oblivious]

I am a resident of Georgia, which limits my choices for good schools. I think anyway. I know how hard it is to get into an out of state school, so I want my application to be very competitve.

 

[oblivious]

Skiz Knot...

I am new to the forums...I don't understand what "troll under the bridge" means...

 

[PublicEnemy]

statistically your application will be very competetive. but yeah you'll need to explain your motivations for being a doctor and with no research or medically related experiences, you'll need to show that you are familiar with what being a doctor entails to lend credibility to your reasoning. so if you follow that up with some shadowing or some volunteer work from here on out, you'll be in good shape.

 

[meanderson]

oblivious, I don't think georgia in any way limits your ability to apply to good schools. I'm from georgia too. MCG is your typical large state allopathic school. Apply to there as a starting point. You'll probably get in there and I don't think that would hurt you in any way. They have a lot of good matches.

Plus there is a top 20 school in emory that gives *some* preferance to georgia residents. I got in with numbers similar to yours. Georgia is a decent state to be from. Not the best but not the worst. PM me if you want more info on what each of the schools located in ga is looking for.

 

[oblivious]

I hope so...Like I said, I am going to take this year and figure out if medicine really fits me. How did you guys know you wanted to be a doctor and nothing else? I have so many interests, it is hard to know. I don't mean that arrogantly at all...

 

[oblivious]

meanderson,

I tried to PM you, but I received the following error:

meanderson has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space.

I would like to know what Emory likes in its applicants, especially.

 

[oblivious]

Does EMT-Basic training count as clinical experience?

 

[patzan]

I don't think the training would count, but on the job time definitely would.

 

[oblivious]

Are you allowed to staff an ambulance or work in the ER with only an EMT-basic certification?

 

[skypilot]

Are you allowed to staff an ambulance or work in the ER with only an EMT-basic certification?

Yup, you should be able to work in an ambulance. They might not hire you if they know you are premed and will leave after a few though. Your stats are fine, slightly above average depending on whether you manage to do ok on the MCAT or not. Just have to establish a good link to medicine and interview well and you should be fine. For schools, I'd definitely give all the Georgia schools and Tulane a try. (Unless of course you want to move to the frozen North where I live) 🙂

 

[oblivious]

Thanks for the answer. I am hoping that my experience as an EMT will help me see if I am cut out for medicine.

 

[Newquagmire]

IMHO, shadowing a doctor is much more helpful from a perspective point of view than volunteering in a hospital where all you're really going to do is push papers or wheelchairs.

can't speak on what exactly emory is looking for, but for every school you go to you're going to have to convince them you love them and want to go there.

ps: mentioning your work experience isn't harping at all. if anything, i think adcoms will be impressed by time management.

 

[skypilot]

Although it might not be as exciting, Certified Nurses Aide work is probably easier to get on a short term basis or even as a volunteer than EMT. I think it is equally valuable for med school application because you can talk about your devotion to Geriatrics which will make the med school's hearts flutter.

🙂

 

[jeremyh42]

Thanks for the answer. I am hoping that my experience as an EMT will help me see if I am cut out for medicine.

Great choice- I did EMT-Basic certification, and ended up working in non-emergency medical transportation for several months after I graduated college. It was a great experience when it came to patient contact, and really washed away any doubts I had about medicine being the path for me. If you can at all get on a real ambulance crew, even volunteering, I'd recommend it- DON'T work medical transportation though. The companies I worked for were all about making a quick buck (paid me $7.50 and $8.19/hour, respectively) and they resented having a pre-med around who was smarter than they were and would soon be gone for bigger and better things. One of my bosses even told me that I didn't have what it would take to get into medical school! (Proved him wrong!)

I've been told by many a med student and doctor that it's great to get that EMT-Basic- it establishes strong fundamentals that you will use in the future (even if you don't end up deciding medicine is the path for you).
Good luck!

 

[oblivious]

CNA, really? I haven't thought of that...For some reason I don't picture myself as one, but I guess I will give it a little more thought. Thanks for the different ideas, guys.

 

[oblivious]

Yeah, I really think I will enjoy being an EMT. You never know when this type of emergency training could prove useful. I am so tired of my current, indoor, computer job. I am sure this next year will be a lot more action packed. I don't see how it couldn't.

 

[skypilot]

CNA, really? I haven't thought of that...For some reason I don't picture myself as one, but I guess I will give it a little more thought. Thanks for the different ideas, guys.

Yeah, I agree. I am just finishing up the EMT Basic course right now. It is really fun! A very high level introduction to everything from Airway management to Emergency Obstetrics I am also working for a Nurse in an outpatient clinic which is also fun. Get to practice taking blood pressure over and over again. 🙂