Ok, so to give you some background. I am not one of those kids who knew from age 3 that they would be a doctor. In fact, I hated science in highschool. I did absolutely awful in high school chem and knew I would do graphic design when I went to college.
Well, I got to college and learned a lot more about the world than I'd known, and I changed my major to psychology. I was interested in the mind, and the further I went down the psych path, the more I realized that it was not for me. What was?
We talked about neurons one morning and I was hooked. This was something I'd never even heard of before, and here we were casually talking about how information is transmitted through the body. Still I couldn't get around the pseudo-scientific ideas that were at the core of the Psych curriculum. So, I changed my major to Biology after consulting my advisor.
I'll make this quick. I was in Biology and saw how many processes were occurring in the body. It was fascinating. Still, I couldn't get over how generalized everything was. I wanted to truly get at the core of these concepts. So, I tacked on Biochemistry as a second major wanting to get a better understanding of how the processes occured. Specifically it was the physiological topics I found myself really enjoying.
Knowing that this is what I wanted to become, I considered what jobs would allow me to continue this path. Physician came as a natural choice. I loved understanding how the body worked and was astounded by the complexity of the overlapping reactions throughout.
Sorry for that. Anyway fast forward, I am in my Senior year, and I have only recently come to understand the task that is getting into medical school. I know that I am no longer on a traditional timeline, but I am young (21). I'm not in a hurry, and I know what needs to be done. I need your help in creating a plan that I can follow from now until I have attained my goal.
So, here are my credentials for what I have perceived makes one a competitive applicant.
GPA: 3.65
-I was a straight a student until I decided taking the prerequisites together was good idea, not. I think it will stay around this number as this semester may contain some Bs and As in equal proportion.
MCAT: (/)
-I have not taken the MCAT. I know I should have studied last summer, but I didn't have straight what I would do until now. My plan is to study for and take it in the coming summer.
Volunteering: Here and there
-I did some volunteering at my local hospital for about one semester, until I realized it was a terrible experience that I was getting nothing out of. I plan to try a different hospital and get as much patient and doctor time as possible from the winter break until the end of the summer and next year (as my timeline fudge will give me a gap year).
Shadowing: I have seen about 8 surgeries and 1 days worth of molar teeth removal.
I plan to contact a physician at the next hospital I shadow and hopefully have a more regular relationship.
Research: I started doing computational chemistry research this semester and plan to do it until I graduate.
Forgive my wall of text, I'm just nervous. I want you to understand as best as possible where I'm coming from.
TL;DR
I found late in my education that I wanted to be a physician, I'm in my first semester of my senior year without having taken the MCAT. Sparse research, sparse volunteering, sparse shadowing.
I think during the gap year I want to do some kind of medical work along with the volunteering I will be doing. My advisor told me I should think about getting a masters before I apply to see if research is what I want to do.
Suggestions?
Well, I got to college and learned a lot more about the world than I'd known, and I changed my major to psychology. I was interested in the mind, and the further I went down the psych path, the more I realized that it was not for me. What was?
We talked about neurons one morning and I was hooked. This was something I'd never even heard of before, and here we were casually talking about how information is transmitted through the body. Still I couldn't get around the pseudo-scientific ideas that were at the core of the Psych curriculum. So, I changed my major to Biology after consulting my advisor.
I'll make this quick. I was in Biology and saw how many processes were occurring in the body. It was fascinating. Still, I couldn't get over how generalized everything was. I wanted to truly get at the core of these concepts. So, I tacked on Biochemistry as a second major wanting to get a better understanding of how the processes occured. Specifically it was the physiological topics I found myself really enjoying.
Knowing that this is what I wanted to become, I considered what jobs would allow me to continue this path. Physician came as a natural choice. I loved understanding how the body worked and was astounded by the complexity of the overlapping reactions throughout.
Sorry for that. Anyway fast forward, I am in my Senior year, and I have only recently come to understand the task that is getting into medical school. I know that I am no longer on a traditional timeline, but I am young (21). I'm not in a hurry, and I know what needs to be done. I need your help in creating a plan that I can follow from now until I have attained my goal.
So, here are my credentials for what I have perceived makes one a competitive applicant.
GPA: 3.65
-I was a straight a student until I decided taking the prerequisites together was good idea, not. I think it will stay around this number as this semester may contain some Bs and As in equal proportion.
MCAT: (/)
-I have not taken the MCAT. I know I should have studied last summer, but I didn't have straight what I would do until now. My plan is to study for and take it in the coming summer.
Volunteering: Here and there
-I did some volunteering at my local hospital for about one semester, until I realized it was a terrible experience that I was getting nothing out of. I plan to try a different hospital and get as much patient and doctor time as possible from the winter break until the end of the summer and next year (as my timeline fudge will give me a gap year).
Shadowing: I have seen about 8 surgeries and 1 days worth of molar teeth removal.
I plan to contact a physician at the next hospital I shadow and hopefully have a more regular relationship.
Research: I started doing computational chemistry research this semester and plan to do it until I graduate.
Forgive my wall of text, I'm just nervous. I want you to understand as best as possible where I'm coming from.
TL;DR
I found late in my education that I wanted to be a physician, I'm in my first semester of my senior year without having taken the MCAT. Sparse research, sparse volunteering, sparse shadowing.
I think during the gap year I want to do some kind of medical work along with the volunteering I will be doing. My advisor told me I should think about getting a masters before I apply to see if research is what I want to do.
Suggestions?
