On the Right Track?

[HSShouldEnd]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I recently completed my second semester of college. I want to go to medical school. Am I on the right track? If I am behind or lacking, please let me know.

Major: Undecided
Minor: English
Cumulative GPA: 3.790

*I have fulfilled my general chemistry, english, and math requirements. I will fulfill my organic chemistry and biology requirement by the end of my second year.*


I did not do any research or volunteering during the school-year. I did one eight-hour shift at a health fair, but I do not know if that counts. I, however, was in a club and have been elected to be an officer for this coming year.

*Summer*
Research Associate Program (8 hrs/wk) : Conduct interviews with patients and record data
Work (2 days/wk): I do not yet know the how many hours I will work weekly
Class (2 days/wk): After July, when my class ends, I will pick up some volunteering opportunity or work another day or two.

As for this coming fall semester, I am going to continue my volunteering/research in the RA Program. I, however, will work less hours for the commute is very long. I will also continue to work.

 

[Catalystik]

I recently completed my second semester of college. I want to go to medical school. Am I on the right track? If I am behind or lacking, please let me know.

Major: Undecided
Minor: English
Cumulative GPA: 3.790

*I have fulfilled my general chemistry, english, and math requirements. I will fulfill my organic chemistry and biology requirement by the end of my second year.*


I did not do any research or volunteering during the school-year. I did one eight-hour shift at a health fair, but I do not know if that counts. I, however, was in a club and have been elected to be an officer for this coming year.

*Summer*
Research Associate Program (8 hrs/wk) : Conduct interviews with patients and record data
Work (2 days/wk): I do not yet know the how many hours I will work weekly
Class (2 days/wk): After July, when my class ends, I will pick up some volunteering opportunity or work another day or two.

As for this coming fall semester, I am going to continue my volunteering/research in the RA Program. I, however, will work less hours for the commute is very long. I will also continue to work.

You've done wel to keep a high GPA and set up a leadership activity to start in the fall.

What kind of work will you do?
What type of patients will you interview and where?

Plan to start some sort of nonmedical community service in the fall 2012 and for the following academic year also. Ideally it will be for a cause you care about and will help the underprivileged. Doing this for 1-2 hours per week while at school would be a good goal. Maybe start researching opportunites near campus now. Ideas: Meals on Wheels, homeless or women's shelter, soup kitchen, food pantry, crisis hotline, after school tutoring of kids or ESL for adults, Big Brother/Big Sister, Special Olympics or coaching athletic programs for the physically disabled, helping with a scout troop or other youth group, providing enrichment classes in a poor school (eg, science demonstrations or health topics), Habitat for Humanity, or Humane Society.

 

[HSShouldEnd]

You've done wel to keep a high GPA and set up a leadership activity to start in the fall.

What kind of work will you do?
What type of patients will you interview and where?

Plan to start some sort of nonmedical community service in the fall 2012 and for the following academic year also. Ideally it will be for a cause you care about and will help the underprivileged. Doing this for 1-2 hours per week while at school would be a good goal. Maybe start researching opportunites near campus now. Ideas: Meals on Wheels, homeless or women's shelter, soup kitchen, food pantry, crisis hotline, after school tutoring of kids or ESL for adults, Big Brother/Big Sister, Special Olympics or coaching athletic programs for the physically disabled, helping with a scout troop or other youth group, providing enrichment classes in a poor school (eg, science demonstrations or health topics), Habitat for Humanity, or Humane Society.

Thank you for your reply.

I interview senior citizens at the emergency department at a hospital. I may also be a scribe if a position opens up.

Anyways, thank you for letting me know how I am doing. I was worried that I was falling behind because I barely did anything my freshman year (besides the club in which I got a leadership role).

 

[Catalystik]

Most spend their freshman year consolidating their study strategies and trying to keep their heads above water in a new (distracting) learning environment. You've done fine.

Scribe is a terrific position as it combines active clinical experience with passive physician observation into one experience. And you learn a lot.