MD One Year out, what could benefit my app?

[goliverpool]

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Hello, I am a Texas resident finishing my sophomore year at uni. I would like to know how I stand when looking to get into a mid-level md program. Any constructive criticism is appreciated, I'm new here so also tips on how this forum works is also appreciated.

cGPA/sGPA: 4.0/4.0
MCAT: projected 515 (practice test, taking in August)
~1000 hours research in bioengineering lab (if it means much about 500 were paid) working with biopolymers
~200 hours volunteering at a free clinic (about half in front office, half with doctors)
~100 hours shadowing (60 with surgeon, 40 with family medicine)
~200 hours spent volunteering with local Boy Scout troop
~60 hours spent working at a camp for children with autism
2 leadership positions in fraternity
Eagle Scout
Honors student
I'm involved a couple of engineering student societies as well as some medical societies
Outside of school I work on small projects involving programming, hiking, and sports (earned some state recognition in hs).

 

[Goro]

Getting a nice MCAT score.
Beyond that, you have a very nice app. Service to others less fortunate than yourself always looks good.

 

[DokterMom]

So far you're in great shape - congratulations! And good on you for asking now, while there's still time to make a feew strategic changes. As @Goro says, do your best to get your best MCAT score. Have you taken all of the prerequisites needed to score well on the MCAT? If not, you could postpone -- but if your practice scores support a 510 or better, I'd knock it out at the end of this summer.

You're fine on shadowing and research already - no need for more. (Though more research can help your attractiveness to top schools, which is something to consider if your MCAT ends up 515+ and prestige is something you care about.) Your volunteering is fine, but compared to everything else, I'd say that's probably your weak spot. (To clarify, it's NOT weak -- just relatively speaking.) Can you get more hours working with autistic kids? (Or adults - even better) That's something much less common and will add interest as well as altruism to your app. Maybe Special Olympics or sports leagues for young people with developmental disabilities? There are always plenty of opportunities. If you don't know of any, call a few schools for kids with disabilities and they'll be more than happy to hook you up.

As a Texas resident you're lucky to have a large number of good-to-great and inexpensive schools to choose from and our strong IS preference (90%+) limits the number of applications received so "application review fatigue" is less of an issue. You should be fine applying TMDSAS only, adding Baylor and other 'top' schools only if your MCAT justifies. Otherwise save your time and money.

 

[goliverpool]

Thank you both for helping me!

You're fine on shadowing and research already - no need for more. (Though more research can help your attractiveness to top schools, which is something to consider if your MCAT ends up 515+ and prestige is something you care

My preference schools are either UTSW or UTMB, with my current trajectory in regards to research, do you think it would be best to continue or put my focus elsewhere.

 

[DokterMom]

Thank you both for helping me!

My preference schools are either UTSW or UTMB, with my current trajectory in regards to research, do you think it would be best to continue or put my focus elsewhere.

Honestly, I'd wait to see what your MCAT says and hedge until then. That should absolutely be your #1 priority right now. A high MCAT gives you a great chance at a research-focused school, and if you score well and want a research school, THEN yes, absolutely do more research and shoot for a publication.

BUT if your MCAT is only 'good', a top school might be out of reach for that reason no matter how many hours you invest in research. I'd even go so far as to suggest that doing extensive research can hurt you a bit at a mid-tier schools since the implication is that you'd rather sit in a lab than treat patients, and the mid-tiers are definitely more focused on clinical care.