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Thanks for taking the time to read this and any input is appreciated! I just graduated from a top 15 university and I'm wondering what my chances are of gaining admission into medical school. For the first two years of college, I was pre-dental, but after shadowing a few dentists, it just wasn't for me at all. Here is some more info about me:
First Generation, African American Male
Major: Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
GPA
cGPA: 3.61 sGPA: 3.45 (strong upward trend)
I had a pretty rocky start my first 1.5 years of college, since I was working about 20 hours a week to support my family. My mom ended up having heart surgery the beginning of my sophomore year, and my brother who has Down Syndrome started to develop a tumor. It was just a really rough point for me first semester sophomore year, and my cGPA ended up being around a 2.97. After that, I took 22 credits each semester afterwards and never got below a 3.7. I got a 4.0 both semesters senior year!
MCAT: 517 (Took this January 2016)
CLINICAL VOLUNTEERING:
Children's Hospital Volunter - 200
SHADOWING:
Neurologist and Oncologist near hometown - 100 hours total (50 hours each)
LEADERSHIP:
Vice President of Programming and Senior Legislator for Student Government - 1.5 years
Captain of Hip Hop Dance Team - 2.5 years
Technology Associate for Entrepreneurial Club - 3 years
Project Lead Coordinator for Volunteer Organization -1 year
Head Teaching Assistant for Financial Accounting - 3 years
Peer Faciliator and Financial Coordinator for Sexual Advocacy Organization - 1.5 years
RESEARCH
1 year of independent research relating to paternal age and Down syndrome
1 summer of research attempting to look at neuropathology of Alzheimer's in African Americans
1 semester of research looking more into the role of the black comic (worked with one of my philosophy professors on this and it was one of the best projects that I worked on at the end of my senior year)
2 publications but (not in high impact journals) and poster presentations
NONCLINICAL VOLUNTEER:
Dance Teacher: Teach children with Down syndrome fitness through hip hop dancing - 1 year (My brother and I would dance battle a lot growing up, so this was inspired from him) - 144 hours (1 year)
Soup Kitchen Volunteer: 50 hours (1 year)
AWARDS:
A lot of awards from the dance team; we even got to compete in World of Dance (WOD) and got 3rd in the Upper Division
Finalist and Placed in Entrepreneurial Competitions
1st Place in multiple case competitions ranging from sustainability to global health
All-Conference Track Athlete (Only did this for year, but I quit because grades got in the way)
Dean's List
Phi Sigma Tau (Philosophy Honors Society)
I'm a TX resident, so I'm applying to all those schools. Also, going ot apply to Meharry, Morehouse, and Howard. I'm not really confident about applying to reach schools and not sure if I should apply to any because I don't know if I'm that competitive. I was thinking about taking another gap year to improve my chances, but everyone around me is saying to apply now and to stop doubting myself. Again, any feedback that you'll have to give me would be helpful.
@Goro @LizzyM @WedgeDawg @GrapesofRath @gyngyn - I've lurked through SDN for a few months, and I've seen that y'all give very helpful advice. I know you probably get tagged in hundreds of these a day, but I would really appreciate some advice on this situation. Thanks!
First Generation, African American Male
Major: Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
GPA
cGPA: 3.61 sGPA: 3.45 (strong upward trend)
I had a pretty rocky start my first 1.5 years of college, since I was working about 20 hours a week to support my family. My mom ended up having heart surgery the beginning of my sophomore year, and my brother who has Down Syndrome started to develop a tumor. It was just a really rough point for me first semester sophomore year, and my cGPA ended up being around a 2.97. After that, I took 22 credits each semester afterwards and never got below a 3.7. I got a 4.0 both semesters senior year!
MCAT: 517 (Took this January 2016)
CLINICAL VOLUNTEERING:
Children's Hospital Volunter - 200
SHADOWING:
Neurologist and Oncologist near hometown - 100 hours total (50 hours each)
LEADERSHIP:
Vice President of Programming and Senior Legislator for Student Government - 1.5 years
Captain of Hip Hop Dance Team - 2.5 years
Technology Associate for Entrepreneurial Club - 3 years
Project Lead Coordinator for Volunteer Organization -1 year
Head Teaching Assistant for Financial Accounting - 3 years
Peer Faciliator and Financial Coordinator for Sexual Advocacy Organization - 1.5 years
RESEARCH
1 year of independent research relating to paternal age and Down syndrome
1 summer of research attempting to look at neuropathology of Alzheimer's in African Americans
1 semester of research looking more into the role of the black comic (worked with one of my philosophy professors on this and it was one of the best projects that I worked on at the end of my senior year)
2 publications but (not in high impact journals) and poster presentations
NONCLINICAL VOLUNTEER:
Dance Teacher: Teach children with Down syndrome fitness through hip hop dancing - 1 year (My brother and I would dance battle a lot growing up, so this was inspired from him) - 144 hours (1 year)
Soup Kitchen Volunteer: 50 hours (1 year)
AWARDS:
A lot of awards from the dance team; we even got to compete in World of Dance (WOD) and got 3rd in the Upper Division
Finalist and Placed in Entrepreneurial Competitions
1st Place in multiple case competitions ranging from sustainability to global health
All-Conference Track Athlete (Only did this for year, but I quit because grades got in the way)
Dean's List
Phi Sigma Tau (Philosophy Honors Society)
I'm a TX resident, so I'm applying to all those schools. Also, going ot apply to Meharry, Morehouse, and Howard. I'm not really confident about applying to reach schools and not sure if I should apply to any because I don't know if I'm that competitive. I was thinking about taking another gap year to improve my chances, but everyone around me is saying to apply now and to stop doubting myself. Again, any feedback that you'll have to give me would be helpful.
@Goro @LizzyM @WedgeDawg @GrapesofRath @gyngyn - I've lurked through SDN for a few months, and I've seen that y'all give very helpful advice. I know you probably get tagged in hundreds of these a day, but I would really appreciate some advice on this situation. Thanks!
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