So I have applied this cycle and am setting up a backup plan in case I need to reapply next year (I know its still early but I would like to have a backup plan in place before its too late and I dont know what I am to do before the new cycle). Below has all my info, with the red text being stuff that I recently sent to schools in an update (I told them I was planning on doing it in my secondaries but did an update to show I followed through). I would like some advice on what you think would be the weakest part of my app that would make the most significant difference. I am considering an MCAT retake but dont know if that would be as high of yield vs if I worked on my ECs.
Traditional student (gap year), white male, LGBT (some schools consider it URM), rural upbringing, home area and current residence are both Underserved
Year in school Gap Year
Country/state of residence: Ohio (Large State School)
Schools to which you are applying: A LOT (bold are rejected, underline is hold): Ohio State, NEOMED, Wright State, Case, Lerner, Cinci, Toledo, Wayne State, UMichigan, Indiana, UChicago, Rosalind, MCW, Mayo/Mayo AZ, Colorado, Utah, USC, UCLA, UCSF, Emory, Georgetown, GW, Tufts, Boston U, Columbia, Temple, NYMC, Vermont, Cornell, Hofstra, SUNY Down, Pitt, Einstein, Mt Sinai, Drexel, Vandy, Jefferson *I like large cities which is why my list is mostly in urban areas*
Cumulative GPA: 3.61 (strong upward trend. First 2 years 3.25, last 2 about 3.82. Had a 3.77 post secondary so my trend looks like 3.77, 3.2, 3.27, 3.87, 3.79)
Science GPA: 3.45 (3.1 first 2 years, 3.75 last 2 years)(Upper division major GPA:3.72)
MCAT Scores: 505 (128/123/128/126), 511 (130/126/128/127)
Research: 20 hours Review paper in Orthopedics (project was dropped) (forgot to mention, wasnt very significant ), currently full time (40hr/week, 400 hours so far) radiology research doing a national study (approx 2000 hrs before matriculation)(high visibility lab), Radiology case study through Cornell Medical School (will submit for first author when complete)
Volunteering (clinical): Hospital ambassador (80 hr), restocking rooms and patient check ups (30 hours), HIV testing (40 hours so far, 100-200 more projected this year), Scribe at free clinic (15 hours)
Physician shadowing: 25 hours general surgery (12 hours in OR), 10 hours ortho surgery (7 hours in OR), Allergist (5 hours), Endocrinologist (5 hours)
Non-clinical volunteering: Red cross community outreach (15 hours), HIV testing/outreach (40 hours)(Same as clinical volunteering because we do risk reduction and give out information about HIV), LGBTQ+ youth center focusing on transgender youth experiencing homelessness (just started training, 3hr/week over the year)
Extracurricular activities: Snowboard team (collegiate sports team technically) (4 years, 300 hr) total snowboarding(10 years, 1300 hr), Yoga Club (4 years, 100 hr), Runner (8 years), LGBT Pride group (1 year, 20 hr), AED, Lifting/Bodybuilding (10-15 hr/week, 3 years), Skateboarding (6 years) , Freelance photographer (12 years, 300 hr), oSTEM (out in STEM)(1 year), modeling (20 years, approx 100 hours), LGBT peer mentor (20 hr, 1 year), Social media (Have a combined 50k+ followers)
Letters of Rec: Previous Dean of Curriculum at my UG's med school/Current UCSF Dean of Curriculum/Mentor/Assistant Professor (MD), Faculty Biology Professor/Adviser (Gen Bio Professor), Faculty Chemistry Professor/Distinguished Lecture Award/Chemistry Department Chair (Gen Chem Professor)
Employment history: Campus cafeteria 15 hr/week(1 semester), Chipotle 30 hr/week(high school/summer breaks), Sushi Restaurant 20 hr/week(5 months,Summer/Fall Semester), VIP Bottle Service 25hr/week (2 months,Summer), Fine Dining Food Runner 20hr/week (2 months, Fall Semester), Research Assistant (gap year job, 40hr/week)
Traditional student (gap year), white male, LGBT (some schools consider it URM), rural upbringing, home area and current residence are both Underserved
Year in school Gap Year
Country/state of residence: Ohio (Large State School)
Schools to which you are applying: A LOT (bold are rejected, underline is hold): Ohio State, NEOMED, Wright State, Case, Lerner, Cinci, Toledo, Wayne State, UMichigan, Indiana, UChicago, Rosalind, MCW, Mayo/Mayo AZ, Colorado, Utah, USC, UCLA, UCSF, Emory, Georgetown, GW, Tufts, Boston U, Columbia, Temple, NYMC, Vermont, Cornell, Hofstra, SUNY Down, Pitt, Einstein, Mt Sinai, Drexel, Vandy, Jefferson *I like large cities which is why my list is mostly in urban areas*
Cumulative GPA: 3.61 (strong upward trend. First 2 years 3.25, last 2 about 3.82. Had a 3.77 post secondary so my trend looks like 3.77, 3.2, 3.27, 3.87, 3.79)
Science GPA: 3.45 (3.1 first 2 years, 3.75 last 2 years)(Upper division major GPA:3.72)
MCAT Scores: 505 (128/123/128/126), 511 (130/126/128/127)
Research: 20 hours Review paper in Orthopedics (project was dropped) (forgot to mention, wasnt very significant ), currently full time (40hr/week, 400 hours so far) radiology research doing a national study (approx 2000 hrs before matriculation)(high visibility lab), Radiology case study through Cornell Medical School (will submit for first author when complete)
Volunteering (clinical): Hospital ambassador (80 hr), restocking rooms and patient check ups (30 hours), HIV testing (40 hours so far, 100-200 more projected this year), Scribe at free clinic (15 hours)
Physician shadowing: 25 hours general surgery (12 hours in OR), 10 hours ortho surgery (7 hours in OR), Allergist (5 hours), Endocrinologist (5 hours)
Non-clinical volunteering: Red cross community outreach (15 hours), HIV testing/outreach (40 hours)(Same as clinical volunteering because we do risk reduction and give out information about HIV), LGBTQ+ youth center focusing on transgender youth experiencing homelessness (just started training, 3hr/week over the year)
Extracurricular activities: Snowboard team (collegiate sports team technically) (4 years, 300 hr) total snowboarding(10 years, 1300 hr), Yoga Club (4 years, 100 hr), Runner (8 years), LGBT Pride group (1 year, 20 hr), AED, Lifting/Bodybuilding (10-15 hr/week, 3 years), Skateboarding (6 years) , Freelance photographer (12 years, 300 hr), oSTEM (out in STEM)(1 year), modeling (20 years, approx 100 hours), LGBT peer mentor (20 hr, 1 year), Social media (Have a combined 50k+ followers)
Letters of Rec: Previous Dean of Curriculum at my UG's med school/Current UCSF Dean of Curriculum/Mentor/Assistant Professor (MD), Faculty Biology Professor/Adviser (Gen Bio Professor), Faculty Chemistry Professor/Distinguished Lecture Award/Chemistry Department Chair (Gen Chem Professor)
Employment history: Campus cafeteria 15 hr/week(1 semester), Chipotle 30 hr/week(high school/summer breaks), Sushi Restaurant 20 hr/week(5 months,Summer/Fall Semester), VIP Bottle Service 25hr/week (2 months,Summer), Fine Dining Food Runner 20hr/week (2 months, Fall Semester), Research Assistant (gap year job, 40hr/week)
