Hi All,
Thank you for your time. I applied for EY 2019 (first app), and only got one interview, which turned into a wait list, and looks like a soon to be silent reject.
I have started a SMP in TX and have decided to wait until after the SMP to apply-so not applying this cycle. Below are my stats when I applied last cycle. In blue are additions that I have already completed during the past year. Couple file reviews mainly pointed at sGPA as the main problem area.
How else can I use this year to improve my application (besides getting a 4.0 in the SMP)-my thoughts are i need more volunteering (non clinical) and clinical hours. Or should I just double down and just focus on getting good grades?
- Year in school- graduated Spring 2018
- Country/state of residence- TX
- ORM
- Schools to which you are applying- All TMDSAS Schools, Tulane, LSU, SLU, Rush, Wayne State, OUWB, Quinnipac
- Cumulative GPA: 3.68 sgpa with strong upward trend (had one bad sem: 3.79 (16 credits), 3.48 (18 credits), 2.89(15 credits), 3.42(19 credits), 3.54(19 credits), 3.58(19 credits), 3.95(23 credits), 3.95(21 credits))
- Science GPA: 3.36 with strong upward trend ( Freshman 3.45 (17 hours), Sophomore 2.79 (19 hours) , Junior 3.61 (17 hours), Senior 3.93(12 hours but all upper level)) Just finished one summer science course (intro to A&P) with an A. Plan to complete a genetics course to meet admission requirements for in an state school.
- MCAT Scores: 503 June 2017----->509 May 2018
- Research – include any abstracts/posters/publications and how you were credited (eg. First author, senior author, etc): First author for research I started in high school, currently working in clinical research lab at B.C.M. (was also part of a summer research program there), I also recently had an abstract/poster accepted for conference and joined a immunotherapy startup run by my PI. 2 additional second author publications in preparation, maybe 1 patent. May sign for a remote part time position with the startup (should I add this too my app? My major was business related and I feel that my application is a bit business slanting)
- Volunteering (clinical) – include hours/sites: Worked with undeserved patients in ED to identify social needs and guide them to community resources as part of hospital systems equitable care program (240 hours). Spent one summer as a "Summer Intern" at local hospital (74 hours) where I did the regular hospital volunteer stuff but I also got to lead and present a research study on hospital hand washing behavior for the Infection and Quality Control department. Considering Crisis Text Line volunteering due to personal interest.
- Physician shadowing – include hours/specialties: over 200 hours shadowing various specialties (private practice, surgeries, and even admin) .
- Non-clinical volunteering: Developed a partnership with my college and local ISD where college students help A.V.I.D. high school students with college apps and college readiness. Have a LOR from the A.V.I.D. district coordinator. Development Coordinator for school chapter of Camp Kesem: raised over 30k to fund a free summer camp for kids whose parents have cancer. Also helped high school students from my hometown prepare and present at the city Science Fair as a side hobby. Also spent 4 years helping make lunches for homeless as part of religious service org. Accepted Pro-Bono position as VP of organizational development and leadership at education focused NPO. Will also do volunteering events through SMP. I think my past total added up to around 550 hours.
- Employment history: 270+ hours as a Scribe (I may have to change the hour totals for this...i was super conservative here, but if I do a calculation based on length of time and time commitments i signed as part of contract, I should have around 500 hours. if I make this change is that a red flag?) (1 year and have a LOR from this physician), On campus tutor for Differential Calculus (3 years for which I also received awards for), Freshmen Mentor for my schools Office of Undergraduate Education (2 years). Research tech for the past year.
What OOS schools do you think I should target? I heard that CO was OOS friendly and that FL schools have taken TX residents in the past. Also considering Kaiser as they seem to align with my experiences in healthcare and business. Should I retake my MCAT in general? Should I retake it if I am considering MD/PhD?
