Hello SNDers! =D
I am a second year re applicant who would greatly appreciate some advice and guidance on my current application process.
First off let me tell you a little bit about my situation. I graduate last may with a 2x majors in Biochem and psychology. I was one of those late bloomers (No activities and all c/c+s my freshmen and sophomore year.) I matured much later then my fellow peers and it was not until the middle of my junior year that I finally got my act together. I frantically played catch up, taking around 20+ credits a semester and doing as many activities that I could manage and ended my college career with the following stats. Everything was pretty much done the last year and a half minus the internship.
3.35 GPA 3.15 BCPM GPA
33M Mcat
3 doctor shadows with roughly 100 hours total
70 hours of Hospital volunteer
1.5 years of research for credit, but no pubs
Random community service club with moderate participation
2 intramural sports leagues
2 consecutive summer internships at a Major pharmaceutical
Although I was told that my chances were very slim due to my extreme lateness I thought I would give it a try anyways (you never know right?)
I was not eligible for my schools committee interview till late in October and my applications were not fully completed and received till around the end of October. I applied only to a measly 5 schools, due to the low likelihood of acceptance and in order to save some money for reapplying.
Since I graduated I have been working full time at a gene bank that is part of a university . Starting from march I have also started volunteering at a local hospital in a pathology lab. I took an undergrad class at university due to free tuition for staff and received a b+.
My questions are:
1. Would it be beneficial to show schools the undergrad class I took this fall postbac even though I only received a b+? I took the course b/c i was very interested in the subject yet the material was slightly over my head. Would I be better off not mentioning it?
2. I am currently in the process of finishing my AMCAs for submission and I dreadfully afraid of being late but I am absolutely a horrendous writer and I still need a little bit more time on my personal statement. I look to get in my AMCAS before July. Would I be considered late by then?
3. I look to volunteer more hours at the hospital now that my class is over and am looking to start patient transport on top of pathology lab very soon. Currently I have only 50 or so hours since march yet I plan to have 200+ more hours by the end of this year. Is there anyway to show schools this intent?
4. For about half the activities i have listed on my AMCA i have had a recommendation. Should I have a recommendation for every activity I have participated in in order to show authenticity?? Also for the AMCA activities section, is it expected that I list activities such as intramural sports?? I have done a fair share of activities that are not relevant to medicine including amature bodybuilding shows. Should I list any of these or would it be a waste of space???
5. I currently have two new very good recommendations from my current supervisors and look to have more coming in. I am doing my recs through my Health professions office and I was wondering if I should have them release my letter packet from last year with my committee letter and my new recs right now or should I wait till I have all the letters I am going to have for this cycle. I look to have an addition two more but I probably will not be receiving them till mid July.
6. How realistic should my expectations be for this year and what can I do right now to better my chances? I am having a real hard time gauging where I stand in the whole process. I don't know many other premeds and after reading many posts here on SND the past couple of years and seeing profiles on mdapplicants.com I don't feel very confident in my application. I know I am not a great applicant but do I stand a fighting chance this year?
Sorry for such a long winded post!
I am a second year re applicant who would greatly appreciate some advice and guidance on my current application process.
First off let me tell you a little bit about my situation. I graduate last may with a 2x majors in Biochem and psychology. I was one of those late bloomers (No activities and all c/c+s my freshmen and sophomore year.) I matured much later then my fellow peers and it was not until the middle of my junior year that I finally got my act together. I frantically played catch up, taking around 20+ credits a semester and doing as many activities that I could manage and ended my college career with the following stats. Everything was pretty much done the last year and a half minus the internship.
3.35 GPA 3.15 BCPM GPA
33M Mcat
3 doctor shadows with roughly 100 hours total
70 hours of Hospital volunteer
1.5 years of research for credit, but no pubs
Random community service club with moderate participation
2 intramural sports leagues
2 consecutive summer internships at a Major pharmaceutical
Although I was told that my chances were very slim due to my extreme lateness I thought I would give it a try anyways (you never know right?)
I was not eligible for my schools committee interview till late in October and my applications were not fully completed and received till around the end of October. I applied only to a measly 5 schools, due to the low likelihood of acceptance and in order to save some money for reapplying.
Since I graduated I have been working full time at a gene bank that is part of a university . Starting from march I have also started volunteering at a local hospital in a pathology lab. I took an undergrad class at university due to free tuition for staff and received a b+.
My questions are:
1. Would it be beneficial to show schools the undergrad class I took this fall postbac even though I only received a b+? I took the course b/c i was very interested in the subject yet the material was slightly over my head. Would I be better off not mentioning it?
2. I am currently in the process of finishing my AMCAs for submission and I dreadfully afraid of being late but I am absolutely a horrendous writer and I still need a little bit more time on my personal statement. I look to get in my AMCAS before July. Would I be considered late by then?
3. I look to volunteer more hours at the hospital now that my class is over and am looking to start patient transport on top of pathology lab very soon. Currently I have only 50 or so hours since march yet I plan to have 200+ more hours by the end of this year. Is there anyway to show schools this intent?
4. For about half the activities i have listed on my AMCA i have had a recommendation. Should I have a recommendation for every activity I have participated in in order to show authenticity?? Also for the AMCA activities section, is it expected that I list activities such as intramural sports?? I have done a fair share of activities that are not relevant to medicine including amature bodybuilding shows. Should I list any of these or would it be a waste of space???
5. I currently have two new very good recommendations from my current supervisors and look to have more coming in. I am doing my recs through my Health professions office and I was wondering if I should have them release my letter packet from last year with my committee letter and my new recs right now or should I wait till I have all the letters I am going to have for this cycle. I look to have an addition two more but I probably will not be receiving them till mid July.
6. How realistic should my expectations be for this year and what can I do right now to better my chances? I am having a real hard time gauging where I stand in the whole process. I don't know many other premeds and after reading many posts here on SND the past couple of years and seeing profiles on mdapplicants.com I don't feel very confident in my application. I know I am not a great applicant but do I stand a fighting chance this year?
Sorry for such a long winded post!
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