Hi folks! I'm looking for some feedback on where I stand in terms of med school applications and realistically what would be a good plan to prepare to apply to med school. I'm 5 years out of undergrad, and have been working as a software engineer for that time.
Stats at a glance:
Undergrad: Ivy League
Major: Applied Math + Computer Science
uGPA: 3.86, sGPA: 3.33
I'm missing most of the premed core courses, have to take 7-8 classes.
Hours:
Clinical: ~60 hours ER volunteer (2016)
Shadowing: 0 hours
Leadership: not sure what counts, maybe ~50-100 depending on what I describe as leadership
Nonclinical Volunteer: ~250 hours, and ongoing
- Pathology Lab affiliated with hospital: ~200 hours
- Research w/ NASA lab: ~800 hours, presentation at conference, co-author PLOS paper (kind of a fake publication)
MCAT: haven't taken
URM/Identity:
- ORM/Asian, not economically disadvantaged
- California Resident
- Transgender (visible/vocal, involved in LGBT advocacy)
Questions:
- Strong consistent thread of serving URM/marginalized populations through volunteer and ECs out of school
- Solid undergrad performance in a difficult major from a "prestigious" institution
Perceived weaknesses:
- Weak ugrad science GPA (hopefully will be remediated by post-bacc performance)
- Old research
- Lack of clinical hours
- Lack of shadowing
My current plan is to complete my missing coursework requirements + take the MCAT over the next couple years through either DIY or structured postbacc, continue my non-clinical volunteering, work as a medical assistant to get clinical hours, and find someone to shadow at some point. I foresee this process taking 2 years if things go smoothly academically, and 3 years if not before I can apply. Hoping to get some thoughts and feedback both on where I stand and whether I'm missing something important in my plans for preparing to apply.
Stats at a glance:
Undergrad: Ivy League
Major: Applied Math + Computer Science
uGPA: 3.86, sGPA: 3.33
I'm missing most of the premed core courses, have to take 7-8 classes.
Hours:
Clinical: ~60 hours ER volunteer (2016)
Shadowing: 0 hours
Leadership: not sure what counts, maybe ~50-100 depending on what I describe as leadership
Nonclinical Volunteer: ~250 hours, and ongoing
- ~70 hrs from undergrad
- Rest from Mental Health Phone Line, Food Bank, Harm Reduction (graduation - now, consistent)
- Pathology Lab affiliated with hospital: ~200 hours
- Research w/ NASA lab: ~800 hours, presentation at conference, co-author PLOS paper (kind of a fake publication)
MCAT: haven't taken
URM/Identity:
- ORM/Asian, not economically disadvantaged
- California Resident
- Transgender (visible/vocal, involved in LGBT advocacy)
Questions:
- Not sure if I would benefit from applying to "competitive" post-baccs since I think I'm a semi competitive applicant (ie. Scripps, Bryn Mawr, etc.) which statistically would give me a high chance of getting into med school but is expensive vs. doing a DIY post-bacc in the Bay Area where I'm currently pretty rooted and have ongoing clinical and nonclinical relationships I'm cultivating + my support system is here.
- Does my research need to be "fresh"? I have a bunch of hours but it's from almost a decade ago.
- Strong consistent thread of serving URM/marginalized populations through volunteer and ECs out of school
- Solid undergrad performance in a difficult major from a "prestigious" institution
Perceived weaknesses:
- Weak ugrad science GPA (hopefully will be remediated by post-bacc performance)
- Old research
- Lack of clinical hours
- Lack of shadowing
My current plan is to complete my missing coursework requirements + take the MCAT over the next couple years through either DIY or structured postbacc, continue my non-clinical volunteering, work as a medical assistant to get clinical hours, and find someone to shadow at some point. I foresee this process taking 2 years if things go smoothly academically, and 3 years if not before I can apply. Hoping to get some thoughts and feedback both on where I stand and whether I'm missing something important in my plans for preparing to apply.
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