FarFromBrilliant
Full Member
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2019
- Messages
- 26
- Reaction score
- 28
I applied last year right after I took the MCAT, which led to me rushing my PS and Primary application (think I did both in about 2 weeks). I applied to 17 MD schools and was rejected pre-interview by all of them. Since early fall/late summer, I have started some new experiences once I realized how weak my application was, so I just wanted advice on how much of my school list should consist of DO vs. MD or if I should wait another year to apply.
Stats
undergrad cGPA/sGPA: 3.65/3.72 with an upward trend (No these are not backward)
MCAT: 511 (130/125/128/128) (Boo CARS, wish I could read)
Only have one in-state MD and one in-state DO school
ORM
WARS score of 66 (although so hard for me to judge my own experiences).
LizzyM: 67.50
Here is my application from last year
Clinical Experience:
250 Hours Volunteering in a cardiac rehab center and as an outpatient escort (both at the same hospital)
Research Experience
600 hours research in a physical chemistry lab during undergrad
1 Publication (5th Author)
Shadowing Experience
4 hours shadowing a cardiologist
Non-clinical volunteering:
Volunteered in a senior living center (60 hours)
Leadership
Spent a summer volunteer coaching an AAU freshman boys basketball team (50 hours)
LOR:
Not great... One from my research PI, a letter from a physics instructor, another letter from a physics instructor, a letter from the manager of the cardiac rehab center I volunteer at. (also I took both those physics classes at a community college over the summer)...
Other stuff:
Mentioned basketball as a hobby of mine. I have played in various adult men's leagues and intramural teams, mostly as the captain of these teams. Guess I wanted them to know I was not a robot
What my application will look like this year
Clinical Experience:
400 Hours Volunteering in a cardiac rehab center and as an outpatient escort (both at the same hospital)
810 hours working as a scribe in the emergency department
50 hours of seeing patients with a housecall provider company
Research Experience
600 hours research in a physical chemistry lab during undergrad
1 Publication (5th Author)
Shadowing Experience
15 hours shadowing a cardiologist, neurologist, and internist
(Had another 40 hours scheduled for April, wish I did not put this off)
Non-clinical volunteering:
Volunteered in a senior living center for a summer (60 hours)
60 hours volunteering with a homeless and housing unstable youth resource center.
Leadership
Spent a summer volunteer coaching an AAU freshman boys basketball team (50 hours)
(I would likely put this in nonclinical volunteering if I had an impactful leadership experience)
LOR:
Will have a letter of rec from a physician I have worked with in the ED, another from my research PI, another from one of the physics instructors, a new letter from a professor who taught me in GenChem III and Ochem I at my university (A- in both classes but he does not know me well), one from the volunteer coordinator of the housecall provider service, and one from the cardiac rehab manager,
To both the new and old letter writers, I have given them the AAMC guidelines for writing letters and given examples for them to update/talk about. Think overall my letters are better from last year but still worried about them.
Other stuff:
I can mention basketball as a hobby of mine. I have played in various adult men's leagues and intramural teams, mostly as the captain of these teams. I make one mention of basketball in my personal statement.
Nonclinical Work Experience:
During college, I worked summers and breaks at a daycare inside a local health club. I currently still work here part-time (although I am currently furloughed) and have accumulated likely close to 3000 hours if, not more. In a rush to apply I left this off of my application from last year.
Essays:
I have been doing writing exercises since February and have been working closely with a physician with a history of admissions committee experience to help me write a strong PS and most meaningful essays.
Final Thoughts
Along with how many DO/MD schools I should apply to I would appreciate any advice on how I can improve my application for next year's cycle (definitely think I need more leadership and maybe some clinical research or tutoring). Also, I get pretty nervous and am not sure how my interview skills will be.
Stats
undergrad cGPA/sGPA: 3.65/3.72 with an upward trend (No these are not backward)
MCAT: 511 (130/125/128/128) (Boo CARS, wish I could read)
Only have one in-state MD and one in-state DO school
ORM
WARS score of 66 (although so hard for me to judge my own experiences).
LizzyM: 67.50
Here is my application from last year
Clinical Experience:
250 Hours Volunteering in a cardiac rehab center and as an outpatient escort (both at the same hospital)
Research Experience
600 hours research in a physical chemistry lab during undergrad
1 Publication (5th Author)
Shadowing Experience
4 hours shadowing a cardiologist
Non-clinical volunteering:
Volunteered in a senior living center (60 hours)
Leadership
Spent a summer volunteer coaching an AAU freshman boys basketball team (50 hours)
LOR:
Not great... One from my research PI, a letter from a physics instructor, another letter from a physics instructor, a letter from the manager of the cardiac rehab center I volunteer at. (also I took both those physics classes at a community college over the summer)...
Other stuff:
Mentioned basketball as a hobby of mine. I have played in various adult men's leagues and intramural teams, mostly as the captain of these teams. Guess I wanted them to know I was not a robot
What my application will look like this year
Clinical Experience:
400 Hours Volunteering in a cardiac rehab center and as an outpatient escort (both at the same hospital)
810 hours working as a scribe in the emergency department
50 hours of seeing patients with a housecall provider company
Research Experience
600 hours research in a physical chemistry lab during undergrad
1 Publication (5th Author)
Shadowing Experience
15 hours shadowing a cardiologist, neurologist, and internist
(Had another 40 hours scheduled for April, wish I did not put this off)
Non-clinical volunteering:
Volunteered in a senior living center for a summer (60 hours)
60 hours volunteering with a homeless and housing unstable youth resource center.
Leadership
Spent a summer volunteer coaching an AAU freshman boys basketball team (50 hours)
(I would likely put this in nonclinical volunteering if I had an impactful leadership experience)
LOR:
Will have a letter of rec from a physician I have worked with in the ED, another from my research PI, another from one of the physics instructors, a new letter from a professor who taught me in GenChem III and Ochem I at my university (A- in both classes but he does not know me well), one from the volunteer coordinator of the housecall provider service, and one from the cardiac rehab manager,
To both the new and old letter writers, I have given them the AAMC guidelines for writing letters and given examples for them to update/talk about. Think overall my letters are better from last year but still worried about them.
Other stuff:
I can mention basketball as a hobby of mine. I have played in various adult men's leagues and intramural teams, mostly as the captain of these teams. I make one mention of basketball in my personal statement.
Nonclinical Work Experience:
During college, I worked summers and breaks at a daycare inside a local health club. I currently still work here part-time (although I am currently furloughed) and have accumulated likely close to 3000 hours if, not more. In a rush to apply I left this off of my application from last year.
Essays:
I have been doing writing exercises since February and have been working closely with a physician with a history of admissions committee experience to help me write a strong PS and most meaningful essays.
Final Thoughts
Along with how many DO/MD schools I should apply to I would appreciate any advice on how I can improve my application for next year's cycle (definitely think I need more leadership and maybe some clinical research or tutoring). Also, I get pretty nervous and am not sure how my interview skills will be.
