Hi guys, I would first like to thank all of you for reading this. As the title suggest, I am going to be a sophomore this fall and I have recently been contemplating how to fit my ECs/research/volunteering/etc pieces into my schedule for the next 2 years. Thank you again for helping; I really appreciate it. So here goes..
School: I have already completed the Calc, Chem, Physics, and English requirements for med school. I will have completed Orgo by next summer. I plan to take the MCAT end of next summer. I have a decent GPA (~3.7) and my courseload/stress level is manageable. The bottom line is that I would like to keep things this way.
So how would I incorporate the following pieces of the puzzle? Here is some background info:
Research: I am currently doing the NIH Summer Internship in Biomedical Research Program and have learned a ton of stuff. However, I will have no publications (since my internship is only 3 months) and I will probably not ask the PI for a LOR (again, for the same reason). I am thinking about doing another internship next summer (not at the NIH) but I am also planning to take the MCAT at the end of august next year so I will need the summer to study as well. Is it possible if I can take on a full time internship while studying for MCAT next summer or should I just only study MCAT? However, regardless of whether or not I do a research internship next summer, I am definitely going to do a full year of research my Junior year.
Clinical Experience/Shadowing: I am definitely going to do a full year of shadowing this year (sophomore year). I have also been involved in a clinical volunteer club that I will be continuing doing for the rest of my 3 years.
Community Volunteering: I am currently in a great volunteer club that I love and care about a lot and will continue with this club for the next 3 years. Also, the current president of the club told me that he would like to see my as president of the club come Junior year and I have already been promoted to Treasurer for this year so I am definitely going to continue volunteering with this club.
This is what I am looking at for the next 2 years:
Sophomore: Shadowing 2 semesters; Community Volunteer Club 2 semesters; Clinical Volunteer Club 2 semesters :::::::::::: I am not sure if I can fit the Shadowing
End of Sophomore Summer: Research Internship; MCAT ::::::::::::::: I don't know if this is a good idea doing both
Junior: Research 2 semesters; Clinical Volunteer Club 2 semesters; Community Volunteer Club 2 semesters :::::::::::::::::: I am not sure if I can fit the Research
End of Junior Summer: Do applications
So can you guys critique my plan/offer advice? Thank you again for taking the time to read this lengthy post.
School: I have already completed the Calc, Chem, Physics, and English requirements for med school. I will have completed Orgo by next summer. I plan to take the MCAT end of next summer. I have a decent GPA (~3.7) and my courseload/stress level is manageable. The bottom line is that I would like to keep things this way.
So how would I incorporate the following pieces of the puzzle? Here is some background info:
Research: I am currently doing the NIH Summer Internship in Biomedical Research Program and have learned a ton of stuff. However, I will have no publications (since my internship is only 3 months) and I will probably not ask the PI for a LOR (again, for the same reason). I am thinking about doing another internship next summer (not at the NIH) but I am also planning to take the MCAT at the end of august next year so I will need the summer to study as well. Is it possible if I can take on a full time internship while studying for MCAT next summer or should I just only study MCAT? However, regardless of whether or not I do a research internship next summer, I am definitely going to do a full year of research my Junior year.
Clinical Experience/Shadowing: I am definitely going to do a full year of shadowing this year (sophomore year). I have also been involved in a clinical volunteer club that I will be continuing doing for the rest of my 3 years.
Community Volunteering: I am currently in a great volunteer club that I love and care about a lot and will continue with this club for the next 3 years. Also, the current president of the club told me that he would like to see my as president of the club come Junior year and I have already been promoted to Treasurer for this year so I am definitely going to continue volunteering with this club.
This is what I am looking at for the next 2 years:
Sophomore: Shadowing 2 semesters; Community Volunteer Club 2 semesters; Clinical Volunteer Club 2 semesters :::::::::::: I am not sure if I can fit the Shadowing
End of Sophomore Summer: Research Internship; MCAT ::::::::::::::: I don't know if this is a good idea doing both
Junior: Research 2 semesters; Clinical Volunteer Club 2 semesters; Community Volunteer Club 2 semesters :::::::::::::::::: I am not sure if I can fit the Research
End of Junior Summer: Do applications
So can you guys critique my plan/offer advice? Thank you again for taking the time to read this lengthy post.
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