Should I apply this cycle?

[spartan25]

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Going to be a senior this upcoming fall.

Well, let's start with the good part of my app:
~3.9 GPA
38 MCAT
3 months research in org. chem (no pubs)
Math tutor for one semester

And the very bad parts of my app:
NO volunteering (transfer student trying to catch up with classes, didn't decide pre-med until end of sophomore year)
NO ECs (besides what's listed above + a couple other jobs)
Very little shadowing (~15 hrs, can do more however)

I feel I have some gaping holes in my app that really put me at a disadvantage.

My top choice for a school is Carver (Iowa) and it helps being in-state, but beyond that I really don't know where else to apply. I'm debating taking a year off and applying next cycle so I can work on getting published as well as a bunch of volunteering and shadowing. I feel if I strengthened those parts of my app I could be competitive as some broader schools, however I REALLY don't want to take a year off if I don't have to.

Any suggestions?

 

[SN12357]

Going to be a senior this upcoming fall.

Well, let's start with the good part of my app:
~3.9 GPA
38 MCAT
3 months research in org. chem (no pubs)
Math tutor for one semester

And the very bad parts of my app:
NO volunteering (transfer student trying to catch up with classes, didn't decide pre-med until end of sophomore year)
NO ECs (clubs, etc.)
Very little shadowing (~15 hrs, can do more however)

I feel I have some gaping holes in my app that really put me at a disadvantage.

My top choice for a school is Carver (Iowa) and it helps being in-state, but beyond that I really don't know where else to apply. I'm debating taking a year off and applying next cycle so I can work on getting published as well as a bunch of volunteering and shadowing. I feel if I strengthened those parts of my app I could be competitive as some broader schools, however I REALLY don't want to take a year off if I don't have to.

Any suggestions?

You are officially late for what looks like a historically difficult cycle (AMCAS just announced verification times are going to stretch to 8 weeks). You should wait until next year and apply early.

 

[spartan25]

You are officially late for what looks like a historically difficult cycle (AMCAS just announced verification times are going to stretch to 8 weeks). You should wait until next year and apply early.

I've been looking into my options and I think you're probably right. However, facing my stubbornness I think I'm just going to only apply to Carver this year in hopes of getting a late acceptance in their final batch around March. In the mean time I'll try to build my application in the very likely event of a re-application next cycle

 

[spartan25]

I also forgot to mention that I already submitted my AMCAS (July 31)

 

[Redpancreas]

Going to be a senior this upcoming fall.

Well, let's start with the good part of my app:
~3.9 GPA
38 MCAT
3 months research in org. chem (no pubs)
Math tutor for one semester

And the very bad parts of my app:
NO volunteering (transfer student trying to catch up with classes, didn't decide pre-med until end of sophomore year)
NO ECs (clubs, etc.)
Very little shadowing (~15 hrs, can do more however)

I feel I have some gaping holes in my app that really put me at a disadvantage.

My top choice for a school is Carver (Iowa) and it helps being in-state, but beyond that I really don't know where else to apply. I'm debating taking a year off and applying next cycle so I can work on getting published as well as a bunch of volunteering and shadowing. I feel if I strengthened those parts of my app I could be competitive as some broader schools, however I REALLY don't want to take a year off if I don't have to.

Any suggestions?

Haha, I would normally say don't apply but recently I've seen a few high stat ppl lacking in other areas get in. I like to think of it as girls (or guys but I'm a guy) saying that they like personality (ECs, clinical, etc) but really they like the $$$ and the looks (MCAT especially + GPA).
In all seriousness though, if you've just thought about applying I would definitely postpone your application because first of all, you will be very late in an already late cycle. Also, how do you know medicine is right for you if you've hardly been in a clinical setting? Immediately start looking for very INVOLVED clinical experience where you are in direct contact with patients (i.e. don't bite on the first volunteer position you get but don't wait too long either). Then, shadow a physician in another specialty for some time. I would try to get 200+ volunteer hrs but the time you apply (that may be a little more but if you've got a yr. then why not?). Also, stay involved in your research and do some more community service. The huge thing is clinical at this point though. I wouldn't want to be a re-applicant as well so keep in mind in case you're not accepted this cycle...with that being said you've got the easiest job as a reapplicant, just find clinical and get waist deep into it. That's really all that's needed here. Leadership, some interesting hobbies (which I sure you have as a late pre-med decider), and volunteer work should also be developed on the side.

Good Luck

 

[spartan25]

Haha, I would normally say don't apply but recently I've seen a few high stat ppl lacking in other areas get in. I like to think of it as girls (or guys but I'm a guy) saying that they like personality (ECs, clinical, etc) but really they like the $$$ and the looks (MCAT especially + GPA).
In all seriousness though, if you've just thought about applying I would definitely postpone your application because first of all, you will be very late in an already late cycle. Also, how do you know medicine is right for you if you've hardly been in a clinical setting? Immediately start looking for very INVOLVED clinical experience where you are in direct contact with patients (i.e. don't bite on the first volunteer position you get but don't wait too long either). Then, shadow a physician in another specialty for some time. I would try to get 200+ volunteer hrs but the time you apply (that may be a little more but if you've got a yr. then why not?). Also, stay involved in your research and do some more community service. The huge thing is clinical at this point though. I wouldn't want to be a re-applicant as well so keep in mind in case you're not accepted this cycle...with that being said you've got the easiest job as a reapplicant, just find clinical and get waist deep into it. That's really all that's needed here. Leadership, some interesting hobbies (which I sure you have as a late pre-med decider), and volunteer work should also be developed on the side.

Good Luck

Thanks for the advice. I'm talking to someone on Monday about starting volunteering at a local hospital, but I'm afraid that's going to be too late to make a difference this cycle. As of right now I'm already submitted to AMCAS (waiting on verification), so I'm still planning on applying to only Carver in hopes of getting lucky.

 

[Goro]

Do NOT apply as your lack of ECs is the same as having a 2.5 GPA. I've seen plenty of posters here on SDN bemona the fact that despite their excellent numbers, they were all rejected....what they have common with you is the lack of the right ECs.

You need to show us that:

1) you know what your're getting into
2) your humanism and altruism
3) that you know what a doctor's day is like.


We're all looking for people who will make good doctors, not merely good medical students.

Going to be a senior this upcoming fall.

Well, let's start with the good part of my app:
~3.9 GPA
38 MCAT
3 months research in org. chem (no pubs)
Math tutor for one semester

And the very bad parts of my app:
NO volunteering (transfer student trying to catch up with classes, didn't decide pre-med until end of sophomore year)
NO ECs (clubs, etc.)
Very little shadowing (~15 hrs, can do more however)

I feel I have some gaping holes in my app that really put me at a disadvantage.

My top choice for a school is Carver (Iowa) and it helps being in-state, but beyond that I really don't know where else to apply. I'm debating taking a year off and applying next cycle so I can work on getting published as well as a bunch of volunteering and shadowing. I feel if I strengthened those parts of my app I could be competitive as some broader schools, however I REALLY don't want to take a year off if I don't have to.

Any suggestions?

 

[user3]

I am sure you would at least get interviews and waitlists as is. If you start volunteering some more during this year you could still update schools with it.