Should I apply this year? (No shadowing experience)

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ambitious.dr

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Hi folks. I am a Canadian applicant who plans to apply to medical schools (MD) in the U.S. Due to my weak ECs, I was wondering if it would be worth applying this year. Would appreciate any thoughts!

Year: Just graduated
GPA: 3.88 (sGPA is 3.88 as well)
MCAT: 511 (128/126/129/128)
Research: 800 hours in a bacteriophage lab (Summer Research Studentship, Junior year research project)
510 hours in a Skeletal Muscle Health lab (1 oral presentation at a pretty big conference)
Clinical volunteering: 140 hours. Volunteer in the Pediatric Medicine Medicine one summer, Volunteer coordinator next summer. Unfortunately, NO physician shadowing (yet). I didn't plan on applying in America until recently (shadowing isn't big in Canada). COVID screwed up plans I had this summer to gather those hours.
Non-clinical volunteering: 180 hours with local organizations. Activities such as tree-planting, soup kitchen, fundraising for families impacted by COVID.
Employment: Bunch of jobs (food service worker, academic tutor, admissions at amusement park) All worked for at least 4+ months straight.
Extracurricular activities: VP of 2 school clubs, co-founded a club for peer-to-peer support for mental health

Without strong clinical volunteering and doctor shadowing experience, is it worth applying this year? Thank you!

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I'd say go for it! Shadowing in Canada is hard to come by, you're unlikely to get some by next year (or even in the next two years). Otherwise you have a strong app. Furthermore, if you look at MSAR you'll see most med schools have about 10-20% of the class entering without shadowing listed on their application at all (premedical experiences section).
 
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