Furosemide4
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I’m an ORM VA resident going to a not-highly ranked state school in VA majoring in philosophy. I plan to graduate this fall and then geind out studying for the MCAT in the spring and applying in 2025 cycle. I currently have about a 3.8 GPA, and my last semester does not have any killer classes, so I hope to maintain it. If it matters, I was at community college the first 1.5 years of college, but only BIO 1 and A&P 1&2 was taken there. All other prereqs, including four higher level bio classes were taken at my university.
In terms of ECs, I have had a job as a PCT for about three years and have >3000 hrs working there (not sure of exact number), about 16 hrs of shadowing, and only about 50 hrs of non-clinical volunteering (though I am planning to have about 200 hrs by the time of application, and the volunteering will be over the course of two years). In terms of other employment, I started working as a chemistry tutor last fall and will continue until graduation. In the early part of my college career, I worked as a shift manager at a fast food restaurant for about a year. I have no research experience and no “club” experience at school, so no “formal” leadership experience, but I feel I have gained leadership skills in all of my jobs.
My question is: would I benefit from a gap year? What would be the big weaknesses in my application that could be fixed if I take one? If I take one, I am planning on trying to ramp up my volunteer hours, working, and maybe travel some. I feel like my biggest weaknesses are a lack of interesting “formal” ECs in the form of clubs, and research, but I mainly did not take up many during college because I really didn’t have extra time to fit them in and I didn’t want my GPA to suffer. I do have hobbies, like guitar and soccer, but I just couldn’t “formalize” them by being in a club or band—I had to work to pay for food, car insurance, gas (I commute). So maybe I could write about that?
I plan to apply to state schools and any other private or OOS friendly public schools that are within my state range—no top 20s.
Any thoughts SDN?
In terms of ECs, I have had a job as a PCT for about three years and have >3000 hrs working there (not sure of exact number), about 16 hrs of shadowing, and only about 50 hrs of non-clinical volunteering (though I am planning to have about 200 hrs by the time of application, and the volunteering will be over the course of two years). In terms of other employment, I started working as a chemistry tutor last fall and will continue until graduation. In the early part of my college career, I worked as a shift manager at a fast food restaurant for about a year. I have no research experience and no “club” experience at school, so no “formal” leadership experience, but I feel I have gained leadership skills in all of my jobs.
My question is: would I benefit from a gap year? What would be the big weaknesses in my application that could be fixed if I take one? If I take one, I am planning on trying to ramp up my volunteer hours, working, and maybe travel some. I feel like my biggest weaknesses are a lack of interesting “formal” ECs in the form of clubs, and research, but I mainly did not take up many during college because I really didn’t have extra time to fit them in and I didn’t want my GPA to suffer. I do have hobbies, like guitar and soccer, but I just couldn’t “formalize” them by being in a club or band—I had to work to pay for food, car insurance, gas (I commute). So maybe I could write about that?
I plan to apply to state schools and any other private or OOS friendly public schools that are within my state range—no top 20s.
Any thoughts SDN?
