Some questions..

[mallard]

Hey everyone! I am finishing my junior year at Emory University and am somewhat confused as to the best way to approach the next couple of years.

First some stats to make any answers you could give me a bit easier:
CGPA: 3.7
SGPA: 3.84 (but a 3.95 since frosh year)
MCAT: 35R (13B 12P 10V)

Research:
1 year in plant bio lab fresh year
This summer I am planning on working at a biochemistry lab (either for a hospital or a pharmaceutical company haven't decided yet)

Volunteer:
Various volunteering but most notably working for an informative cancer website, but other stuff as well

Work:
Princeton Review SAT teacher (MCAT as well during the summer and probably next year)
Tutoring for school in various sciences
Other boring jobs

Clinical:
Some shadowing during highschool
Already set up a 60 hour shadowing program with a neurologist at Mass General for the summer (that should cover it right) (He's a friend and a HMS grad whos willing to write me a rec too)

My major dilemma is regarding taking a year off after senior year in order to buff up my resume- I have already looked into a lab position at Harvard Med School that a friend has been working at and talked very highly of (in terms of getting a publication out there and great rec's from HMS prof's)

Do you think getting a position like this will make a difference for me when applying? I am certainly going to be looking at the top 20 schools so I figured an additional year of research, possible publication, and potential rec would all really help make my app look stronger but I'm not sure if it would really be necessary. Any advice would be great thanks!

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[daisy44]

your resume sounds kind of similar to mine...i'd be interested in hearing what people have to say, since i'm about to start the app process too...

 

[Mobius1985]

An extra year of substantive research will bump you above the "average" involvement and will certainly be helpful if you are applying to highly-selective, research-strong schools, especially if you get a publication. I don't see any mention of patient interaction via volunteerism or a job. Shadowing alone is not sufficient (and you don't list high school experiences on the AMCAS form, BTW, but can bring them up in the personal statement). You need some face-to-face experience with sick people. Hopefully that is included in your "volunteerism" and simply wasn't specified.

 

[mallard]

Yeah, I don't really have any of this... Any suggestions as to what type of volunteering and how I could go about getting involved in this?

 

[Stratego]

I think most volunteer at a local hospital, but a clinic, nursing home, hospice, etc. would be fine too. As long as you are working with patients, and not just staffing the gift shop, this will be viewed as both clinical experience and as community service. Call the volunteer office of any healthcare facility close by and enquire about opportunities.

Sixty hours of shadowing with one specialist is more than enough. Consider 1-2 other types of specialties as well, perhaps with doctors you meet and get to know while volunteering. A day to a week for each is enough.