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Hi all!
I'm a 2nd semester sophomore from Wisconsin, and up until about a month ago I was a Pre-pharm student. As I was starting to study for the PCAT I realized I liked pharmacy but couldn't see myself making a career out of it. I did some poking around online and talking with my advisor and am now seriously considering med school, both MD and DO. I'm specifically looking to go in to family medicine.
I think my grades are in a good place, but I'd like to get some more EC's under my belt to strengthen my app. I'm new to pre-med, so bear with me if I ask any obvious or over-asked questions. I know my EC's are fairly weak, I have some planned, but I'd like to know what you all think I should add or get involved in. I'm also curious to know if you think I'm setting myself up well for MD or DO school (I'm fine with either degree). Sorry for the lack of a MCAT score, I know that's a pretty significant factor.
My app so far...
cGPA: 3.84 (4.0 past 2 semesters), sGPA:4.0
Key classes taken already: GenChem I&II, Organic I, Animal Bio, and Botany. Currently have A in Organic II and Physiology.
MCAT: Guessing in the 31-35 range?
Clinical Volunteer Activities: Volunteered in hospital In-patient pharmacy ~80hrs, looking to resume volunteer work in this hospital sometime within the next month, and become more involved over the summer.
Physician Shadowing: None currently, but have 3 days worth of job shadows setup with my family physician next week. Family physician is also an old friend of my family's, and his son is one of my best friends. Strong ties with him, should be able to get a lot of shadowing experience, networking, and mentoring through him. Also plan on shadowing a podiatrist on a regular basis (keeping podiatry open as a #2 option).
Research: Conducted a little research under the guidance of my OChem professor involving green chemistry, ~20hrs. Looking to engage in some more research over summer. Bio professor knows me well, and is helping me find something currently.
Non-Clinical Volunteer Activities: High Five 4 Kids mentor and tutor ~70 hours. Mentored middle school age kids who are struggling in class, and tutored 8-9th grade students from my old school district.
Raised money for March For Babies and also for a local charity the past 2 and 3 years, respectively. Participated in the March for Babies walk the past two years, and the run associated with the local charity the past 3 years. Also helped work a local scholarship fundraiser the past 2 years
Employment: Worked as a pharmacy technician in an In-patient pharmacy for about the past year (occasional status). ~600hrs
Other Notables: Co-founder and president of my campus's Running Club. (No track team on campus :/ had to start something lol)
Hold two records for Track and Field at my old high school, was also voted team captain my senior year.
Red Belt in Tae Kwon Do
I should also note there is a MD program opening up in my hometown two years from now which is specifically looking for applicants who want to go into family medicine and practice in underserved areas throughout Wisconsin. The program is designed to be 3 years instead of the typical 4, to reduce the amount of student debt and attract applicants who want to be family physicians. Class size of 15 to start, then growing to 25 a couple years after opening I think. I am very interested in going in to family medicine like I said before, and also practicing around my underserved home area. The opening of this school is one reason I'm now considering med school, and I would love to go there. I want to give back to the community I've grown up in and love, and I'd hate to pass up on an amazing opportunity like this. To be honest, I've always shied away from med school because it's so competitive and I wanted pursue a profession I felt extremely confident I could gain acceptance to. The way things are going though, I'm feeling more confident about med school. I also feel like I would enjoy directly caring for patients on a daily basis WAY more than sitting at a computer screen most of the day verifying orders and answering med questions from nurses and docs like the hospital pharmacists I work with.
So, all that being said, what do you think I should do to strengthen the current app I have, and am I on a good track for MD or DO school? Also how do my chances look with the local MD school? Thanks in advance!
I'm a 2nd semester sophomore from Wisconsin, and up until about a month ago I was a Pre-pharm student. As I was starting to study for the PCAT I realized I liked pharmacy but couldn't see myself making a career out of it. I did some poking around online and talking with my advisor and am now seriously considering med school, both MD and DO. I'm specifically looking to go in to family medicine.
I think my grades are in a good place, but I'd like to get some more EC's under my belt to strengthen my app. I'm new to pre-med, so bear with me if I ask any obvious or over-asked questions. I know my EC's are fairly weak, I have some planned, but I'd like to know what you all think I should add or get involved in. I'm also curious to know if you think I'm setting myself up well for MD or DO school (I'm fine with either degree). Sorry for the lack of a MCAT score, I know that's a pretty significant factor.
My app so far...
cGPA: 3.84 (4.0 past 2 semesters), sGPA:4.0
Key classes taken already: GenChem I&II, Organic I, Animal Bio, and Botany. Currently have A in Organic II and Physiology.
MCAT: Guessing in the 31-35 range?
Clinical Volunteer Activities: Volunteered in hospital In-patient pharmacy ~80hrs, looking to resume volunteer work in this hospital sometime within the next month, and become more involved over the summer.
Physician Shadowing: None currently, but have 3 days worth of job shadows setup with my family physician next week. Family physician is also an old friend of my family's, and his son is one of my best friends. Strong ties with him, should be able to get a lot of shadowing experience, networking, and mentoring through him. Also plan on shadowing a podiatrist on a regular basis (keeping podiatry open as a #2 option).
Research: Conducted a little research under the guidance of my OChem professor involving green chemistry, ~20hrs. Looking to engage in some more research over summer. Bio professor knows me well, and is helping me find something currently.
Non-Clinical Volunteer Activities: High Five 4 Kids mentor and tutor ~70 hours. Mentored middle school age kids who are struggling in class, and tutored 8-9th grade students from my old school district.
Raised money for March For Babies and also for a local charity the past 2 and 3 years, respectively. Participated in the March for Babies walk the past two years, and the run associated with the local charity the past 3 years. Also helped work a local scholarship fundraiser the past 2 years
Employment: Worked as a pharmacy technician in an In-patient pharmacy for about the past year (occasional status). ~600hrs
Other Notables: Co-founder and president of my campus's Running Club. (No track team on campus :/ had to start something lol)
Hold two records for Track and Field at my old high school, was also voted team captain my senior year.
Red Belt in Tae Kwon Do
I should also note there is a MD program opening up in my hometown two years from now which is specifically looking for applicants who want to go into family medicine and practice in underserved areas throughout Wisconsin. The program is designed to be 3 years instead of the typical 4, to reduce the amount of student debt and attract applicants who want to be family physicians. Class size of 15 to start, then growing to 25 a couple years after opening I think. I am very interested in going in to family medicine like I said before, and also practicing around my underserved home area. The opening of this school is one reason I'm now considering med school, and I would love to go there. I want to give back to the community I've grown up in and love, and I'd hate to pass up on an amazing opportunity like this. To be honest, I've always shied away from med school because it's so competitive and I wanted pursue a profession I felt extremely confident I could gain acceptance to. The way things are going though, I'm feeling more confident about med school. I also feel like I would enjoy directly caring for patients on a daily basis WAY more than sitting at a computer screen most of the day verifying orders and answering med questions from nurses and docs like the hospital pharmacists I work with.
So, all that being said, what do you think I should do to strengthen the current app I have, and am I on a good track for MD or DO school? Also how do my chances look with the local MD school? Thanks in advance!
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