MD Taking a gap year, what should I work on? (stats inside)

[Interferon-beta]

Hi
I've been a lurker for a while, so I decided I'd sign up and post. I'm taking a gap year, planning on applying to MD and MD/PhD programs. I haven't compiled a list of schools yet, but my top choices would be UCLA, UCSF, UCI, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, WashU, Hopkins, NYU, Columbia, Baylor, Duke.

State: California
cGPA: 4.0
sGPA: 4.0
MCAT 37

Extracurriculars:
Research: over 3 years experience (probably 2000+ hours). I've received a grant for my research and have published on project in Nature Immunology. Currently working on a few more projects which I will be presenting at the university poster day.

Teaching: Undergraduate Assistant for Life Science Lab and Teaching Assistant for Lower Division Molecular Biology Course

Shadowing: 50 Hours Internal Medicine, 20 hours Neurosurgery, 10 hours ER

Volunteering:
-Health Clinics (3 years)
-Student Volunteer at Medical Center (100 hours)
-Tutor and soccer coach at local after school program

Thanks in advance
IFNB

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[Lya]

Your Nature paper will go a long way. Besides that, however, nothing else seems particularly noteworthy. How many years were you a soccer coach?

What else are you passionate in? What other ECs do you see yourself doing potentially for a year? I am not sure if you should simply put even more efforts into research for more publications, rather than spreading out yourself too thin.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm taking a gap year, planning on applying to MD and MD/PhD programs. I haven't compiled a list of schools yet, but my top choices would be UCLA, UCSF, UCI, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, WashU, Hopkins, NYU, Columbia, Baylor, Duke.

State: California
cGPA: 4.0
sGPA: 4.0
MCAT 37

Extracurriculars:
Research: over 3 years experience (probably 2000+ hours). I've received a grant for my research and have published on project in Nature Immunology. Currently working on a few more projects which I will be presenting at the university poster day.

Teaching: Undergraduate Assistant for Life Science Lab and Teaching Assistant for Lower Division Molecular Biology Course

Shadowing: 50 Hours Internal Medicine, 20 hours Neurosurgery, 10 hours ER

Volunteering:
-Health Clinics (3 years)
-Student Volunteer at Medical Center (100 hours)
-Tutor and soccer coach at local after school program

Thanks in advance
IFNB

Top schools like to see peer leadership, since they aim to train future leaders in medicine. And it helps if your application has a hook: something unique or quirky that helps you stand out and makes you memorable. Also, be sure to include hobbies (including sports) and artistic interests as a way to help you look well-rounded.

 

[Goro]

Contact local houses of worship for opportunities in volunteering. I'm a big fan of Big Borthers/Sisters and Habitat for Humanity myself.

Hi
I've been a lurker for a while, so I decided I'd sign up and post. I'm taking a gap year, planning on applying to MD and MD/PhD programs. I haven't compiled a list of schools yet, but my top choices would be UCLA, UCSF, UCI, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, WashU, Hopkins, NYU, Columbia, Baylor, Duke.

State: California
cGPA: 4.0
sGPA: 4.0
MCAT 37

Extracurriculars:
Research: over 3 years experience (probably 2000+ hours). I've received a grant for my research and have published on project in Nature Immunology. Currently working on a few more projects which I will be presenting at the university poster day.

Teaching: Undergraduate Assistant for Life Science Lab and Teaching Assistant for Lower Division Molecular Biology Course

Shadowing: 50 Hours Internal Medicine, 20 hours Neurosurgery, 10 hours ER

Volunteering:
-Health Clinics (3 years)
-Student Volunteer at Medical Center (100 hours)
-Tutor and soccer coach at local after school program

Thanks in advance
IFNB