Hi all,
Here's my background real quick:
25 years old. Considered Caucasian according to the US Census, but I am more specifically an Afghan American. I've never applied to medical school before. My brother is a doctor.
I dropped out of my 4 year college my first time around because of a girl and club involvement and I stayed out for two years until I reapplied and earned a 3.98 cGPA going on a part time basis majoring in psychology. I am aware that adcoms still see my old GPA, and that my reason for getting that grade kinda blows. But I still have a good idea in explaining myself on the personal essay.
In the meantime I was working full time as a medical scribe, both in hospital and private practice. I have excellent LORs, including one from the Chair of the Board of medical directors in my state.
I have worked actively in various areas of volunteerism for many years and can prove this with excellent references from BBBS, H4H, and the ARC.
I interned for 3 months for an international organization that deals with medical crises overseas.
I've been part of 3 research groups over the past 3 years, all focused on the same topic but in different respects. One was bench research, another dealt with the psychological component, and another the biochemical. I've been published first and second author, and have presented in various conferences.
I finished an accelerated post bacc year at a lesser known program in my state going full time and earning a 4.0 sGPA. I earned my school's highest achievement awards in the sciences.
I won a full-ride merit scholarship to the medical school of my choice. They chose me based on merit, a good recent track record, and my ability to communicate via internet the discipline of psychology with various underdeveloped schools overseas.
I earned a 522 on my MCAT, first time.
I intend to go to one of the best medical schools. I am looking at HMS because of
their joint MD/MPH program.
I speak 9 languages fluently.
I started my own business, and have saved enough money for medical school, outside of the grant I was offered.
I've been guaranteed a Full Bright student research grant for the upcoming year. I heard they are quite prestigious, and I don't have any experience to put down on application related to actual overseas experience besides my teleconferencing experience for the grant I was given. My question is should I take the Full Bright grant or do you think I have built up enough strong stats and have turned my life around enough to start applying to the top schools? I want to feel completely comfortable applying and knowing that I stand a better-than-average chance of making it in.
Any and all advice is much appreciated.
Here's my background real quick:
25 years old. Considered Caucasian according to the US Census, but I am more specifically an Afghan American. I've never applied to medical school before. My brother is a doctor.
I dropped out of my 4 year college my first time around because of a girl and club involvement and I stayed out for two years until I reapplied and earned a 3.98 cGPA going on a part time basis majoring in psychology. I am aware that adcoms still see my old GPA, and that my reason for getting that grade kinda blows. But I still have a good idea in explaining myself on the personal essay.
In the meantime I was working full time as a medical scribe, both in hospital and private practice. I have excellent LORs, including one from the Chair of the Board of medical directors in my state.
I have worked actively in various areas of volunteerism for many years and can prove this with excellent references from BBBS, H4H, and the ARC.
I interned for 3 months for an international organization that deals with medical crises overseas.
I've been part of 3 research groups over the past 3 years, all focused on the same topic but in different respects. One was bench research, another dealt with the psychological component, and another the biochemical. I've been published first and second author, and have presented in various conferences.
I finished an accelerated post bacc year at a lesser known program in my state going full time and earning a 4.0 sGPA. I earned my school's highest achievement awards in the sciences.
I won a full-ride merit scholarship to the medical school of my choice. They chose me based on merit, a good recent track record, and my ability to communicate via internet the discipline of psychology with various underdeveloped schools overseas.
I earned a 522 on my MCAT, first time.
I intend to go to one of the best medical schools. I am looking at HMS because of
their joint MD/MPH program.
I speak 9 languages fluently.
I started my own business, and have saved enough money for medical school, outside of the grant I was offered.
I've been guaranteed a Full Bright student research grant for the upcoming year. I heard they are quite prestigious, and I don't have any experience to put down on application related to actual overseas experience besides my teleconferencing experience for the grant I was given. My question is should I take the Full Bright grant or do you think I have built up enough strong stats and have turned my life around enough to start applying to the top schools? I want to feel completely comfortable applying and knowing that I stand a better-than-average chance of making it in.
Any and all advice is much appreciated.
