Torn on when to apply

[4DHypercube]

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Hey guys, I've finally gotten the guts to post on here, but I've been a lurker here for quite a while. Sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum. I'm a Texas traditional premed in my second year, and I'm supposed to apply for med school next May 2024. However, I'm just not sure if it would be smart for me to apply next year, as I feel that I'm severely lacking in my extracurriculars. I've yet to shadow due to problems with my hospital volunteer application (which is needed for shadowing for some reason), and I only have around 60 hours of nonclinical volunteering. Research wise, I've been doing research since my freshman year including summers and I also have a publication coming up, so I think I've got plenty of experience there. Academically, I'm doing fine, sitting with a 4.0 GPA, and while I've yet to take the MCAT, I consistently score above 520 on my AAMC full lengths. I plan to take the MCAT early August 2023. Is it a good idea to wait for May 2025 to apply when I've bolstered my application with more volunteering hours, or is it feasible for me to bring my application up by next May to be competitive? As for what medical schools I want to go to, I honestly don't have a real preference except for it to be an allopathic medical school. Just one acceptance would make me really happy. Thanks guys!

 

[wysdoc]

Since you do not have any shadowing or extracurriculars, you should only apply in May 2024 if you can accumulate
40-50 hours of shadowing,
and
100 hours each of clinical and nonclinical volunteering (or a clinical job)
If you are already getting 520 on your practice FL MCATs, why are you waiting until August to take the test?
In the TMDSAS schools, the MCAT score doesn't expire for 5 years.

 

[4DHypercube]

Since you do not have any shadowing or extracurriculars, you should only apply in May 2024 if you can accumulate
40-50 hours of shadowing,
and
100 hours each of clinical and nonclinical volunteering (or a clinical job)
If you are already getting 520 on your practice FL MCATs, why are you waiting until August to take the test?
In the TMDSAS schools, the MCAT score doesn't expire for 5 years.

Thanks for the hard numbers, I was seriously confused on what would be a good target number for me to reach before I should consider applying. I see all of these posts of people with hundreds of volunteering hours, and I was seriously considering taking a gap year, since I'm not sure I can accumulate more than 500 hours of volunteering while also keeping up with schoolwork and research.

About the MCAT, I'm not sure if I'm just being neurotic, but I see that almost every TMDSAS school have really high median MCAT scores in the MSAR, so I really want to make sure that I get a score that will be exceptional to every school here in state. While I would be ecstatic to go to any allopathic medical school, I really want a plausible shot at getting into UTSW and BCM. Would it be more appropriate to take it sooner?

I'm also aware that MCAT and GPA are just one piece of the holistic puzzle, and that volunteering and other ECs are very important to med schools. Would 200 hours of collective clinical+non-clinical volunteering be enough for UTSW and BCM? I figure not, right?

 

[wysdoc]

Thanks for the hard numbers, I was seriously confused on what would be a good target number for me to reach before I should consider applying. I see all of these posts of people with hundreds of volunteering hours, and I was seriously considering taking a gap year, since I'm not sure I can accumulate more than 500 hours of volunteering while also keeping up with schoolwork and research.

About the MCAT, I'm not sure if I'm just being neurotic, but I see that almost every TMDSAS school have really high median MCAT scores in the MSAR, so I really want to make sure that I get a score that will be exceptional to every school here in state. While I would be ecstatic to go to any allopathic medical school, I really want a plausible shot at getting into UTSW and BCM. Would it be more appropriate to take it sooner?

I'm also aware that MCAT and GPA are just one piece of the holistic puzzle, and that volunteering and other ECs are very important to med schools. Would 200 hours of collective clinical+non-clinical volunteering be enough for UTSW and BCM? I figure not, right?

I think there's such a thing as studying too long, and if you are hitting those MCAT numbers now, get it over with!

You're only a sophomore, set up some summer stuff near your home and you can get some hours in.

 

[4DHypercube]

I think there's such a thing as studying too long, and if you are hitting those MCAT numbers now, get it over with!

You're only a sophomore, set up some summer stuff near your home and you can get some hours in.

Thanks, I appreciate the advice! I guess I'm just getting really spooked by the applicants with hundreds and hundreds of volunteering hours with amazing GPAs and MCAT scores not getting in, along with some stories my classmates have about their friends getting no matches despite getting good stats.

This summer I've actually got some volunteering and research set up, I'm glad to know I'm on the right track!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I also want to dispel the language choice. You should not feel like you must or are supposed to apply, especially before you have an optimal application. This is not a race. Stop comparing.

 

[Laradd]

It's great to hear that you're doing well academically and have some research experience under your belt. As for your extracurriculars, it's never too late to start building them up, but it's also important to make sure you're not spreading yourself too thin.

It sounds like you have a good plan in place for taking the MCAT and applying to med school, so I would recommend speaking with an advisor or mentor to get their input on your timeline. They can give you some more personalized advice and help you make an informed decision.
In the meantime, keep working on those extracurriculars and don't be afraid to ask for help or advice when you need it. Good luck with everything!

 

[LindaAccepted]

Hey guys, I've finally gotten the guts to post on here, but I've been a lurker here for quite a while. Sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum. I'm a Texas traditional premed in my second year, and I'm supposed to apply for med school next May 2024. However, I'm just not sure if it would be smart for me to apply next year, as I feel that I'm severely lacking in my extracurriculars. I've yet to shadow due to problems with my hospital volunteer application (which is needed for shadowing for some reason), and I only have around 60 hours of nonclinical volunteering. Research wise, I've been doing research since my freshman year including summers and I also have a publication coming up, so I think I've got plenty of experience there. Academically, I'm doing fine, sitting with a 4.0 GPA, and while I've yet to take the MCAT, I consistently score above 520 on my AAMC full lengths. I plan to take the MCAT early August 2023. Is it a good idea to wait for May 2025 to apply when I've bolstered my application with more volunteering hours, or is it feasible for me to bring my application up by next May to be competitive? As for what medical schools I want to go to, I honestly don't have a real preference except for it to be an allopathic medical school. Just one acceptance would make me really happy. Thanks guys!

You really don't have to decide now if you are going to apply in 2024 or 2025 (although I realize you may want to take the MCAT and don't want to have to take it twice.) Other than that, do start shadowing, gaining clinical experience, and volunteering and then in Fall 2023 or perhaps early 2024, assess again where you're at. Have accumulated enough of the experiences to be competitive. Have you been able to do so and keep your grades up plus get that nice high MCAT? If so, apply in 2024. But, if you see think that your grades will suffer or that you won't have enough experience to apply, then wait until 2025. Another option: Speak to an advisor and together work on a plan that will set you up for success both when you apply and until then.