Trying to find a "wow" factor

[agirlwithdrdreams]

---

Members don't see this ad.

.

 

[Rogue42]

Yeah, I think you already have a wow factor.
You are more than capable of applying and getting accepted to any school you want.

 

[KnightDoc]

Cure cancer and solve for quality universal health care.

Seriously, your profile is outstanding, and you certainly must know that. What you are really asking is what can you do in the next 15 months to guarantee that every school you apply to will salivate over you. And the answer is "nothing." You are fantastic and are going to do very well, but nobody bats 1.000 in this process, regardless of their "wow factor," so brace yourself for a disappointment or two along the way. There is nothing obvious that you are missing that will turn you from really good to really great, or from really great to the best ever.

You are already more than checking every box and will do very well, not only at T20, but also at T10 and probably T5. That said, some adcoms will probably take a pass for whatever reason, and there is no way to predict which ones ahead of time in order to inoculate yourself against it. My advice would be to try to relax and just keep doing what you are doing. I can't imagine there are too many people who are going to read you post who wouldn't love to apply with your profile.

 

[Moko]

I have a little over one year until I apply and I am gunning for T20. I know that to get those types of acceptances, I need a "wow" factor and I don't know if I have one exactly.

cGPA: 3.97
MCAT: 524 (already took it this January-- planned on applying this past year but want to talk a year off in between college and medical school)

(Hours based off of when I apply next year)
Clinical (2710 hrs)
Clinical Volunteering. Shadowing. Nursing Assistant (Hospital Setting)
Nonclinical (1880)
Summer Camp Counselor. Personal Care Assistant. Student Employee at University Dining Hall
Tutor / Teaching / TA (835 hrs)
Chemistry and Math Tutor. Volunteer Tutoring In Public Middle / High Schools. Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Grader (Math). Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Chemistry)
Research (1440 hrs)
Individual Research Grant Awards and Projects (Microbiology). Cancer 3-Semester Honors Research Program. 2 publications + 10 poster presentations + final senior thesis
ECs / Leadership (4920 hrs)
Campus Ministry Leader. Pre-Medicine Club Leadership Position. NCAA DII Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track Team. Athletes in Action Campus Ministry. Honors Program. Mortar Board National College Senior Honors Society Leadership Position. Collegiate Undergraduate Journal Editor in chief
Nonclinical Volunteering (1495 hrs)
Red Cross. Little YMCA (low income after school program). Science Lesson Program (taught lessons at schools all over the state). Mentoring Program (like big sister little sister). Food Bank. On-Campus Art Museum. Youth Group Leader
So any advice on how I can attain a real "wow" factor over the next 15ish months would be very much so welcomed!

I can't tell if this is legitimately a question or if it's a humble brag, but applying to medical school can be very nerve-wracking, so I'll bite. Assuming this is truly your application:

1) Your application on paper will easily be in the top 10% of interviewees (not applicants) at T20 schools. I would be very surprised if you did not get any interview invites to T5-10 schools. I would also not be surprised if you got significant merit scholarships.
2) Given the breadth and depth of your experiences, you will need to lump certain activities together. Start thinking of a cohesive theme that will connect your many experiences together.
3) Your goal for this next year is simple. Don't screw up: maintain your GPA, don't get any IAs, and don't have run-ins with the law. In addition: make sure your LORs are all supportive of your candidacy (based on your grades and ECs, there's no reason to think they won't be), and be thoughtful with your personal statement and activity descriptions. Make sure they are well-written and without careless mistakes.
4) If you can do the above, you will be a strong contender for interview invites and acceptances unless you interview poorly and/or have the personality of a potato. The acceptances are yours to lose.

Just my thoughts and best of luck.

 

[KnightDoc]

You put down 520 as your score in a previous thread and now it's 524?

THIS^^^^^^^. OP also seems to have morphed from White to ORM, and the 520 was posted in the beginning of December while the 524 was achieved in January, in anticipation of applying "this past year." Oh well! It was still a very inspirational and aspirational post that certainly fed my imposter syndrome!!!! 😎

 

[GoPenguinsGo]

0/10 troll post

 

[Lasofloxabuterol]

LOL, there are only so many hours in a day, unless of course you are a non-trad. Troll!!

 

[agirlwithdrdreams]

.

 

[KnightDoc]

When I made that post in December I used my average MCAT FL scores at the time. I ended up doing a lot better on the actual exam and scoring a 524 after a few more weeks of hard studying over winter break.

Isn't white = orm (over-represented in medicine)? I'm sorry if that is wrong. I will change it if so. I was under the impression that orm meant white / asian.

I was going to apply this June (2021) and that was my plan as of December. However, things have happened and circumstances have changed this past semester and I will now not be applying until next june (2022).


I'm sorry if you guys feel that way.
TBH I'm just a high-strung perfectionist with great anxiety over my future because I want to become a dr and fulfill my dream more than anything in the world. It is a lot of hours, but I have sacrificed a lot of the "typical" college experiences and such to build my application and have reliable references to back all of them up.

I have just read that T20's want a "wow" factor that is very significant and felt as though I didn't have that. I just wanted to come on here for advice on how to best use my senior year to prepare to shoot for the stars. I love SDN and I think it's a great platform for helping pre-med students.

I didn't intend to cause issues when I posted yesterday. I have just been feeling anxious and stressed and what helps me is planning. Therefore, I thought that if I got some advice for how I could plan out the next year or so that would help relieve some of my anxiety.

I want to say sorry to anyone I offended by my post. I apologize for the confusion with the MCAT estimate in December vs my real score from January. I apologize if I mixed up the orm definition. I didn't mean to seem like a troll.

I don't meant to attack you and absolutely realize that you might be for real, but a few things really don't add up.

A "high strung perfectionist" would certainly know the difference between FL averages and a real score, and wouldn't misrepresent one as the other in an oh so important WAMC post that could dictate her entire future. 🙂

To be fair, people do confuse White and ORM, since the "M" could stand for either minority or medicine. On the other hand, are Whites really over represented? Whites make up 76.3% of the US population and 56.2% of all active physicians, and 48.5% of current medical students. ORM, when the term is used correctly, definitely refers to Asians, who constitute 22.8% of medical school enrollment but only 5.6% of the US population.

A "high strung perfectionist" seeking a "wow factor" to ensure success might have taken the 2 minutes it took me to pull those figures from the Interweb before carelessly mixing and matching those terms in separate posts a few months apart. (For the record, people who think White=ORM almost always pick one and stick to it, so, in the context of the rest of your fantabulous post, it looks very sus.)

Finally, "going to apply in June 2021" =/= "planned on applying this past year" when making a post in March 2021. Again, everything you say in your defense is entirely plausible, but it's unlikely that a rock star with your profile would make such mistakes. If you have spent any time at all on SDN, you realize that pretty much nobody has a profile like yours, so you should realize that what might very well be a manifestation of your great anxiety appears to the rest of us like a troll post meant to either mock or trigger our own anxiety, since even the best among the rest of us only has a fraction of your accomplishments. JMHO.

P.S. If you ARE for real, here's some actionable advice -- Adcoms have repeatedly posted over the years that "high strung perfectionists" are ticking time bombs in med school, and they actively seek to weed them out during the admission process. If you are serious and you don't get it under control, THAT might screw up your application cycle when the time comes, regardless of how outstanding your application looks.

I am applying this next cycle and would love your guys opinions on where I should apply to and what my chances are. To be honest, I am a very anxious and nervous person and plan on applying to as many schools as I know that I can handle. I just would love your guy's opinions on where to apply and also how to better my chances in the next 6 months or so...

These are my stats that I will most likely apply with unless covid calms down and I can volunteer more...

Personal Information:
Female, Traditional (No Gap Years), White

School Information:
Medium Sized Midwestern School
Majors: Chemistry B.S. and Biology B.S.

Stats:
cGPA: 3.98
sGPA: 3.97
nsGPA: 4.00
MCAT: 520

Clinical Experience (Total: 1400 hrs):
Clinical Volunteering (Hospital and Nursing Home): 150 hrs
Shadowing (Mix of rural and Mayo Clinic): 120 hrs
Nursing Assistant (Hospital Setting): 650 hrs
Internship at Hospital (Research, Observation, MD Mentoring, Rounding with Residents): 480 hrs (Summer 2021 - The summer I apply)

Nonclinical Work (Total: ~1900 hrs):
Summer Camp Counselor: Volunteer counselor for 2 summers + 1 summer official staff
Personal Care Assistant (PCA): 280 hrs (like a in-home CNA)
Student Employee at University Dining Hall: 400 hrs

Teaching / Tutoring (Total: 580 hrs):
Chemistry and Math Tutor: 190 hrs
Tutoring In Public Middle / High Schools: 20 hrs
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Grader (Math): 195 hrs
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (Chemistry): 175 hrs

Research (Total: 540 hrs):
Individual Research Grant Award Project (Microbiology): 140 hrs
Chemistry 3-Semester Honors Research Program (Working on Thesis): 200 hrs (completed 1/3 semesters)
Clinical Research: 200 hrs

[No publications, but am working on a chemistry thesis and have presented my work multiple times for different conferences, both local and national]

Leadership (Total: 615 hrs):
Campus Ministry Leader (Small Group Leader): 500 hrs leadership (700 hrs complete involvement)
Organized Semester-long Fundraiser Team for local free clinics: 75 hrs
Pre-Medicine Club Leadership Position: 40 hrs

Nonclinical Volunteering (Total: 930 hrs):
Red Cross: 350 hrs
Little YMCA (low income after school program): 50 hrs
Food Bank: 90 hrs
Animal Humane Society: 65 hrs
Boys and Girls Club: 100 hrs
Youth Group Leader and Sunday School Teacher: 275 hrs (started in high school and continued in college)

Other Involvement / Extra Curriculars (Total: ~2200 hrs):
NCAA DII Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track Team: 2100+ hrs
Athletes in Action Campus Ministry: 90 hrs
Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution Student Hearing Panel Member: 30 hrs

[Just joined 2 other clubs but were canceled for covid right afterwards, so I hope I can get more involved with them or else I won't mention them]

Collegiate Honors:
Scholarships:

• Best in Class Scholarship
• Norm & Joan Gill Scholarship
• Johnson Engineering Scholarship
• Harry T. Kase Memorial Scholarship
• Catherine E. Cox Scholarship
• J.A. Wedum Foundation Scholarship

Honors / Awards:

• University of Minnesota Duluth Honors Program: 200 hrs
• Mortar Board National College Senior Honors Society: 50 hrs
• University Of Minnesota Duluth Dean’s List (Every Semester)
• Grace C. Peterson Calculus Achievement Award
• Two Individual Undergraduate Research Awards
• Division 2 Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Award

 

[Rogue42]

I don't meant to attack you and absolutely realize that you might be for real, but a few things really don't add up.

A "high strung perfectionist" would certainly know the difference between FL averages and a real score, and wouldn't misrepresent one as the other in an oh so important WAMC post that could dictate her entire future. 🙂

To be fair, people do confuse White and ORM, since the "M" could stand for either minority or medicine. On the other hand, are Whites really over represented? Whites make up 76.3% of the US population and 56.2% of all active physicians, and 48.5% of current medical students. ORM, when the term is used correctly, definitely refers to Asians, who constitute 22.8% of medical school enrollment but only 5.6% of the US population.

A "high strung perfectionist" seeking a "wow factor" to ensure success might have taken the 2 minutes it took me to pull those figures from the Interweb before carelessly mixing and matching those terms in separate posts a few months apart. (For the record, people who think White=ORM almost always pick one and stick to it, so, in the context of the rest of your fantabulous post, it looks very sus.)

Finally, "going to apply in June 2021" =/= "planned on applying this past year" when making a post in March 2021. Again, everything you say in your defense is entirely plausible, but it's unlikely that a rock star with your profile would make such mistakes. If you have spent any time at all on SDN, you realize that pretty much nobody has a profile like yours, so you should realize that what might very well be a manifestation of your great anxiety appears to the rest of us like a troll post meant to either mock or trigger our own anxiety, since even the best among the rest of us only has a fraction of your accomplishments. JMHO.

I think it would be best everyone realized that people are allowed to misrepresent themselves whether in scores, gpa, activities to help maintain anonymity - as encouraged by SDN guidelines.

Stop grilling people over doing exactly what is recommended by this site.

 

[KnightDoc]

I think it would be best everyone realized that people are allowed to misrepresent themselves whether in scores, gpa, activities to help maintain anonymity - as encouraged by SDN guidelines.

Stop grilling people over doing exactly what is recommended by this site.

Masking identities to protect anonymity is one thing. Other forms of BS can be properly characterized as trolling. The more elaborate and detailed the post, as in this case, the less likely it is to "help maintain anonymity" under SDN guidelines, if true, and the less valuable it is to everyone, including OP, otherwise. 🙂

 

[Rogue42]

Masking identities to protect anonymity is one thing. Other forms of BS can be properly characterized as trolling. The more elaborate and detailed the post, as in this case, the less likely it is to "help maintain anonymity" under SDN guidelines, if true, and the less valuable it is to everyone, including OP, otherwise. 🙂

THIS^^^^^^^. OP also seems to have morphed from White to ORM, and the 520 was posted in the beginning of December while the 524 was achieved in January, in anticipation of applying "this past year." Oh well! It was still a very inspirational and aspirational post that certainly fed my imposter syndrome!!!! 😎

All I'm saying is that you specifically referenced a past post saying that the MCAT has changed and the background status of the applicant has changed (even though white and ORM are synonymous).

Pulling up a post from the past to reference stat changes to discredit someone on this site is (when it is encouraged by the posting guidelines) is a great way to discourage people from posting / becoming new members / or not stay anonymous and get themselves into trouble. I, too, "lied" about my stats going into application season, and someone threw that in my face to discredit me. It just is not a great look.

This is not aimed at just you, there was obviously someone else who did it as well; it is also for anyone who reads this thread thinking of doing it to someone else - a lesson for all per se.

At the end of the day, I agree that this could simply be a troll post; but at the end of the day, none of us know for sure.

 

[Banco]

Your inability to have some self awareness in assessing the strength of your application certainly made me say "wow." So I think you're good.

 

[KnightDoc]

All I'm saying is that you specifically referenced a past post saying that the MCAT has changed and the background status of the applicant has changed (even though white and ORM are synonymous).

Pulling up a post from the past to reference stat changes to discredit someone on this site is (when it is encouraged by the posting guidelines) is a great way to discourage people from posting / becoming new members / or not stay anonymous and get themselves into trouble. I, too, "lied" about my stats going into application season, and someone threw that in my face to discredit me. It just is not a great look.

This is not aimed at just you, there was obviously someone else who did it as well; it is also for anyone who reads this thread thinking of doing it to someone else - a lesson for all per se.

At the end of the day, I agree that this could simply be a troll post; but at the end of the day, none of us know for sure.

Okay, but, just so you know, ORM and White are NOT synonymous!!! Please read my post above!

Also, I'm not sure where you are getting the notion that misrepresenting facts is synonymous with anonymity, or that it's encouraged by the posting guidelines. It's not.

 

[Rogue42]

Okay, but, just so you know, ORM and White are NOT synonymous!!! Please read my post above!

The AAMC technically states that URM = "underrepresented in medicine" (and logically, then, ORM = "over-represented in medicine"). This is based on the percentage of physicians of a certain race/population in relation to their percentage in the general population. Apparently it used to mean "underrepresented minority" but they decided that basing the term on a fixed race as opposed to a fluid proportion made less sense.

ORM is kind of a made-up term in reaction to URM, though, so there's probably no set definition. The definition of synonymous is having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. Therefore, white fits the ORM and Asian fits the ORM as well. You can swing that either way you want to go, and they are both synonymous.

 

[SirBrotherJam]

You have a total of 13,280 hours listed. Is this only during undergrad?! It's literally 1.5 years of work if you didn't sleep and went 24/7. When did you study to maintain a crazy GPA? That should be your "wow" factor right there.

 

[KnightDoc]

The AAMC technically states that URM = "underrepresented in medicine" (and logically, then, ORM = "over-represented in medicine"). This is based on the percentage of physicians of a certain race/population in relation to their percentage in the general population. Apparently it used to mean "underrepresented minority" but they decided that basing the term on a fixed race as opposed to a fluid proportion made less sense.

ORM is kind of a made-up term in reaction to URM, though, so there's probably no set definition. The definition of synonymous is having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. Therefore, white fits the ORM and Asian fits the ORM as well. You can swing that either way you want to go, and they are both synonymous.

It doesn't matter whether or not the "M" stands for minority. Whites are not over represented in medicine. They represent 76.3% of the US population, 56.2% of all active physicians, and 48.5% of current medical students. If anything, Whites are URM, but not in the way commonly meant by the term!

 

[Goro]

So any advice on how I can attain a real "wow" factor over the next 15ish months would be very much so welcomed!

You have 1000s of hours of service to others. That a big WOW!.

Start list with WashU and radiate outwards. Rock stars should aim high.

For those of you suspicious of the OPs hours, nowhere has OP stated that they are 21 and finishing college.

 

[GoPenguinsGo]

For those of you suspicious of the OPs hours, nowhere has OP stated that they are 21 and finishing college.

Actually OP does:
I have a little over one year until I apply and I am gunning for T20. I know that to get those types of acceptances, I need a "wow" factor and I don't know if I have one exactly. I will drop my stats and numbers below and would love opinions on how to get a "wow" factor over this next year (my last year of senior year):

Female ORM
Medium Sized Midwestern School
Majors: Chemistry B.S. and Biology B.S.
cGPA: 3.97
sGPA: 3.96
MCAT: 524 (already took it this January-- planned on applying this past year but want to talk a year off in between college and medical school)

The bold and underlined portions tell us OP is still finishing up undergrad. Goro, this is a CARS skill!

 

[Rogue42]

Actually OP does:
I have a little over one year until I apply and I am gunning for T20. I know that to get those types of acceptances, I need a "wow" factor and I don't know if I have one exactly. I will drop my stats and numbers below and would love opinions on how to get a "wow" factor over this next year (my last year of senior year):

Female ORM
Medium Sized Midwestern School
Majors: Chemistry B.S. and Biology B.S.
cGPA: 3.97
sGPA: 3.96
MCAT: 524 (already took it this January-- planned on applying this past year but want to talk a year off in between college and medical school)

The bold and underlined portions tell us OP is still finishing up undergrad. Goro, this is a CARS skill!

Did not know there was an age-limit on graduation. People can have their senior year at 29 years old and graduate.

Penguin, this is simple deductive reasoning!

 

[Goro]

Actually OP does:
I have a little over one year until I apply and I am gunning for T20. I know that to get those types of acceptances, I need a "wow" factor and I don't know if I have one exactly. I will drop my stats and numbers below and would love opinions on how to get a "wow" factor over this next year (my last year of senior year):

Female ORM
Medium Sized Midwestern School
Majors: Chemistry B.S. and Biology B.S.
cGPA: 3.97
sGPA: 3.96
MCAT: 524 (already took it this January-- planned on applying this past year but want to talk a year off in between college and medical school)

The bold and underlined portions tell us OP is still finishing up undergrad. Goro, this is a CARS skill!

OP never stated their age. It could be 40.

Even if they're trolling, it's a teaching moment

 

[GoPenguinsGo]

Did not know there was an age-limit on graduation. People can have their senior year at 29 years old and graduate.

Penguin, this is simple deductive reasoning!

Being 29 and buiding these EC's over several years would make more sense than 3-4. But I'm gonna stick with the saying "If you hear hoofbeats, think horses before zebras" and go with the statistical probability OP is 21-22 years old.

 

[agirlwithdrdreams]

.

 

[KnightDoc]

The AAMC technically states that URM = "underrepresented in medicine" (and logically, then, ORM = "over-represented in medicine"). This is based on the percentage of physicians of a certain race/population in relation to their percentage in the general population. Apparently it used to mean "underrepresented minority" but they decided that basing the term on a fixed race as opposed to a fluid proportion made less sense.

ORM is kind of a made-up term in reaction to URM, though, so there's probably no set definition. The definition of synonymous is having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. Therefore, white fits the ORM and Asian fits the ORM as well. You can swing that either way you want to go, and they are both synonymous.

Except, what you are saying really isn't true. ORM does universally mean over represented in medicine, as you correctly deduced logically. The flaw in your reasoning is the assumption that Whites are over represented, "based on the percentage of physicians of a certain race/population in relation to their percentage in the general population." As I pointed out above, twice, Whites are also under represented, "based on the percentage of physicians of a certain race/population in relation to their percentage in the general population." Of course, they are not URMs as that term is widely understood, but, technically, if you want to live in a binary world, that's what they are, because they are certainly not over represented!!!

White =/= ORM. Period. Full stop. This terms refers strictly to Asians, the only ethnic group that is actually over represented as a percentage of their representation in the US population.

 

[agirlwithdrdreams]

.

 

[GoPenguinsGo]

4 years = 1,460 days. I have 13,280 hours listed (420 are from high school activities that I continued), so more like 12,860 hrs. That is a little under 9 hrs per day. I have always been very busy, never stop moving person. It's a lot, but mathematically it is not unreasonable.

There were also times in which I was doing more than 9 hrs per day. I worked at a summer camp, which for those of you who don't know is like a 24/7 job with kids walking up crying/scared/having to go to the bathroom multiple times a night. I didn't count 24 hrs for those days -- I counted like 15/16 hrs, but still. There are days during the semester that I have work (8 hrs), practice (3 hrs), and other extracurriculars later. It's all a balancing act, but not inflated.

I assure you, it is.

 

[Lasofloxabuterol]

4 years = 1,460 days. I have 13,280 hours listed (420 are from high school activities that I continued), so more like 12,860 hrs. That is a little under 9 hrs per day. I have always been very busy, never stop moving person. It's a lot, but mathematically it is not unreasonable.

There were also times in which I was doing more than 9 hrs per day. I worked at a summer camp, which for those of you who don't know is like a 24/7 job with kids walking up crying/scared/having to go to the bathroom multiple times a night. I didn't count 24 hrs for those days -- I counted like 15/16 hrs, but still. There are days during the semester that I have work (8 hrs), practice (3 hrs), and other extracurriculars later. It's all a balancing act, but not inflated.

Does your "calculation" factor in studying for your classes and MCAT?

 

[agirlwithdrdreams]

.

 

[alm414]

You’re a rockstar applicant and I don’t know why some people on this thread are trying so hard to discredit you or convince you that what you’ve accomplished is unreasonable. Honestly my only advice to you is to enjoy your senior year of college - you’ve certainly earned it.

 

[Rogue42]

Except, what you are saying really isn't true. ORM does universally mean over represented in medicine, as you correctly deduced logically. The flaw in your reasoning is the assumption that Whites are over represented, "based on the percentage of physicians of a certain race/population in relation to their percentage in the general population." As I pointed out above, twice, Whites are also under represented, "based on the percentage of physicians of a certain race/population in relation to their percentage in the general population." Of course, they are not URMs as that term is widely understood, but, technically, if you want to live in a binary world, that's what they are, because they are certainly not over represented!!!

White =/= ORM. Period. Full stop. This terms refers strictly to Asians, the only ethnic group that is actually over represented as a percentage of their representation in the US population.

I am unsure why you decided to comment back to me twice regarding the same one post, but I can assure you that I know that my reasoning is without flaw. Furthermore, I literally copied and pasted that quote from a whole different SDN thread on the topic as this has been discussed ad nauseum before.

Secondly, you are simply wrong. End of discussion.

 

[KnightDoc]

I am unsure why you decided to comment back to me twice regarding the same one post, but I can assure you that I know that my reasoning is without flaw. Furthermore, I literally copied and pasted that quote from a whole different SDN thread on the topic as this has been discussed ad nauseum before.

Secondly, you are simply wrong. End of discussion.

Yeah, I also don't know why I commented twice on the same post! That's definitely my bad. 😎

That said, literally copying and pasting incorrect information from a whole different SDN thread on a topic doesn't magically make it correct. Whites constitute 76.3% of the US population, 56.2% of all active physicians, and 48.5% of current medical students, just like they did earlier today. What part of the definition of "over represented" am I failing to grasp??? I'm pretty sure I'm not the one who is wrong here.