Unique Chance Post (Harvard, low GPA, Good ECs, Published, EMT+)

[deckwasher]

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Removed, as I was identified in real life.

 

[jeghaber]

Since you've stated that UMichigan is your dream/goal, I'm going to comment mainly on that. The first thing I'd do is to look at their Admissions tracker, which is available for download on the homepage and gives you an idea of what you're up against, at least in terms of stats.

Given that you don't yet have an MCAT score, and that you have a solid range of ECs, if you rock the MCAT, you'll still stand a chance/be on track. But you'll probably want to aim pretty high -- ideally above UMich's average since your GPA is below their average. If that means post-phoning it to get your score into that range, do that.

One thing I do notice is a certain lack of coherency in your application that fails to show that you're truly interested in a career in medicine. You've done a lot of really great, interesting things, but other than the EMT hours and the standard shadowing, I'm not seeing much else that would distinguish your resume from someone who has no idea what they wanted to do in life -- try to really bring it together and focus it with your PS.

Once you've rocked the MCAT, written your PS and gotten a few great LORs, submit your application and hope for the best!

As for your chances for the "at least one acceptance" goal, as long as you score within your current MCAT range, I think you should be okay if you apply appropriately broadly.

 

[alpinism]

With a 3.6/33 you might get an interview at UMich but realize your ECs and GPA are below average for top schools.

I'll be brutally honest: considering the EMT class itself is 110 hrs, having less than 100hrs experience isn't very impressive. Most applicants volunteering with campus EMS have multiple years experience with over 250hrs (For reference, one 8hr shift per week during school for 1 year should equal over 250hrs) We have a couple med students who volunteered with MIT EMS during undergrad and they both had over 500hrs. I'd try to get 200hrs if possible (remember you can include planned hrs over the summer if you're planning on submitting AMCAS in June).

Other than getting more clinical experience (use your EMT certification) i'd also get some community service under your belt.

 

[mcloaf]

As in in-stater coming back from Harvard I think you'd have a shot at UM if you can do well on the MCAT.

Your total lack of non-clinical volunteering is concerning, though. I'd suggest starting something ASAP that you can include on your applications.

 

[nemo123]

Like others have said, almost all of your ECs (except maybe your shooting team committment?), while interesting, don't really show a long length of commitment as almost everything was started within the last year or so (or were short term). You might want to wait an extra year and bulk up your ECs before you apply, if Mich is your dream school. And with a 3.6 and if you're aiming for Mich, you might want to postpone your MCAT until you can get your practice test scores to 36+ to be competitive.

 

[deckwasher]

Removed, as I was identified in real life

 

[nemo123]

I think it's just about continuing your current activities and trying to get some non-clinical volunteering. There are a couple of homeless shelters near Harvard.

 

[alpinism]

Thank you so much for your input guys. I really appreciate it!

That being said, just to clarify on the length of E.C.'s, I started creating the shooting team from my freshman year. Also, regarding the EMS service, I didn't join an existing Campus EMS like MIT EMS. We had to create this service from scratch (a process involving numerous meetings and talks with administrators, legal teams, and city officials). We just launched active service a few weeks ago. We managed to get the university to pay for free EMT classes to selected students (where I got my license) and I have been involved in this team since halfway through my sophomore year.

Given the short amount of time between now and June, how should I best spend my time? (Other than studying for the MCAT)

Thank you again for your input!

In that case definitely mention this in your application. It sounds like a great leadership EC.

Other than that focus on getting more clinical and community service hours.

 

[Goro]

The employment history will make for good conversation at an interview, and I like the EMT experience, but without any non-clinical Ecs, you might have a lot of trouble catching an II.

Your GPAs are good. Naturally, MCAT will make or break you. Are you a MI resident? if not, I'd write off U MI.


I'd love to attend the University of Michigan. So, SDN, what are my chances? Am I on the right track? Am I being foolish? Be honest![/quote]

 

[deckwasher]

Thanks Goro (and others, of course!)

I am a Michigan Resident and what do you mean by "catching an II"? Is that slang for getting a secondary? I haven't been on these forums too much...

 

[jeghaber]

Thanks Goro (and others, of course!)

I am a Michigan Resident and what do you mean by "catching an II"? Is that slang for getting a secondary? I haven't been on these forums too much...

II stands for "Interview Invite." A lot of people do confuse it with getting a secondary earlier in the cycle so no worries 🙂

 

[ichor]

One thing I do notice is a certain lack of coherency in your application that fails to show that you're truly interested in a career in medicine. You've done a lot of really great, interesting things, but other than the EMT hours and the standard shadowing, I'm not seeing much else that would distinguish your resume from someone who has no idea what they wanted to do in life -- try to really bring it together and focus it with your PS.

How does one build "coherency" in their app? Could you list some activities as examples? Thanks.

 

[jeghaber]

How does one build "coherency" in their app? Could you list some activities as examples? Thanks.

Since this is deckwasher's WAMC thread, I'll try to use the listed activities here. I think deckwasher's done a lot of really cool things, but to me, his list of activities reads like someone who wants to go into CS who has a side interest in medicine, rather than someone who wants to go into medicine with a side interest CS. That's not to say -- at all -- that medical school applicants can only have "side interests" outside of medicine. It's just that given the lack of evidence for the OP's motivations in medicine, all the CS is more of a distractor and potential snag point (the committee might wonder why the OP isn't going into CS instead of medicine). If however, the OP is able to more firmly establish/convey his motivations for medicine, his passion for CS would be a fantastic addition to a great application. Put another way, deckwasher does in fact have coherency, just not in the way that would help him in medical school applications *yet* given what comes off as an unclear commitment to medicine.

To answer your question more directly, obviously, there's no set list of activities that together would allow you to "check off" a box. But generally speaking, from what I've seen from other applicants, there are three (very) broad ways that seem to effectively convey interest:

1) A progression of responsibility/commitment through a few different roles. For example, one might start as a volunteer at a hospital, and later become a scribe to get more first-hand experience or start as a volunteer, see a need in the hospital and organize a program/initiative to address it.
2) A long-term commitment in one dedicated role. You might try out the whole EMT thing, fall in love, and do only that for 2-3 years.
3) An interest/exploration in one area of medicine through multiple modalities. If you're interested in cancer, you might volunteer in the oncology ward of the hospital, take classes relating to cancer and also do oncology research.

I'm sure others can comment on and add to this as well since this is just my own perspective. My own clinical involvement follows some combination of the first and third path -- started out doing non-clinical volunteer work in the hospital, became more interested in medicine and became a volunteer at the same hospital (spurred by my increasing interest in medicine, I also shadowed a few physicians during this time), and because of my academic/personal interest in development, soon became a volunteer in the pediatric wing, where I was a regular volunteer for about a few months and then a semi-leadership-y coordinator volunteer for another year. I didn't do anything super impressive that changed lives, but no one's questioned me (yet, haha). Hope this helps a bit!