- Joined
- Aug 16, 2016
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
- 4
Hello SDN,
I feel a tad anxious posting here (lurker for years!), but now that I am done with school I can really get to work on setting myself up to apply. I committed to a second professional degree to raise my gpa and gain better employment opportunities. It all turned out quite well, so I am hoping for the best. I have seen a few threads with applicants possessing medical lab science backgrounds, but I felt like getting some more personalized guidance. I am and will be working evening shifts full time for the foreseeable future, while studying for the MCAT during the day. I would likely take it next spring. I just want to see how everything else looks overall and what kind of MCAT you all would see as being competitive for me. Also, let me know if there is anything else that might need some work. Here goes nothing!
Year in school: I graduated this year with a second bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science. My first degree was in microbiology.
Country/state of residence: USA/Kansas
Schools to which you are applying: I am just starting to build a school list. So far I have KUMC (where I got my CLS degree), UMKC, KCUMB, NSUCOM, PNWUCOM, TUCOM... Basically, I was figuring DO and was going to apply to my state MDs.
Cumulative GPA: 3.4. Graduated in Microbiology with a 3.25, and in clinical lab science with a 3.7, so I am pleased with the upward trend/cGPA boost.
Science GPA: 3.4
MCAT Scores: TBD. I have purchased EK and am planning to take the MCAT next spring.
Research: None.
Volunteering (clinical): 100+ hours doing phlebotomy at a free clinic. In the process of a getting a gig volunteering as a medical lab scientist at the same place for Heart to Heart.
Physician shadowing: Scheduled to shadow several specialties over the next few months. I should accumulate around 60-80 hours by the end.
Extracurricular activities: I have played violin since I was very young. Over time I picked up other instruments and learned to compose/produce music electronically.
Employment history: Currently working as a medical laboratory scientist (ASCP) full time, focused in hematology and chemistry. Previously I worked as a microbiology start lab technician, as a tutor for general chemistry, as a TA for microbiology, and as a supplemental instructor of introductory biology.
Immediate family members in medicine? No.
Specialty of interest: Although I love pathology, the primary reason I want to make the jump to medical school is that I yearn to feel more directly involved with patients. We do great work in the clinical laboratory, but I miss getting to calm people down before a stick when I volunteered as a phlebotomist, and I love whenever I get to go down to the floor for a P2Y and interact with the people behind the specimens. In other words, I am open to anything. For the sake of nerdy curiosity, I would list pathology, infectious disease, and internal medicine.
Graduate degrees: No graduate degrees. But, I am ASCP certified as a medical lab scientist.
Interest in rural health: Yes.
I feel a tad anxious posting here (lurker for years!), but now that I am done with school I can really get to work on setting myself up to apply. I committed to a second professional degree to raise my gpa and gain better employment opportunities. It all turned out quite well, so I am hoping for the best. I have seen a few threads with applicants possessing medical lab science backgrounds, but I felt like getting some more personalized guidance. I am and will be working evening shifts full time for the foreseeable future, while studying for the MCAT during the day. I would likely take it next spring. I just want to see how everything else looks overall and what kind of MCAT you all would see as being competitive for me. Also, let me know if there is anything else that might need some work. Here goes nothing!
Year in school: I graduated this year with a second bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science. My first degree was in microbiology.
Country/state of residence: USA/Kansas
Schools to which you are applying: I am just starting to build a school list. So far I have KUMC (where I got my CLS degree), UMKC, KCUMB, NSUCOM, PNWUCOM, TUCOM... Basically, I was figuring DO and was going to apply to my state MDs.
Cumulative GPA: 3.4. Graduated in Microbiology with a 3.25, and in clinical lab science with a 3.7, so I am pleased with the upward trend/cGPA boost.
Science GPA: 3.4
MCAT Scores: TBD. I have purchased EK and am planning to take the MCAT next spring.
Research: None.
Volunteering (clinical): 100+ hours doing phlebotomy at a free clinic. In the process of a getting a gig volunteering as a medical lab scientist at the same place for Heart to Heart.
Physician shadowing: Scheduled to shadow several specialties over the next few months. I should accumulate around 60-80 hours by the end.
Extracurricular activities: I have played violin since I was very young. Over time I picked up other instruments and learned to compose/produce music electronically.
Employment history: Currently working as a medical laboratory scientist (ASCP) full time, focused in hematology and chemistry. Previously I worked as a microbiology start lab technician, as a tutor for general chemistry, as a TA for microbiology, and as a supplemental instructor of introductory biology.
Immediate family members in medicine? No.
Specialty of interest: Although I love pathology, the primary reason I want to make the jump to medical school is that I yearn to feel more directly involved with patients. We do great work in the clinical laboratory, but I miss getting to calm people down before a stick when I volunteered as a phlebotomist, and I love whenever I get to go down to the floor for a P2Y and interact with the people behind the specimens. In other words, I am open to anything. For the sake of nerdy curiosity, I would list pathology, infectious disease, and internal medicine.
Graduate degrees: No graduate degrees. But, I am ASCP certified as a medical lab scientist.
Interest in rural health: Yes.
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