MD WAMC 2025-2026 Cycle

[irishforever182]

Hi! I am applying next cycle, currently working as an engineer in manufacturing in big pharma full time. My main issue has been finding clinical experience due to working full time, so I am continuing to volunteer, but was wondering if I am doing enough, it’s easy to come on here and feel insecure when so many people have thousands of hours. My stats by the time I will apply are as follows:

I also am considering quitting my manufacturing job in June because that is when my lease ends but app will already be submitted at that point. Interested in a CRC position or research at a biotech company, also open to suggestions here!

Any school recs would also be appreciated!

Engineering degree from T20 school, graduated May 2023
GPA: 3.8
sGPA: 3.8
MCAT: 510 (130/125/126/129)
ORM, IN resident, strong ties to PA

By time of app:

Non clinical volunteer: 200 hours at an addiction recovery/mental health community (thinking of making this one most meaningful), 120 hours at food bank, 80 hours of girls on the run coach

Clinical volunteer: 110 hours at a childrens hospital with a reading cart reading and delivering books to patients, 100 as a volunteer in the ED, 100 hours at a hospice as an end of life companion (sitting with patients for a few hours a week)

Leadership: on the engineering new hire committee at my company planning and running monthly community outreach events, will be planning global day of service for entire engineering org over 500 people

Paid employment: 4000 hours of manufacturing engineering (will be a most meaningful) + 500 from internship, 800 from R&D internship at another big pharma company, 200 as a university tour guide, 200 as a student nutrition worker, 100 as a tutor

Shadowing: 60 hours across ortho, primary care, general surgery

Hobbies: Have gotten very into running and have completed two marathons

Family in medicine: No

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[LunaOri]

It will depend on whether you can make a convincing case for why you want to go into medicine and how well you understand what it is to be a physician. Your lack of clinical experience won’t help, so work on your story line.

 

[irishforever182]

It will depend on whether you can make a convincing case for why you want to go into medicine and how well you understand what it is to be a physician. Your lack of clinical experience won’t help, so work on your story line.

Is 300 hours + 50 hours shadowing considered low? I can’t financially afford to quit my engineering job, but part of what motivated me to start looking into applying to med school was my job working in manufacturing medicines. I realized that I did not want to be the one making the medicine but instead the one interfacing with the patient and giving them the treatment that they need. My clinical volunteering experience has reinforces this but I cannot at this time afford to quit to get a full-time clinical job

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Is 300 hours + 50 hours shadowing considered low? I can’t financially afford to quit my engineering job, but part of what motivated me to start looking into applying to med school was my job working in manufacturing medicines. I realized that I did not want to be the one making the medicine but instead the one interfacing with the patient and giving them the treatment that they need. My clinical volunteering experience has reinforces this but I cannot at this time afford to quit to get a full-time clinical job

This is the challenge you have to face. 300 hours pales compared to the 4000 hours you have worked for your job. I totally get the challenge that you shouldn't leave your current stream of income for something else, but that's the sign you need to show if you are going to go all in for a different career.

What do you see is your purpose as a physician? You say you want to be the one giving them treatments, not making the medicines. You could have done this as a pharmacist, so I ask you didn't go in that direction. Being in pharma, are you blocked from pursuing a career in medical affairs? What's wrong with being in management?

 

[Faha]

You should receive interviews with your stats and I suggest these schools:
Indiana
Carle Illinois (you fit their profile)
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Hackensack
Albany
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Belmont
Alice Walton
TCU
Tulane
Creighton
Arizona State (when they open)
Roseman (when they open)