WAMC 3.63/unknown, CA ORM

[Veritas27]

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Hello guys, I am graduating this year and planning to apply in 2024 for the 2024-25 cycle. I would like to please have some feedback on what I have done so far and what I plan to do in the next year, to see whether I will be ready to apply in a year.

1. 3.63 cGPA
2. Haven't taken MCAT yet, planning to study from September - January and take it January 2024
3. CA resident
4. ORM
5. UC school
6. 200 hours volunteering in a free clinic that serves mostly undeserved immigrant population, took vitals from and roomed pt.s, used medical Spanish terms
7. Around 500 hours of 2 independent research projects over 2 years with poster presentations
8. Around 100 hours total of shadowing 2 MD specialties and 1 DO specialty
9. 80 hours Meals on Wheels
10. Board member of AMSA club 3 years, alto in church choir 4 years
11. None other occasional Dean's list

My plan for my gap year is to get a scribing job or another similar clinical experience job, goal is to get around 500 more hours. While I do that part time I will study for the MCAT and afterward write my PS, secondaries, etc. It would be nice if I would also do another once-a-week non-clinical volunteering, but I am extremely burnt out and want to use my gap years to recover as well before beginning med school.

I am mostly applying to DO schools because I genuinely feel that their philosophy fits me better. I have had several personal experiences that I can use to back up this statement.
As far as MD schools I will also apply to a few of them too but I don't know how to select my schools, I really want to get out of state. I've lived here my whole life and I'd really like to see another part of the country.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

[chilly_md]

I would recommend getting to 200+ hours with the Meals on Wheels.

Please come back when you have your MCAT score and we can provide a school list then.

 

[Veritas27]

I would recommend getting to 200+ hours with the Meals on Wheels.

Please come back when you have your MCAT score and we can provide a school list then.

So are you saying I should prioritize a non-clinical experience such as Meals on Wheels over more clinical hours? Or to do this in addition to my original plan? Thanks

 

[chilly_md]

So are you saying I should prioritize a non-clinical experience such as Meals on Wheels over more clinical hours? Or to do this in addition to my original plan? Thanks

Do both.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm also a little hung up on your free clinic experience. What were your specific responsibilities? Were these patients and did you have Doctor supervision?

 

[Veritas27]

I'm also a little hung up on your free clinic experience. What were your specific responsibilities? Were these patients and did you have Doctor supervision?

I took patient's height, weight, blood pressure with cuff, blood sugar with finger prick, roomed them, uploaded their vital signs into the EMR system, cleaned and restocked exam rooms, prepared/ pulled and sorted physical charts, and other random tasks such as scanning or other front and back office tasks. Yes they were real patients, mostly Spanish-speaking immigrants and some veterans. There were at least 30-40 different doctors in the clinic and 3-5 of them would be in at a time, they would come on different shifts or days of the week. I was basically a medical assistant lite.