WAMC: 516/3.94

[ecc311]

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Hi — I’m having trouble evaluating my competitiveness and would really appreciate feedback on both my application and school list. Reposting now with a school list and additional information to help people evaluate!

ORM, mid 20s

Mid-tier undergraduate, 1 gap year
cGPA: 3.94 / sGPA: 3.91
MCAT: 516 (one attempt)

Clinical: ~9,000 hours as a paramedic

Research: ~450 hours across two projects, both retrospective evaluating EMS interventions, manuscript x 2 and a state presentation and system training but no pubs

Non-clinical volunteering: ~420 hours (ESL tutor and special olympics volunteer + president)

Clinical volunteering: ~200 hours (student EMS organization and community education initiatives such as CPR and overdose prevention training)

Shadowing: ~50 hours

Leadership: ~1,000 hours directing an EMT training program (curriculum oversight, instruction, operations) + founder/president of club + president of Special Olympics club, ~4,400 hours as a Field Training Officer (this was done concomitantly with my work as a paramedic)

Teaching: ~200 hours as an undergraduate TA

Other: Collegiate club athlete (~600 hours)

Misc: Took one withdrawal to take in person biochem, then got an A grade at that in person school; one minor IA

LORs: Committee letter + strong science faculty + physician + clinical leadership (overall strong)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Could you remind us of your state of residence?

We have discussed elsewhere the minor IA as being inconsequential.

Any feedback from your prehealth committee?

I think your activities are still rather teaching/tutoring heavy. Some people may give you some credit being involved with Special Olympics, but I would still like to see typical service orientation activities focused on food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. You should have 150 hours when you submit your application or your file could be screened out. You have so much more experience as a paramedic, I'm unsure how that could persuade some schools that you have a strong foundation connecting with the community (social services) needs of a given or preferred community.

I'm also unsure about the EMS research's cache with the target research-focused schools.

 

[ecc311]

Could you remind us of your state of residence?

We have discussed elsewhere the minor IA as being inconsequential.

Any feedback from your prehealth committee?

I think your activities are still rather teaching/tutoring heavy. Some people may give you some credit being involved with Special Olympics, but I would still like to see typical service orientation activities focused on food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. You should have 150 hours when you submit your application or your file could be screened out. You have so much more experience as a paramedic, I'm unsure how that could persuade some schools that you have a strong foundation connecting with the community (social services) needs of a given or preferred community.

I'm also unsure about the EMS research's cache with the target research-focused schools.

I am from Massachusetts. You raise a lot of good points, as always. I appreciate the feedback!