WAMC- debating if my stats are good enough for goal school

[ucla2021]

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Hey guys! Hope everyone is doing okay during these crazy times.
Goal schools- UCSF, UCLA, BU, Keck School of Medicine

1. cGPA 3.90 sGPA 3.91, will be graduating from ucla in 2021
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown- 514 (128/127/129/130)
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US)- CA
4. Ethnicity and/or race- Female ORM
5. Undergraduate institution or category- UCLA molecular cell and developmental bio major, minor in neuroscience
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)- worked in a club dedicated to enrolling stroke patients in clinical trials (3 years)
7. Research experience and productivity- currently working on aneurysm clinical research (hopefully will have publications by the time I graduate)- 1 year
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented- ER shadowing (3 years)
9. Non-clinical volunteering- am in a club dedicated to volunteering and raising health awareness for a village in India (1 year), a competitive dance team(2 years) and a few marketing jobs, am currently tutoring children of healthcare workers
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)- planning to work in a healthcare setting in a another country during my gap year for more exposure
11. Relevant honors or awards
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important- Considering my goal school are UCSF, UCLA, BU, and mid-top tier schools, should I reconsider taking the MCAT again? I understand I risk getting the same or lower score but should I be trying to improve my stats if I'm missing out on clinical and shadowing opportunities because of COVID?

 

[deleted859689]

Can you change years to hours for each experience? Currently your app looks a little cookie-cutter, but your stats are good. Problem with CA applicants is that everyone has good stats which means you need something else to set you apart.

 

[ucla2021]

Can you change years to hours for each experience? Currently your app looks a little cookie-cutter, but your stats are good. Problem with CA applicants is that everyone has good stats which means you need something else to set you apart.

Yes!

1. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)- worked in a club dedicated to enrolling stroke patients in stroke clinical trials (~200 hours)
2. Research experience and productivity- currently working on aneurysm clinical research (hopefully will have publications by the time I graduate) (~150 hours)
3. Shadowing experience and specialties represented- ER shadowing (~300 years), Shadowing at internal medicine clinic (~100 hours)
4. Non-clinical volunteering- am in a club dedicated to volunteering and raising health awareness for a village in India (~150 hours), a competitive dance team(~500 hours) and a few marketing jobs (over 2 summers, haven't calculated the hours yet), am currently tutoring children of healthcare workers, also currently working for crisis hotline.

Thank you for the feedback! I understand how my EC's can look a bit cookie cutter. Most of my clinical, shadowing, and research experiences have been neuro-based and I think I have many unique stories I can draw upon for my application. This actually inspired me to also pursue a neuroscience minor, especially because neurologic diseases have been a significant part of my family and life. However I see how my activities still look cookie-cutter to many people. Would you suggest continuing to do more unique EC's or retake my MCAT?

 

[deleted859689]

Honestly, everything looks good in terms of hours. Only thing that might help is local non-clinical volunteering in an under served area. Your MCAT is fine and would not recommend a retake. Someone should be here to give you a school list. It's hard to have something unique coming straight from undergrad. A lot of accepted students have gap years - I think like over 60%?

What to do during a gap year(s)

More and more students are taking one or more years off in between their undergraduate program and medical school. If you are considering taking time after graduation and wondering what you could do, we’ve compiled a list of things for you to think about.

students-residents.aamc.org

You have good stats and good ECs. Best of luck this cycle!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

So I'm not as certain that your MCAT is within range of your goal schools. I don't have an MSAR with me, so I'll let others who have access make that call.

In your clinical trials work enrolling stroke patients, what is actually involved when it comes to determining eligibility? Do you observe doctors that take histories or subsequent interviews for eligibility?

The only reason why it's frustrating to talk about "cookie-cutter" EC's is that many people don't try to show how unique their experiences are. The forums aren't always the best, but that's one reason why I usually want more information about your activities because your own description will determine how "cookie cutter" it is. "50 hours of shadowing" will always look cookie-cutter to me.

 

[ucla2021]

So I'm not as certain that your MCAT is within range of your goal schools. I don't have an MSAR with me, so I'll let others who have access make that call.

In your clinical trials work enrolling stroke patients, what is actually involved when it comes to determining eligibility? Do you observe doctors that take histories or subsequent interviews for eligibility?

The only reason why it's frustrating to talk about "cookie-cutter" EC's is that many people don't try to show how unique their experiences are. The forums aren't always the best, but that's one reason why I usually want more information about your activities because your own description will determine how "cookie cutter" it is. "50 hours of shadowing" will always look cookie-cutter to me.

Thank you for the advice! Yes I'm currently at approximately the 25th percentile for my goal school when its comes to MCAT and the schools' matriculants. In this case would you suggest I retake since I am only applying next cycle (am planning on a gap year)?
Yes, I am responsible for talking to doctors and EMTs to collect relevant patient history and shadow the case through MRI and CT scans to determine eligibility. From there, I can go on to make calls and obtain enrollment forms for the specific trial the patient is eligible for.
I can definitely see what you mean by "cookie-cutter" and that's one concern that I have. I am perhaps more torn on whether I should be using this time in quarantine to study and bring my MCAT up, or continue doing more meaningful activities (currently am doing retrospective data research with a neurointerventionalist on aneurysm rates, working with crisis hotline, and tutoring kids of frontline workers)?

Thank you so much for all the advice and hope you all are doing safe and well!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for the advice! Yes I'm currently at approximately the 25th percentile for my goal school when its comes to MCAT and the schools' matriculants. In this case would you suggest I retake since I am only applying next cycle (am planning on a gap year)?
Yes, I am responsible for talking to doctors and EMTs to collect relevant patient history and shadow the case through MRI and CT scans to determine eligibility. From there, I can go on to make calls and obtain enrollment forms for the specific trial the patient is eligible for.
I can definitely see what you mean by "cookie-cutter" and that's one concern that I have. I am perhaps more torn on whether I should be using this time in quarantine to study and bring my MCAT up, or continue doing more meaningful activities (currently am doing retrospective data research with a neurointerventionalist on aneurysm rates, working with crisis hotline, and tutoring kids of frontline workers)?

Thank you so much for all the advice and hope you all are doing safe and well!

I wouldn't retake the MCAT; I always say if you do, you must get at least 10 points higher than your previous score, remembering that many schools average all scores.

25th percentile isn't great but you have to be good in a lot of other areas of your application. I would see what "meaningful activities" I could do under current circumstances. However, tutoring and teaching is a very common activity among premeds and thus won't impress me as a screener.

 

[candbgirl]

Why are you going to work in a foreign country during the gap year? It might be better to get some nonclinical volunteering right here in the US. You could also use some shadowing with a primary care doc. Again, here in America. Although your clinical experiences seem interesting you might consider focusing for a while with other types of sick people. Just a thought but it might help your application