WAMC FL 3.7/517

[Russian03]

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Hello, recently got my MCAT score back with a 517, now going through the process of writing my PS and I'm looking for advice on putting together a school list to apply in this upcoming cycle. Thank you for reading!

1. cGPA 3.73, sGPA 3.59
2. 1st attempt: 508; 126/128/128/126. 2nd Attempt: 517; 128/128/130/131
3. Fl Resident w/o significant ties to other states
4. Asian
5. University of Florida undergrad in exercise science (upward trend in my GPA in my junior and senior year, planning on asking two of my science professors for LORs)
6. 500 Hrs Volunteer collegiate EMT (also was in a supervisor position during my last year), 1200 Hrs GYN scribe (will be asking this doc for a LOR as this is my current gap year job)
7. 500 Hrs Rheumatology lab research internship, no productivity. (planning on asking this PI for a LOR. I mostly did data entry and exercise/sensory testing on clinic patients)
8. 40 Hrs shadowing in anesthesia (at UF Shands)
9. 40 Hrs BLS instructor (volunteer hrs through my collegiate EMS unit), 60 Hrs delivering meals to home bound (Meals on Wheels)
10. 2000 Hrs Resident Assistant during undergrad, this is my main leadership experience (took on-call shifts, planned and created events, and acted as a model for students living in the residence hall)
11. None
12. Low SES, qualified for FAP and Pell grant

I'd definitely prefer to stay along the east coast and/or in the southeast.

 

[Faha]

Your main weakness is your low non clinical volunteering hours. Some schools screen at 150 hours and you have 60 hours. Accumulate another 90+ hours at Meals on Wheels or an activity such as food bank or homeless shelter. I suggest these schools if you accumulate those hours:
U Florida
Florida State
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Central Florida
USF Morsani
Miami
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Methodist
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Belmont
Alice Walton
TCU
Ponce (St. Louis)
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Wayne State
Oakland Beaumont
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I agree. Get to 150 hours or more for Meals on Wheels to strengthen your chances for an interview.

What is your purpose as a physician? I don't know if you have a through-line with your activities that point to your purpose.

 

[Russian03]

Your main weakness is your low non clinical volunteering hours. Some schools screen at 150 hours and you have 60 hours. Accumulate another 90+ hours at Meals on Wheels or an activity such as food bank or homeless shelter. I suggest these schools if you accumulate those hours:
U Florida
Florida State
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Central Florida
USF Morsani
Miami
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Methodist
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Belmont
Alice Walton
TCU
Ponce (St. Louis)
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Wayne State
Oakland Beaumont
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac

Thank you very much for responding! I'll definitely be picking up more volunteering shifts over the next few months to get my hours up. This list also aligns well with the lists generated from Admit.org and my own research. Do you think applying to some of these newer schools such as Belmont and Methodist are worth it long term given that residency match data is unknown at this point?

 

[Russian03]

I agree. Get to 150 hours or more for Meals on Wheels to strengthen your chances for an interview.

What is your purpose as a physician? I don't know if you have a through-line with your activities that point to your purpose.

Thanks for replying, I'm definitely in agreement with getting my hours up through Meals on Wheel. I am a little confused by "purpose as a physician" though? My PS narrative revolves around connecting with patients through human moments with a story from my EMT and scribe experience and reflecting on failure because I had to withdraw from Orgo 2 the first time around, but I got an A when I retook and greatly increased my GPA in my final two years of undergrad. I do plan to talk more about my research and RA experience as two of my most meaningful activities. Does that explanation help with finding a through-line with those activities?

 

[Faha]

Thank you very much for responding! I'll definitely be picking up more volunteering shifts over the next few months to get my hours up. This list also aligns well with the lists generated from Admit.org and my own research. Do you think applying to some of these newer schools such as Belmont and Methodist are worth it long term given that residency match data is unknown at this point?

Yes, apply to Methodist and Belmont since you are competitive for those schools.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I am a little confused by "purpose as a physician" though? My PS narrative revolves around connecting with patients through human moments with a story from my EMT and scribe experience and reflecting on failure because I had to withdraw from Orgo 2 the first time around, but I got an A when I retook and greatly increased my GPA in my final two years of undergrad. I do plan to talk more about my research and RA experience as two of my most meaningful activities. Does that explanation help with finding a through-line with those activities?

Being an exercise science major, you could easily do connect with patients as an athletic trainer or rehab therapist. Nurses spend more time with patients than doctors, so you could have been a nurse, right? A chaplain (or similar religious figure) should also be skilled at connecting with patients through sensitive human moments. How did this show up in your anesthesia shadowing? Did you do any hospice experience or work with special needs patients? I'm just saying that you need a stronger statement about what you expect to do as a physician that requires you to have training with challenging health situations and cases.

Furthermore, you should have experiences where you show you can connect with patients who need help in basic/social needs. You have barely enough experience to keep up with your applicant peers. That's why you need at least 150 hours. Show me multiple instances where you connect with patients in a manner that isn't just about empathy or pity. Can you be their advocate? I don't quite see that from what has been described.