- Joined
- Jan 25, 2022
- Messages
- 153
- Reaction score
- 255
Hi guys,
I was planning on applying this cycle, but a few people have pointed out that my application is not quite ready. I am pretty short on volunteering and have fairly weak clinical experience.
Normally, I think I would be bummed but resigned to take another gap year and just focus on rounding out my application. However, I already took the MCAT, and it has an expiration date that seems to go faster than blackberries lol. I really don't want to do that again, and it seems pretty risky to push it off another year with that impending "too old" label.
The MCAT is from August 2021, so I could use it for this cycle and the next cycle I believe.
In my additional gap year, I plan would probably be a Clinical Research Coordinator and take Spanish classes to increase my verbal skills.
I would like to attend a top university, and ideally, one more focused on public health/health disparities. I wrote my personal statement about my desire to address health disparities, so I would really like to find schools that align with this mission. As it is now, I don't know if they would find me to be a good fit. If I did apply, I would only apply to reach schools so I will never wonder "what if I just waited"
I would appreciate any thoughts people might have, even if it seems like its a hard truth. I have attached my general app information below
State/Country of Residence: California
Ties to other States/Regions: No
URM? (Y/N): N
Year in School: Senior (graduated in May)
Undergrad: Top public university
Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): B.A Biology & BA in PH
Graduate Degrees (if applicable): N/A
Cumulative GPA: 3.855 (At my university), 3.83 (with a community college course from high school)
Science GPA: 3.79
MCAT Score(s): 523
Research Experience:
-I have worked in an infectious disease lab for three years studying Listeria monocytogenes. I may be published in a paper that is coming out soon, but it's likely the paper will not be published before I apply for medical school 🙁.
--I worked for a biotech company during the pandemic that collected and tested samples of COVID-19 via rt-PCR. I worked in the lab aliquoting samples and helping to run them on the PCR machines. (~320 hours)
Publications/Abstracts/Posters (include how you were credited e.g. first author, second author, etc.):
I presented my personal research in a poster session at my university, which will be included in a pub later this year. (manuscript being written)
Clinical Experience (paid or volunteer):
-I worked at a covid testing center administering oral covid tests to the local population. (Paid, ~400 hours)
-Volunteered for my university testing services as a “swab coach,” directing patients on how to administer self swabs. (volunteer,~20 hours )
Physician Shadowing:
-around 55 hours shadowing an orthopedic surgeon. (not the specialty I'm interested in, but I took what I could get)
Non-Clinical Volunteering:
-Volunteered at a community clinic in Oakland collecting patient data via a survey. This helped the clinic adjust it's patient outreach and through my data more effectively reach the patient population. (survey health with vaccination and medical distrust) (~100 hours all this semester)
Leadership:
-I have taught a student lead course about cancer in the modern-day at my university for three years. The largest class to date had 90 students. I discuss the underlying causes of cancer, the modern responses to it and also bring in expert speakers to address topics I am unable to cover. These guest speakers range from UCSF oncologists to people who have had significant personal experiences with cancer.
Other Extracurricular Activities:
- I love surfing, skiing, and backpacking.
Other Employment History:
N/A
Immediate family members in medicine? (Y/N): Y, mother is a nurse
The specialty of Interest (if applicable): Emergency medicine, primary care and internal medicine
Interest in Primary Care (Y/N): Y
Interest in Rural Health (Y/N): N
I was planning on applying this cycle, but a few people have pointed out that my application is not quite ready. I am pretty short on volunteering and have fairly weak clinical experience.
Normally, I think I would be bummed but resigned to take another gap year and just focus on rounding out my application. However, I already took the MCAT, and it has an expiration date that seems to go faster than blackberries lol. I really don't want to do that again, and it seems pretty risky to push it off another year with that impending "too old" label.
The MCAT is from August 2021, so I could use it for this cycle and the next cycle I believe.
In my additional gap year, I plan would probably be a Clinical Research Coordinator and take Spanish classes to increase my verbal skills.
I would like to attend a top university, and ideally, one more focused on public health/health disparities. I wrote my personal statement about my desire to address health disparities, so I would really like to find schools that align with this mission. As it is now, I don't know if they would find me to be a good fit. If I did apply, I would only apply to reach schools so I will never wonder "what if I just waited"
I would appreciate any thoughts people might have, even if it seems like its a hard truth. I have attached my general app information below
State/Country of Residence: California
Ties to other States/Regions: No
URM? (Y/N): N
Year in School: Senior (graduated in May)
Undergrad: Top public university
Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): B.A Biology & BA in PH
Graduate Degrees (if applicable): N/A
Cumulative GPA: 3.855 (At my university), 3.83 (with a community college course from high school)
Science GPA: 3.79
MCAT Score(s): 523
Research Experience:
-I have worked in an infectious disease lab for three years studying Listeria monocytogenes. I may be published in a paper that is coming out soon, but it's likely the paper will not be published before I apply for medical school 🙁.
--I worked for a biotech company during the pandemic that collected and tested samples of COVID-19 via rt-PCR. I worked in the lab aliquoting samples and helping to run them on the PCR machines. (~320 hours)
Publications/Abstracts/Posters (include how you were credited e.g. first author, second author, etc.):
I presented my personal research in a poster session at my university, which will be included in a pub later this year. (manuscript being written)
Clinical Experience (paid or volunteer):
-I worked at a covid testing center administering oral covid tests to the local population. (Paid, ~400 hours)
-Volunteered for my university testing services as a “swab coach,” directing patients on how to administer self swabs. (volunteer,~20 hours )
Physician Shadowing:
-around 55 hours shadowing an orthopedic surgeon. (not the specialty I'm interested in, but I took what I could get)
Non-Clinical Volunteering:
-Volunteered at a community clinic in Oakland collecting patient data via a survey. This helped the clinic adjust it's patient outreach and through my data more effectively reach the patient population. (survey health with vaccination and medical distrust) (~100 hours all this semester)
Leadership:
-I have taught a student lead course about cancer in the modern-day at my university for three years. The largest class to date had 90 students. I discuss the underlying causes of cancer, the modern responses to it and also bring in expert speakers to address topics I am unable to cover. These guest speakers range from UCSF oncologists to people who have had significant personal experiences with cancer.
Other Extracurricular Activities:
- I love surfing, skiing, and backpacking.
Other Employment History:
N/A
Immediate family members in medicine? (Y/N): Y, mother is a nurse
The specialty of Interest (if applicable): Emergency medicine, primary care and internal medicine
Interest in Primary Care (Y/N): Y
Interest in Rural Health (Y/N): N
