Contradition
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- Sep 4, 2023
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Hello. If anyone can help advise, I am interested in knowing what my chances are for MD admission (and school list as well if possible) for applying next year.
Currently:
cGPA 3.838; sGPA 4.00
MCAT 528 (one attempt, 4/2024)
ORM (White, male)
Nontraditional unimpressive undergraduate background: 4 year BA in Philosophy from a California State University school (a highly-ranked one within that system for what it's worth, but still looked down on compared to UC as far as I know) with no non-GE science courses at that time; GPA at graduation 3.747 with strong upward trend. Graduated 2020. Followed starting in 2021 by ad lib enrollment at local community colleges completing all the usual MD prerequisites with the above sGPA.
Clinical experience: Approximately 1000 hours thus far with an additional 30-40 weekly as a hematology-oncology medical scribe as well as approximately 100 hours and 4+ more per week as an ED volunteer. I consider the scribing excellent experience as far as exposure to the way medicine is practiced and a superficial introduction to a variety of topics, but for legal reasons I have very little actual interaction with patients which is a weakness (it is in person and I see them; I just don't usually speak with them beyond "hello"). The ED I volunteer at doesn't have/let me do much besides stock supplies, clean beds, and deliver messages.
Research experience: None.
Shadowing: None.
Non-clinical volunteering: Approximately 75 hours and 2+ more per week volunteering at my local library helping an immigrant improve her English literacy, mostly so she can improve her working conditions but also for civic engagement and daily life. This is far more meaningful to me than the ED volunteering.
Other extracurriculars: Science tutoring since Spring 2023 (Chemistry (intro for non-majors, general, and organic) and biology (intro, cell and molecular, zoology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology): approximately 350 hours. Projected 95 hours per Fall/Spring semester. Right now and in the future I am only tutoring 2nd semester organic chemistry. As far as hobbies, I like nature tourism and love to go to National Parks and similar spots (within a few hundred miles of home as I only do road trips).
Honors/awards: My philosophy BA was awarded with honors for a 2-semester honors thesis I composed on the philosophy of language.
Additional information: Near-lifelong CA resident with no genuine ties to other states. No real disadvantages/adversities that I would care to disclose on an application. I have a strong liberal arts and composition background and am reasonably confident I can write a good PS/secondary essays, but my social skills aren't the best and I have an occasional stutter so I'm unlikely to do myself any favors in the interview stage (if reached).
Current plans for the coming year before applying:
SHADOWING: Except to the extent that scribing should count as shadowing, I have none. However I am currently in contact with local physicians to rectify this and plan to shadow in at least a few different fields before applying.
RESEARCH: I have no research history. With the schedule I plan to keep between 2 jobs and multiple diverse volunteer engagements I don't think I will be able to commit to any basic science or transitional research with a university PI, and even if I could I don't have a science degree, degree-seeking matriculation, or other factors that might entice a PI to actually let me in. On the other hand I am trying to get started on clinical research with some of the physicians and other medical professionals I work with and there is a possibility if this goes well of one or more publications in that realm.
VOLUNTEERING: I am disappointed with the experience I'm getting volunteering in an ED (this one at any rate; others may be better). Both for better, more meaningful clinical exposure and for personal reasons related to a late family member's experience I am interested in volunteering in the hospice setting, which I am working on applying to now. I have been interested in this for several months but deferred it so that I could focus more on MCAT studying.
Schools I'm interested in applying to: I would say "any that would take me," which is technically accurate, but I would much, much, much rather not attend school in a state that bans or unduly restricts legitimate medical procedures. I'm 100% open to DO as well as MD.
This post was much longer than I had intended it to be. Thank you to anyone who has read this far and an even bigger thank you to anyone who can help me out with some advice either on my chances or on steps I should take in addition to/instead of those outlined above.
Currently:
cGPA 3.838; sGPA 4.00
MCAT 528 (one attempt, 4/2024)
ORM (White, male)
Nontraditional unimpressive undergraduate background: 4 year BA in Philosophy from a California State University school (a highly-ranked one within that system for what it's worth, but still looked down on compared to UC as far as I know) with no non-GE science courses at that time; GPA at graduation 3.747 with strong upward trend. Graduated 2020. Followed starting in 2021 by ad lib enrollment at local community colleges completing all the usual MD prerequisites with the above sGPA.
Clinical experience: Approximately 1000 hours thus far with an additional 30-40 weekly as a hematology-oncology medical scribe as well as approximately 100 hours and 4+ more per week as an ED volunteer. I consider the scribing excellent experience as far as exposure to the way medicine is practiced and a superficial introduction to a variety of topics, but for legal reasons I have very little actual interaction with patients which is a weakness (it is in person and I see them; I just don't usually speak with them beyond "hello"). The ED I volunteer at doesn't have/let me do much besides stock supplies, clean beds, and deliver messages.
Research experience: None.
Shadowing: None.
Non-clinical volunteering: Approximately 75 hours and 2+ more per week volunteering at my local library helping an immigrant improve her English literacy, mostly so she can improve her working conditions but also for civic engagement and daily life. This is far more meaningful to me than the ED volunteering.
Other extracurriculars: Science tutoring since Spring 2023 (Chemistry (intro for non-majors, general, and organic) and biology (intro, cell and molecular, zoology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology): approximately 350 hours. Projected 95 hours per Fall/Spring semester. Right now and in the future I am only tutoring 2nd semester organic chemistry. As far as hobbies, I like nature tourism and love to go to National Parks and similar spots (within a few hundred miles of home as I only do road trips).
Honors/awards: My philosophy BA was awarded with honors for a 2-semester honors thesis I composed on the philosophy of language.
Additional information: Near-lifelong CA resident with no genuine ties to other states. No real disadvantages/adversities that I would care to disclose on an application. I have a strong liberal arts and composition background and am reasonably confident I can write a good PS/secondary essays, but my social skills aren't the best and I have an occasional stutter so I'm unlikely to do myself any favors in the interview stage (if reached).
Current plans for the coming year before applying:
SHADOWING: Except to the extent that scribing should count as shadowing, I have none. However I am currently in contact with local physicians to rectify this and plan to shadow in at least a few different fields before applying.
RESEARCH: I have no research history. With the schedule I plan to keep between 2 jobs and multiple diverse volunteer engagements I don't think I will be able to commit to any basic science or transitional research with a university PI, and even if I could I don't have a science degree, degree-seeking matriculation, or other factors that might entice a PI to actually let me in. On the other hand I am trying to get started on clinical research with some of the physicians and other medical professionals I work with and there is a possibility if this goes well of one or more publications in that realm.
VOLUNTEERING: I am disappointed with the experience I'm getting volunteering in an ED (this one at any rate; others may be better). Both for better, more meaningful clinical exposure and for personal reasons related to a late family member's experience I am interested in volunteering in the hospice setting, which I am working on applying to now. I have been interested in this for several months but deferred it so that I could focus more on MCAT studying.
Schools I'm interested in applying to: I would say "any that would take me," which is technically accurate, but I would much, much, much rather not attend school in a state that bans or unduly restricts legitimate medical procedures. I'm 100% open to DO as well as MD.
This post was much longer than I had intended it to be. Thank you to anyone who has read this far and an even bigger thank you to anyone who can help me out with some advice either on my chances or on steps I should take in addition to/instead of those outlined above.
