Beyond Grateful for any advice and insights. Non-Traditional Applicant dealing with some anxiety over determining how many more courses to take before applying or if I need to do a SMP/Formal Program (really would rather not - would like to keep working and taking courses a la cart/DIY if possible). I have taken 6 courses through UCLA Extension while working full time, and was planning to take 4 more over this coming 2 quarters before applying in this coming cycle in June 2025. I know GPA is my overwhelming weakness.
Overall GPA: 3.05
Science GPA: 3.1
MCAT score: 516
State of Residence: CA
Courses: Undergrad at Vanderbilt: Sci = 2.8, Overall = 2.98
Have taken 6 courses through UCLA Extension with all A's and A+'s (BioChem A-C, Genetics, Physiology, ChemB)
Undergrad Attended: Vanderbilt University 2014
Major: Double: Neuroscience | Medicine, Health, and Society
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? Yes
Shadowing Experience: 130 hours (50 neurosurgery, 40 pediatrics, 40 sports medicine)
Volunteering Experience: 1000 tutoring, 1000 Summit Sippers good will hiking and nature celebration group (Made 1st page of LA Times and Local News), 200 Children's Hospital Play room, 100 Make A Wish Foundation Wish Granter, 100 UCLA Herbarium and Botanical Garders Volunteer, 200 Relay for Life Board Member in College
Employment: over 7000 hrs as a Biomedical Research Assistant (for cancer biology and neurodegenerative disease), 7000 K-12 Lead Educator and Curriculum Designer for novel student learning lead private school, 6000 hours as Clinical Research Coordinator --> Clinical Research Director for NPO Neurosurgical Research Org. 3000 hours as Lead Facilitator of Neurovella Medical Bran Spa providing Mindfulness-Based Experiences for Perioperative and TMS Patients. Co-Founder of Trylrun Virtual Internship Platform - Accepted to UCLA Accelerator Program.
Research: over 6000 and counting as a Biomedical Research Assistant (for cancer biology and neurodegenerative disease) 1 publications. 6000 hours as Clinical Research Coordinator and Clinical Research Director for NPO Neurosurgical Research Org. 5 publications
Other Extracurriculars: Founder (--> Advisor after graduating) of Holistic Union of Mind and Physicality Org at Vanderbilt. Co-Founder of Summit Sippers Hiking and Nature Celebration Group (1st page of LA Times)
LOR type and strength: 2 from science professors (1 from physiology, 1 from the Biochem/Chem), 2 from Neurosurgeons - current PIs, 1 from Owner of K-12 School (5 year relationship)
School list:
Current School List:
Overall GPA: 3.05
Science GPA: 3.1
MCAT score: 516
State of Residence: CA
Courses: Undergrad at Vanderbilt: Sci = 2.8, Overall = 2.98
Have taken 6 courses through UCLA Extension with all A's and A+'s (BioChem A-C, Genetics, Physiology, ChemB)
Undergrad Attended: Vanderbilt University 2014
Major: Double: Neuroscience | Medicine, Health, and Society
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? Yes
Shadowing Experience: 130 hours (50 neurosurgery, 40 pediatrics, 40 sports medicine)
Volunteering Experience: 1000 tutoring, 1000 Summit Sippers good will hiking and nature celebration group (Made 1st page of LA Times and Local News), 200 Children's Hospital Play room, 100 Make A Wish Foundation Wish Granter, 100 UCLA Herbarium and Botanical Garders Volunteer, 200 Relay for Life Board Member in College
Employment: over 7000 hrs as a Biomedical Research Assistant (for cancer biology and neurodegenerative disease), 7000 K-12 Lead Educator and Curriculum Designer for novel student learning lead private school, 6000 hours as Clinical Research Coordinator --> Clinical Research Director for NPO Neurosurgical Research Org. 3000 hours as Lead Facilitator of Neurovella Medical Bran Spa providing Mindfulness-Based Experiences for Perioperative and TMS Patients. Co-Founder of Trylrun Virtual Internship Platform - Accepted to UCLA Accelerator Program.
Research: over 6000 and counting as a Biomedical Research Assistant (for cancer biology and neurodegenerative disease) 1 publications. 6000 hours as Clinical Research Coordinator and Clinical Research Director for NPO Neurosurgical Research Org. 5 publications
Other Extracurriculars: Founder (--> Advisor after graduating) of Holistic Union of Mind and Physicality Org at Vanderbilt. Co-Founder of Summit Sippers Hiking and Nature Celebration Group (1st page of LA Times)
LOR type and strength: 2 from science professors (1 from physiology, 1 from the Biochem/Chem), 2 from Neurosurgeons - current PIs, 1 from Owner of K-12 School (5 year relationship)
School list:
Current School List:
| UC San Diego |
| UCLA |
| University of Colorado |
| UC San Francisco |
| Geisel SOM at Dartmouth |
| IC Irvine |
| University of Arizona - Tuscon |
| Kaiser Permanente SOM |
| Keck SOM of USC |
| University of Vermont |
| University of Utah |
| UC Davis |
| UC Riverside |
| Medical College of Wisconsin |
| University of Illinois |
| Rush University |
| Western University - California |
| Tuoro University - California |
| Western University - Oregon |
| Tuoro University Nevada |
| University of New England COM |
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