WAMC NY ORM 3.93/523

[Premed421]

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[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

If proximity matters to you so much, then you can cut the schools that clearly don't work for your "commute." While you probably will still keep them on your list, you likely will have a lower priority on WashU, Northwestern, Virginia, UChicago, Duke, Pittsburgh, CWRU/CC, Emory, and Michigan. That's eight schools, and gets you closer to 25. Then add Vermont, Jefferson, Dartmouth, Georgetown, and GW to get you back to near 30.

Non-clinical volunteering: break down your "leadership" hours from your "service?" hours. You must have 150 hours minimum at submission of the following activities: food distribution, shelter volunteering, job/tax preparation (you are a subject expert in college prep, so that doesn't count), legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation; if not, your application risks getting screened out at most schools. If you are going for brand-name schools, you should have 250 hours by submission. Fundraising and teaching/tutoring do not count.

 

[Premed421]

Welcome to the forums.

If proximity matters to you so much, then you can cut the schools that clearly don't work for your "commute." While you probably will still keep them on your list, you likely will have a lower priority on WashU, Northwestern, Virginia, UChicago, Duke, Pittsburgh, CWRU/CC, Emory, and Michigan. That's eight schools, and gets you closer to 25. Then add Vermont, Jefferson, Dartmouth, Georgetown, and GW to get you back to near 30.

Non-clinical volunteering: break down your "leadership" hours from your "service?" hours. You must have 150 hours minimum at submission of the following activities: food distribution, shelter volunteering, job/tax preparation (you are a subject expert in college prep, so that doesn't count), legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation; if not, your application risks getting screened out at most schools. If you are going for brand-name schools, you should have 250 hours by submission. Fundraising and teaching/tutoring do not count.

Thank you so much for your input!

My reasoning for including the eight schools you mentioned is that their missions seem more research-focused (which aligns well with my profile), and I've been told that schools of this caliber tend to give the best need-based/merit aid. I'm willing to move further from home for the right aid package. I will definitely consider substituting some of these schools for the ones you mentioned.

And thank you for clarifying about the non-clinical volunteering. I'm unclear on why the college-application advising doesn't count. If you could elaborate on that I'd really appreciate it. If it doesn't count then I might be screened out at schools as I don't have the bandwidth to rack up 150+ hours before applying in June. Can I PM you about the other non-clinical volunteering activity I listed to get your thoughts on whether you would call it 'service'?

Also, do you have thoughts on the lack of longitudinal clinical experience or my profile overall reading like an MD/PhD applicant? These are my major concerns for my cycle. Thank you so much!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

And thank you for clarifying about the non-clinical volunteering. I'm unclear on why the college-application advising doesn't count. If you could elaborate on that I'd really appreciate it. If it doesn't count then I might be screened out at schools as I don't have the bandwidth to rack up 150+ hours before applying in June. Can I PM you about the other non-clinical volunteering activity I listed to get your thoughts on whether you would call it 'service'?

I said you come to the position as being a subject matter expert. It's like being an MCAT tutor or medical school application "expert" once you get in. You're teaching, and that's an academic competency.

I think I gave you a description of what counts as non-clinical service orientation activities so you can make the determination without breaking privacy.

 

[Premed421]

I said you come to the position as being a subject matter expert. It's like being an MCAT tutor or medical school application "expert" once you get in. You're teaching, and that's an academic competency.

I think I gave you a description of what counts as non-clinical service orientation activities so you can make the determination without breaking privacy.

Thank you for the clarification about advising! And based on your description I think my other activity wouldn't count as non-clinical service. I'll work on this part of my app before submitting my primary. Thanks!