WAMC - ORM 520/3.95, need advice for 26-27 cycle

[confusedmonkey76]

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I'm currently a fourth-year student at a reputable public school in CA, and am having a lot of anxiety about whether to apply in the coming 26/27 cycle or take two gap years and apply in the 27/28 cycle. I feel that I'm lacking in a lot of areas in my application, with no research productivity (lack of funding at my lab, my project faced unexpected challenges, no pubs/conferences besides 2 school ones), little service, and no strong consistent clinical experience. Currently trying to add on more service with ESL tutoring and seeking out public health/clinical research opportunities related to health education and literacy.

Just looking for some advice and ways to improve my application. I know a lot of my hours are projected for the end of May 2026, but any input would be appreciated. Thank you!

- ORM, CA resident, reputable CA public school
- MCAT: 520, cGPA: 3.95, sGPA: 3.92
- Clinical experience: 250 hours as a scribe, projected ~100 total clinical volunteering at various free clinics, projected ~300 hours as a medical assistant intern (unpaid) at two doctor's offices
- Research: ~1100 hours at a reproductive sciences lab (awarded a scholarship for one semester)
- Leadership: President and founder of a club related to reducing waste at hospitals and increasing healthcare access (probably one of my most meaningful experiences), VP and Intern for another organization related to preventative health education and screening, Project lead for an initiative related to providing health literacy workshops in rural communities and for kids at underserved schools (**can I list this under service?)
- Advocacy: Student government position related to environmental justice for 1 year, intern for a doctors' advocacy organization related to public health and climate change (presented at state and regional webinars, helped plan a regional conference related to the subject, work closely with doctors on a committee)
- Service: Tutoring underserved children and providing college application assistance (projected total 150 hours); creating memory videos for hospice patients' families about their relatives in palliative care (~60 hours)
- Shadowing: Currently - 42 hours in internal medicine, dermatology; Want to add ~30 hours in family medicine
- LORs: haven't requested yet but will likely be average - aiming for 2 science professors, 1 nonscience, and a doctor I work with on advocacy

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

What feedback have you gotten from your prehealth advisors?

 

[confusedmonkey76]

Welcome to the forums.

What feedback have you gotten from your prehealth advisors?

I haven’t met with any pre-health advisors as I’m at a large university with limited advisors, so I’ve been unable to find an available appointment for months now. I spoke with an older peer who was emphasizing that I would need to find a clinical job ASAP as well as find more tutoring opportunities to build my hours in service there.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Since you are projecting hours and not giving us specifics (which is understandable), I don't know what you already have done. Please break up the hours you have already completed in each of your activities because if I presume you'll be adding hours within the next 6 months, I'll presume you're just going to box-check.

For example, if you have zero hours of tutoring now, I need to figure out if your estimate is reasonable. That said, tutoring won't satisfy "service orientation" because practically every premed tutors or mentors, including English as a second language or STEM/health careers. Of course, you'll do plenty of that as a medical student.

Having "average" letters won't cut it. Where are your champions who will write your LOR's? Your metrics suggest that it shouldn't be hard, but it feels like you haven't made any relationships with a faculty champion, much less a strong advisor.