A little unorthodox WAMC post, possibly, so please don't mind (format will remain same just need a bit of exposition as well lol). I'm currently going through the "cold feet" phase of the application process. About 5-6 months ago (maybe?), I posted a similar thread after receiving my MCAT score to get feedback on which schools I should target. Since then, I've continued to gain more experience in the positions I did hold and have taken on a few additional opportunities that I previously did not know I was going to undertake so I'm looking to get some more updated feedback regarding everything. Specifically, I'm looking for advice on whether my current school list looks appropriate for this application cycle, or if I should make any adjustments adding/deleting some. Further, I’m considering adding an extra gap year, making it three total instead of two, and am looking for feedback on how substantial this may end up looking for my app based on the increases I will outline, and if this makes my app more suitable for the admittedly top heavy list I am planning on using. My hesitancies come from the fact that I had kinda limited research in undergrad (only a few semesters totaling 100ish hours maybe 150 or so) and so in my gap years I was always planning on becoming a CRC, however after spending until October to study for the MCAT while working part time in my CNA role after graduating last June, and then working full time as a CNA while I looked for openings, I have only started said research job last month and will only have about 5 months (600 hours) of experience by the time June comes around as opposed to what I was planning to be much closer to a year's time in the position. Last week is when I really started considering how much better a longer term commitment would look, as I don't want it to just look as though I picked this up to check a box right before apps open and know that sustained responsibility always bodes well in any role you plan on speaking about, not to mention the capacity for a poster presentation that is being planned for the summer (maybe an update letter would quench this?) and a stronger LOR. To add, since I have moved to the city where I am working, I came across a very fulfilling volunteer gig with children who have gone through abuse and neglect, serving as a mentor and advocate for them in the court system. I love it, and plan on maybe using it as one of my most important experiences (writing about in PS) but the same issue arises where I have only been doing it a couple months now (started *slightly* before my first day as a coordinator) and am sure it could help to have not just the increased amount of time, but very likely also more to speak to in the year I would of course continue. Finally, I had a little hiccup of a first semester (see below) and feel like the extra year of distancing myself from it could give adcoms more alleviation in seeing growth since then and maintaining a good professional life beyond my school recovery. Idk. I get caught between enjoying the process and not minding taking more time if it will land me somewhere I really want to be versus wanting to go to school already and start this process, feeling like I'm falling behind. So needless to say, I'm just on the fence lol. TLDR: might take an extra gap year to bolster research and nonclinical volunteering as well as distancing myself from bad grade red flag given the school list I want to use but not sure if it is worth giving up the year of attending salary down the line. Increases in experiences I would gain with said year are bolded with arrows below in what will be my app for this year (still please read the above if you have time lol).
1. Stats
521 MCAT (129, 130, 130, 132)
3.82 cGPA w/ significant upward trend (note below on cGPA/sGPA discrepancy as a Bio major w/ majority science courses on transcript)
4.0 sGPA
Incomplete (counting as F equivalent) grade in random humanities course from my freshman year due to a health crisis that caused a hospital stay during the final; no access to phone for weeks during stay and transfer to other school that had been completed by time of release in conjunction with professor going back to home country for the winter meant yeah - communication to resolve was not ideal; first gen college student who did not know how to navigate this situation (thought from what communication I did have with my professor after that the course would be a "W", had no idea what an incomplete even was) meant time to make up final in timely manner had come and gone without my knowing; subsequent appeal was denied --> writing about this in my academic missteps section with steps of how I have improved since and what the lesson taught me and hoping my grades and mcat since show tangible growth that can give me grace with lower gpa. Only ever hiccup besides one other B (also first semester freshman year humanities) - every single other grade in all 35-40+ classes since that very first semester have been A's. Believe me I know that I was naïve and dumb and I kick myself for it a ton even 5 years later but what can you do. Anyways that is enough of that, still a **** up that I am holding but not sure if this maybe changes viewing of the gpa as opposed to just poor performance.
2. Ethnicity White ORM
3. Institution UMass Amherst
4. Clinical Work
2000 hours dementia unit nursing home CNA (2022-2024)
800 hours physical therapy aide (2021-2023)
300 hours emergency department volunteer aide (2021-2023, 2025-present) --> 450 hours next cycle
5. Research
600 hours research coordinator in Parkinson's Dementia MGH (2025-present) --> 2600 hours next cycle + 1 guaranteed poster presentation
100 hours undergraduate research assistant (2022-2023)
6. Shadowing
50 hours neurology --> 100-150 hours (shadow my PI weekly for a few hours)
25 emergency --> 75 hours (can either continue at current rate with ER doc or perhaps ask for additional specialty)
7. Non-clinical volunteering
250 hours underserved volunteer with inner city Boston kids (2023-present) --> 400 hours
75 hours as an appointed mentor and advocate for kids navigating court system w/ family history of abuse/neglect/etc. (2025-present) --> 300 hours
150 hours youth soccer coach (2020 - 2022, 2024)
100 hours Alzheimer's dementia activity support volunteer (2021-2023)
8. Other
1250(ish) hours Pre-school teacher’s aide (2018-2021)
250 hours MCAT tutoring for established third party company (2025-present) --> 1000 hours
100 hours semesters E-board for underserved medicine integration club (2021-2023)
Recreational band lead singer (1000+ hours if important)
Soccer / Arsenal podcast content creator (100+ hours if important)
Extra if it matters; Have a cohesive narrative in my app about dementia (family history and early exposure in life, worked as a CNA, now doing research on it, having done volunteer work with similar populations).
School List: UMass (first choice), BU, Tufts, Harvard, UVM, Brown, Dartmouth, Yale, Thomas Jefferson, Pitt, Penn, Drexel, Sinai, Cornell, Einstein, Rochester, Hofstra, NYU, Columbia, Duke, Emory, WashU, Cincinnati, Uchicago, Northwestern, CWRU, Mayo, Hopkins, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, UMiami, USF, UMich, UVA, Ohio State, Colorado, UCLA, UCSF
Answers to the poll and/or any feedback is **greatly** appreciated. Sincerely - a stressed out premed student.
1. Stats
521 MCAT (129, 130, 130, 132)
3.82 cGPA w/ significant upward trend (note below on cGPA/sGPA discrepancy as a Bio major w/ majority science courses on transcript)
4.0 sGPA
Incomplete (counting as F equivalent) grade in random humanities course from my freshman year due to a health crisis that caused a hospital stay during the final; no access to phone for weeks during stay and transfer to other school that had been completed by time of release in conjunction with professor going back to home country for the winter meant yeah - communication to resolve was not ideal; first gen college student who did not know how to navigate this situation (thought from what communication I did have with my professor after that the course would be a "W", had no idea what an incomplete even was) meant time to make up final in timely manner had come and gone without my knowing; subsequent appeal was denied --> writing about this in my academic missteps section with steps of how I have improved since and what the lesson taught me and hoping my grades and mcat since show tangible growth that can give me grace with lower gpa. Only ever hiccup besides one other B (also first semester freshman year humanities) - every single other grade in all 35-40+ classes since that very first semester have been A's. Believe me I know that I was naïve and dumb and I kick myself for it a ton even 5 years later but what can you do. Anyways that is enough of that, still a **** up that I am holding but not sure if this maybe changes viewing of the gpa as opposed to just poor performance.
2. Ethnicity White ORM
3. Institution UMass Amherst
4. Clinical Work
2000 hours dementia unit nursing home CNA (2022-2024)
800 hours physical therapy aide (2021-2023)
300 hours emergency department volunteer aide (2021-2023, 2025-present) --> 450 hours next cycle
5. Research
600 hours research coordinator in Parkinson's Dementia MGH (2025-present) --> 2600 hours next cycle + 1 guaranteed poster presentation
100 hours undergraduate research assistant (2022-2023)
6. Shadowing
50 hours neurology --> 100-150 hours (shadow my PI weekly for a few hours)
25 emergency --> 75 hours (can either continue at current rate with ER doc or perhaps ask for additional specialty)
7. Non-clinical volunteering
250 hours underserved volunteer with inner city Boston kids (2023-present) --> 400 hours
75 hours as an appointed mentor and advocate for kids navigating court system w/ family history of abuse/neglect/etc. (2025-present) --> 300 hours
150 hours youth soccer coach (2020 - 2022, 2024)
100 hours Alzheimer's dementia activity support volunteer (2021-2023)
8. Other
1250(ish) hours Pre-school teacher’s aide (2018-2021)
250 hours MCAT tutoring for established third party company (2025-present) --> 1000 hours
100 hours semesters E-board for underserved medicine integration club (2021-2023)
Recreational band lead singer (1000+ hours if important)
Soccer / Arsenal podcast content creator (100+ hours if important)
Extra if it matters; Have a cohesive narrative in my app about dementia (family history and early exposure in life, worked as a CNA, now doing research on it, having done volunteer work with similar populations).
School List: UMass (first choice), BU, Tufts, Harvard, UVM, Brown, Dartmouth, Yale, Thomas Jefferson, Pitt, Penn, Drexel, Sinai, Cornell, Einstein, Rochester, Hofstra, NYU, Columbia, Duke, Emory, WashU, Cincinnati, Uchicago, Northwestern, CWRU, Mayo, Hopkins, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, UMiami, USF, UMich, UVA, Ohio State, Colorado, UCLA, UCSF
Answers to the poll and/or any feedback is **greatly** appreciated. Sincerely - a stressed out premed student.
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