WAMC/School List 3.65 cGPA/3.43 sGPA/519 MCAT

[ndavisp]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hoping to apply this upcoming Spring, and I wanted to ask for some help regarding building a school list/things I can improve upon in my application, as well as my general chances overall. I am considering applying early decision to one of my state schools, but only if it offers me the best chance of receiving an acceptance.

1. My cGPA is 3.67, my sGPA is 3.43 (Downward trend; 30 4.0 Post-Baccalaureate credits completed at a state university after graduating).
2. My MCAT is 519 (130 Chem/Phys, 129 CARS, 129 Bio, 131 Psych; only attempt, 2024).
3. Florida resident
4. ORM
5. University of Florida undergrad
6. ~140 hours clinical volunteering, ~300 hours ER scribe
7. No current research, trying to determine if it is worth trying to join a lab for a semester (recommendations appreciated!)
8. ~100 hours of shadowing total, split between primary care, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and radiology
9. ~150 hours of volunteering, most done with one organization during undergrad
10. In my 2nd gap year now, doing mostly clinical work and volunteering
11. Graduated cum laude, National Merit Scholar
12. Music performance major with a variety of musical accolades received during undergrad

Thank you!

 

[Faha]

What is the nature of your 150 hours of non clinical volunteering ?

 

[ndavisp]

What is the nature of your 150 hours of non clinical volunteering ?

I was a member of a service fraternity during my 4 years of undergrad that provided service to student organizations on campus. I also currently volunteer at my campus garden and native plant preserve.

 

[Faha]

I was a member of a service fraternity during my 4 years of undergrad that provided service to student organizations on campus. I also currently volunteer at my campus garden and native plant preserve.

That is not what medical schools are looking for. You should accumulate 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank, homeless shelter, etc. . Otherwise, you will be screened out at some schools. Early decision is not a good choice, unless you receive some prior indication that the school may be seriously interested in you. Also, if rejected early decision, you would be late in applying to other schools.
I suggest these schools if you accumulate the 150 hours of non clinical volunteering:
U Florida
Florida State
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Central Florida
Miami
USF Morsani
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Belmont
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Pittsburgh
Hackensack
Hofstra
New York Medical College
Albany
Rochester
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Tufts
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont

 

[Mr.Smile12]

~100 hours of shadowing total, split between primary care, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and radiology

List the split. For all I know, you could split it as 10, 30, 30, 30. Try to balance "primary care" against your competitive specialties (ortho, NS, rad).

No current research, trying to determine if it is worth trying to join a lab for a semester (recommendations appreciated!)

No lab wants to hire someone for a semester unless you're interested in loading and unloading the dishwasher or autoclave.

Building a Prehealth Foundation at Small Colleges: A Conversation with Dr. Chloe Lash | SDN

Prehealth advising offices are a hybrid of academic advising, career and student services, and scientific education to support dozens of students

www.studentdoctor.net

In my 2nd gap year now, doing mostly clinical work and volunteering

... ~140 hours clinical volunteering, ~300 hours ER scribe

This seems very low if you already had at least one gap year. If you've been doing clinical work, you should have one activity with at least 500 hours. You should have at least 500 hours of community service performed since graduating. What have you been doing, just classes full-time postbac DIY?

 

[ndavisp]

List the split. For all I know, you could split it as 10, 30, 30, 30. Try to balance "primary care" against your competitive specialties (ortho, NS, rad).


No lab wants to hire someone for a semester unless you're interested in loading and unloading the dishwasher or autoclave.

Building a Prehealth Foundation at Small Colleges: A Conversation with Dr. Chloe Lash | SDN

Prehealth advising offices are a hybrid of academic advising, career and student services, and scientific education to support dozens of students

www.studentdoctor.net

This seems very low if you already had at least one gap year. If you've been doing clinical work, you should have one activity with at least 500 hours. You should have at least 500 hours of community service performed since graduating. What have you been doing, just classes full-time postbac DIY?

1. Primary care (family/internal medicine) ~40 hours, ortho+rad about 30 hours, Neuro was only about 15 hours

2. Fair enough, although I plan on being affiliated with my current university through the application cycle, so I would have a bit more time to give than a single semester.

3. My first year I took classes for a semester at another university, but ended up needing to move closer to home to help care for my grandmother full time while taking classes at my current university. I tried to squeeze in volunteering when I could, but between the MCAT and caring for her, I was stretched pretty thin. As of this summer, she is now receiving inpatient care at a facility, so I have been able to start working as a scribe.