gbpinsight
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2024
- Messages
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Hi everyone! I applied 23-24 cycle with no results. I know I have lower stats so I had analysis paralysis for a while on if I should wait or take the chance but my family encouraged me to try regardless. Obviously that didn’t work out so I am planning on starting a trad masters in the fall and working my tail off on all my weak areas so I can hopefully be successful in the 25-26 cycle. In my formatting I included my plans for improvement as applicable so I am looking for feedback for any weak areas I might be missing or potential schools I should research for my list.
1. GPAs
cGPA: 3.34
sGPA: 2.95
Plan for improvement: trad masters program. For context I was diagnosed with OCD in the back half of undergrad. I have a really great support team that has helped me make huge improvements in my academic performance since then. My cGPA during the time after diagnosis is a 3.7. I talked about my GPA trajectory but not the OCD my application. I am hoping that I will continue this performance through my masters and it’ll balance out the time I was struggling during the first two years of undergrad.
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts.
Attempt 1: 503 (126/123/125/129)
Attempt 2: 505 (124/126/126/129)
I would be willing to consider a third attempt but that is something I have been him-hawing about for a few months now. Although I have made huge improvements academically, testing is still a weak point for me so I have doubts on if I could make an improvement big enough to make a third attempt worthwhile. But at the same time, I don’t want this to be the thing that does me in.
3. Demographic info
White, female, MI resident with strong preference to stay in state or surrounding areas. From a very rural and medically underserved population which I did touch on in my previous application. I attended a state school, so I fall into whatever the lower institutional prestige category is.
4. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
5. Research experience and productivity
3 years of unpaid research experience in neuroscience and comparative biology. Started out by working on data analysis for a few masters students but eventually started my own project in the lab where I have been leading a small team of undergrad students for about a year. I attended a conference in January where I presented a poster with my early findings.
I am planning on ramping up my project from undergrad and eventually writing my master’s thesis on it. My PI also has urged me to apply to give a presentation at a conference in a few months, so I am in the process of drafting that. We also have plans to work towards submitting to journals before I go to medical school.
I’d have to really think to calculate my total hours but just off the top of my head I have minimum 500 hours between all the projects I’ve worked on including my own. I was also nominated for outstanding student research but missed one of the qualifications because of my graduation date, so hopeful to be considered for it again during my masters program.
6. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
Emergency med
Ophthalmology
Family med PA
It’s there but nothing exciting. Don’t know if I would greatly benefit from having a more meaningful experience. Shadowing for me was more something to check a box than anything. I feel my job has been significantly more enlightening than my shadowing.
7. Non-clinical volunteering
I started volunteering for three hours every week with habitat for humanity a few months ago. Planning on continuing this through medical school because I like the organization.
Volunteered semi-regularly with the clubs I was in during undergrad at a mix of organizations throughout the community.
8. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
I have strong relationships with 3 of my LOR writers who allowed me to play a role in drafting them. I had four but one I never actually ended up seeing because it got submitted straight to AMCAS so I am not sure how strong it was. The ones that I did see, I had my writers focus on my ability to connect with patients and my work ethic. All of these people expressed to me it was important for them to say what will stand out the most to schools so I would be willing to accept potential talking points for them to touch on next cycle.
11. Here is my working school list. Looking for suggestions to expand but I have a strong preference for staying semi close to or in Michigan. I’d like to add maybe Illinois schools or Kentucky and eventually apply to ~20 with a mix of MD and DO.
1. GPAs
cGPA: 3.34
sGPA: 2.95
Plan for improvement: trad masters program. For context I was diagnosed with OCD in the back half of undergrad. I have a really great support team that has helped me make huge improvements in my academic performance since then. My cGPA during the time after diagnosis is a 3.7. I talked about my GPA trajectory but not the OCD my application. I am hoping that I will continue this performance through my masters and it’ll balance out the time I was struggling during the first two years of undergrad.
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts.
Attempt 1: 503 (126/123/125/129)
Attempt 2: 505 (124/126/126/129)
I would be willing to consider a third attempt but that is something I have been him-hawing about for a few months now. Although I have made huge improvements academically, testing is still a weak point for me so I have doubts on if I could make an improvement big enough to make a third attempt worthwhile. But at the same time, I don’t want this to be the thing that does me in.
3. Demographic info
White, female, MI resident with strong preference to stay in state or surrounding areas. From a very rural and medically underserved population which I did touch on in my previous application. I attended a state school, so I fall into whatever the lower institutional prestige category is.
4. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
- Attended a tech center through my high school where I became a licensed EMT and shadowed regularly at a nursing home, emergency room, and ambulance. Was recognized as the top student in the program in 2019. Also was an active member in Health Occupation Students of America attending their international conference both years and serving as secretary in the associated honors society. I don’t know if this super matters but I thought it was applicable so I touched very briefly on it in my primary application and talked about working in the ER in personal statement.
- Volunteered at a hospital in El Salvador during two medical mission trips
- Pharmacy technician x3 years. I have been working in an outpatient setting but I’m currently in the process of moving to an inpatient pharmacy.
5. Research experience and productivity
3 years of unpaid research experience in neuroscience and comparative biology. Started out by working on data analysis for a few masters students but eventually started my own project in the lab where I have been leading a small team of undergrad students for about a year. I attended a conference in January where I presented a poster with my early findings.
I am planning on ramping up my project from undergrad and eventually writing my master’s thesis on it. My PI also has urged me to apply to give a presentation at a conference in a few months, so I am in the process of drafting that. We also have plans to work towards submitting to journals before I go to medical school.
I’d have to really think to calculate my total hours but just off the top of my head I have minimum 500 hours between all the projects I’ve worked on including my own. I was also nominated for outstanding student research but missed one of the qualifications because of my graduation date, so hopeful to be considered for it again during my masters program.
6. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
Emergency med
Ophthalmology
Family med PA
It’s there but nothing exciting. Don’t know if I would greatly benefit from having a more meaningful experience. Shadowing for me was more something to check a box than anything. I feel my job has been significantly more enlightening than my shadowing.
7. Non-clinical volunteering
I started volunteering for three hours every week with habitat for humanity a few months ago. Planning on continuing this through medical school because I like the organization.
Volunteered semi-regularly with the clubs I was in during undergrad at a mix of organizations throughout the community.
8. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
- Member of Red Cross, Pre-med, and Circle K Clubs where I attended regular meetings, volunteer events, and club outings through undergrad.
- News reporter for my school paper x 3 years. Published in 60+ editions.
- Student mentor for incoming freshman x 2 years
- Will be TAing anatomy and physiology next school year
- Planning on joining my masters program student organization in the fall
- Made the dean’s list for the last four semesters.
- Graduated from the honors college
- Currently applying for research grants so hoping to add them in here
I have strong relationships with 3 of my LOR writers who allowed me to play a role in drafting them. I had four but one I never actually ended up seeing because it got submitted straight to AMCAS so I am not sure how strong it was. The ones that I did see, I had my writers focus on my ability to connect with patients and my work ethic. All of these people expressed to me it was important for them to say what will stand out the most to schools so I would be willing to accept potential talking points for them to touch on next cycle.
11. Here is my working school list. Looking for suggestions to expand but I have a strong preference for staying semi close to or in Michigan. I’d like to add maybe Illinois schools or Kentucky and eventually apply to ~20 with a mix of MD and DO.
- Michigan State MD
- Michigan State DO
- University of Michigan
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University
- Central Michigan University
- Oakland Michigan University
- Wright State
- University of Toledo
- University of Cincinnati
- Northeast Ohio
- Ohio State
- Indiana University
- Marian University
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin
