WAMC/School List Advice Please

[infinitestars]

APPLY FOR 2025 School List Advice/Help (DO/ Maybe MD if i have a chance) 2 gap years

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS
   • CGPA=3.93 sGPA=3.928 sGPA=3.925
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown
   • 1st Take sep 2022: 505 126/123/125/131
   • 2nd Take sep 2023: 509 127/126/127/129
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US)
   • NY
4. Ethnicity and/or race
   • SOUTH ASIAN/BENGALI 22 years old female
5. Undergraduate institution or category
   • SUNY Stony Brook (graduated may 2023)
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
   • Clinical Informatics Specialist 280 hours so far (december 2023-present) by may 2024 1042 hours
   • HHA for a family member 2700 hours (jan 2023-may 2024)
7. Research experience and productivity
   • VIP research project spent 4 semesters doing pub med literature searches to write an introduction linking insular activity/connectivity in the brain with both hypersensitivity and mdd. My partner and I worked with a PI towards a publication but have not continued after 4 semesters as he graduated. No poster presentation but got a LOR from PI regarding the content of my paper.
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
   • Virtual shadowing 32 hours-covid
   • Physician Shadowing 100 hours gulf coast medical center (Internal Medicine)- june 2022-aug
   • DO shadowing 25 hours Family Medicine-november 2023
   • Physician shadowing 100 hours (one doc three specialities Pulmonology Geriatrics Internal medicine)-december 2023- may
   • 8 hours Dermatology-october 2023
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   • 88 hours food bank june 2021
   • 4 hours veterans home 2019
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
    • Covid Activity 150 hours (june 2020-aug 2020):MIM health ambassador internship 2020 Virtual Health Ambassador Summer Internship Program. This internship featured hundreds of students worldwide, ranging from middle school to graduate school who worked together to launch a COVID-19 impact study, conduct social media campaigns and develop presentations for biomedical researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Some of my notable work includes conducting a COVID-19 impact study on baby delivery and maternal health, creating a targeted survey for pregnant women, outreaching in social media groups and on Facebook, designing and sharing infographics for awareness, and collecting a substantial number of survey responses.
    • Undergrad Teaching Assistant Chemistry at Stony Brook (summer 2020-spring 2021) for gen chem
    • SYEP july 2021-aug 2021 TA for restorative justice for youth age 14-15
    • Bengalis united member fall 2019-spring 2020: cultural club
    • Premed society 2019
11. Relevant honours or awards
    • Graduated Summa Cum Laude
    • Academic achievement award 4 semesters of 4.0
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important
    • Institutional action senior year fall 2022, academic dishonesty for lab report collaboration with another student, letter grade reduction ended with b-. Took the required sanctioned course, not on transcript anymore. It was a poor decision I take responsibility for during a stressful time and I regret. I learned better studying habits and time management skills.
    • received Pell grants, currently work with underserved communities, and will continue to do so
    • LOR from intro bio professor + VIP research course PI/professor + biochem lab (TA+PROFESSOR) + rock music (professor) + DO doctor i shadowed + probably from the provider i am a CIS/medical scribe for.
13. Thank you for the help.

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[Faha]

What patient contact do you have with the activity Clinical Informatics Specialist ?

 

[candbgirl]

-Stop shadowing.you have plenty of in person shadowing. Consider leaving out the virtual shadowing. That was 4 years ago.
-You need at least 100 additional hours of nonclinical volunteering. Either of your current activities is fine.
-What patient contact did you have as a Clinical Informatics Specialist?
-HHA for a family member doesn’t usually count. We are expected to help and care for our family members.
-You might of wanted to lead with your IA and not bury it down at “#12-Anything else.” An Academic Dishonesty IA is bad but I really have no idea how bad this one is since you’ve blown it off as not important. When did it happen? How long ago? Oh I see it was only a little over a year ago when you were a senior.🤔
-What were your FL scores on your MCAT? Was your score near your FL scores?
-When are you planning to apply ?

 

[infinitestars]

What patient contact do you have with the activity Clinical Informatics Specialist ?

• Joining the provider in the exam room to observe patient visits documenting patient encounters in a structured note. The provider reads me the vitals and asks if he is gapping for diabetic foot exam or eye exam. I say it observe it look away when it is a rectal exam. If they have a preferred address for a referral I can speak and find one close for them. We have to do a huddle in the morning with the provider + MA + nurse + social worker. There are suspects open based on what was coded and I have ask dr.virani to code it or if we leave it on follow up because we need an echo, or recent labs show hep c i would have to take charge and say if needs an US or order another hepatitis panel. I also have to help close the vaccine gap or DEXA or MAMMO. So in the room with the patient when Dr.Virani asks what is he gapping for I say covid and patient sometimes refuses and gives their story and I listen to each reason. I also hand them the after visit summary.
• Assigning appropriate CPT and ICD-10 codes

 

[infinitestars]

-Stop shadowing.you have plenty of in person shadowing. Consider leaving out the virtual shadowing. That was 4 years ago.
-You need at least 100 additional hours of nonclinical volunteering. Either of your current activities is fine.
-What patient contact did you have as a Clinical Informatics Specialist?
-HHA for a family member doesn’t usually count. We are expected to help and care for our family members.
-You might of wanted to lead with your IA and not bury it down at “#12-Anything else.” An Academic Dishonesty IA is bad but I really have no idea how bad this one is since you’ve blown it off as not important. When did it happen? How long ago? Oh I see it was only a little over a year ago when you were a senior.🤔
-What were your FL scores on your MCAT? Was your score near your FL scores?
-When are you planning to apply ?

IA happened first semester senior year first semester fall 2022. There was a lab report for my ecology course. I had other assignments and dealing with low prognosis of my father's life span, an impending deadline, and I did not manage my time well which I regret and was a poor decision. Without a thought I discussed the lab report questions with a bunch of friends just to get it submitted. The answers for 4 of the questions were too similar to the other student's lab report. I had the choice to fight the accusation and risk an F- if found guilty. If I pleaded guilty I would accept the chosen sanction which was a letter grade reduction after I completed the the sanctioned Q course. In the Q course I completed a series of reflective exercises which expunged the case from my record as university policy. So 10 weeks into the spring 2023 semester my Q was replaced with an B-. After this incident I made sure to be more contingent with my study habits working on things ahead of time so I ensure I do not make this same mistake again. I returned to baseline next semester was able to graduate summae cum laude. That is it. I cannot do anything to change it. I understand your point about being HHA for a family member.
AAMC says that it can be counted:
"Serving as a caretaker for an ill family member can provide first-hand experience with the types of challenges patients can face when dealing with chronic illness, such as the costs of obtaining medication, the impacts of nutrition on patient health, and the difficulties of scheduling and attending medical appointments. Some students have developed empathy as they supported family members in this way, and have shared this experience on their application or personal statement."
I seeked my current job on top of the HHA to address this deficiency. Knowing this do you still thinks its bad to list it ? My scores were lower than my full lengths average was 511 but I do not think I can do better if I retake it.

 

[wysdoc]

"Some students have developed empathy as they supported family members in this way, and have shared this experience on their application or personal statement."
You have no doubt gained empathy, experiences, and skills in your caretaker role. You will be able to understand patients who are in a similar situation of working plus being a caregiver.
The fine point here is to YES discuss this experience in an essay somewhere, in your personal statement or in one of the many secondary essays schools will ask you for. But NO don't list it as work hours in your list of activities on AMCAS.

 

[infinitestars]

"Some students have developed empathy as they supported family members in this way, and have shared this experience on their application or personal statement."
You have no doubt gained empathy, experiences, and skills in your caretaker role. You will be able to understand patients who are in a similar situation of working plus being a caregiver.
The fine point here is to YES discuss this experience in an essay somewhere, in your personal statement or in one of the many secondary essays schools will ask you for. But NO don't list it as work hours in your list of activities on AMCAS.

Can I include in the primary app not as clinical experience work/activity section but as “other.”

 

[infinitestars]

IA happened first semester senior year first semester fall 2022. There was a lab report for my ecology course. I had other assignments and dealing with low prognosis of my father's life span, an impending deadline, and I did not manage my time well which I regret and was a poor decision. Without a thought I discussed the lab report questions with a bunch of friends just to get it submitted. The answers for 4 of the questions were too similar to the other student's lab report. I had the choice to fight the accusation and risk an F- if found guilty. If I pleaded guilty I would accept the chosen sanction which was a letter grade reduction after I completed the the sanctioned Q course. In the Q course I completed a series of reflective exercises which expunged the case from my record as university policy. So 10 weeks into the spring 2023 semester my Q was replaced with an B-. After this incident I made sure to be more contingent with my study habits working on things ahead of time so I ensure I do not make this same mistake again. I returned to baseline next semester was able to graduate summae cum laude. That is it. I cannot do anything to change it. I understand your point about being HHA for a family member.
AAMC says that it can be counted:
"Serving as a caretaker for an ill family member can provide first-hand experience with the types of challenges patients can face when dealing with chronic illness, such as the costs of obtaining medication, the impacts of nutrition on patient health, and the difficulties of scheduling and attending medical appointments. Some students have developed empathy as they supported family members in this way, and have shared this experience on their application or personal statement."
I seeked my current job on top of the HHA to address this deficiency. Knowing this do you still thinks its bad to list it ? My scores were lower than my full lengths average was 511 but I do not think I can do better if I retake it.

And advice what’s the proper way to explain this IA situation so med schools will still consider my application? I am applying this May 2024 to attend in 2025. I cannot change the past just do better.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

And advice what’s the proper way to explain this IA situation so med schools will still consider my application? I am applying this May 2024 to attend in 2025. I cannot change the past just do better.

Work with your student conduct office to develop the language for a response. It must match exactly to what the student conduct office says because many schools will ask the conduct office for a review of institutional actions on your record.

Getting an IA your senior year for cheating is bad, and it may require more time for schools to consider your file. We understand personal circumstances occur but they are not excuses for lapses in academic integrity. Usually these reports expire after 5 to 10 years post-incident, depends on the university policy on student records.

Without a thought I discussed the lab report questions with a bunch of friends just to get it submitted. The answers for 4 of the questions were too similar to the other student's lab report.

So the other four students got caught too? Did the instructor tell you the report was not supposed to be collaborative?

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
All 4 SUNYs
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Hackensack
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Belmont
NOVA MD
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Any new schools that open for 205 (Alice Walton, Methodist, Roseman, American University)
Also apply broadly to DO schools and I suggest these:
UNECOM
NYITCOM
Touro-NY
LECOM (all schools)
PCOM (all schools)
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
MU-COM
CCOM
DMU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM
TUNCOM
AZCOM
UIWSOM
ACOM
WCU-COM
Noorda-COM
CUSOM
LMU-DCOM
VCOM (all schools)
Your IA will limit your chances for interviews.

 

[infinitestars]

Work with your student conduct office to develop the language for a response. It must match exactly to what the student conduct office says because many schools will ask the conduct office for a review of institutional actions on your record.

Getting an IA your senior year for cheating is bad, and it may require more time for schools to consider your file. We understand personal circumstances occur but they are not excuses for lapses in academic integrity. Usually these reports expire after 5 to 10 years post-incident, depends on the university policy on student records.



So the other four students got caught too? Did the instructor tell you the report was not supposed to be collaborative?

Work with your student conduct office to develop the language for a response. It must match exactly to what the student conduct office says because many schools will ask the conduct office for a review of institutional actions on your record.

Getting an IA your senior year for cheating is bad, and it may require more time for schools to consider your file. We understand personal circumstances occur but they are not excuses for lapses in academic integrity. Usually these reports expire after 5 to 10 years post-incident, depends on the university policy on student records.



So the other four students got caught too? Did the instructor tell you the report was not supposed to be collaborative?

I should not have received outside and it was a poor decision I have no excuses for. I have taken my sanctioned Q course and the incident is expunged from my record and not on my transcript. I changed my study habits to make sure something like this never happens again and received all As the next semester. I then retook my MCAT that September employing the new study habits. I realized abide by the principals of honesty everyday documenting patient encounters as a CIS.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I also would encourage you to get your non-clinical community service up to at least 150 hours total.

• 88 hours food bank june 2021
• 4 hours veterans home 2019

The 4 hours working in a veterans home is too few hours and a little too long ago to warrant a W/A spot. Your food bank work -- presumably during the pandemic -- is okay, but you need more recent non-clinical community service. 2021 will be 3 years ago if you intend to submit your application for 2025. What have you done lately to show your service orientation that alleviates others' distress, especially those unlike yourself.

 

[candbgirl]

I should not have received outside and it was a poor decision I have no excuses for. I have taken my sanctioned Q course and the incident is expunged from my record and not on my transcript. I changed my study habits to make sure something like this never happens again and received all As the next semester. I then retook my MCAT that September employing the new study habits. I realized abide by the principals of honesty everyday documenting patient encounters as a CIS.

So you took the MCAT twice? What was your other score? Many schools average multiple MCAT scores(AMCAS rec. that schools do this).

 

[infinitestars]

So you took the MCAT twice? What was your other score? Many schools average multiple MCAT scores(AMCAS rec. that schools do this).

• 1st Take sep 2022: 505 126/123/125/131
• 2nd Take sep 2023: 509 127/126/127/129

 

[infinitestars]

I also would encourage you to get your non-clinical community service up to at least 150 hours total.

The 4 hours working in a veterans home is too few hours and a little too long ago to warrant a W/A spot. Your food bank work -- presumably during the pandemic -- is okay, but you need more recent non-clinical community service. 2021 will be 3 years ago if you intend to submit your application for 2025. What have you done lately to show your service orientation that alleviates others' distress, especially those unlike yourself.

Nothing. Just my work as a CIS at oak street health. I play an active in the morning huddles to address suspects and preventative gaps in patient care. Refer patients to physical therapy and behavioral health services. I have signed up as a volunteer for hospice but it will take a little while before I am assigned to a patient due to training + documentation. However in addition to that, I will look at food banks nearby to get back into it. Thanks.

 

[infinitestars]

Nothing. Just my work as a CIS at oak street health. I play an active in the morning huddles to address suspects and preventative gaps in patient care. Refer patients to physical therapy and behavioral health services. I have signed up as a volunteer for hospice but it will take a little while before I am assigned to a patient due to training + documentation. However in addition to that, I will look at food banks nearby to get back into it. Thanks.

I just realized you said nonclincal. Hospice volunteer is clinical volunteer. Am I shooting myself in the foot. I really do think it would be a beneficial experience for me as I had death in the family but if it comes down to picking between the two, do you suggest I prioritize food bank?