Thank you
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Thanks for the reply! I grew up in Kansas until I graduated high school, but my dad has been a CA resident since 2010. My mom is still in Kansas. And my MCAT isn’t at a 528; is this a dealbreaker to something? (It seemed you were alluding to something in your last paragraph)Welcome to the forums. Did you grow up in California most of your life? Exactly how are your connected to Kansas?
Yes, you have research experience but you are trying to get more clinical exposure. How much primary care, geriatric, or emergency care do you have experience with?
I would like to see more food bank experience. Minimum of 150 is in reach, so try getting to 250 to 300 before April. Anything else with the community where you are helping others in distress and can stretch outside your comfort zone a little more will benefit you.
If your MCAT is truly a 528, then you need to think carefully. The research is okay, but I'm not sure if you want to become a true academic. If you do, consider MD/PhD. If not, what do you really want to do as a physician? What do you think you need to realize your vision?
You said your MCAT was 100th percentile.And my MCAT isn’t at a 528; is this a dealbreaker to something? (It seemed you were alluding to something in your last paragraph)
How do you see yourself doing this?I am only looking to apply MD (but I do want to be involved in research in my future, just not as an academic).
In other words, in an academic setting. (So I'm a little confused.)I really value mentorship (supported by my experiences in my research mentorship club and as a TA) and the connection developed with patients, so I would love to work at a teaching hospital.
Tutoring and teaching hours under a different category, and practically all premeds do some teaching so it's value is very low in helping you stand out. This includes teaching English because you come in as a subject matter expert. The exception is Teach for America/City Year because the commitment is much more than typical tutoring.As for NCV, the 250/300 hr minimum would be for all NCV? So I should try for 150 hrs specifically for the Food Bank? I also started tutoring low-income elementary and middle school students at community center last semester,
100% based on MCAT distributions is 524 or higher (I’m not sure why it’s not just 528, so sorry for the confusion).You said your MCAT was 100th percentile
I think this was my poor articulation. I don’t want to be involved in a wet lab, but I would like to contribute to clinical research.How do you see yourself doing this?
Thank you for this clarification; it was really helpful. My top choice school is UCI, and I think I care about location the most. I would love to attend somewhere in CA or NY or KS, near my family or boyfriend. I probably should have included this earlier, but I’ve been told not to build a list purely off of location.Nonclinical community service must show service orientation outside health or health adjacent areas. Food distribution is one area, and 150 hours is a minimum to avoid being screened out at most schools. But given your metrics and likely your ambition, you need to have have at least twice as much (250 to 300 hours). Alternatives include job or tax preparing, shelter volunteering, housing rehabilitation, or transportation services. Now, legal assistance or other social services with refugees and asylees could count here.
I'm stalling until the list-makers give their feedback.100% based on MCAT distributions is 524 or higher (I’m not sure why it’s not just 528, so sorry for the confusion).
I think this was my poor articulation. I don’t want to be involved in a wet lab, but I would like to contribute to clinical research.
Thank you for this clarification; it was really helpful. My top choice school is UCI, and I think I care about location the most. I would love to attend somewhere in CA or NY or KS, near my family or boyfriend. I probably should have included this earlier, but I’ve been told not to build a list purely off of location.
Thank you!I suggest these schools with your stats:
The UCs (except Riverside unless you are from that region)
USC Keck
Stanford
Kaiser
Kansas
Mayo
Washington University (almost a guaranteed interview with your stats)
Vanderbilt
Northwestern
U Chicago
U Michigan
Case Western
Ohio State
Cincinnati
Emory
Duke
U Virginia
Johns Hopkins
UPenn
Hofstra
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Columbia
Cornell
NYU
Harvard
Boston University
Yale
Thank you for all your feedback! I'll definitely keep an eye out for KUSOM.I'm stalling until the list-makers give their feedback.
Geography is important in many cases since many schools have a public mission. For example, I think KUSOM really advantages those who grew up in Kansas. They go to recruitment events around the state explicitly telling people this.