- Joined
- Feb 23, 2021
- Messages
- 116
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Hi! Applying for the 2021-2022 cycle. Long time lurker and it's so surreal to finally be posting my own.
GPA: c3.45, s3.28(U shaped--high start, low middle, high end). This includes my post-bacc year getting a Certificate in Biomedical Science with a 3.83 gpa in 32 credits of science courses.
MCAT: 501-->509 (125/129/128/127)
State: Illinois, ties to Iowa and California
Ethnicity/race: White, Latina
Undergrad: University of Iowa
Clinical experience: Paid: at time of app ~800 hours as an ophthalmic technician. 3 years hospital volunteering, at least 150 hours.
Research: none!!
Shadowing: ~45 hours in the OR, orthopedic peds, family medicine, ED
Non-clinical volunteering: ~75 hours at a senior pet shelter over 3 years, ~40 hours (will be higher at time of app) transcribing genealogical records, ~40 hours orientation leader, 3 years as a diversity pen pal ~20 hrs
Other extracurricular activities: 4 years in a sorority with 5 leadership positions, was on exec of two political clubs (unsure of how to include this on my app without introducing bias). Paid employment: 400 hours for a summer as a day camp counselor. 355 hours over two summers as a day camp counselor for kids with special needs/disabilities. 170 hours as a Lead Instructor at a STEM day camp. 500 hours over two years at an after school program. Hobby wise I’m really into genealogy and love to read (I have a “bookstagram” account I run)
Relevant honors or awards: Dean’s List 7/10 semesters, inducted into two Greek honor societies for academics/leadership.
Anything else not listed you think might be important: I know my GPA and lack of research are the biggest hurdles. I tried to craft my list around schools that don’t have a huge emphasis on research (and threw some in there as a reach). In college, I started out strong and then sophomore and junior year I was incredibly depressed/unhappy at my school and my grades dropped. They picked up a lot senior year and then I did a post-bacc year where I did well. I’m also an idiot and took the MCAT the first time thinking I could wing it like the ACT.
Overall, I think I’m decently competitive for DO. Just throwing in some MD schools too as a reach because why not. I’m worried because I’m such a basic applicant plus low stats and I don’t have a compelling story. My goal is peds, if you can't tell by all my work with kids!
I would greatly appreciate any advice.
Rough Draft School List:
DO: DMU, CCOM, KYCOM, ATSU, KCU, Oklahoma State, Ohio Heritage, UNECOM, NYIT-LI and Jonesboro, Edward Via (3 campuses), MUCOM, Campbell, PCOM
MD: Southern Illinois, MCW, Vermont, Creighton, Oakland, Wright State, TCU UNTHSC, Toledo, U of I Chicago, Eastern Virginia, UA-Tucson, Geisinger, Rosalind Franklin?
GPA: c3.45, s3.28(U shaped--high start, low middle, high end). This includes my post-bacc year getting a Certificate in Biomedical Science with a 3.83 gpa in 32 credits of science courses.
MCAT: 501-->509 (125/129/128/127)
State: Illinois, ties to Iowa and California
Ethnicity/race: White, Latina
Undergrad: University of Iowa
Clinical experience: Paid: at time of app ~800 hours as an ophthalmic technician. 3 years hospital volunteering, at least 150 hours.
Research: none!!
Shadowing: ~45 hours in the OR, orthopedic peds, family medicine, ED
Non-clinical volunteering: ~75 hours at a senior pet shelter over 3 years, ~40 hours (will be higher at time of app) transcribing genealogical records, ~40 hours orientation leader, 3 years as a diversity pen pal ~20 hrs
Other extracurricular activities: 4 years in a sorority with 5 leadership positions, was on exec of two political clubs (unsure of how to include this on my app without introducing bias). Paid employment: 400 hours for a summer as a day camp counselor. 355 hours over two summers as a day camp counselor for kids with special needs/disabilities. 170 hours as a Lead Instructor at a STEM day camp. 500 hours over two years at an after school program. Hobby wise I’m really into genealogy and love to read (I have a “bookstagram” account I run)
Relevant honors or awards: Dean’s List 7/10 semesters, inducted into two Greek honor societies for academics/leadership.
Anything else not listed you think might be important: I know my GPA and lack of research are the biggest hurdles. I tried to craft my list around schools that don’t have a huge emphasis on research (and threw some in there as a reach). In college, I started out strong and then sophomore and junior year I was incredibly depressed/unhappy at my school and my grades dropped. They picked up a lot senior year and then I did a post-bacc year where I did well. I’m also an idiot and took the MCAT the first time thinking I could wing it like the ACT.
Overall, I think I’m decently competitive for DO. Just throwing in some MD schools too as a reach because why not. I’m worried because I’m such a basic applicant plus low stats and I don’t have a compelling story. My goal is peds, if you can't tell by all my work with kids!
I would greatly appreciate any advice.
Rough Draft School List:
DO: DMU, CCOM, KYCOM, ATSU, KCU, Oklahoma State, Ohio Heritage, UNECOM, NYIT-LI and Jonesboro, Edward Via (3 campuses), MUCOM, Campbell, PCOM
MD: Southern Illinois, MCW, Vermont, Creighton, Oakland, Wright State, TCU UNTHSC, Toledo, U of I Chicago, Eastern Virginia, UA-Tucson, Geisinger, Rosalind Franklin?
