WAMC? Unsure if I have any red flags

[dr_phalange]

Hi all, so I'm planning on applying MD in June 2018. Since I have 6ish months to work on any red flags/deficiencies, I would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance!!

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS: 3.76 for both cGPA and sGPA (no grade below B for either)
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown: 519 (132/131/130/126) eek unsure about how much this unbalance will hurt me
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): NY
4. Ethnicity and/or race: Asian American
5. Undergraduate institution or category: Non-ivy, top 20 private
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer): Clinic for underserved population volunteer (10 hrs), EMT (paid, over 300 hrs by June)
7. Research experience and productivity: Chem research since sophomore year, two co-first author publications in peer-reviewed journals (nothing with high impact factor, but still very happy/excited with this)
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented: Colorectal surgery (6 hrs), internal med (6 hrs), neuro-ophthalmology (20 hrs) ***probably need more***
9. Non-clinical volunteering: SAT tutoring for low-income high school students (100-120 hrs), Hospice volunteer (60ish hrs by June), Outreach program through research to develop program for high school students (50 hrs)
10. Other extracurricular activities: TA for chemistry lab (two semesters by June), Trained undergraduates in my lab (2 different undergrads), Member of various clubs on campus (no leadership roles, clubs are mainly niche interest groups that I enjoy)
11. Relevant honors or awards: Research summer scholarship, presented at 5 poster sessions, including 2 national symposiums, gave 3 oral presentations on research, including 2 national symposiums (same one as where I gave a poster presentation), scholarship at university
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important: I think I have a strong enough reason to want to be a doctor, but nothing mind-blowing or terribly unique

I worry about not having enough in one category, I know research is the strongest aspect of my application. Should I think about also applying DO? Also, for my gap year I will likely work as a clinical research assistant or ER tech. Thanks again!

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[Faha]

You need more shadowing hours and clinical volunteering hours (200+). I suggest these schools with your stats:
All 4 SUNY's
Rochester
Albany
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
GW
Oakland Beaumont
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Tulane
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth

 

[reaction mechanisms]

Is hospice clinical or non clinical? I always thought it was clinical. If so, you can move that over to your clinical volunteering category.

Correct me if I’m wrong SDNers, because I know you will


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[dr_phalange]

@Faha Is there a big difference between paid and volunteering clinical hours? I am doing paid EMS work because the volunteering in my area has very little patient exposure

@drlemons I counted it as nonclinical because I don't really take care of patients, I mostly help the nurses with other work (but I am also not sure which category it is!)

 

[Faha]

There is little difference but how many hours of patient contact have you had with your EMT job?

 

[dr_phalange]

There is little difference but how many hours of patient contact have you had with your EMT job?

So far around 300 (I work 8 hours a week for 40 weeks so far), should have about 450 by application time in June.

 

[Goro]

Hi all, so I'm planning on applying MD in June 2018. Since I have 6ish months to work on any red flags/deficiencies, I would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance!!

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS: 3.76 for both cGPA and sGPA (no grade below B for either)
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown: 519 (132/131/130/126) eek unsure about how much this unbalance will hurt me
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): NY
4. Ethnicity and/or race: Asian American
5. Undergraduate institution or category: Non-ivy, top 20 private
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer): Clinic for underserved population volunteer (10 hrs), EMT (paid, over 300 hrs by June)
7. Research experience and productivity: Chem research since sophomore year, two co-first author publications in peer-reviewed journals (nothing with high impact factor, but still very happy/excited with this)
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented: Colorectal surgery (6 hrs), internal med (6 hrs), neuro-ophthalmology (20 hrs) ***probably need more***
9. Non-clinical volunteering: SAT tutoring for low-income high school students (100-120 hrs), Hospice volunteer (60ish hrs by June), Outreach program through research to develop program for high school students (50 hrs)
10. Other extracurricular activities: TA for chemistry lab (two semesters by June), Trained undergraduates in my lab (2 different undergrads), Member of various clubs on campus (no leadership roles, clubs are mainly niche interest groups that I enjoy)
11. Relevant honors or awards: Research summer scholarship, presented at 5 poster sessions, including 2 national symposiums, gave 3 oral presentations on research, including 2 national symposiums (same one as where I gave a poster presentation), scholarship at university
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important: I think I have a strong enough reason to want to be a doctor, but nothing mind-blowing or terribly unique

I worry about not having enough in one category, I know research is the strongest aspect of my application. Should I think about also applying DO? Also, for my gap year I will likely work as a clinical research assistant or ER tech. Thanks again!

I agree with Faha on the need for more shadowing, and the hospice + EMT should be OK for your clinical experience.

With your fine GPA and excellent MCAT, I'm a bit more sanguine than my learned colleague.

Hence, I recommend:
Vanderbilt OR Columbia OR Sinai
Harvard OR Yale OR Stanford
JHU OR Northwestern OR Cornell
Case
U VM
Miami
Tulane
Albert Einstein
Emory
BU
USC/Keck
Mayo
Rochester
Dartmouth
Duke
Pitt
Hofstra
All SUNYs
Jefferson
Gtown
Albany
NYMC

 

[dr_phalange]

I agree with Faha on the need for more shadowing, and the hospice + EMT should be OK for your clinical experience.

With your fine GPA and excellent MCAT, I'm a bit more sanguine than my learned colleague.

Hence, I recommend:
Vanderbilt OR Columbia OR Sinai
Harvard OR Yale OR Stanford
JHU OR Northwestern OR Cornell
Case
U VM
Miami
Tulane
Albert Einstein
Emory
BU
USC/Keck
Mayo
Rochester
Dartmouth
Duke
Pitt
Hofstra
All SUNYs
Jefferson
Gtown
Albany
NYMC

Thanks @Goro! I hope to get at least 10-20 more shadowing hours by June- would that be enough?

 

[Goro]

Thanks @Goro! I hope to get at least 10-20 more shadowing hours by June- would that be enough?

Yup.