Want to know if things are looking good

[BawlsaWood]

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I plan on applying next cycle (starting Junior Year in a week) and I would like to know if you think I'm on a good track.

At the time of application, I should have cGPA 3.55 and sGPA 3.4
So far, my best MCAT FL practice was a 27 (10/7/10) on AAMC 8. I'm really pushing myself for at least a 33, and my test date is 9/6/14. Working hard at it, and I've seen nothing but improvement since I started.

ECs:
-50 hours shadowing an orthopedic surgeon (unfortunately a week before I started, he injured his hand and had to retire from surgery, so I never got to see any of that).
-500+ hours as an EMT-B since 2012. Have provided medical care for approx. 100 patients on my own in an emergency setting.
-Premed Society Active Member at my University (2 years)
-Biochemistry society member (1 year)
-TA for organic chemistry lab twice (once as an assistant and once running the lab myself as if I were a grad student)
-Was elected as an RHA senator for my residence hall for 1 semester
-Volunteer ~10 hours per semester at our Veteran's Home (1 hour per weekend)
-Have an interview for research assistant this coming Wednesday
-Just created a paintball club at my university, I will be the president of it for the upcoming year

This is all that I can remember for now, I feel like I am forgetting something but whatever.

I should also include that I am considered a disadvantaged applicant according to AAMC but am a white male. Also a NY resident.

I plan on applying only MD, for a few reasons. It is not because of the stigma of DO that seems to be present (which I do not believe in anyway). I am choosing not to go DO because I don't really like the holistic healing styles that it teaches, or preventative medicine. I'm interested in going in to Emergency Medicine, and although DO's can also enter this specialty, I feel that MD would provide me with the better mindset and education needed for EM.

Please let me know what you think, I never really get feedback on my application as a whole. Also if there are any schools you'd suggest that I start looking at, please do so. Thanks

 

[Goro]

MCAT will obviously make or break you. Your GPAs are below avg, and one should keep in mind that beggars can't be choosy, and that you should concentrate on getting into medical school before thinking about your specialty.

Are you aware that most MD schools also believe in a holistic approach and teach preventative medicine? My clinical colleagues, yes, even the MDs, get tired of seeing obese, hypertensive patients.

I plan on applying next cycle (starting Junior Year in a week) and I would like to know if you think I'm on a good track.

At the time of application, I should have cGPA 3.55 and sGPA 3.4
So far, my best MCAT FL practice was a 27 (10/7/10) on AAMC 8. I'm really pushing myself for at least a 33, and my test date is 9/6/14. Working hard at it, and I've seen nothing but improvement since I started.

ECs:
-50 hours shadowing an orthopedic surgeon (unfortunately a week before I started, he injured his hand and had to retire from surgery, so I never got to see any of that).
-500+ hours as an EMT-B since 2012. Have provided medical care for approx. 100 patients on my own in an emergency setting.
-Premed Society Active Member at my University (2 years)
-Biochemistry society member (1 year)
-TA for organic chemistry lab twice (once as an assistant and once running the lab myself as if I were a grad student)
-Was elected as an RHA senator for my residence hall for 1 semester
-Volunteer ~10 hours per semester at our Veteran's Home (1 hour per weekend)
-Have an interview for research assistant this coming Wednesday
-Just created a paintball club at my university, I will be the president of it for the upcoming year

This is all that I can remember for now, I feel like I am forgetting something but whatever.

I should also include that I am considered a disadvantaged applicant according to AAMC but am a white male. Also a NY resident.

I plan on applying only MD, for a few reasons. It is not because of the stigma of DO that seems to be present (which I do not believe in anyway). I am choosing not to go DO because I don't really like the holistic healing styles that it teaches, or preventative medicine. I'm interested in going in to Emergency Medicine, and although DO's can also enter this specialty, I feel that MD would provide me with the better mindset and education needed for EM.

Please let me know what you think, I never really get feedback on my application as a whole. Also if there are any schools you'd suggest that I start looking at, please do so. Thanks

 

[RoadNurse33]

I am choosing not to go DO because I don't really like the holistic healing styles that it teaches, or preventative medicine. I'm interested in going in to Emergency Medicine, and although DO's can also enter this specialty, I feel that MD would provide me with the better mindset and education needed for EM.

Maybe not explicitly about your application...but something to consider:
1)How many of your patients required critical intervention by an emergency physician? 100 patients is a good number for easy math...maybe 10? Who took care of the other 90 patients once you transported them to the ED?
2)Most of EM is about risk stratification...http://journals.lww.com/em-news/Ful...y__Risk_Stratification_and_the_Unsweet.9.aspx

Wait until your first diabetic female patient complaining of weakness turns out to be having a massive MI...

 

[Saxappeal1]

Wait, OP your best MCAT test practice score is a 27 (10/7/10) and you are pushing for a 33? Not to be too bold but that's not very realistic if your MCAT is on 9/6/14 unless you go super hardcore and increase more than a point a week, which is a lot

 

[pericardium]

OP, verbal scores can be very unpredictable, so who knows, you could experience a 3-4 point jump without really studying much. I scored 1.5 points above my average AAMC on my verbal, and I was ecstatic about that. If you want a shot at US MD, you will definitely need that 6+ point jump from your best AAMC, but that is a bit of a long shot.

If you are really that set on MD, you might want to start looking at some Caribbean schools.

 

[Aerus]

Hey we're in the exact same boat! (I'm a rising junior taking the MCAT in september who will apply next cycle too!).

I don't think you can realistically expect to consistently get 33's by 9/6 unless you literally bust your ass off. Verbal is the hardest to improve and unless you completely change how you are approaching passages, that 27 could dip down to a 24 or 25. Work on verbal the most, but also solidify your content with the sciences. Those 10's could easily be 11's.

Best of luck with your junior year!