Weak ECs - What is Your Opinion?

[moches]

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Hi everyone, planning on applying next cycle but have very weak ECs right now. Been trying to fix this issue by starting to volunteer at multiple hospitals and shadowing a few physicians (orthopedics, internal med and ENT). If I apply in June and continue to volunteer throughout the year, what are my chances?

I did participate in my science and pre-med clubs during college and was part of the student government. Also been part of a religious society for over a decade and am now the VP. I volunteered a lot of time there doing self help projects and maintenance. Been teaching at a martial arts club for a over decade as well. I would say I'm a well rounded person, but lack clinical experience to really show that I want a career in medicine.

cGPA: 3.73
sGPA:3.79
MCAT: 33

Graduated in 2011 with a BA in biology. Worked for the federal gov throughout college. Offered me a job after graduation, which I took to pay off my loans. Got caught up with work and didn't do too much medically related. Snapped out of it and quit to pursue medical school, and here I am.

Others factors going against me are:

Started at a community college but all of my pre-reqs were done at a four year university. I know I will be looked down on for that but nothing I can do now.

Probably will get only average LORs from my profs since I didn't really connect with any of them.

No research experience.

I would say my reach schools would be BU or Tufts. Realistically, I'd just love the opportunity to go to Creighton or DO schools like Pacific Northwestern or Western.

Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

Hi everyone, planning on applying next cycle but have very weak ECs right now. Been trying to fix this issue by starting to volunteer at multiple hospitals and shadowing a few physicians (orthopedics, internal med and ENT). If I apply in June and continue to volunteer throughout the year, what are my chances?

I did participate in my science and pre-med clubs during college and was part of the student government. Also been part of a religious society for over a decade and am now the VP. I volunteered a lot of time there doing self help projects and maintenance. Been teaching at a martial arts club for a over decade as well. I would say I'm a well rounded person, but lack clinical experience to really show that I want a career in medicine.

cGPA: 3.73
sGPA:3.79
MCAT: 33

Graduated in 2011 with a BA in biology. Worked for the federal gov throughout college. Offered me a job after graduation, which I took to pay off my loans. Got caught up with work and didn't do too much medically related. Snapped out of it and quit to pursue medical school, and here I am.

Others factors going against me are:

Started at a community college but all of my pre-reqs were done at a four year university. I know I will be looked down on for that but nothing I can do now.

Probably will get only average LORs from my profs since I didn't really connect with any of them.

No research experience.

I would say my reach schools would be BU or Tufts. Realistically, I'd just love the opportunity to go to Creighton or DO schools like Pacific Northwestern or Western.

Thanks!

How many months and hours of active clinical experience do you expect to list on your application? How many total hours of shadowing? How much nonmedical community service?

The leadership and teaching look decent.

Creighton's website suggests that CC credits are an issue. It used to be more strongly worded, but seems more subtle now. You might call them and get the real story. Report back, if you would.

 

[Goro]

Chances are pretty good. There are other patient contact venues you can shoot for right now, and not wait for until June. Nursing homes, hospice, homeless shelters...they're out there.

Hi everyone, planning on applying next cycle but have very weak ECs right now. Been trying to fix this issue by starting to volunteer at multiple hospitals and shadowing a few physicians (orthopedics, internal med and ENT). If I apply in June and continue to volunteer throughout the year, what are my chances?

I did participate in my science and pre-med clubs during college and was part of the student government. Also been part of a religious society for over a decade and am now the VP. I volunteered a lot of time there doing self help projects and maintenance. Been teaching at a martial arts club for a over decade as well. I would say I'm a well rounded person, but lack clinical experience to really show that I want a career in medicine.

cGPA: 3.73
sGPA:3.79
MCAT: 33

Graduated in 2011 with a BA in biology. Worked for the federal gov throughout college. Offered me a job after graduation, which I took to pay off my loans. Got caught up with work and didn't do too much medically related. Snapped out of it and quit to pursue medical school, and here I am.

Others factors going against me are:

Started at a community college but all of my pre-reqs were done at a four year university. I know I will be looked down on for that but nothing I can do now.

Probably will get only average LORs from my profs since I didn't really connect with any of them.

No research experience.

I would say my reach schools would be BU or Tufts. Realistically, I'd just love the opportunity to go to Creighton or DO schools like Pacific Northwestern or Western.

Thanks!

 

[moches]

How many months and hours of active clinical experience do you expect to list on your application? How many total hours of shadowing? How much nonmedical community service?

The leadership and teaching look decent.

Creighton's website suggests that CC credits are an issue. It used to be more strongly worded, but seems more subtle now. You might call them and get the real story. Report back, if you would.

I'm doing about 4-8 hours a week at the hospitals and about 4 hours a week of shadowing. Shooting for 6 months of clinical experience before applying in June (100 hours of hospital volunteering and about 50 hours of shadowing). Have a good amount of hours doing non-medical volunteering.

Guess what I meant was schools in the range of Creighton like Penn State, New York Medical College or Loma Linda (I'm not seventh day so that might be hard). They appear to have similar stats and are semi out of state friendly.

Chances are pretty good. There are other patient contact venues you can shoot for right now, and not wait for until June. Nursing homes, hospice, homeless shelters...they're out there.

I will definitely look into those options. 🙂

 

[TriagePreMed]

I think you'll be fine.

 

[Catalystik]

Since you'll be applying with only 6 months of clinical experience, your plan to continue adding more during the application year is appropriate, for the sake of future update letters during the cycle that may help sway adcomms on the cusp.