MD What are my weaknesses?

[DrBrannan]

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Hello, this being my first post on the forum, I thought I'd begin with a WAMC post. I'm looking for advice on how I can strengthen my application, which I will have to start working on next year.

About Me:
I'm currently a 21 year old Texas resident. I received my associate's degree from a community college and then transferred to a state school, both in Texas. I'm a biomedical sciences major with a minor in food science and nutrition. I've currently got a 3.55 cGPA and 3.62 sGPA. I plan to take my MCAT next year during the spring semester and graduate in Spring '16.

Experience (EC/Work/Volunteering):
President of a Student Dietetic Association
Current President of an LGBT Advocacy Organization
Organizer of a week-long series of LGBT related events sponsored by the campus each year
Nutritional analyst for a campus funded cookbook
Volunteer for LGBT related organizations ~100 hours
Volunteer for a local food drive ~30 hours
Waiter ~2 years
Student assistant at on-campus library ~1 semester

I currently don't have any research experience or clinical shadowing hours but will most definitely be keeping an eye out for that. I'm just looking to hear what I should focus on this next year, and any obvious weaknesses I may not have caught. I have this summer off, so I plan to get clinical shadowing hours and to prepare for the MCAT. How many clinical shadowing hours would be recommended exactly?

 

[Goro]

Good numbers and I think your plan below is sound. Shoot for >100 hers of patient contact experience. Not all of it has to be hospital based... think clinics, hospice or nursing homes. If you can polish off your GBLT advocacy/experiences with something related to HIV/AIDS, I think you'll make compelling candidate. Just stay away from Loma Linda or LUCOM.


I currently don't have any research experience or clinical shadowing hours but will most definitely be keeping an eye out for that. I'm just looking to hear what I should focus on this next year, and any obvious weaknesses I may not have caught. I have this summer off, so I plan to get clinical shadowing hours and to prepare for the MCAT. How many clinical shadowing hours would be recommended exactly?[/quote]

 

[Catalystik]

Hello, this being my first post on the forum, I thought I'd begin with a WAMC post. I'm looking for advice on how I can strengthen my application, which I will have to start working on next year.

About Me:
I'm currently a 21 year old Texas resident. I received my associate's degree from a community college and then transferred to a state school, both in Texas. I'm a biomedical sciences major with a minor in food science and nutrition. I've currently got a 3.55 cGPA and 3.62 sGPA. I plan to take my MCAT next year during the spring semester and graduate in Spring '16.

Experience (EC/Work/Volunteering):
President of a Student Dietetic Association
Current President of an LGBT Advocacy Organization
Organizer of a week-long series of LGBT related events sponsored by the campus each year
Nutritional analyst for a campus funded cookbook
Volunteer for LGBT related organizations ~100 hours
Volunteer for a local food drive ~30 hours
Waiter ~2 years
Student assistant at on-campus library ~1 semester

I currently don't have any research experience or clinical shadowing hours but will most definitely be keeping an eye out for that. I'm just looking to hear what I should focus on this next year, and any obvious weaknesses I may not have caught. I have this summer off, so I plan to get clinical shadowing hours and to prepare for the MCAT. How many clinical shadowing hours would be recommended exactly?

You don't mention active clinical experience where you interact with sick and injured folks. You can acquire this ideally through a medical facility with a job or volunteering. Some gain the experience with clinical research, eg in an ER recruiting patients for a study. The average applicant has 1.5 years of volunteering in a hospital, hospice, skilled-level nursing home, rehab center, or clinic for 3-4 hours per week during the academic year, with a total of 150 hours.

In addition to this, I'd suggest about 50 physician shadowing hours, ideally including a primary care doc.

Texas schools also seem to greatly value nonmedical community service that helps the disadvantaged, and you seem to have started well in that area. You also have leadership, which is good. Even the wait staff job is a plus since it requires people skills. Hopefully, you'll find a research activity.

Keep raising your cGPA as well, as it's on the low side for MD applications. And start strategizing to get some strong LORs.

 

[Utenation]

Hello, this being my first post on the forum, I thought I'd begin with a WAMC post. I'm looking for advice on how I can strengthen my application, which I will have to start working on next year.

About Me:
I'm currently a 21 year old Texas resident. I received my associate's degree from a community college and then transferred to a state school, both in Texas. I'm a biomedical sciences major with a minor in food science and nutrition. I've currently got a 3.55 cGPA and 3.62 sGPA. I plan to take my MCAT next year during the spring semester and graduate in Spring '16.

Experience (EC/Work/Volunteering):
President of a Student Dietetic Association
Current President of an LGBT Advocacy Organization
Organizer of a week-long series of LGBT related events sponsored by the campus each year
Nutritional analyst for a campus funded cookbook
Volunteer for LGBT related organizations ~100 hours
Volunteer for a local food drive ~30 hours
Waiter ~2 years
Student assistant at on-campus library ~1 semester

I currently don't have any research experience or clinical shadowing hours but will most definitely be keeping an eye out for that. I'm just looking to hear what I should focus on this next year, and any obvious weaknesses I may not have caught. I have this summer off, so I plan to get clinical shadowing hours and to prepare for the MCAT. How many clinical shadowing hours would be recommended exactly?

Well done getting this far! It looks like you've put a lot of work into your application. I just have a couple questions before I can offer much advice:
What is your GPA trend? Upward, downward, stagnant, varying?
Also, what med school prereqs did you take at the community college?

Goro's suggestion of HIV/AIDS work is genius. It will show sincere devotion IMO. And I think what Catalystik said is a must for a well rounded application.

 

[DrBrannan]

Well done getting this far! It looks like you've put a lot of work into your application. I just have a couple questions before I can offer much advice:
What is your GPA trend? Upward, downward, stagnant, varying?
Also, what med school prereqs did you take at the community college?

Goro's suggestion of HIV/AIDS work is genius. It will show sincere devotion IMO. And I think what Catalystik said is a must for a well rounded application.

Thank you! You are all providing excellent suggestions and I will make sure they don't go to waste. My GPA trend is upward, having only one B the past 3 semesters. I took anatomy and physiology at the community college. That was literally it. But I received a C in physiology while I was there, so I plan to retake that this summer as well for a solid A.

The Loma Linda and LUCOM comment killed me. Goro, I definitely agree. I believe that my clear devotion to the LGBT community (whether it be advocacy or medicine related) will shine in my EC's, as well as my clear interest in my minor. Looks like I have a solid amount of clinical and shadowing hours I need to rack up this summer. I appreciate the advice!

 

[CaptainDO]

Hello, this being my first post on the forum, I thought I'd begin with a WAMC post. I'm looking for advice on how I can strengthen my application, which I will have to start working on next year.

About Me:
I'm currently a 21 year old Texas resident. I received my associate's degree from a community college and then transferred to a state school, both in Texas. I'm a biomedical sciences major with a minor in food science and nutrition. I've currently got a 3.55 cGPA and 3.62 sGPA. I plan to take my MCAT next year during the spring semester and graduate in Spring '16.

Experience (EC/Work/Volunteering):
President of a Student Dietetic Association
Current President of an LGBT Advocacy Organization
Organizer of a week-long series of LGBT related events sponsored by the campus each year
Nutritional analyst for a campus funded cookbook
Volunteer for LGBT related organizations ~100 hours
Volunteer for a local food drive ~30 hours
Waiter ~2 years
Student assistant at on-campus library ~1 semester

I currently don't have any research experience or clinical shadowing hours but will most definitely be keeping an eye out for that. I'm just looking to hear what I should focus on this next year, and any obvious weaknesses I may not have caught. I have this summer off, so I plan to get clinical shadowing hours and to prepare for the MCAT. How many clinical shadowing hours would be recommended exactly?

If I were you, I would try to distinguish myself from other applicants. Keep in mind your numbers are good... but so is everyone else's. On average, medical schools sift through c. 6-10,000 applications for 4-600 II's to fill 100-200 seats (just rough numbers) per school. I would work on more volunteer hours (min for most schools is 100 hrs), get some research (academic attendings and professors are always open to this), do some scientific publication(s) (residents and fellows are always trying to get things out to stay competitive), connect with a DO or MD and follow them around (helps you network and see what they actually do), do well on MCAT (really not as important as you may think depending on the school you are looking at, some schools just use it as a cut off and don't really read too much into it... that's why I am saying the numbers are good but you need more "meat" to you CV), give a lecture, teach a class, volunteer or find work in a hospital, do things that are impressive and show you can handle a lot. Try to put extra science projects on your plate, that stuff will mean more to schools.

 

[CaptainDO]

My GPA trend is upward, having only one B the past 3 semesters. I took anatomy and physiology at the community college. That was literally it. But I received a C in physiology while I was there, so I plan to retake that this summer as well for a solid A.

I would try to get A's in every science prereq from here on out. Any C's I would definitely retake. I would also try to get as many A's in your major at the 4 year institution. The CC grades will not be too much of an issue when applying to med school unless they are below an A... I would consider retaking the science grades taken at CC if they were not an A... but not that important...
Again... add more to your CV. Make yourself stand out (in a good way) from others... right now you are just a number to them... give them a reason to pick you. Work hard from here on out.
On a side note, I am actually going to LUCOM. If you think that it would be a good fit for you, I would encourage you to apply. This isn't the forum for the wrath that's about to follow, but I hope that you end up at a place you are happy and feel will provide what you are looking for to becoming a doctor. Good Luck!