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deleted855460
I was really trying to apply during the 2024 cycle, but I think right now is just not a good time. I already finished writing my personal statement and got my LORs, input courses, etc... but.. Not only was my MCAT prep absolutely disorganized, but I also had to deal with a 3-month-long personal situation, so that took a lot out of me. So now, I guess I will hopefully (only) be taking 5 gap years, instead of 4. I truly wanted to get back to school but it is what it is.
Below are my stats/EC details/etc. I would appreciate advice on how to become a stronger applicant for the 2025 cycle. Currently not working b/c I needed to study for MCAT full time.
Personal details:
MCAT: Pending 6/29, but most recent FL was 510 (505 --> 508 --> 510), which is the main reason why I decided today not to apply. I feel like I can do better & develop better studying habits thru preparing for the MCAT. My goal is a 515.
Extracurriculars:
Below are my stats/EC details/etc. I would appreciate advice on how to become a stronger applicant for the 2025 cycle. Currently not working b/c I needed to study for MCAT full time.
Personal details:
- State of residence: CA.
- Parent as physician: Yes, one of them
- ORM (Asian)
- Graduated: 2020, Biology Major
- sGPA as of May 2020: 3.31 (downward trend or no change in sGPA for 6 straight semesters, mostly B's with the one C+ from Genetics and a B- from Chem. I started improving my grades during senior year, so Fall 2019 was a 3.6 and Spring 2020 was a 3.7 or 3.8 - I do not remember 100%).
- cGPA as of May 2020: 3.51
- sGPA: 3.79 -- I primarily took courses at two schools
MCAT: Pending 6/29, but most recent FL was 510 (505 --> 508 --> 510), which is the main reason why I decided today not to apply. I feel like I can do better & develop better studying habits thru preparing for the MCAT. My goal is a 515.
Extracurriculars:
- Clinical, Paid: I've worked about 2k hours across 3 clinics in med assistant/scribe positions.
- Nonclinical, Paid: Administrative positions in outpatient clinics, probably 1k hours across 2 clinics. It's hard to tell because my roles were very much a mix of clinical and nonclinical.
- Research: I have about 1600 hours from my research job and 400 hours from undergrad volunteering. No publications.
- NonClinical Volunteering: I think about 150-200 hours? I did a lot of cello teaching as volunteer work.
- Clinical Volunteering: About 150 hours, hospital volunteering and free health clinic volunteering
- Shadowing: I'd like to say I have about 50 hours shadowing minimum from scribing for two physicians, but technically, I've only got 3 hours recorded (from undergrad)
- Other: Random nonclinical paid jobs and hobbies, like cello/music stuff
- I withdrew from Genetics in my sophomore year and retook it, ending up with a C+. Clearly not good.
- I withdrew from a Medical Spanish course at a local community college in Fall 2021. My parent's clinic was not faring well with regards to staffing, and I could not show up at the class time consistently anymore. I'm pretty sure I had an A prior to withdrawing. Hindsight 20/20, definitely should have not done this. I very stupidly did not realize that I'd have to report this on AMCAS until 30 min later. But what's done is done.
- Generally overall poor DIY-post bacc and poor undergrad performance. The lowest grade I got in my DIY post bacc was a B+ but from my understanding I needed to aim for A- minimum, which I failed to do so.
- Took Physics 2 during the summer (post-bacc) --> I've heard that prereqs over the summer are no good?
- Took Chem2 during the summer (undergrad)
- Weak volunteering hours - I'd want to improve upon this, but also I need a paying job...
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