What can I do to make myself more competitive?

[kfre2435]

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As I approach my final semester before applying for medical school, I was reviewing my resume and was curious whether there was anything else I should do to make myself a better candidate for acceptance. If you would be so kind to take a critical look at it, I would greatly appreciate it.

Also of note, in the coming months I will be add my MCAT score, the continuation of research at Northwestern next summer, and a shadowing opportunity with the Chief of Vascular Surgery at Rush. Of course the MCAT will play a large factor in competitiveness as a candidate. Please let me know what your thoughts are.


Major(s): Biology and History
Minor: Spanish
Cumulative GPA: 3.849/4.0

Research Experience
Research Assistant, Institute of BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University Division Of Vascular Surgery, Chicago, IL, Summer 2012
• Second Author on a paper submitted to the 2013 Academic Surgical Conference
• Will continue next summer

Research Assistant at my college, Spring 2011 - present
• Primary Author, Tri-Beta Research Grant
• Directed an individual experiment to examine local adaptation and speciation of Drosophila americana due to chromosomal inversion.
Tropical Ecology Research Assistant, Winter 2011
• Observed feeding predilection among Cyphoma gibbosum in Belize
• Presenting Author, “Feeding Predilection and Abundance of Cyphoma gibbosum” at the Iowa Academy of Science, Mason City, IA, April 2012
Presenting Author, “Rural Medicine: Does Where You Live Affect Your Health?”, The 4th Annual Heartland Global Health Fall Conference, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA, October 2012
• Awarded best Undergraduate Poster Presentation 2012

Related Experience
Psychiatric Consultant Shadowing, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, Summer 2011
• Observed and analyzed the daily activities of a psychiatric consultant for 28 hours.
Organic Chemistry I & II Tutor, Tutor and Writing Center, Spring 2012 - present
• Instructed and helped students understand underlying principles of organic chemistry
Assistant Laboratory Materials Manager, Spring 2012 - present
• Oversaw operations, uphold safety regulations, and supervise chemical inventory
General Chemistry Supplemental Instructor, Fall 2011
• Tutored students on general concepts and problems

Campus Leadership and Activities
A.W.A.R.E, Fall 2012-present, Founder, Project Coordinator
Intercollegiate Varsity Tennis, Fall 2010 – present, Captain
Board of Trustees, Fall 2012 – present, Student Representative
Tri-Beta (Biological Honors Society), Spring 2011 – present, Vice President
• Treasurer, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012
Health Professions Club, Fall 2011 – Present, Treasurer
• Publicity Coordinator, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012
Hearing and Review Board, Fall 2011-present, Student Advocate
Psi Sigma Tau, Coeducational Academic and Social Fraternity, Fall 2011 – Present, Treasuer
• Activities Manager, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012
Student Senate, Fall 2010 - Spring 2011, Senator
Honors Committee, Fall 2010, Student Representative
Academic Standards Committee, Spring 2011, Student Representative
Class of 2010 Fellows, Fall 2010-present, Student Leader
Phi Alpha Theta (Historical Honors Society), Fall 2010 – present, Founding Member

Community Service
The Comfort House, Pella, IA, Spring 2012 – present, Hospice Patient Caregiver
JUMP for Kids, Pella, IA, Fall 2012 – present, Mentor
College Archives, Spring 2012 – present, Oral Historian and Research Assistant
Prairies for Agriculture, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012, Volunteer Researcher
P.E.T.E Camp, Summers 2009 – present, Volunteer Youth Tennis Instructor
Special Education Program, Spring 2007-Spring 2010, Volunteer

Study Abroad
Accra, Ghana, Summer 2011
• Completed coursework in Living History of Ghana and Traditional African Dance
• Furthered my ability to adapt to unfamiliar cultures, surroundings, and subjects

Honors
Fellowship, Fall 2010-present
• Only student selected for full-tuition fellowship for Class of 2014. Assigned to a mentor in a career field of interest. Will complete a senior honors thesis project to qualify as a Fellow. Concentrated areas include academic research, leadership, and service.
Alpha Zeta Mu, College Honors Society, Fall 2012- present
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Tennis Team, 2011, 2012
Dean’s List, Fall 2010 - present
Tri-Beta Membership, National Biological Honors Society, 2011 - present
Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist, 2010
Ken Holland Student-Athlete Award, 2010
Tom Pitchford Memorial Sportsmanship Award, 2010
Woodridge Community Service Award, 2010

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

As I approach my final semester before applying for medical school, I was reviewing my resume and was curious whether there was anything else I should do to make myself a better candidate for acceptance. If you would be so kind to take a critical look at it, I would greatly appreciate it.

Also of note, in the coming months I will be add my MCAT score, the continuation of research at Northwestern next summer, and a shadowing opportunity with the Chief of Vascular Surgery at Rush. Of course the MCAT will play a large factor in competitiveness as a candidate. Please let me know what your thoughts are.


Major(s): Biology and History
Minor: Spanish
Cumulative GPA: 3.849/4.0

Research Experience
Research Assistant, Institute of BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University Division Of Vascular Surgery, Chicago, IL, Summer 2012
•Second Author on a paper submitted to the 2013 Academic Surgical Conference
•Will continue next summer

Research Assistant at my college, Spring 2011 - present
•Primary Author, Tri-Beta Research Grant
•Directed an individual experiment to examine local adaptation and speciation of Drosophila americana due to chromosomal inversion.
Tropical Ecology Research Assistant, Winter 2011
•Observed feeding predilection among Cyphoma gibbosum in Belize
•Presenting Author, "Feeding Predilection and Abundance of Cyphoma gibbosum" at the Iowa Academy of Science, Mason City, IA, April 2012
Presenting Author, "Rural Medicine: Does Where You Live Affect Your Health?", The 4th Annual Heartland Global Health Fall Conference, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA, October 2012
•Awarded best Undergraduate Poster Presentation 2012

Related Experience
Psychiatric Consultant Shadowing, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, Summer 2011
• Observed and analyzed the daily activities of a psychiatric consultant for 28 hours.
Organic Chemistry I & II Tutor, Tutor and Writing Center, Spring 2012 - present
•Instructed and helped students understand underlying principles of organic chemistry
Assistant Laboratory Materials Manager, Spring 2012 - present
•Oversaw operations, uphold safety regulations, and supervise chemical inventory
General Chemistry Supplemental Instructor, Fall 2011
•Tutored students on general concepts and problems

Campus Leadership and Activities
A.W.A.R.E, Fall 2012-present, Founder, Project Coordinator
Intercollegiate Varsity Tennis, Fall 2010 – present, Captain
Board of Trustees, Fall 2012 – present, Student Representative
Tri-Beta (Biological Honors Society), Spring 2011 – present, Vice President
•Treasurer, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012
Health Professions Club, Fall 2011 – Present, Treasurer
•Publicity Coordinator, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012
Hearing and Review Board, Fall 2011-present, Student Advocate
Psi Sigma Tau, Coeducational Academic and Social Fraternity, Fall 2011 – Present, Treasuer
•Activities Manager, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012
Student Senate, Fall 2010 - Spring 2011, Senator
Honors Committee, Fall 2010, Student Representative
Academic Standards Committee, Spring 2011, Student Representative
Class of 2010 Fellows, Fall 2010-present, Student Leader
Phi Alpha Theta (Historical Honors Society), Fall 2010 – present, Founding Member

Community Service
The Comfort House, Pella, IA, Spring 2012 – present, Hospice Patient Caregiver
JUMP for Kids, Pella, IA, Fall 2012 – present, Mentor
College Archives, Spring 2012 – present, Oral Historian and Research Assistant
Prairies for Agriculture, Fall 2011 – Spring 2012, Volunteer Researcher
P.E.T.E Camp, Summers 2009 – present, Volunteer Youth Tennis Instructor
Special Education Program, Spring 2007-Spring 2010, Volunteer

Study Abroad
Accra, Ghana, Summer 2011
•Completed coursework in Living History of Ghana and Traditional African Dance
•Furthered my ability to adapt to unfamiliar cultures, surroundings, and subjects

Honors
Fellowship, Fall 2010-present
•Only student selected for full-tuition fellowship for Class of 2014. Assigned to a mentor in a career field of interest. Will complete a senior honors thesis project to qualify as a Fellow. Concentrated areas include academic research, leadership, and service.
Alpha Zeta Mu, College Honors Society, Fall 2012- present
Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Tennis Team, 2011, 2012
Dean's List, Fall 2010 - present
Tri-Beta Membership, National Biological Honors Society, 2011 - present
Wendy's High School Heisman State Finalist, 2010
Ken Holland Student-Athlete Award, 2010
Tom Pitchford Memorial Sportsmanship Award, 2010
Woodridge Community Service Award, 2010

Nothing. Your application is amazing.

 

[CrossCurrent]

Nothing. Your application is amazing.

^And I think you know that...


Doing something for last semester wouldn't make a difference anyway

 

[FalconSlice]

^And I think you know that...


Doing something for last semester wouldn't make a difference anyway

My thoughts exactly

 

[latebutterflu]

Get a good MCAT score.

 

[Josh7]

My thoughts exactly

👍

 

[red doctober]

There are so many different things you can do from now until next summer that would give your app a boost!

Publish primary author in Nature, Science, NEJM.
Score a 45 on the MCAT.
Cure a disease.
Describe a novel disease, and subsequently get said disease named after you.
Become fluent in multiple additional languages.
Write a NYT best seller.
Play in the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra.
Win an Oscar.

I can go on for days.

 

[kfre2435]

^And I think you know that...


Doing something for last semester wouldn't make a difference anyway

Well, it's hard to be confident. Very hard when you realize that only 15-30% of total applicants to any given MD/PhD school are offered an interview and of that percent only 15-25% actually matriculate there. The numbers are against all of us.

That is also true, but I was more looking to see if anyone brought up any red flags. You can always scramble to get more patient contact hours or something.

Get a good MCAT score.

If only it was that easy. 🙄

There are so many different things you can do from now until next summer that would give your app a boost!

Publish primary author in Nature, Science, NEJM.
Score a 45 on the MCAT.
Cure a disease.
Describe a novel disease, and subsequently get said disease named after you.
Become fluent in multiple additional languages.
Write a NYT best seller.
Play in the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra.
Win an Oscar.

I can go on for days.

I always wanted to cure cancer....and my publisher is getting on my back about my next best-seller....

 

[snobored18]

All the above is fine and well. However, the honest quick skim impression that list leaves (which is all an ADCOM member will give it) is that you are probably a big fish in a small pond. That carries some benefits, and some challenges. The first of which will be obtaining a stellar MCAT score. As a fellow graduate of a small liberal arts school I can tell you that your MCAT will carry a ton of weight. Most program directors will not have interviewed someone from or even heard of your institution, especially on the seaboards. For that impressive, but somewhat fluffy (you wanted an honest opinion), list of accomplishments to matter your MCAT score has to measure up with the kid with a similar GPA and 3+ years of decent research coming from a R1 institution.

So my advice is to demolish the MCAT, show program directors unfamiliar with your institution that your GPA and accomplishments are for real and not the byproduct of what could be construed by some ADCOMs as a less competitive undergrad environment. Second piece of advice is to trim that list when you fill out AMCAS, some of your important experiences could get lost or passed over if you jam your app full of nice but relatively insignificant experiences/awards. Don't want to diminish your hard work, but ditch anything from high school unless it is truly something that will set you apart or make me remember your application out of the pile of 500+ most programs receive.

 

[Maebea]

snobored18's response is pretty accurate. A couple of other things: adcoms look for hypothesis-driven research, preferrably in biological mechanisms, rather than descriptive work; MD-PhD adcoms are not in love with shadowing surgeons. You are probably OK on this with your Drosophila work and the psych shadowing.

Re chances of interview and matricualtion, the numbers are not great at any single program. However, in aggregate 50% of MD-PhD applicants will be interviewed, and 60-65% of that group will enroll in MD-PhD.

 

[kfre2435]

All the above is fine and well. However, the honest quick skim impression that list leaves (which is all an ADCOM member will give it) is that you are probably a big fish in a small pond. That carries some benefits, and some challenges. The first of which will be obtaining a stellar MCAT score. As a fellow graduate of a small liberal arts school I can tell you that your MCAT will carry a ton of weight. Most program directors will not have interviewed someone from or even heard of your institution, especially on the seaboards. For that impressive, but somewhat fluffy (you wanted an honest opinion), list of accomplishments to matter your MCAT score has to measure up with the kid with a similar GPA and 3+ years of decent research coming from a R1 institution.

So my advice is to demolish the MCAT, show program directors unfamiliar with your institution that your GPA and accomplishments are for real and not the byproduct of what could be construed by some ADCOMs as a less competitive undergrad environment. Second piece of advice is to trim that list when you fill out AMCAS, some of your important experiences could get lost or passed over if you jam your app full of nice but relatively insignificant experiences/awards. Don't want to diminish your hard work, but ditch anything from high school unless it is truly something that will set you apart or make me remember your application out of the pile of 500+ most programs receive.

That is excellent advice and exactly what I was looking for. I know my MCAT will, for all intents and purposes, validate everything I have done at my school, especially the coursework.

I will look to see what I can trim from it and do think that is a valid suggestion. Of course, I will have a chance to talk about all the bigger ones on the essay portions... Though, it is harder for me to see all the places that could be construed as fluff (since I put time and effort into each). Have any suggestions of where to start?

I will have 2+ school years of hypothesis driven drosophilia research, a few small experiences here and there, and two intensive summers at a R01 surgical lab at Northwestern working on translational/basic research in the treatment of neointimal hyperplasia. How will adcoms view that? (I know they want 2+ years, but mine is more aggregate...)

snobored18's response is pretty accurate. A couple of other things: adcoms look for hypothesis-driven research, preferrably in biological mechanisms, rather than descriptive work; MD-PhD adcoms are not in love with shadowing surgeons. You are probably OK on this with your Drosophila work and the psych shadowing.

Re chances of interview and matricualtion, the numbers are not great at any single program. However, in aggregate 50% of MD-PhD applicants will be interviewed, and 60-65% of that group will enroll in MD-PhD.

Agreed. That's why you should apply broadly but very specifically. Not all schools are accepting the same people

Fun data:
The worst MSTP for obtaining an interview (that I have data for) was the University of Washington (9.3% of 483 applications or 45 lucky people), but they had one of the highest matriculation rates of those interviewed (12 or 26.7%).

The best is the University of Iowa MSTP (45 or 27.8% and 10 or 22.2% respectively). They also had one of the lowest numbers of applications (162). Maybe people are allergic to corn... 🙄 (It's okay I'm an Iowan).

For comparison Hopkins received 586 applications. They interviewed 68 (11.6%) and 8 matriculated (11.8%). Alabama received 278 applications. They interviewed 40 (14.4%) and 9 matriculated (22.5%).

All other schools tend to fall in between.

 

[CrossCurrent]

Where did you get those Statistics for Hopkins? They are different from what it says on their website...

 

[kfre2435]

Where did you get those Statistics for Hopkins? They are different from what it says on their website...

They must have updated recently. Most stats came from here.
The number of interviewees come from each school's website that provides that info.

 

[Maebea]

One explanation for the difference may be that some (but not all) schools report MD-PhD applications completed on their websites, while AAMC reports applicants who designated MD-PhD on the AMCAS. For matriculants, we have had problems with how registrars offices report MD-PhD students to AAMC. This has led in the past to undercounting of MD-PhD matriculants.

 

[snobored18]

Everything up there is fine, but your app looks like an MD-only application with stuff all over the board. Rock star MD/PhD applicants are those folks with 1) stellar research qualifications (e.g. the applicant with 3+ years, a publication(s) in the works, and a sterling rec letter out of an HHMI or similar high profile lab...yep they exist), 2) solid metrics (3.7+ GPA and 34+ MCAT), and 3) some sort of life balance distinguishing feature (e.g. marathon runners, collegiate athletes, accomplished musicians, heart string life stories/insane barriers overcome, etc.). Quality tends to win out over quantity. When I see a number of overlapping activities and things like "founder" multiple times I instantly think either the student's involvement is being oversold or the applicant is in a non-competitive academic environment to have all that time. PDs want finishers not starters, if you started the club in '09 and grew it from 3 to 30 members then I see that as a positive because it shows long term commitment.

Secondly, in general the pool of highly qualified MSTP applicants is actually pretty small. Of course Nebrask and Harvard don't fight over the same applicants, but the top applicants generally will hold multiple acceptances to a number of the top 15 to 20 programs. The process then becomes a giant game of musical chairs as the cream of the crop make their final selections and waitlists settle in. Some years programs will extend 10 acceptances and see no waitlist movement, some years they have to extend 20 to fill the final seat. As such, the matriculation rates above don't really tell you much unless you know how many packets each school sent out to fill those seats. By those metrics a smaller program that recieves a lot of apps and interviews more people is deemed more competitive, which isn't necessarily the case.

 

[kfre2435]

Everything up there is fine, but your app looks like an MD-only application with stuff all over the board. Rock star MD/PhD applicants are those folks with 1) stellar research qualifications (e.g. the applicant with 3+ years, a publication(s) in the works, and a sterling rec letter out of an HHMI or similar high profile lab...yep they exist),

I know they do. I wish I had discovered my passion for research sooner. I really do. I never saw myself doing full-time research until my sophomore year. As is though, I will most likely have a letter of rec from my PI at Northwestern. Best I can do. Maybe, maybe I can do enough to be an author on a published article next summer in the lab. I imagine they do not view the submission to the Academic Surgical Conference quite as highly.

2) solid metrics (3.7+ GPA and 34+ MCAT), and

My GPA should be stable and not dip below a 3.8c/3.7s. It all depends on the MCAT. Which, of course, I'll study my butt off for.

3) some sort of life balance distinguishing feature (e.g. marathon runners, collegiate athletes, accomplished musicians, heart string life stories/insane barriers overcome, etc.).

I am captain of my varsity collegiate tennis team and have been playing since I was three. We are a competitive DIII school. It beats a non-competitive DI which is the only option to American players outside the top 100 nationally. That is probably the most understated part of my app as it is written above. I will be sure to bring it out on the actual form.

Quality tends to win out over quantity. When I see a number of overlapping activities and things like "founder" multiple times I instantly think either the student's involvement is being oversold or the applicant is in a non-competitive academic environment to have all that time. PDs want finishers not starters, if you started the club in '09 and grew it from 3 to 30 members then I see that as a positive because it shows long term commitment.

Well I only founded AWARE which is a project-driven organization trying to build a healthy community inside and outside of my college (forgive the spiel). I wanted to make a permanent change to my school. Hopefully we can sponsor some campus-driven epidemiological research with the local public health department. I have been very involved in other organizations, but more as a finisher. I was a founding member of the re-visioned history honors society, but will remove that from my resume to avoid further confusion.

My MCAT will have to speak for my academic environment. I can only say that it is stressful and does push you. I do my best to effectively manage my time, but I am stretched thin. I may have to cut down some my involvement in some of the organizations next semester. Tennis is the only thing that keeps me sane. I imagine most MSTP-types are just as driven. Are other people not as involved?

Secondly, in general the pool of highly qualified MSTP applicants is actually pretty small. Of course Nebrask and Harvard don't fight over the same applicants, but the top applicants generally will hold multiple acceptances to a number of the top 15 to 20 programs. The process then becomes a giant game of musical chairs as the cream of the crop make their final selections and waitlists settle in. Some years programs will extend 10 acceptances and see no waitlist movement, some years they have to extend 20 to fill the final seat. As such, the matriculation rates above don't really tell you much unless you know how many packets each school sent out to fill those seats. By those metrics a smaller program that recieves a lot of apps and interviews more people is deemed more competitive, which isn't necessarily the case.

There does seem to be those applicants that everybody wants. It does make it a little difficult for the rest of us.

Thank you for your input. It was definitely constructive. Hopefully I was able to clarify a few points. I probably could have presented the resume better to highlight certain aspects.

 

[Neuronix]

This thread has my vote for most ridiculous thread of the year. You'll be fine with a high MCAT score. Keep up on the research end of things. Chill out.

 

[uniqenam]

This thread has my vote for most ridiculous thread of the year. You'll be fine with a high MCAT score. Keep up on the research end of things. Chill out.

"Guys, I'm president of the United Nations, founder of Red Cross, Metropolitan Opera singer, and Associate Editor of Nature with a 4.0 GPA and a 45S MCAT...do I still have a chance even though I got an S and not a T??? 😕😕

 

[kfre2435]

This thread has my vote for most ridiculous thread of the year. You'll be fine with a high MCAT score. Keep up on the research end of things. Chill out.

I'm pre-med. We're not supposed to physically be able to chill out. 🙄

 

[miz]

I agree with people who said to try to calm down and pare. You have a double major with an unrelated minor and are a serious athlete who has five different research projects in unrelated fields. One or two of those things is a great plus. Everyone likes an interesting applicant. With as many as you have, it puts into question the depth of research you have been able to do with so many extracurricular activities on your plate.
That to me would be the biggest deficit in your application and it would be best addressed by taking a year or two off for additional basic research, preferably at a lab you have already worked at. You could not change that substantially by the time of the next application cycle. What you can do in that time is devote your time to research, MCAT, grades, and work to present your AMCAS in a way to emphasize your research as much as possible. I am not an admissions officer, but I would guess that as things stand, with a good MCAT you would get into multiple programs, but top 15 would be a long shot.