What ECs are expected for non-traditional students? If my ECs are mainly prior to my postbacc, does that harm my application?

[mcvb3]

Hello! I feel like there’s such a large range of what people are recommending as EC advice across various websites.

For background:

I have a degree in a medical related field (biomedical engineering), and a relatively low GPA (3.2, which counts as graduating with honors for my school as it is an engineering school.) I am in the middle of taking a 2yr science classes only postbacc with a 4.0 so far.

Prior to my postbacc I worked full time for the CDC in a respiratory clinic in a small US territory as a public health advisor for 2 yrs. I had a lot of really interesting experiences in that role. I worked heavily with the prison and homeless population of the island, and a main component of my job was giving medication to people through DOT. I saw a lot of tropical diseases not common in the US i.e. Hansen’s disease. I think this is a very strong EC for my application, but I haven’t been able to secure any equally interesting ones.

Now that I’m taking classes full time, I have less time for ECs. I do have a part time scribing job, but not many hours with them; I only have 70ish hours so far because they hired me and then waited like 4 mo to put me on the floor. I also have 50ish hours on the crisis hotline. I hope to reach about 200 hours each before the next application cycle.

My original plan was to take the MCAT in February and apply this cycle. Would I have supplemented my application enough by that time period, or would it be better to wait for the application cycle after to secure more hours/volunteering? Is there anything important I’m missing to supplement my application?

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[Goro]

Med schools will want:
150 hrs+ of clinical exposure (paid or volunteer)
150+ of nonclinical volunteering
50ish hours of clinician shadowing

Take the MCAT only when you are 100% ready for it.

 

[mcvb3]

Med schools will want:
150 hrs+ of clinical exposure (paid or volunteer)
150+ of nonclinical volunteering
50ish hours of clinician shadowing

Take the MCAT only when you are 100% ready for it.

I can definitely reach that. How important is shadowing? The premed advisor from my school basically told me that it’s not worth doing for people with significant clinical experience. But I definitely want to pursue anything that would increase my odds.

 

[Goro]

I can definitely reach that. How important is shadowing? The premed advisor from my school basically told me that it’s not worth doing for people with significant clinical experience. But I definitely want to pursue anything that would increase my odds.

Shadowing is needed because you need to know what a doctor's day is like.

Clinical experience is for showing that you know what you're getting into.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

 

[Justify2018]

It is hard but doable. I worked two jobs supporting my family and volunteered 4 hours a week at a local hospital. I did that for three years while taking 2-3 courses per semester plus labs. It was a lot of work but it paid off. I now have an acceptance early in the cycle and I am really happy about where I am. I took an extra year though before applying to study for and take the MCAT (I had to take it twice) and I spent that year not taking classes, but volunteering more, getting shadowing hours, etc. When I applied I had 300+ hours of clinical volunteering, 50 hours of shadowing, an upward trend on my MCAT but still not a brainiac score. And it was all enough to get in. You can do this. Your age and non-traditional background is a huge asset in the application process I am finding.

 

[y.l080992]

It is hard but doable. I worked two jobs supporting my family and volunteered 4 hours a week at a local hospital. I did that for three years while taking 2-3 courses per semester plus labs. It was a lot of work but it paid off. I now have an acceptance early in the cycle and I am really happy about where I am. I took an extra year though before applying to study for and take the MCAT (I had to take it twice) and I spent that year not taking classes, but volunteering more, getting shadowing hours, etc. When I applied I had 300+ hours of clinical volunteering, 50 hours of shadowing, an upward trend on my MCAT but still not a brainiac score. And it was all enough to get in. You can do this. Your age and non-traditional background is a huge asset in the application process I am finding.

Hello I'm in a very similar as how you were, do you mind if I message you about how you picked/managed the classes and MCAT?

 

[Justify2018]

Hello I'm in a very similar as how you were, do you mind if I message you about how you picked/managed the classes and MCAT?

Not at all. Feel free to message any time.