What else do I need to do?

[ksmi117]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm a junior and I will be applying next summer. I just want to make sure I have all my bases covered. What do I need to work on?

GPA:
4.0 (but in jeopardy of a B this semester), majoring in Math and General Studies, minoring in Biology, Chemistry and Business

MCAT:
January 2009 (latest practice test score - 35)

EC's/Non-clinical Volunteering:
Member of LSU Marching Band - colorguard (3 years)
Colorguard camp counselor (2 summers)
Volunteer colorguard instructor
Residence Hall Association - Governor (1 year), EBoard Policy Director (1 year), EBoard Vice President (1 year)
Alternative Service Break - St. Louis Campus Kitchens Project (Winter 2007), SurfRider Keep the Beaches Clean (Spring 2008), EBoard Recruiting Chair (1 year)
Rotaract (2 years)
National Residence Hall Honorary - EBoard Treasurer (1 year), EBoard RHA Representative (1 year)
Phi Sigma Theta - EBoard Treasurer (1 year)
Homecoming Coordinating Committee (1 year)
Honors College Advocates (1 year)
Residence Hall Desk Assistant (2 years)
Preschool teacher (2 summers)

Clinical Experience:
Volunteer in ER and cardiology departments (~75 hours)
Shadowing a General Surgeon (~10 hours)
Volunteer Coordinator - Hurricane Gustav (~30 hours, volunteered in two different temporary hospitals on LSU's campus)

Research:
Research in mathematics and physics (2 years), possible publication this year

How does it look? What am I forgetting?

 

[Mobius1985]

You have a great GPA. Nice job keeping it up thus far. One B won't kill you (just your sense of honor, I know).

I looks like you have excellent leadership and research, and some interesting and different ECs that make you look well-rounded. Your clinical experience is somewhat thin still, but you have a semester and a half to keep improving that. Keep up the hospital volunteering (I think it's good it was in two departments), maybe shadow 1-3 more types of specialists (hit on docs you meet in the hospital), and I think being involved in a temporary hospital after a disaster is an outstanding and unique thing to do that will help you stand out.

I think you're doing fine getting ready to apply. Get the MCAT score you've predicted, and you're golden!

 

[ksmi117]

You have a great GPA. Nice job keeping it up thus far. One B won't kill you (just your sense of honor, I know).

I looks like you have excellent leadership and research, and some interesting and different ECs that make you look well-rounded. Your clinical experience is somewhat thin still, but you have a semester and a half to keep improving that. Keep up the hospital volunteering (I think it's good it was in two departments), maybe shadow 1-3 more types of specialists (hit on docs you meet in the hospital), and I think being involved in a temporary hospital after a disaster is an outstanding and unique thing to do that will help you stand out.

I think you're doing fine getting ready to apply. Get the MCAT score you've predicted, and you're golden!

Thanks for the advice! I'm kinda busy this year with all my EC's but I'm definitely going to pick up the clinical experience over my school breaks.

 

[sleepy425]

I'm a junior and I will be applying next summer. I just want to make sure I have all my bases covered. What do I need to work on?

GPA:
4.0 (but in jeopardy of a B this semester), majoring in Math and General Studies, minoring in Biology, Chemistry and Business

MCAT:
January 2009 (latest practice test score - 35)

EC's/Non-clinical Volunteering:
Member of LSU Marching Band - colorguard (3 years)
Colorguard camp counselor (2 summers)
Volunteer colorguard instructor
Residence Hall Association - Governor (1 year), EBoard Policy Director (1 year), EBoard Vice President (1 year)
Alternative Service Break - St. Louis Campus Kitchens Project (Winter 2007), SurfRider Keep the Beaches Clean (Spring 2008), EBoard Recruiting Chair (1 year)
Rotaract (2 years)
National Residence Hall Honorary - EBoard Treasurer (1 year), EBoard RHA Representative (1 year)
Phi Sigma Theta - EBoard Treasurer (1 year)
Homecoming Coordinating Committee (1 year)
Honors College Advocates (1 year)
Residence Hall Desk Assistant (2 years)
Preschool teacher (2 summers)

Clinical Experience:
Volunteer in ER and cardiology departments (~75 hours)
Shadowing a General Surgeon (~10 hours)
Volunteer Coordinator - Hurricane Gustav (~30 hours, volunteered in two different temporary hospitals on LSU's campus)

Research:
Research in mathematics and physics (2 years), possible publication this year

How does it look? What am I forgetting?

sigh, you're not forgetting anything. enjoy the rest of college, do only stuff you absolutely want to do from now on. I disagree with mobius completely about the lack of clinical experience. it's definitely plenty, as long as you know why you're interested in medicine then it's perfectly fine, just be able to defend yourself in an interview.

don't worry about covering all your bases, because, first, they're definitely covered, and second, well, this is just me, but I don't believe in doing things to cover your bases, I believe in doing things because you want to do them. there's a game that people play to get into medical school, and I refuse to play it, because I think that there's a way around it: be the absolute best at something you love. fortunately, you're lucky enough to not have to play the game, because, you're incredibly smart, second, you're incredibly talented at a lot of things (i.e. colorguard, being a leader, getting things done), and i know you have a wide variety of interests. explore them, have fun, but for god's sake, don't play the game. at least, now that you've played the game and won (clearly you've won based on what you've listed), coast to the finish line while doing stuff that you love.

sorry for the rant, this is why I've stopped lurking around the pre-allo/what are my chances threads.

EDIT: oh, and apply to northwestern. I know you don't like the cold but northwestern is definitely awesome

 

[ksmi117]

sigh, you're not forgetting anything. enjoy the rest of college, do only stuff you absolutely want to do from now on. I disagree with mobius completely about the lack of clinical experience. it's definitely plenty, as long as you know why you're interested in medicine then it's perfectly fine, just be able to defend yourself in an interview.

don't worry about covering all your bases, because, first, they're definitely covered, and second, well, this is just me, but I don't believe in doing things to cover your bases, I believe in doing things because you want to do them. there's a game that people play to get into medical school, and I refuse to play it, because I think that there's a way around it: be the absolute best at something you love. fortunately, you're lucky enough to not have to play the game, because, you're incredibly smart, second, you're incredibly talented at a lot of things (i.e. colorguard, being a leader, getting things done), and i know you have a wide variety of interests. explore them, have fun, but for god's sake, don't play the game. at least, now that you've played the game and won (clearly you've won based on what you've listed), coast to the finish line while doing stuff that you love.

sorry for the rant, this is why I've stopped lurking around the pre-allo/what are my chances threads.

EDIT: oh, and apply to northwestern. I know you don't like the cold but northwestern is definitely awesome

That wasn't very rant-y, but I know I shouldn't play the game, sorry. 🙁 I'm not really trying to. You know I'm not the kind of person who would do stuff just to play the game. Besides, would I even have time to do that?

And I'm very glad you love Northwestern 🙂... but its still really really cold there...

 

[AlanAlanine]

rock your MCAT and do something you enjoy.

oh, ksmi beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So ksmi

or is that not what your screen name is supposed to mean...

 

[sleepy425]

That wasn't very rant-y, but I know I shouldn't play the game, sorry. 🙁 I'm not really trying to. You know I'm not the kind of person who would do stuff just to play the game. Besides, would I even have time to do that?

haha, i know, i was really sleep deprived when I wrote that.

 

[ksmi117]

rock your MCAT and do something you enjoy.

oh, ksmi beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So ksmi

or is that not what your screen name is supposed to mean...

haha... not exactly. I had never even realized that it kinda sounds like kiss me. That is a really good song though. 🙂