What should I work on?

[ss91]

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Hello I just ended my sophomore year. I am planning on applying to medical school in May/June next year.
So I wanted some feedback on what I should work from now until then.
Here is a what I have built up on my Resume:

Athlete Tutor -Started Spring 2011 - Present

Shadowing- Cardiothoracic Surgeon - Started Spring 2011 - Present

Participated in a Primary Care Physician Shadowing Program - Spring 2011

Volunteering at a Rural Clinic - Started Spring 2011 - Present

Research with a Cardiothoracic Surgeon - Started late fall 2010 - Present (Still working on the paper and hoping for a second author publication)

Research on Campus with an Engineering Professor - Started late Fall 2010 and will also continue next semester

Member of Tennis Club

Rural Health Society

This Summer I am planning on continuing my volunteer work at the Rural Clinic and will be volunteering at a Tennis Camp
This year winter break I am planning on volunteering abroad in a clinic in India.

So all in all I think have been spending most of my time on research. I have clinic volunteer exposure however not as much as some other applicants might, so I am definitely going to continue that during the summer.
What should I work on, in terms of making my ECs more competitive?
I am really hoping on my publication to make me more competitive.

Also my current GPA is 3.68, so I have 2 more semesters before med schools look at my gpa. I have not taken the MCAT yet but I will be in January.

Any advice?

 

[wolfie]

i smell a troll

 

[ss91]

Also, the thing is I didn't start most of my ECs till the second half of my Sophomore year. I didn't do much during my Freshman year, how will that affect my chances?
I mean the time has already passed so there is nothing much I can do about the lost time.

 

[wolfie]

Also, the thing is I didn't start most of my ECs till the second half of my Sophomore year. I didn't do much during my Freshman year, how will that affect my chances?
I mean the time has already passed so there is nothing much I can do about the lost time.

not good bro, perhaps nursing school?

 

[ss91]

not good bro, perhaps nursing school?

I'm not really interested in nursing to be honest. I really want to be a doctor.
Are my hopes of getting into medschool almost impossible now?

 

[Sammich117]

I'm not really interested in nursing to be honest. I really want to be a doctor.
Are my hopes of getting into medschool almost impossible now?

Definitely not impossible. Study hard and rock the MCAT, and do well in your remaining semesters. You can't go back in time and do more than you did, just look forward and do as well as you can from now on. Good luck 🙂

 

[ss91]

Definitely not impossible. Study hard and rock the MCAT, and do well in your remaining semesters. You can't go back in time and do more than you did, just look forward and do as well as you can from now on. Good luck 🙂

Thanks! thats really encouraging. I'll definitely work to bring up my GPA and put effort towards more volunteering hours and study hard for the MCAT. 🙂

 

[wolfie]

Thanks! thats really encouraging. I'll definitely work to bring up my GPA and do put effort towards more volunteering hours and study hard for the MCAT. 🙂

you might want to consider the DO/NP track, or caribbean schools

 

[Sammich117]

Don't listen to things like that, ss91. It seems like you're on the right track. Keep it up.

 

[ss91]

you might want to consider the DO/NP track, or caribbean schools

Yeah I am planning on applying to D.O. schools also.

 

[Peacenow]

If you score well on the your MCAT, you will be almost guaranteed a good spot in med school. Let's face it, after your GPA, they'll look at your MCAT score next. Everything else seems solid for you buddy. Don't forget to ask for recommendation letters!

Hello my name is Sarim, I just ended my sophomore year. I am planning on applying to medical school in May/June next year.
So I wanted some feedback on what I should work from now until then.
Here is a what I have built up on my Resume:

Athlete Tutor -Started Spring 2011 - Present

Shadowing- Cardiothoracic Surgeon - Started Spring 2011 - Present

Participated in Primary Care Physician Shadowing Program - Spring 2011

Volunteering at a Rural Clinic - Started Spring 2011 - Present

Research with a Cardiothoracic Surgeon - Started late fall 2010 - Present (Still working on the paper and hoping for a second author publication)

Research on Campus with an Engineering Professor - Started late Fall 2010 and will also continue next semester

Member of Tennis Club

Rural Health Volunteer society

This Summer I am planning on continuing my volunteer work at the Rural Clinic and will be volunteering at a Tennis Camp
This year winter break I am planning on volunteering abroad in a clinic in India.

So all in all I think have been spending most of my time on research. I have clinic volunteer exposure however not as much as some other applicants might, so I am definitely going to continue that during the summer.
What should I work on, in terms of making my ECs more competitive?
I am really hoping on my publication to make me more competitive.

Also my current GPA is 3.68, so I have 2 more semesters before med schools look at my gpa. I have not taken the MCAT yet but I will be in January.

Any advice?

 

[IlDestriero]

Your post seems passionless and your late start involvement in activities is troubling. Get involved with something you feel passionate about. Maybe you feel that for the research? If so, maybe an MD is not what you really want?

 

[ss91]

Your post seems passionless and your late start involvement in activities is troubling. Get involved with something you feel passionate about. Maybe you feel that for the research? If so, maybe an MD is not what you really want?

Well I have done mostly research but from my experience at the rural clinic I find that there is a gaping hole in the availability of access to primary care for rural residents. As a future doctor I want to fill that missing gap and my experience there has really made me passionate about being a doctor.
Now about research, a lot doctors do research. From my shadowing experience and the PI that I am working with, I found that you can work with patients and do research which is what I want to do.
My intent was not to make a passionate post, I am just listing my ECs and want everyones feedback.

 

[IlDestriero]

Well I have done mostly research but from my experience at the rural clinic I find that there is a gaping hole in the availability of access to primary care for rural residents. As a future doctor I want to fill that missing gap and my experience there has really made me passionate about being a doctor.
Now about research, a lot doctors do research. From my shadowing experience and the PI that I am working with, I found that you can work with patients and do research which is what I want to do.
My intent was not to make a passionate post, I am just listing my ECs and want everyones feedback.

You want to fill the gap in getting access to care in rural America and do research?
Good luck with that. I work in an ivory tower in a big city and it's hard to get research time.
PS that was my feedback, sorry you didn't like it.

 

[ss91]

You want to fill the gap in getting access to care in rural America and do research?
Good luck with that. I work in an ivory tower in a big city and it's hard to get research time.
PS that was my feedback, sorry you didn't like it.

Your right that if you see patients you don't have as much time to do research but my experience is different. A lot of doctors I've met in my community do research. I'm sure if even the chief surgeon here is able to make time to do research, it is definitely possible.
However, I guess that depends on the setting you work at. Everywhere is not the same.
Also perhaps you got the wrong notion about me trying to fill the gap of rural america. I want to work in a rural setting, like the community I live in because there is a shortage of primary care doctors here.
But thanks for your feedback, and I know you have much more experience than I do in medicine, but I am just speaking from my experience from my community.

 

[senorsquishie]

My only big concern is that you need to be careful using your real name in the forums. Adcoms do take a look, and sharing your real feelings on an issue further down the road may hurt you. ALWAYS safegaurd you identity and reputation on the internet.🙂

Related to your question. YES you do have a chance at MD. One can never have too high of a GPA and MCAT, so if you can improve those, always do.

The only thing I notice EC wise is that your only non-medical thing is Tennis. Remember, you do have to work hard as a pre-med, but it is just as important to have fun activities. You don't want to burn out, and you when you go to interviews, the people interviewing you are just that-people. They like stories and mutual interests. My guess is that it must get boring talking about just reseach and clinical experience all the time.😴

Hopefully this helps!

 

[ss91]

My only big concern is that you need to be careful using your real name in the forums. Adcoms do take a look, and sharing your real feelings on an issue further down the road may hurt you. ALWAYS safegaurd you identity and reputation on the internet.🙂

Related to your question. YES you do have a chance at MD. One can never have too high of a GPA and MCAT, so if you can improve those, always do.

The only thing I notice EC wise is that your only non-medical thing is Tennis. Remember, you do have to work hard as a pre-med, but it is just as important to have fun activities. You don't want to burn out, and you when you go to interviews, the people interviewing you are just that-people. They like stories and mutual interests. My guess is that it must get boring talking about just reseach and clinical experience all the time.😴

Hopefully this helps!

thanks for the tip, now that i think about it, that was a bad idea to put my name up there.
Your right, having everything medically related doesn't really show much of a personality. i'll keep that in mind. thanks.

 

[senorsquishie]

thanks for the tip, now that i think about it, that was a bad idea to put my name up there.
Your right, having everything medically related doesn't really show much of a personality. i'll keep that in mind. thanks.

Don't worry when you apply you will do great 😀