- Joined
- Apr 18, 2011
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- 508
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I'm an African-American male, grew up in DC and went to DC Public schools, graduated from Stanford in 2009 with a Human Biology degree and a 3.4 (it was an upward trend...started Junior year with a 2.8 and got between a 3.7 and a 4.0 until graduation). I didn't complete all requirements undergrad and am in a post-bac at SF State University. I've gotten an A in Calculus I, Organic Chem I, Physics I (was #5 in a class of 61, which will hopefully be shared in my committee letter), and both labs. I got a B in Cell Biology last semester, which I was bummed about, especially because it was one more class than everyone else in my Cohort was taking.
This semester, however, I completely plan to get a 4.0. I am taking Org Chem II, Physics II, Human Physiology, and labs for each.
As for ECs, I did a summer of research in 2007 on Myxococcus Xanthus where I helped make time-lapse movies and analyzed growth. In 2009, my senior year, I did research with another Stanford professor, about 100 hours worth, but it never really got off the ground (we were testing affects of ice melting on algae and our cultures from Antarctica weren't viable). Both of which I'm getting recommendations from (the latter I have other positive class experience with to pull from). Last summer I did the Pre-Medical Surgical Internship at UC Davis and did about 200 hours of shadowing surgeons, did a final presentation on burn surgery and skin grafting, attended various workshops where we learned surgical methods, and got over 90% in the 'course.'
Undergrad, I was president of my fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha, and we did heavy community service at juvenile halls, old folks' homes, middle schools in East Palo Alto, etc), taught public speaking, was involved in NAACP, writing for a local newspaper, tutoring of middle school students, president of the Black Recruitment and Orientation Committee, and Program Manager of Black Community Services Center.
After graduation I went to work as a Project Assistant at a consulting firm for non-profits in San Francisco, where I got to interview parents and students at middle schools, interview HIV-positive patients about their experiences with their doctors, collect and analyze survey data, and help write reports. I worked there for about a year.
I am also a creative writer, have written 3 books (all unpublished) and independently traveled to Ecuador the summer of 2008 and lived with a village community on the Cayapas river for 7 weeks in order to learn their culture and for inspiration to write a book. I continue to write, and sold my first short story (very small sell) last week to Fiction365.com. I also blog for Scribophile.com and write children's stories for an iPad app launching soon (don't know if any of this matters, but wanted to give an idea of what I do with my life).
Currently I'm only focused on getting through this semester, studying for the MCAT starting mid-March, and taking the MCAT in July (it's a little late, I know, but it's my plan). I am, however, going to be shadowing the Chief of Surgery at UCSF (I wanted to get involved in his lab but he thinks it's too much to do while schooling full-time), and just got my volunteer badge.
I am confident in my grades and that I will prep well for the MCAT and do well (I do well on standardized tests and it helps that most of the material I'm getting in my current classes). This post is because I'm a little worried about my ECs (not much clinical/hospital experience, though I've done enough research to know I don't like research and my experience at UC Davis solidified my interest in surgery/emergency medicine/being a doctor, as I was unsure coming out of college...hence the time off the medical track), am wondering if people think I am severely lacking in this area (let's just consider I do really well this semester and on the MCAT), and if there's anything they suggest I get involved in between now and application time (considering my courseload).
I'd appreciate not telling me to wait until next year unless you *really* think I have no chance. I am determined to apply this year and would like advice on making myself the best candidate for such.
This semester, however, I completely plan to get a 4.0. I am taking Org Chem II, Physics II, Human Physiology, and labs for each.
As for ECs, I did a summer of research in 2007 on Myxococcus Xanthus where I helped make time-lapse movies and analyzed growth. In 2009, my senior year, I did research with another Stanford professor, about 100 hours worth, but it never really got off the ground (we were testing affects of ice melting on algae and our cultures from Antarctica weren't viable). Both of which I'm getting recommendations from (the latter I have other positive class experience with to pull from). Last summer I did the Pre-Medical Surgical Internship at UC Davis and did about 200 hours of shadowing surgeons, did a final presentation on burn surgery and skin grafting, attended various workshops where we learned surgical methods, and got over 90% in the 'course.'
Undergrad, I was president of my fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha, and we did heavy community service at juvenile halls, old folks' homes, middle schools in East Palo Alto, etc), taught public speaking, was involved in NAACP, writing for a local newspaper, tutoring of middle school students, president of the Black Recruitment and Orientation Committee, and Program Manager of Black Community Services Center.
After graduation I went to work as a Project Assistant at a consulting firm for non-profits in San Francisco, where I got to interview parents and students at middle schools, interview HIV-positive patients about their experiences with their doctors, collect and analyze survey data, and help write reports. I worked there for about a year.
I am also a creative writer, have written 3 books (all unpublished) and independently traveled to Ecuador the summer of 2008 and lived with a village community on the Cayapas river for 7 weeks in order to learn their culture and for inspiration to write a book. I continue to write, and sold my first short story (very small sell) last week to Fiction365.com. I also blog for Scribophile.com and write children's stories for an iPad app launching soon (don't know if any of this matters, but wanted to give an idea of what I do with my life).
Currently I'm only focused on getting through this semester, studying for the MCAT starting mid-March, and taking the MCAT in July (it's a little late, I know, but it's my plan). I am, however, going to be shadowing the Chief of Surgery at UCSF (I wanted to get involved in his lab but he thinks it's too much to do while schooling full-time), and just got my volunteer badge.
I am confident in my grades and that I will prep well for the MCAT and do well (I do well on standardized tests and it helps that most of the material I'm getting in my current classes). This post is because I'm a little worried about my ECs (not much clinical/hospital experience, though I've done enough research to know I don't like research and my experience at UC Davis solidified my interest in surgery/emergency medicine/being a doctor, as I was unsure coming out of college...hence the time off the medical track), am wondering if people think I am severely lacking in this area (let's just consider I do really well this semester and on the MCAT), and if there's anything they suggest I get involved in between now and application time (considering my courseload).
I'd appreciate not telling me to wait until next year unless you *really* think I have no chance. I am determined to apply this year and would like advice on making myself the best candidate for such.
