Hi all,
I will be applying to med school this upcoming cycle (2021-2022) as a third time applicant. I am planning on taking 2 upper level courses during the fall and spring semester (4 courses total), studying for an MCAT retake, continuing my clinical and nonclinical volunteering, getting more shadowing, and getting new LORs. I graduated in 2015 with a 3.8-3.9 cGPA and sGPA. Currently, I’m working at a biotech startup, but I’m planning on leaving to focus more on working on my application (good MCAT, gaining a lot of volunteering hours, acing my courses). I am lucky to be in a position where I’m well off financially and don’t necessarily need to work and put more focus into my application.
I’ve been getting worried on what adcoms will think of me as an older applicant and my life experience. Compared to someone who just graduated from undergrad and applying to med school, I have about 5 years more time to gain experience. Fortunately, I’ve been keeping myself busy the entire time after graduating. I worked at a research lab right after college and was able to gain multiple journal publications and posters. The research lab turned into a startup company and I was hired and continued to work there. I’ve been volunteering at a community clinic for more than 2 years now and have gained many responsibilities. I’ve also been volunteering at a community service center for more than a year now.
It’s not like I haven’t been busy, I’m just worried adcoms will look at my application and think I haven’t done anything worthwhile like getting a master’s or long-term community service, like Americorps. Will adcoms think I’m not putting enough effort into myself after leaving my job?
Should I take more courses during each semester? Should I look for a master’s program? Or is what I’m planning on doing from now until the cycle opens enough?
Thanks.
I will be applying to med school this upcoming cycle (2021-2022) as a third time applicant. I am planning on taking 2 upper level courses during the fall and spring semester (4 courses total), studying for an MCAT retake, continuing my clinical and nonclinical volunteering, getting more shadowing, and getting new LORs. I graduated in 2015 with a 3.8-3.9 cGPA and sGPA. Currently, I’m working at a biotech startup, but I’m planning on leaving to focus more on working on my application (good MCAT, gaining a lot of volunteering hours, acing my courses). I am lucky to be in a position where I’m well off financially and don’t necessarily need to work and put more focus into my application.
I’ve been getting worried on what adcoms will think of me as an older applicant and my life experience. Compared to someone who just graduated from undergrad and applying to med school, I have about 5 years more time to gain experience. Fortunately, I’ve been keeping myself busy the entire time after graduating. I worked at a research lab right after college and was able to gain multiple journal publications and posters. The research lab turned into a startup company and I was hired and continued to work there. I’ve been volunteering at a community clinic for more than 2 years now and have gained many responsibilities. I’ve also been volunteering at a community service center for more than a year now.
It’s not like I haven’t been busy, I’m just worried adcoms will look at my application and think I haven’t done anything worthwhile like getting a master’s or long-term community service, like Americorps. Will adcoms think I’m not putting enough effort into myself after leaving my job?
Should I take more courses during each semester? Should I look for a master’s program? Or is what I’m planning on doing from now until the cycle opens enough?
Thanks.
