would it be dumb to apply to only two schools?

[swineflu]

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I am currently in my second year at a state school in NJ (in-state) and
I am planning on applying to only two schools next year: Robert wood johnson and NJ medical school. I will apply early decision to RWJMS and if I don't get in anywhere, I will probably try again (the same two schools) at the end of my senior year.

Is this a dumb thing to do? I just want to get into RWJMS...i like it there and it's CHEAP! Should I apply to more schools? I mean I have seen people from my school who apply to like 30+ schools and end up getting into only NJMS/RWJMS anyways....So I am thinking, why bother? Even people with 30+ on MCAT and 3.5+ GPA end up getting into only the state medical schools. What should I do? Help me, please?

About me:

Education:
Major: Genetics
Minor: Music
GPA: 3.8

Work Experience:
1. Princeton Healthcare System
-Working as a nursing assistant (2008 summer-Part time)
2. RWJMS Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology
-Working as an Aresty research assistant (2008 summer - present)
3. Aresty Research Center
-Will be working as a peer advisor for undergraduate research assistants
4. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology (2008 Spring - present)
-Working as a student lab assistant
5. Church (2006 summer - present)
-Working as a violin teacher for children

Volunteer Work:
1. New York Blood Center (Fall 2007-present)
2. International Service Learning in Mexico (Summer 2007)
-General Medicine Team
-Duties: receiving patients, taking vital signs, transporting patients to the doctors 3. Church (2002-present)
4. SASHP Peer Mentors & Mentees Program

Leadership Experience
1. Church Orchestra (2002- present)
-Viola Principal, Assistant Conductor, Secretary and Treasurer positions
2. Christian Student Organization (2007- present)
-President

Awards
1. Academic Excellence Award
2. Outstanding Undergraduate Research

MCAT: I haven't taken it yet. I am planning on taking it at the end of my junior year. I am doing another year of research at RWJMS.

Also, which of the following should I do to improve my chances?
1. Medical Mission in Uganda
2. Shadow doctors
3. More medical research at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital/Medical School
4. More clinical exposure like working another summer as a nursing assistant..

 

[scottyT]

You can only apply to 1 school if you are doing EDP. If you get an unfavorable decision, then you can apply to more.

By all means apply to only these schools if you are willing to postpone your medical education to stay in NJ. Of course, your best bet is to apply broadly. It is comparatively little money to cast a wide net when you look at the opportunity cost of 1 year of not practicing medicine.

 

[Anita817]

Shadow. You are fine on the research front.

 

[Mobius1985]

I agree that you need to do some physician shadowing. A nursing assistant gets a different view of medicine, and adcomms will like to see that you know what you're getting yourself into by going to med school.

Otherwise your ECs look good. Keep your GPA high and get a decent MCAT, and hopefully you'll get into your dream school as you'd hope.

 

[Stratego]

Going to Uganda would be an incredibly enriching experience on a personal level, but it would be expensive. From the items on your list, I also think a shadowing experience or three would be more helpful, and you could do as much good by volunteering in a local free clinic to increase your clinical experience.

 

[Stratego]

.

 

[sarahl86]

We don't know your MCAT, so we couldn't tell you, really...I think this process in and of itself is risky enough and there is no point in voluntarily shooting yourself in the foot by applying to only two schools and risk becoming a reapplicant, further hurting your chances (for the most part)...I mean, if you didn't get in to either school, would you not become a doctor? For how much it takes to get into medicine that is a silly reason not to follow through.

Why bother applying to more schools? You don't have to apply to 30, but you always want to have options and never know where else you'd like to go -- or if you don't get in to the NJ schools. Your application looks great (add some clinical work) and with a strong MCAT you may fare well but I suggest applying to at least 10 well-selected schools in addition to your state schools.

 

[swineflu]

thanks, guys! I really appreciate all your advices.

My community service doesn't look that good, though. I spent only 50 hours in mexico and only 3 hours for blood drives. So, like many of you mentioned, I think I am gonna shadow doctors this summer (maybe volunteer) and study for the MCAT.

So really, my MCAT score will be the determining factor and I should apply to more schools to be safe. I should try to apply to 10 schools at least, right?

I am sure my GPA will drop this year b/c i am taking upper science classes like biochem, systems physiology, advanced genetics stuff. ewww =(

You guys are right. I really don't wanna be a reapplicant.. ew

 

[sarahl86]

Yeah, as a reapplicant:

Reapplying = teh suck 👎

 

[dragonfly99]

You need an MCAT score to know if you'll be competitive, and where.
It looks like you need more volunteer work. Otherwise, you are good.

I think as a college junior, if you only want to apply 2 places, your state schools, that is O.K. Just be aware you may not get in and would have to sit out a year...are you OK with that? If not, then apply more broadly...you can always try to interview early at your New Jersey schools, and then drop other interviews if/when you get accepted. Be sure to tell the state school they are your first choice by far...that should help in getting in, provided you make the interview.

 

[Stratego]

You listed volunteering at the blood center fall 07 to present and only worked 3 total hours? Then how many hours did you work as a nursing assistant since last summer? I guess I misinterpreted that as an ongoing experience. You do indeed need more clinical experience before you apply, in addition to shadowing.

 

[witness23]

do you go to rutgers or tcnj? i believe those schools have auto invites for applicants for rwj/njms

 

[swineflu]

You listed volunteering at the blood center fall 07 to present and only worked 3 total hours? Then how many hours did you work as a nursing assistant since last summer? I guess I misinterpreted that as an ongoing experience. You do indeed need more clinical experience before you apply, in addition to shadowing.

Sorry, I didn't mean to mislead anyone. haha well, it's been "ongoing" in a sense that I can always go back and do more hours.. but so far I only have 3 hours. I can make that 20 hours by the end of the year..

Regarding my nursing assistant position, I worked 24 hours a week for 10 weeks last summer. I haven't gone back to my nursing assistant job b/c of school. Should I go back? or should I rather focus on volunteering/shadowing. I could probably do 50 hours of volunteer work this summer.. is that going to be enough?

 

[swineflu]

do you go to rutgers or tcnj? i believe those schools have auto invites for applicants for rwj/njms

RU RAH RAH i go to rutgers. do they really autoinvite? cool...

 

[witness23]

rutgers is sick, i wish i went there instead of my overpriced school.


grease trucks be overrated though. they taste like ****. chicken and rice >>>>>


JERSEYYYYYYYYYYYY

 

[Mobius1985]

Sorry, I didn't mean to mislead anyone. haha well, it's been "ongoing" in a sense that I can always go back and do more hours.. but so far I only have 3 hours. I can make that 20 hours by the end of the year..

Regarding my nursing assistant position, I worked 24 hours a week for 10 weeks last summer. I haven't gone back to my nursing assistant job b/c of school. Should I go back? or should I rather focus on volunteering/shadowing. I could probably do 50 hours of volunteer work this summer.. is that going to be enough?

I also misunderstood what you meant to convey. Ideally, you'll pick a clinical activity/community service that you can continue on a regular 3-4 hours per week basis until you apply next year. If you volunteer in a clinical setting, you can satisfy both expectations with one activity. Over the summer, you could work as well.

 

[swineflu]

rutgers is sick, i wish i went there instead of my overpriced school.


grease trucks be overrated though. they taste like ****. chicken and rice >>>>>


JERSEYYYYYYYYYYYY

hahaha really? u'd rather come to rutgers? i don't know... no one is happy here (i am not) haha it's too big for one thing. and like this year our budget is really tough, so the quality of education has dropped significantly (at least in my opinion)

grease truck stuff is gross. i've eaten there ONCE. is their stuff even FDA-approved? haha questionable...

 

[BlueElmo]

Nice username, OP.

 

[swineflu]

I also misunderstood what you meant to convey. Ideally, you'll pick a clinical activity/community service that you can continue on a regular 3-4 hours per week basis until you apply next year. If you volunteer in a clinical setting, you can satisfy both expectations with one activity. Over the summer, you could work as well.

Stratego + Mobius,

i have like 300+ hours of volunteering at my church as a pianist. Would that change anything?

 

[Mobius1985]

i have like 300+ hours of volunteering at my church as a pianist. Would that change anything?

This is also volunteerism.