How does my plan look?

[RdBruce]

Hi SDN,

I was predental for most of undergrad but I became more interested in medicine last year. I was wondering if you could please evaluate my plan to make myself a competitive candidate.

I'll be graduating this Spring with a projected 3.9+ cGPA and sGPA. I'm studying for the MCAT right now and my practice tests have been averaging 33.

I've a few minor leadership and service experiences in the realm of dentistry. I've also done a few things in clubs during college. I've done a few summers of research and have been coauthored in a publication.

Pertaining to medicine:
I've ~50 hours shadowing between 3 primary care physicians.
I'll have ~180 hours of volunteering with patient interaction at a hospital near my school by the time I graduate.

I'll be starting as a research tech at a biotech this summer. While I'm working, I'm going to volunteer at a hospital near my future workplace. I'll also be asking specialists or ER physicians there if I could shadow them.

-There's also an animal shelter nearby that I'd like to volunteer at (is this OK or would volunteering with humans be looked upon more favorably?)

I'll be on the lookout for leadership positions while I'm working. I'm planning on taking the MCAT before I graduate. I will apply to schools next year or the year after that.

How does this plan look. Any reinforcement or criticism would be greatly appreciated!

-Rdbruce

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[ppfizenm]

Hi SDN,

I was predental for most of undergrad but I became more interested in medicine last year. I was wondering if you could please evaluate my plan to make myself a competitive candidate.

I'll be graduating this Spring with a projected 3.9+ cGPA and sGPA. I'm studying for the MCAT right now and my practice tests have been averaging 33.

I've a few minor leadership and service experiences in the realm of dentistry. I've also done a few things in clubs during college. I've done a few summers of research and have been coauthored in a publication.

Pertaining to medicine:
I've ~50 hours shadowing between 3 primary care physicians.
I'll have ~180 hours of volunteering with patient interaction at a hospital near my school by the time I graduate.

I'll be starting as a research tech at a biotech this summer. While I'm working, I'm going to volunteer at a hospital near my future workplace. I'll also be asking specialists or ER physicians there if I could shadow them.

-There's also an animal shelter nearby that I'd like to volunteer at (is this OK or would volunteering with humans be looked upon more favorably?)

I'll be on the lookout for leadership positions while I'm working. I'm planning on taking the MCAT before I graduate. I will apply to schools next year or the year after that.

How does this plan look. Any reinforcement or criticism would be greatly appreciated!

-Rdbruce

The plan looks fine. Like you are going to do I would shadow doctors other than PCPs as you already have done three of them. Try a specialist if you can swing it. SInce you already have a significant amount of human volunteering I don't think it'll matter one way or the other if you volunteer with animals. It can't hurt though. If you aren't applying for this cycle you could always push the MCAT back a bit and make sure you have that your stuff down before the test.

GL.

 

[RdBruce]

Thank you for the reply ppfizenm.

I'll be looking specifically to shadow specialists as well as an EM physician there as I know him. I'm not applying for this year's cycle. However, I'd like to take the exam about 6 months before next year's cycle so I can retake if my scores a bad.

Could others please weigh in? Will the late timing of my extracurriculars put me at a disadvantage?