I applied to 8 schools this past cycle (which was my first time) - the 6 MD schools in my home state of Ohio and then IU and Louisville. I only received interviews at Wright State and Toledo and was waitlisted at both schools. Given that I wasn't very successful, I am waiting to reapply until next year for admittance for fall 2019.
Academically, my stats are 3.90 cumulative GPA (I think like a 3.86 or so science GPA) and 509 MCAT. I feel like I am in good shape with my GPA but my MCAT is maybe just a hair below most schools' average. I didn't have much time to study for it the first time around, so I feel like if I make a really concerted effort to study I can score significantly higher. I am thinking I will see how I am doing on practice tests and will re-take it if I do well on them.
I think my big weakness was my resume. I had about 60 hours of shadowing, 200 hours as a part-time research assistant my sophomore year, 60 hours of hospital volunteering in an ER, 90 hours as an elementary school tutor, 25 hours volunteering at a local food pantry, and 30 hours at a local animal shelter.
I spoke with the admissions director at one school I applied to and she said the only reason I wasn't offered an interview was because of my limited resume, and noted that I needed to have research and more clinical experience (my research assistant job was more like just keeping the lab organized rather than participating in any research).
I was planning on enrolling in a grad program at my local university to do a master's in biology with a research focus. For more clinical experience I recently completed a scribe course and was hoping to be hired by the company part-time while in school, but now they've told me they will only hire me if I do not do the grad program. So unfortunately it seems that I have to choose one or the other now, and I've already looked and there really aren't any other options for research or scribing in my area.
While the scribe program is a great opportunity, I feel like you don't stand a chance in admissions without some research experience. I also think I can get more clinical experience by volunteering at a local children's hospital and possibly an HIV clinic. I am also looking at a hospice (not sure if that is considered clinical).
I am going to try to talk with more of the schools I applied to, but I would really appreciate some advice on whether I should go with the grad program or scribing and if you think I am on the right track with my plans to strengthen my application. Thank you!
Academically, my stats are 3.90 cumulative GPA (I think like a 3.86 or so science GPA) and 509 MCAT. I feel like I am in good shape with my GPA but my MCAT is maybe just a hair below most schools' average. I didn't have much time to study for it the first time around, so I feel like if I make a really concerted effort to study I can score significantly higher. I am thinking I will see how I am doing on practice tests and will re-take it if I do well on them.
I think my big weakness was my resume. I had about 60 hours of shadowing, 200 hours as a part-time research assistant my sophomore year, 60 hours of hospital volunteering in an ER, 90 hours as an elementary school tutor, 25 hours volunteering at a local food pantry, and 30 hours at a local animal shelter.
I spoke with the admissions director at one school I applied to and she said the only reason I wasn't offered an interview was because of my limited resume, and noted that I needed to have research and more clinical experience (my research assistant job was more like just keeping the lab organized rather than participating in any research).
I was planning on enrolling in a grad program at my local university to do a master's in biology with a research focus. For more clinical experience I recently completed a scribe course and was hoping to be hired by the company part-time while in school, but now they've told me they will only hire me if I do not do the grad program. So unfortunately it seems that I have to choose one or the other now, and I've already looked and there really aren't any other options for research or scribing in my area.
While the scribe program is a great opportunity, I feel like you don't stand a chance in admissions without some research experience. I also think I can get more clinical experience by volunteering at a local children's hospital and possibly an HIV clinic. I am also looking at a hospice (not sure if that is considered clinical).
I am going to try to talk with more of the schools I applied to, but I would really appreciate some advice on whether I should go with the grad program or scribing and if you think I am on the right track with my plans to strengthen my application. Thank you!
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