Hi there. Although my app isn't perfect (shadowing and non-clinical experience aren't amazing), I am hoping to avoid reapplying or a gap year at all costs due to financial and other personal reasons. For this reason, I want to apply very broadly, even if it means not applying to a ton of higher-ranked schools at the price of more security. I am a FAP recipient so I'll be able to apply to around 35-40 schools. I am a little scared of yield-protection at lower-ranked schools (I know opinions on its existence vary), so I tried to target my school list to mid-tiers. Slight geographical preference to avoid the northeast but not super picky given my needs.
- 3.98 sGPA / 3.98 cGPA
- 518 (131/129/129/129)
- CA, traditional applicant (no gap years), no OOS ties.
- ORM (White)
- UC undergrad
- Clinical experience: 475 hours paid work at hospital COVID testing site, 100 hours hospital volunteering
- Research: ~250 hours as a research assistant, mostly directed toward a single research project. No pubs, conference abstract not expected until July after I apply
- Shadowing is weak. 16 hours with a pediatrician, and 14 hours virtual EM shadowing
- Non-clinical volunteering: ~100 hours at Crisis Text Line, 40 hours at an elementary school science outreach program where I led mini-experiments for students, 10 hours as a university peer mentor
- Running as a hobby on my app, but that’s it
- Other info: SES disadvantaged (FAP recipient) and immigrant from Middle East + first-gen college student, and a lot of my primary/PS is focused on tying my own experiences with barriers to access to my activities and my goals. I think I have a decent narrative because of this.
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