Had made a WAMC thread before. Now updated more and hopefully can get more advice on school lists.
Asian male senior at four-year public university.
Neurobiology and Psychology double major, with honors in neurobiology.
cGPA: 3.74. Slight upward trend. Grades are inconsistent though (ie, 3.2,3.9,3.2 across ochem series). Averaging 3.9 this year however.
sGPA: 3.68.
MCAT: 34R
RESEARCH
2 years in neurosurgery lab (15-20 hrs/wk. Full time/summer) - Stroke focused research with my main focus on confocal microscopy. Currently learning animal survival surgery. Authorship (2nd or 3rd) in about 3 papers by June, possibly/hopefully. Will be continuing working full time in my gap year. (Will be one of my most significant activities)
1 year in psychology lab (9 hrs/wk) - Just random psych research I joined as a sophomore. Analyzed physiological data from kids who underwent psychological tests.
VOLUNTEERING
1.5 years Child Life Volunteer at local children's hospital (3 hrs/wk) - Pretty much hang out with kids during the whole time. Probably the most rewarding and fun volunteering I've ever done. (Will be one of my most significant activities)
4 years feeding the homeless (4 hrs/month) - Went out to a homeless shelter with my church once a month and helped serve food and hand out goods to people of need.
Church summer program Assistant (20 hrs/wk for 8 wks) - Helped with activities, such as art and English, and chaperoned fields trips during summer program for elementary-aged kids.
EMPLOYMENT
1 year Event Services Assistant at student union building (10-15 hrs/wk) - Helped with events ran by organizations ranging from student clubs to school concerts. Assisted in set up, monitoring event, and tear down.
Server/Cook/Busboy at family restaurant (~10 hrs/wk) - Parents just opened up restaurant. Help with everything pretty much. It's actually a pretty fun experience since I love to cook. Don't really get paid though. Just gas and some allowance. Should I list it as employment?
LEADERSHIP
4 years Church counselor for summer and winter retreats (3/4 days at a time) - Worked as a counselor and helped plan the retreats. Also, watched the younger youth and planned and cooked the meals for the retreats.
OTHER/RANDOM
- Probable 3 publications (Likely 2nd author) by/around the time of application
- Two time recipient of university's research scholarship ($4000 per scholarship)
- Two poster presentations at university's research symposium
- Will be writing honors thesis for neurobiology by the end of this school year
SHADOWING
- Pediatric Neurosurgeon - 30 hours. Chief of Neurosurgery at children's hospital.
- Pediatric Urologist - 30 hours.
- Orthopedic Surgeon (Oncology specialist) - 20 hours.
- Plastic Surgeon - 30 hours.
- Pediatrician - 25 hours.
TOTAL: ~145 hours
LOR's
- Science letter from Neuroantomy professor
- Science letter from Neurobiology lab professor
- Non-science letter from Psychology professor (Although sorta dicey since two of the three classes I took with him I'll be classifying as BCPM ...)
- Research letter from PI (Very strong)
SCHOOLSIST[/U]
Albany
Albert Einstein
Boston University
Case Western
Columbia University
Rosalind Franklin
Dartmouth
Emory
George Washington
Georgetown
Mount Sinai (Icahn)
Jefferson
Johns Hopkins
Keck (USC)
Loyola (Stritch)
New York Medical
NYU
Northwestern
Oregon Health & Science Univ.
Rush
Stanford
Temple
Tufts
UCSD
UCSF
Chicago (Prtizker)
Illinois
Michigan
Rochester
Texas (Southwestern)
Virginia
Univ. of Washington (In-state)
Cornell (Weill)
A lot of schools. I applied for FAP, so I would get 14 paid primaries and all paid secondaries if I get approved. I've highlighted in red the schools I most likely apply to. Any advice on schools I should not apply to, apply to, or add into my list?
There's obvious ones that I'll probably end up taking out (like Stanford, Hopkins, Chicago). But I still might be willing to apply to schools such as Cornell, Michigan, UVA and Dartmouth, even though they might be reaches.
Hopefully, I can get some advice! Thanks!!!
Asian male senior at four-year public university.
Neurobiology and Psychology double major, with honors in neurobiology.
cGPA: 3.74. Slight upward trend. Grades are inconsistent though (ie, 3.2,3.9,3.2 across ochem series). Averaging 3.9 this year however.
sGPA: 3.68.
MCAT: 34R
RESEARCH
2 years in neurosurgery lab (15-20 hrs/wk. Full time/summer) - Stroke focused research with my main focus on confocal microscopy. Currently learning animal survival surgery. Authorship (2nd or 3rd) in about 3 papers by June, possibly/hopefully. Will be continuing working full time in my gap year. (Will be one of my most significant activities)
1 year in psychology lab (9 hrs/wk) - Just random psych research I joined as a sophomore. Analyzed physiological data from kids who underwent psychological tests.
VOLUNTEERING
1.5 years Child Life Volunteer at local children's hospital (3 hrs/wk) - Pretty much hang out with kids during the whole time. Probably the most rewarding and fun volunteering I've ever done. (Will be one of my most significant activities)
4 years feeding the homeless (4 hrs/month) - Went out to a homeless shelter with my church once a month and helped serve food and hand out goods to people of need.
Church summer program Assistant (20 hrs/wk for 8 wks) - Helped with activities, such as art and English, and chaperoned fields trips during summer program for elementary-aged kids.
EMPLOYMENT
1 year Event Services Assistant at student union building (10-15 hrs/wk) - Helped with events ran by organizations ranging from student clubs to school concerts. Assisted in set up, monitoring event, and tear down.
Server/Cook/Busboy at family restaurant (~10 hrs/wk) - Parents just opened up restaurant. Help with everything pretty much. It's actually a pretty fun experience since I love to cook. Don't really get paid though. Just gas and some allowance. Should I list it as employment?
LEADERSHIP
4 years Church counselor for summer and winter retreats (3/4 days at a time) - Worked as a counselor and helped plan the retreats. Also, watched the younger youth and planned and cooked the meals for the retreats.
OTHER/RANDOM
- Probable 3 publications (Likely 2nd author) by/around the time of application
- Two time recipient of university's research scholarship ($4000 per scholarship)
- Two poster presentations at university's research symposium
- Will be writing honors thesis for neurobiology by the end of this school year
SHADOWING
- Pediatric Neurosurgeon - 30 hours. Chief of Neurosurgery at children's hospital.
- Pediatric Urologist - 30 hours.
- Orthopedic Surgeon (Oncology specialist) - 20 hours.
- Plastic Surgeon - 30 hours.
- Pediatrician - 25 hours.
TOTAL: ~145 hours
LOR's
- Science letter from Neuroantomy professor
- Science letter from Neurobiology lab professor
- Non-science letter from Psychology professor (Although sorta dicey since two of the three classes I took with him I'll be classifying as BCPM ...)
- Research letter from PI (Very strong)
SCHOOLSIST[/U]
Albany
Albert Einstein
Boston University
Case Western
Columbia University
Rosalind Franklin
Dartmouth
Emory
George Washington
Georgetown
Mount Sinai (Icahn)
Jefferson
Johns Hopkins
Keck (USC)
Loyola (Stritch)
New York Medical
NYU
Northwestern
Oregon Health & Science Univ.
Rush
Stanford
Temple
Tufts
UCSD
UCSF
Chicago (Prtizker)
Illinois
Michigan
Rochester
Texas (Southwestern)
Virginia
Univ. of Washington (In-state)
Cornell (Weill)
A lot of schools. I applied for FAP, so I would get 14 paid primaries and all paid secondaries if I get approved. I've highlighted in red the schools I most likely apply to. Any advice on schools I should not apply to, apply to, or add into my list?
There's obvious ones that I'll probably end up taking out (like Stanford, Hopkins, Chicago). But I still might be willing to apply to schools such as Cornell, Michigan, UVA and Dartmouth, even though they might be reaches.
Hopefully, I can get some advice! Thanks!!!
