Long time lurker, first time panicker!
CA resident, not at all underrepresented. I'm a recreational volleyball player, amateur writer, and a (terrible) home brewer.
Academics
Lower-mid tier UC graduate.
3 years, honors program graduate, bio honors program graduate.
cGPA 3.75, sGPA 3.72
MCAT
I have yet to get my MCAT score back, but I pretty consistently scored 36s on my AAMC practice tests, so I imagine the score might be within +/- 3. Here's hoping!
ECs
250+ hours (3 years) spent volunteering at a local hospital (emergency room, info desk, etc).
200+ hours (4 months) spent shadowing surgical residents and attendings of different specialties.
I also worked in food service and as a writing tutor throughout undergrad, often at the same time. I am currently interviewing for CNA positions and hope be working at a skilled nursing facility for the next year or so.
Research
1000+ hours (almost 2 years). Second author on a publication, fifth (or something) author on another paper in preparation. Won a basic undergrad award for my presentation of the research, as well as a stipend for undergrad research one summer.
Frankly, I'm having trouble approximating the strength of my application without my MCAT score. I know my GPA isn't so hot, my ECs are a little thin, and I can't see much "personality" coming out of my application-- with this in mind I was thinking I'd stick to mid-rangers like UCI, SUNY, Jefferson, Drexel, Tufts, Temple, etc and throw in a few reaches like UCD, UCSD, U of Washington, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, and Northwestern.
Are there any schools you'd recommend I focus on? Or any things I should emphasize on my application? Thanks in advance for the advice!
CA resident, not at all underrepresented. I'm a recreational volleyball player, amateur writer, and a (terrible) home brewer.
Academics
Lower-mid tier UC graduate.
3 years, honors program graduate, bio honors program graduate.
cGPA 3.75, sGPA 3.72
MCAT
I have yet to get my MCAT score back, but I pretty consistently scored 36s on my AAMC practice tests, so I imagine the score might be within +/- 3. Here's hoping!
ECs
250+ hours (3 years) spent volunteering at a local hospital (emergency room, info desk, etc).
200+ hours (4 months) spent shadowing surgical residents and attendings of different specialties.
I also worked in food service and as a writing tutor throughout undergrad, often at the same time. I am currently interviewing for CNA positions and hope be working at a skilled nursing facility for the next year or so.
Research
1000+ hours (almost 2 years). Second author on a publication, fifth (or something) author on another paper in preparation. Won a basic undergrad award for my presentation of the research, as well as a stipend for undergrad research one summer.
Frankly, I'm having trouble approximating the strength of my application without my MCAT score. I know my GPA isn't so hot, my ECs are a little thin, and I can't see much "personality" coming out of my application-- with this in mind I was thinking I'd stick to mid-rangers like UCI, SUNY, Jefferson, Drexel, Tufts, Temple, etc and throw in a few reaches like UCD, UCSD, U of Washington, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, and Northwestern.
Are there any schools you'd recommend I focus on? Or any things I should emphasize on my application? Thanks in advance for the advice!