So clearly I have gotten rejected to almost all of the schools that I have applied to including my IS school. This cycle I have applied to 16 schools with only 2 interviews and currently I am waiting for an OOS post-interview decision. However, I am not optimistic about it and starting to prep for next cycle. The stats below includes the things that I have done this year after my application as well. Please leave comments and suggestions to my stats and any input is greatly appreciated.
(the ones with * are updates from last application)
Institution: University of Utah (expected: May 13)
Major: Biomedical Engineering (University Honors and Departmental Honors)
Minor: Chemistry
cGPA/ BCPM GPA: 3.76/3.94
MCAT: 31Q (12/7/12) retaking it this year 7/2 to boost VR
Ethnicity: Asian (trilinguial, English as third language)
Extracurricular:
Came to America in 2008, got my citizenship 2012 (maybe that explains the low VR)
Research lab- 2.5 years (15hrs/wk) in 2 labs
Publications- 3* (1 new this year)
Poster/powerpoint presentations/conferences- 4* (1 new this year)
Tutor at free drop in tutoring center- 1 year
Tutor (paid)- 1 year
OChem 2 TA- 1 year
Refugee teacher- 1 year
Orientation leader- 1 year (40hr/wk during summer, 5hr/wk during school)
Service learning leader (plan big service projects)- 1 year*
Piano recital every year- 4 years (2/year)
Competed in table tennis for my university and won state
Several scholarships from state school and Kaplan
Composed and defended honor thesis and senior project thesis
participated in many leadership building conferences
Clinical experiences:
AED honor society membership (active, many 1 time volunteering event)
Shadowing- 80 hrs (2 anesthesiologist*, 1 OBGYN, 1 internalist)
Clinical internship- 10hrs/wk in summer
Biodesign project - 1 yr (entered student competition)*
BLS*, Radioactive material use, Animal use certified
ER volunteering- 1.5 year*
LOR: (strong in some and I dont know about the others)
last year: 1 non science, 1 science, 1 advisor, 1 MD, 1 research, 1 volunteering
this year: 1 non science*, 2 science*, 1 clinical*, 1 volunteering, 1 research
Self assessment:
In my opinion, I was lacking clinical hours, a solid MCAT score and strong personal statement. This year I am hoping to improve all those. After last year's application, I have started taking graduate level courses regarding medical system physiology, anatomy and anesthesiology from the state SOM. Volunteered about 4-8 hrs/wk in an ER. Did a student innovation design project. Facilitated service learning projects. Finished my thesis and degree and shadowed some more doctors.
Also, in case I don't get in again. During this gap year I am think about doing an internship at the state artificial heart program, biomedical device design project, EMT certification (basic) and possibly another Bachelor in chemistry (maybe not). I am planning on submitting my primary on 6/4 as soon as it opens, get my 7/2 MCAT about early August and submit all the secondaries as soon as I receive the score.
I know this post is long but I am humbled during this process and hope that someone may shed some light onto my application because i truly aspire to become a physician.
Sincerely,
Jeff
(the ones with * are updates from last application)
Institution: University of Utah (expected: May 13)
Major: Biomedical Engineering (University Honors and Departmental Honors)
Minor: Chemistry
cGPA/ BCPM GPA: 3.76/3.94
MCAT: 31Q (12/7/12) retaking it this year 7/2 to boost VR
Ethnicity: Asian (trilinguial, English as third language)
Extracurricular:
Came to America in 2008, got my citizenship 2012 (maybe that explains the low VR)
Research lab- 2.5 years (15hrs/wk) in 2 labs
Publications- 3* (1 new this year)
Poster/powerpoint presentations/conferences- 4* (1 new this year)
Tutor at free drop in tutoring center- 1 year
Tutor (paid)- 1 year
OChem 2 TA- 1 year
Refugee teacher- 1 year
Orientation leader- 1 year (40hr/wk during summer, 5hr/wk during school)
Service learning leader (plan big service projects)- 1 year*
Piano recital every year- 4 years (2/year)
Competed in table tennis for my university and won state
Several scholarships from state school and Kaplan
Composed and defended honor thesis and senior project thesis
participated in many leadership building conferences
Clinical experiences:
AED honor society membership (active, many 1 time volunteering event)
Shadowing- 80 hrs (2 anesthesiologist*, 1 OBGYN, 1 internalist)
Clinical internship- 10hrs/wk in summer
Biodesign project - 1 yr (entered student competition)*
BLS*, Radioactive material use, Animal use certified
ER volunteering- 1.5 year*
LOR: (strong in some and I dont know about the others)
last year: 1 non science, 1 science, 1 advisor, 1 MD, 1 research, 1 volunteering
this year: 1 non science*, 2 science*, 1 clinical*, 1 volunteering, 1 research
Self assessment:
In my opinion, I was lacking clinical hours, a solid MCAT score and strong personal statement. This year I am hoping to improve all those. After last year's application, I have started taking graduate level courses regarding medical system physiology, anatomy and anesthesiology from the state SOM. Volunteered about 4-8 hrs/wk in an ER. Did a student innovation design project. Facilitated service learning projects. Finished my thesis and degree and shadowed some more doctors.
Also, in case I don't get in again. During this gap year I am think about doing an internship at the state artificial heart program, biomedical device design project, EMT certification (basic) and possibly another Bachelor in chemistry (maybe not). I am planning on submitting my primary on 6/4 as soon as it opens, get my 7/2 MCAT about early August and submit all the secondaries as soon as I receive the score.
I know this post is long but I am humbled during this process and hope that someone may shed some light onto my application because i truly aspire to become a physician.
Sincerely,
Jeff