Hey SDN,
I was hoping I could get some advice. I was hoping to apply this cycle.
-PA resident.
-ORM female. Midwest Private School.
I have a withdrawal from my first year summer Physics 2 (I was sick) ,a gym withdrawal from two semesters ago ( I forgot I was enrolled -- it's 0 credits). I have a 3.7 right now and a 3.68 sGPA. But I may or may not get a B in the one science class I have this semester ( I'm studying for the MCAT so my schedule is easier). planning for the worst: 3.7 cGPA, 3.6 sGPA (best would be 3.75 cGPA, 3.7 sGPA)
I averaged ~15 credits a semester. 19 on the semester I had a 4.0. I had an A in Biochem. last semester.
EC's:
-Clinical Emergency Medical Research. ~250 hours. ~100 hours in the ED( data-collection for a few studies/ heavy patient interaction) . PI of my own study( from scratch) . On the EXCOM commit. of the team. Got Researcher of the month last year. Worked closely with residents and undergrads. Presented poster 2x. Will probably have a publication by next year. Things have been slow for the MCAT ...but not in time for the application season. Been doing it for two years. ~5 hours a week.
-Cleveland Clinic Lab Research. ~1 year. ~8 hours a week. Worked closely with a Project Scientist planning and conducting my own study on cancer stem cells. Helped with imagining analysis.
-Started and led the Camp Kesem initiative at the school. Formed a team/ led all efforts. ~15 hours a week for 1 year.
-Nursing Home Volunteer- Also co-coordinator at my university for the site. We bring 5 people there twice a month. It's in an underpriv. inner city area so it's been a very different experience.
-Cancer Center Volunteer. I go from room to room talking to people and giving them free stuff from the hospital. ~1 hour a week for 1 year.
-~1 hour a week for Alpha Phi Omega (Service Fraternity)
Going to start GED tutoring for ~2 hours a week after my MCAT.
Other
-Mortar Board this semester ( haven't done anything yet but its an award I guess)
-General University honors award for involved students/ deans honors list
- Finalist for some essay last year
-Leadership experience through the first year leadership program, a cultural organizations freshman representative, and two years of the residence hall society.
This summer: Migrant workers internship at mobile health fair/ teaching little kids/ educating/testing migrant workers across three states. / Camp Kesem planning
I'm having a lot of trouble with the MCAT though. I've been averaging 29 on my practice tests and honestly... I just want to be a doctor. I was a cancer baby when I was younger and I really want to be an oncologist. I want to combine my passion for urban health and oncology in some way. I know my EC's aren't as strong as the people with publications but I do know that I 100% love the things I do. I want to go to an allopathic medical school because I feel like it will be a better fit/ I want to practice internationally etc. so please respect that.
My Mcat is in ~3 weeks and I was wondering if ...I don't break a 33 is it a terrible idea to give up the internship and retake the MCAT in late July? Study two months at home and give it my all again. I'm not going to extend my test because I've been casually studying for a year and hardcore studying for 3 months. But I am okay with retaking.
I was hoping I could get some advice. I was hoping to apply this cycle.
-PA resident.
-ORM female. Midwest Private School.
I have a withdrawal from my first year summer Physics 2 (I was sick) ,a gym withdrawal from two semesters ago ( I forgot I was enrolled -- it's 0 credits). I have a 3.7 right now and a 3.68 sGPA. But I may or may not get a B in the one science class I have this semester ( I'm studying for the MCAT so my schedule is easier). planning for the worst: 3.7 cGPA, 3.6 sGPA (best would be 3.75 cGPA, 3.7 sGPA)
I averaged ~15 credits a semester. 19 on the semester I had a 4.0. I had an A in Biochem. last semester.
EC's:
-Clinical Emergency Medical Research. ~250 hours. ~100 hours in the ED( data-collection for a few studies/ heavy patient interaction) . PI of my own study( from scratch) . On the EXCOM commit. of the team. Got Researcher of the month last year. Worked closely with residents and undergrads. Presented poster 2x. Will probably have a publication by next year. Things have been slow for the MCAT ...but not in time for the application season. Been doing it for two years. ~5 hours a week.
-Cleveland Clinic Lab Research. ~1 year. ~8 hours a week. Worked closely with a Project Scientist planning and conducting my own study on cancer stem cells. Helped with imagining analysis.
-Started and led the Camp Kesem initiative at the school. Formed a team/ led all efforts. ~15 hours a week for 1 year.
-Nursing Home Volunteer- Also co-coordinator at my university for the site. We bring 5 people there twice a month. It's in an underpriv. inner city area so it's been a very different experience.
-Cancer Center Volunteer. I go from room to room talking to people and giving them free stuff from the hospital. ~1 hour a week for 1 year.
-~1 hour a week for Alpha Phi Omega (Service Fraternity)
Going to start GED tutoring for ~2 hours a week after my MCAT.
Other
-Mortar Board this semester ( haven't done anything yet but its an award I guess)
-General University honors award for involved students/ deans honors list
- Finalist for some essay last year
-Leadership experience through the first year leadership program, a cultural organizations freshman representative, and two years of the residence hall society.
This summer: Migrant workers internship at mobile health fair/ teaching little kids/ educating/testing migrant workers across three states. / Camp Kesem planning
I'm having a lot of trouble with the MCAT though. I've been averaging 29 on my practice tests and honestly... I just want to be a doctor. I was a cancer baby when I was younger and I really want to be an oncologist. I want to combine my passion for urban health and oncology in some way. I know my EC's aren't as strong as the people with publications but I do know that I 100% love the things I do. I want to go to an allopathic medical school because I feel like it will be a better fit/ I want to practice internationally etc. so please respect that.
My Mcat is in ~3 weeks and I was wondering if ...I don't break a 33 is it a terrible idea to give up the internship and retake the MCAT in late July? Study two months at home and give it my all again. I'm not going to extend my test because I've been casually studying for a year and hardcore studying for 3 months. But I am okay with retaking.