Hello SDN,
Sorry for the cheesy heading, but I really couldn't think of any other way to put it. I am a slightly nontraditional applicant (will be 26 when applying), and wanted to get your perspectives on my chances for next year's application cycle, along with some advice on what I can do to make myself a more competitive applicant between now and then.
Undergraduate:
BS in Physics / Minor in Math at SUNY Buffalo
cGPA/ BCMP GPA: 3.96/ 3.96
MCAT: Will take June 2014
Clinical Experience:
~600 hours In-home care for one patient (as a Home Heath Aid)
A couple half-days shadowing Family Medicine Physicians
Extracurricular:
Good amount of undergraduate research (4 semesters, 2 summer internships) in materials chemistry and biophysics
3 publications, none are first-author
Many years (4+) of tutoring (both paid and volunteer)
Volunteer work as a medical coordinator for refugees-- about 200 hours so far
Volunteer ESL tutoring for refugees-- 100 hours
A couple non-medicine poster presentations
Vice President of Undergraduate Society of Physics Students for 2 years
Fairly extensive independent travel in Asia, Europe, and North Africa
LORs:
2 from Research Advisers (PhD Scientists), 1 from Nurse Manager/ Supervisor, 1 from Non-Science Professor, 1 from Volunteer Coordinator at Refugee Center
My Story:
I did my bachelor's degree without any intent of going to medical school. I worked hard in my classes, did research, but wasn't really passionate about my work. After going through the pains of applying to PhD programs in engineering and being accepted to just about every program I applied, realized I did not want to spend the rest of my life doing something that didn't fulfill me. After accepting a side-job working as a HHA, and beginning to do volunteer work helping refugees gain access to healthcare, I had my epiphany that medicine was the path for me.
I am now currently finishing up my Bio and Chem pre-reqs, while working as an industrial chemist to pay the bills. I am concerned that my resume and background are not tailored enough to medical school admissions. I have a couple more shadowing experiences lined up but nothing extensive. I'm basically wondering how much my lack of clinical experience and extracurriculars, considering a strong academic resume otherwise, is likely to hurt me.
Sorry for the cheesy heading, but I really couldn't think of any other way to put it. I am a slightly nontraditional applicant (will be 26 when applying), and wanted to get your perspectives on my chances for next year's application cycle, along with some advice on what I can do to make myself a more competitive applicant between now and then.
Undergraduate:
BS in Physics / Minor in Math at SUNY Buffalo
cGPA/ BCMP GPA: 3.96/ 3.96
MCAT: Will take June 2014
Clinical Experience:
~600 hours In-home care for one patient (as a Home Heath Aid)
A couple half-days shadowing Family Medicine Physicians
Extracurricular:
Good amount of undergraduate research (4 semesters, 2 summer internships) in materials chemistry and biophysics
3 publications, none are first-author
Many years (4+) of tutoring (both paid and volunteer)
Volunteer work as a medical coordinator for refugees-- about 200 hours so far
Volunteer ESL tutoring for refugees-- 100 hours
A couple non-medicine poster presentations
Vice President of Undergraduate Society of Physics Students for 2 years
Fairly extensive independent travel in Asia, Europe, and North Africa
LORs:
2 from Research Advisers (PhD Scientists), 1 from Nurse Manager/ Supervisor, 1 from Non-Science Professor, 1 from Volunteer Coordinator at Refugee Center
My Story:
I did my bachelor's degree without any intent of going to medical school. I worked hard in my classes, did research, but wasn't really passionate about my work. After going through the pains of applying to PhD programs in engineering and being accepted to just about every program I applied, realized I did not want to spend the rest of my life doing something that didn't fulfill me. After accepting a side-job working as a HHA, and beginning to do volunteer work helping refugees gain access to healthcare, I had my epiphany that medicine was the path for me.
I am now currently finishing up my Bio and Chem pre-reqs, while working as an industrial chemist to pay the bills. I am concerned that my resume and background are not tailored enough to medical school admissions. I have a couple more shadowing experiences lined up but nothing extensive. I'm basically wondering how much my lack of clinical experience and extracurriculars, considering a strong academic resume otherwise, is likely to hurt me.