bunsenburner66
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2022
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 2
(Please don't quote)
Hello all,
I'll (try) to keep it short.
Here's the numbers:
ORM white guy at top 50 school.
3.896 cgpa / 3.87 sgpa, no MCAT
Activities [CURRENT]:
309 hours of clinical volunteering in hospital 1
104 hours of clinical volunteering at hospital 2
72 hours as an EMT attendant (will explain further)
50 hours of shadowing (no primary care YET)
380 hours of research in translational research
140 hours of leadership in an extremely niche organization/club
142 hours of TAing for chemistry
16 hours of volunteering for an animal rights organization
Activities [CURRENT + PROJECTED by next cycle]:
686 hours of clinical volunteering in hospital 1
208 at hospital 2
200 hours as an EMT attendant
77 hours of shadowing
748 hours of research
300 hours of leadership
300 hours TA
70 hours of volunteering (animal rights + MealsOnWheels)
Here's the situation:
Because of AP classes + the fact that I have that dawg in me/a literal grinder, I'm going to be graduating in the Spring of 2024 (3 years instead of 4). As such, I'm taking pretty credit-intensive semester loads for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. I have no issue with this and am confident I can do well - I have been doing it the past few semesters and have excelled with balancing everything. What I am not as confident in is studying for the MCAT during these semesters, on top of other extracurriculars I do during the school year (volunteering 4/hrs a week at hospital 2, research 12/hrs a week to complete major requirements, 8.5/hrs a week TAing, and 5/hrs a week doing leadership for niche club).
I tried explaining to my parents (who want me to apply on-cycle to matriculate without any gap years) that a gap year would be better for a multitude of reasons, but also in getting a better MCAT to ensure I wouldn't have to reapply. My parents don't think being a reapplicant or a retaker for the MCAT would put me at a disadvantage, and I don't know how to explain it to them differently.
Also, a gap year job could help me strengthen my application weaknesses and give me a huge monetary safety net.
Unrelated - I'm unsure if I should continue being an EMT attendant. I haven't had an EMT class yet but my station lets me ride and go on calls because I have my BLS CPR certification. Is this experience worth continuing? I love doing it but the uncertainty comes from if schools will look at this as not as good as being an EMT or dismiss it altogether.
Alright, situation over. Any and all advice is appreciated <3
Hello all,
I'll (try) to keep it short.
Here's the numbers:
ORM white guy at top 50 school.
3.896 cgpa / 3.87 sgpa, no MCAT
Activities [CURRENT]:
309 hours of clinical volunteering in hospital 1
104 hours of clinical volunteering at hospital 2
72 hours as an EMT attendant (will explain further)
50 hours of shadowing (no primary care YET)
380 hours of research in translational research
140 hours of leadership in an extremely niche organization/club
142 hours of TAing for chemistry
16 hours of volunteering for an animal rights organization
Activities [CURRENT + PROJECTED by next cycle]:
686 hours of clinical volunteering in hospital 1
208 at hospital 2
200 hours as an EMT attendant
77 hours of shadowing
748 hours of research
300 hours of leadership
300 hours TA
70 hours of volunteering (animal rights + MealsOnWheels)
Here's the situation:
Because of AP classes + the fact that I have that dawg in me/a literal grinder, I'm going to be graduating in the Spring of 2024 (3 years instead of 4). As such, I'm taking pretty credit-intensive semester loads for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. I have no issue with this and am confident I can do well - I have been doing it the past few semesters and have excelled with balancing everything. What I am not as confident in is studying for the MCAT during these semesters, on top of other extracurriculars I do during the school year (volunteering 4/hrs a week at hospital 2, research 12/hrs a week to complete major requirements, 8.5/hrs a week TAing, and 5/hrs a week doing leadership for niche club).
I tried explaining to my parents (who want me to apply on-cycle to matriculate without any gap years) that a gap year would be better for a multitude of reasons, but also in getting a better MCAT to ensure I wouldn't have to reapply. My parents don't think being a reapplicant or a retaker for the MCAT would put me at a disadvantage, and I don't know how to explain it to them differently.
Also, a gap year job could help me strengthen my application weaknesses and give me a huge monetary safety net.
Unrelated - I'm unsure if I should continue being an EMT attendant. I haven't had an EMT class yet but my station lets me ride and go on calls because I have my BLS CPR certification. Is this experience worth continuing? I love doing it but the uncertainty comes from if schools will look at this as not as good as being an EMT or dismiss it altogether.
Alright, situation over. Any and all advice is appreciated <3