Need Your Opinion

[swimchick]

I'm almost done with my AMCAS app and I need some opinions. I happen to like VMD users more than SDN users...and I value your thoughts ;)

I can only list 15 work/EC activities...and I have more than that. Out of everything below, which do you think are the most important?

8 Publications (8 different journals...should probably list separately)

5 Abstract presentations at a national meeting (same organization, so I would list under the same heading)

Recently won 1st place for my research project poster at a statewide competition

Won an award in 2007 for a research project...1 of 10 students out of over 100 applicants

Position as a research assistant from 2002-2008

Position as a medical research specialist from 2008 to present

Sorority member...VP of academic development for 1 year and chapter president for another year

Admissions student representative at my alma mater, served as transfer student rep on the organization's steering committee for one year

Varsity swim team member for 1 year (earned student-athlete academic honors from the conference)

Orchestra member for 2 years (principal flute for 1 year)

Currently volunteering in an emergency room

Various physician shadowing experience (primary care, endocrinology, neurology)

Lifeguard for 3 years and part-time job I held while in school

Thanks again for your advice :)

[stateofequilibrium]

I would put as many of publications and presentations down, plus awards. Your position as research assistant is redundant since you have publications. I would also put down the shadowing and also varsity swim team down to show you're well rounded. Given your sn, that would be a perfect "diving board" in which to talk about yourself.

[FOID]

i say put your 33k posts on vmd as your number 1... just kidding

like SOE said, put publications and awards as number one.

[JesusLovesYou]

I'm almost done with my AMCAS app and I need some opinions. I happen to like VMD users more than SDN users...and I value your thoughts ;)

I can only list 15 work/EC activities...and I have more than that. Out of everything below, which do you think are the most important?

8 Publications (8 different journals...should probably list separately)

5 Abstract presentations at a national meeting (same organization, so I would list under the same heading)

Recently won 1st place for my research project poster at a statewide competition

Won an award in 2007 for a research project...1 of 10 students out of over 100 applicants

Position as a research assistant from 2002-2008

Position as a medical research specialist from 2008 to present

Sorority member...VP of academic development for 1 year and chapter president for another year

Admissions student representative at my alma mater, served as transfer student rep on the organization's steering committee for one year

Varsity swim team member for 1 year (earned student-athlete academic honors from the conference)

Orchestra member for 2 years (principal flute for 1 year)

Currently volunteering in an emergency room

Various physician shadowing experience (primary care, endocrinology, neurology)

Lifeguard for 3 years and part-time job I held while in school

Thanks again for your advice :)


On top of SOE's advice I'd like to point out what you put down also depends on the school(s) you are applying to. If it's more research-based, then you want to put down all your publications stuff. If it's more clinical and community-based then you want the volunteer and shadowing stuff to go first. Make sure you can get some letters of rec from the physicians you shadow too.

[swimchick]

I have letters of rec from my research mentor, biochem prof, stats prof and the primary care doc I shadowed (since I want to do primary care). My school uses those letters to make the committee letter.

I know that the letters from my research mentor and primary doc are fantastic...not sure about the other two!

Thanks for the advice guys!

[stateofequilibrium]

I have letters of rec from my research mentor, biochem prof, stats prof and the primary care doc I shadowed (since I want to do primary care). My school uses those letters to make the committee letter.

I know that the letters from my research mentor and primary doc are fantastic...not sure about the other two!

Thanks for the advice guys!

now give me a rep!

[swimchick]

hahaha...I will..I promise! Apparently I've given out too much rep in the last 24 hours :(

[tennisball80]

I think your research experience is very impressive. Are you applying as a M.D/Ph.D?

[swimchick]

I really want to and I did in the Fall 2008 admission cycle...but had no luck. With SUNY Downstate's convoluted app process I was accepted into their Ph.D. program but not the medical school.

My GPA and my MCAT are just too low for M.D./Ph.D. programs.

[Tipton]

I think you wrote this thread just so you can "complain" about your resume!:D

[swimchick]

Hahaha...not intending to be a whiner. I just really needed some outside input. I need this app to be a good one because this is my last shot at US programs and I want to make it good :)

[JesusLovesYou]

I really want to and I did in the Fall 2008 admission cycle...but had no luck. With SUNY Downstate's convoluted app process I was accepted into their Ph.D. program but not the medical school.

My GPA and my MCAT are just too low for M.D./Ph.D. programs.


Lol, yeah same thing happened to me. I was accepted into the MPH program but not their medical school. It's a good way for them to make money.

[JesusLovesYou]

I have letters of rec from my research mentor, biochem prof, stats prof and the primary care doc I shadowed (since I want to do primary care). My school uses those letters to make the committee letter.

I know that the letters from my research mentor and primary doc are fantastic...not sure about the other two!

Thanks for the advice guys!


I would scrp the two recommendations you are not sure about unless a school you are applying to requires more than two. So-so letters will hurt you more than help you. You signed the waver to see the letters right? =/

[JesusLovesYou]

Hahaha...not intending to be a whiner. I just really needed some outside input. I need this app to be a good one because this is my last shot at US programs and I want to make it good :)


Your personal essay is the biggest seller. I revised mine eight times. I went through it with my supervisor's PhD mentor, my older sibling, etc. I hated writing it but if your GPA and MCAT are mediocre, you'll be relying moreonthat personal essay. Your experiences are very good though but don't rely on them that much. My cousin had applied three time to med school. She has publications under her name, lots of volunteer experience, good GPA, and decent MCAT. She's considering applying for DO now. I think having lots of papers is ok, but how it realyl works for you is if someone on the board is really into something you researched. That will get you in for an interview because they'll want to talk to you about it.

[swimchick]

I would scrp the two recommendations you are not sure about unless a school you are applying to requires more than two. So-so letters will hurt you more than help you. You signed the waver to see the letters right? =/

I saw the letters from my research mentor and prime care physician because they wanted me to read them (even though I waived my rights). I don't know about the other two because I also waived my rights to read them so I didn't see them. I'm confident in them because I am very close with my biochem and stats prof and did well in their classes. The man who conducted the interview for my pre-med committee letter also alluded to the fact that all of my recommendors spoke very highly of me and my potential for a career in medicine.

My school's pre-med committee uses all of my letters to write their composite letter. Obviously the letters weren't awful because I've received some interviews through my app process :)

[swimchick]

Your personal essay is the biggest seller. I revised mine eight times. I went through it with my supervisor's PhD mentor, my older sibling, etc. I hated writing it but if your GPA and MCAT are mediocre, you'll be relying moreonthat personal essay. Your experiences are very good though but don't rely on them that much. My cousin had applied three time to med school. She has publications under her name, lots of volunteer experience, good GPA, and decent MCAT. She's considering applying for DO now. I think having lots of papers is ok, but how it realyl works for you is if someone on the board is really into something you researched. That will get you in for an interview because they'll want to talk to you about it.

I've received wonderful comments on my personal statement so I'm not worried about it.

Plus...I've made myself known to many members of the admissions committee at the med school where I work and they're impressed. Just need to kick butt in my post-bacc program and I'm golden.

Anyway...this intention of this thread was to get an opinion of which of my activities should be included on my AMCAS. I don't need any stories of people who couldn't make it to med school or what to do for my essay....just what activities to include. Believe me, I know the trials and tribulations of trying to get into a US MD program.

Thanks anyway.

[JesusLovesYou]

I've received wonderful comments on my personal statement so I'm not worried about it.

Plus...I've made myself known to many members of the admissions committee at the med school where I work and they're impressed. Just need to kick butt in my post-bacc program and I'm golden.

Anyway...this intention of this thread was to get an opinion of which of my activities should be included on my AMCAS. I don't need any stories of people who couldn't make it to med school or what to do for my essay....just what activities to include. Believe me, I know the trials and tribulations of trying to get into a US MD program.

Thanks anyway.

Got carried away there. Anyway since all your letters of rec are great I wouldn't worry about them. Since you'll kick butt in your pot-bacc, I've no doubt you'll get into a US med school as long as you apply early. =)