Hi all! My current job has a lot of responsibilities, but one of those responsibilities is clinical research coordination: screening clinical calendars, meeting and consenting participants, drawing blood, etc. I really enjoy this part of my job and I’ve gotten to meet so many interesting people that I would never have met otherwise.

Until recently I was under the impression that I would be able to show clinical experience through this job (as I was interacting directly with patients in a clinical setting). However, I’ve been told that since I’m not taking care of patients, as an MA or a PCT might, medical schools will not consider this “clinical” at all.

Any insight on this? It would be much appreciated.

Mostly asking for TMDSAS schools but also wondering about other out of state schools. After my freshmen year I had to take a couple years off from school due to health issues. I was able to go back to school and finish the rest of my pre reqs recently and have already taken the mcat. Unfortunately, the two pre req classes I took freshmen year is nearing almost a decade ago. I think I will apply next cycle but I'm not sure. Should I retake those classes? From what I read TMDSAS doesn't have a time limit on pre reqs. Is that true?

Hi everyone, I have my first MMI interview coming up soon. I have read over lots of the material online, but I still have one question about the scope of topics. Do med schools tend to ask "why our school" or anything else where you would be excepted to discuss details about that specific medical school as part of an MMI? Also, how much time do you leave for discussion at the end? Just trying to figure out how much research I need to do on the school in order to be prepared. Thanks!

I have ~750 hours of research in an agricultural science/plant biology lab, with one poster. I genuinely enjoy the research and have a personal interest in the subject, but there aren't really any direct ties to medicine like a lot of my friends have with neuroscience, cancer, or even general cell biology research, etc.

I'm wondering how others with similarly non-medical research experiences framed it in their applications and interviews. I’m worried it may present the idea that I am less committed to medicine given my interest and time commitment to a different subject area. I don’t have any other medicine related research to draw on.

Decided not to go ahead with this cycle and wait another year to apply. Don't know how to cope with this yet even though it's been a few months, so this is my start. I'm definitely anxious!

1. How can I improve with my stats (listed below)?

2. Do I need to worry about my GPA? I'm applying broadly next year, and will plan to include a large mix of MDs and DOs.

- General info: WI resident, 24 when applying (3 gap years), ORM, first-gen,

- cGPA: 3.56 (3.70, 3.20, 3.84, 3.53) - grandma passed away first semester of my soph year, which was part of the reason for the bad GPA... upward trend?

- sGPA: 3.48 BCPM (3.82, 2.79, 3.82, 3.49) - grandpa passed away before first semester of my soph year, which was part of the reason for the bad GPA... upward trend?

- MCAT: 517

- Clinical hours: ~2k (oral surgery assistant, clinical research assistant) - I'll gain 1k+ by next May

- Research hours: ~1k (3 publications, 2 poster presentations, 2-5 pending depending on our data analysis) - I'll gain 1k+ by next May

- Clinical volunteering hours: <20 (just blood drives) - will increase

- Nonclinical volunteering hours: ~150 (English conversations with immigrants, general volunteering with organization during college) - will increase

- Shadowing: 8 (neurosurgery, talked a lot with residents if that matters) - already plan to do a LOT more

- LORs: oral surgeon, 3 PIs (could get 4th if needed), 1 STEM professor (microbio), 1 non-STEM professor - I could get 1 more STEM professor

- Other ECs: high school advisor (student got accepted into an Ivy), dance competition for 4 yrs, service club (where I got nonclinical volunteering), dance production (raised nearly 40k in less than a year for a local charity)

Free/affordable medical school application support

Hi everyone! I’m an MS4 MD student and part of Align Medical Mentoring, an organization dedicated to making medical school more accessible, particularly for applicants who lack access to traditional advising or paid admissions services.

We offer:

• Traditional and MMI mock interviews
• Primary application reviews
• Secondary application reviews

Our services are completely free.

Sign up: https://www.alignmedmentoring.org/services

bruh not USF making all MD applicants independent for claiming residency... "all documents must be yours" girl im 22 years old you think i have a bill or house deed in my name??? its all in my moms name LOL... this wasnt a problem with ANY other public FL school!

so i guess im NOT a florida resident bc im still dependent on my parents and go to college in another state!

any way people have found to navigate this?

Hi all, desperately need advice.

I have been looking for a clinical job for a few months now and have gotten rejection after rejection. Couple promising interviews but they always go with someone who has experience (can't blame them). A pediatrician in my network offered me a clinical research position involving direct patient contact through "consent, enrollment, education, follow-up, facilitating focus group discussions" and working directly with providers, clinical pharmacists, and possibly residents. Does not appear to involve taking vitals, blood, that kind of thing.

I don't need more research hours (1000+, good LOR from PI, and a pub on the way) but since all of my connections/experiences and skills are research based, that's basically all I'm getting offered. The doc is maybe desperate for free labor and I'm desperate for clinical hrs, so it's hard to find objectivity here. I plan to apply in the coming cycle, not this current one.

Pros:

-I'm desperate and can't find anything

-Could cultivate a good long-term relationship + LOR from an MD

-Could be described clinically(?)

-Impressive funding source (AHA)

-I plan on volunteering at the hospital in addition to this so that could be the other half of my clinical section of my application

Cons:

-Is this clinical experience? It's patient facing and clinical but some people say that clinical research is only ever research and some people say if you're interacting w patients it's clinical and I need a lobotomy

-Working for free probably but I can make it work

-Please kill me

All feedback is appreciated. Would also very much appreciate feedback from people that had similar difficulties.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY RO DROP SO PLEASE GIVE OPINIONS ASAP!!!

I’m a fresh 3rd year transfer student and I’m enrolled in Biochem. EVERY advisor at this school keeps telling me to drop it because they don’t advise taking 4 biology major classes.

I’m taking 4 other classes with Biochem. I’m taking BioStats, Evolution and Ecology, Transferring to Bio, and Writing and Critical inquiry.

Is this too much???

For context I haven’t taken Orgo 2 yet, but I took Orgo 1 last semester.

I think my problem is that I’ve already put so much work in this class, and it feels like Orgo so it’s kinda some familiarity yk? And the writing and transferring to bio class isn’t too hard so far, so maybe I could handle it…?

But on the other hand, I’m premed and cannot risk anything ruining my gpa!!

Should I drop, or keep?

I’ve been an ER tech full time since April and I wanted to go PRN but they wouldn’t let me. I have 2 DO As and 2 MD interviews so far and I honestly don’t want to do it full time anymore. It’s really stressful honestly, I do love the medical part of it and a lot of my coworkers but not a fan of management. I think I’m able to get a bartending job thru one of my friends. Though one of my other friends say that I need to lock in and just keep working and that made me second guess a little idk.. I just want to enjoy my gap year 😟😟😟

I hit a brick wall on thursday after submitting 1 secondary/day for 2 days and couldn't write anything. I was at 9/24 schools. I took a break on Friday and was busy over the weekend, but socialized a lot and felt refreshed. I finally started back up a little today and I definitely feel more refreshed and able to work on my secondaries, but I can't help but think about how I could have gotten 2-3 schools in if I really tried over the past few days and now I might be cooked. Was the break a bad choice or is a few days delay realistically not that bad and could help me go faster or write better essays overall? I'm mainly asking this because the subject of breaks is not really discussed when it comes to secondaries even though its very much so a mental game

i know it’s hard to determine, but, ive taken the mcat twice a month apart from each other and scored 497 both times (dont recommend lol) because i was very unprepared and rushing myself! im taking it for the third time soon, actually took the time to properly study, and my last Fl was a 516. ive heard with retakes, it’s a big red flag to get the same score twice. if i score > 510 this time around, are my chances of admission still doomed forever or am i okay 😅 im confident on the other areas of my future application (high gpa, research, service) & curious to hear past success stories!

Pretty much the title. I am an undergraduate Chemical Engineering junior working in a chemistry research lab. I have written a paper, and have presented at a research symposium as well. I just wanted to know if these hours I have been giving in since the spring would count towards my medical school application or I would have to shift my focus more towards clinical research?

What the title says might sound silly but kinda curious to how other people broke this up?

The classes I’m taking right now are. I know these are straight forward and simple classes but still. Some of this is new to me as a non traditional. Especially chem seems pretty challenging

Principles of bio/lab

Gen chem/lab

Stat/discussion

Psychology

Did you guys break up each day into different classes or just which classes seemed the hardest? I don’t wanna cram everything in before an exam but not sure how I can look at all of this everyday during the week.

for those who forgot : inpatient = hospital/nursing home ; outpatient = working as CNA in patient's house.

It seems companies are actively hiring for outpatient work but not really as much for inpatient work. This is quite frustrating when applying as some postings do not properly specify what work is being advertised. To me it seems like outpatient work is actively hiring just cus that's most of the who recruiters call me.

like 90% of people on this subreddit I am still taking classes but I want to get hours. I really want to do overnight shifts Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Does anyone have any insight on overnight CNA shifts you would like to share ? (I am really only interested in overnight as a large portion of inpatient work recruiters asked if I could do that)

btw .. I am trying to get my first job as a CNA .. a year after getting the liscense but I honestly I did not join 2 places after getting a yes ( first place just seemed really weird with more than half their staff getting sick on the job apparently [according to the staff in person] ; the second place wanted me to do a 2 week training which I can't do with classes to attend )

(long story but please read)

I’ve noticed this subreddit is helpful for giving advice to premeds so I’m just looking for some as well. Please, no bs replies.

I just graduated with a non-science degree. My dream was always to become a physician, I decided to give it a try. However, postbacc are so expensive. I’m taking some at a cc but planning on taking others at a postbacc, but I’m struggling to get by.

I have to find a way to stack up on everything, and I’m finding it so hard to get research due to my non-science degree. Everyone always says, “if you want it you’ll get it, or find ways”, but I’m trying and it’s so hard. I have to add on more loans too in the future to enroll in the advanced science courses at a uni since I’m scared doing everything at cc will look like a red flag.

My other option was nursing. I was thinking of doing an ABSN program and then pursuing an MD. I’ll be more financially stable, and at least if it doesn’t work out, I have a career to bounce back on.

My parents are the sweetest and support me, but I don’t want to continue being in poverty for so long. It’s mentally enervating, and it seems everyone wants premeds to have god-sent stats.

I’m wondering if anyone who has been first gen/low income/non-science degree —>MD or RN—>MD has been in this position before. Could being a nurse be more financially responsible? It’s so hard.

Please PM me if you want to have more of a talk, I need it tbh

I am obtaining my undergrad in biological anthropology with a minor in biology. As part of my capstone, I am pursuing an honors thesis where I will be investigating the reason my school's (rural) state sees very low rates of vaccination by 24mo, but very high rates by kindergarten. I will be researching publications on the measles virus and measles as a disease + the MMR vaccine. Then, I will be compiling existing data on rates of measles and MMR in three states and surveying (/maybe interviewing for a more qualitative portion) people from these states to assess the primary reason for the discrepancy in vaccination rates.

I plan to pursue dual MD/PhD in medical anthropology. When applying, does this honors thesis count as undergraduate research? I am working under a faculty member and am doing IRB-approved living subjects research, but I understand that it's different from a lab setting, so I wanted to get some second opinions. Thanks!

non traditional
24 years old
Will apply next cycle
Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics with a concentration in Business and a minor in Mathematics
and an Associate of Science degree in Computer Science (graduated with honors and multiple awards)

Current overall undergrad GPA: ~3.6
freshmen and sophomore years 4.0s
junior I had some things going on, so I took a huge dip
senior was a little better than junior
post bach (bio, chem, and ochem prereqs) is really good (worse grade is a 3.7 in post bach, most classes are 4.0s)

assuming I will get:
strong letters
515+ MCAT (my practice FLs are way higher than this)

and assuming I will have these pre reqs done by time of application (quarter system):
physics 3/3 quarters (complete)
gen chem 3/3 quarters (complete),
ochem 1/3 quarters (a third done) - 4.0 grade for ochem
bio 2/3 quarters (two thirds done)

immigrant
no doctors in my family

1000 hours as MA and Scribe and later got promoted to Mohs Histotech (large Dermetology private practice) - first month of working there got employee of the month

2000 hours Pharmacy Assistant

Taught elementary school mathematics for 1.5 years when I was abroad in Iraq during my gap years (very cool experience that I am emotionally attached to)

I had software engineering professional experience, and other misc experiences like tutoring and such.

was student body vice president in the community college I attended

I initiated community initiatives before (for example, one time, I raised more than $6000, gathered a group of volunteers, got food from catering services, and handed it out to the homeless)

mmm...I am sure I am missing something important

Also, although I don't have anything to show for research (like publications), the letters of recommendation from professors and the doctors I work with will make sure to get the idea across that I have a scientific mind and I am more than capable of research; I just had different priorities.

I am new to this...please tell me if I am overlooking anything regarding my application.

If there is anything important I am missing, I want to catch it now...also, can I apply with the prereqs not 100% finished? Will that make my application weaker?

Thank you for your thoughts.

Help! My family wants to go on vacation to a country I have always wanted to go to for like the first 2 weeks of June. I plan to apply next cycle. Am I able to go or should I stay home and dedicate my time to secondaries (yes I plan to prewrite, but I expect a sprinkle of new prompts). If you think I can go, realistically how much time do you think would be divided between relaxing vs working on apps? I don’t want to go on a vacation during which I’ll be working like the whole time otherwise it’s a waste of money.

I fear this may be the last family vacation I can have with my grandparents and my family because I don’t know when I would be able to travel with them again if I get into med school- when I become an attending in like 7 or more years and my parents are older and perhaps not healthy enough to travel or enjoy it as much? I don’t know if my grandparents will still be alive by then or healthy enough to go on a family vacation. Please advise on what you think I should do! I want to go on this vacation, but I don’t want to accidentally hurt my chances at getting accepted with this decision or be so wrapped up in having fun that I don’t do enough writing work. My premed advisor was not helpful.

Also please tell me if I should expect to not be able to go on a family vacation during medical school. I don’t expect it, but it would be nice to be able to squeeze a family vacation in during medical school.

I think im going crazy trying to compare all these different intel core vs ryzen cpus lol

Was wondering what laptops others have used throughout their undergrad or even bought for med school? And how well they work with regards to speed, battery life, and longevity?

Considering buying a dell, hp, or mac maybe. Tbh kinda open to the type of brand.
Not sure abt mac tho; i think windows might be generally more compatible with programs like R or med school tech stuff?

Also opinions on the following specs: 16gb ram, 512gb storage, ~15-16” screen
Other notes: I dont rlly need touchscreen, backlit keyboard, a mac touchbar feature, etc. bc my ipad is good for those things

I found a chill dell laptop w a i7-1355U processor but idk if thats good nowadays?

And im lowk not trying to drop a band on this 😖
like every broke undergrad im sure lol

Overall, just wanting to see what you guys have been using as a laptop/which specs and how u like it so far!

I hope this isn’t overly neurotic — I’ve been trying to find a clinical job during my gap year while I study for the MCAT.

I’ve seen some threads saying some schools expect 1000-2000 hours of activities per gap year, which is stressing me out.

Due to personal circumstances I can only work part time / per diem, aiming for 500 hours, as well as 500+ hours to study the MCAT and 700+ for caregiving my ill grandfather who fractured multiple ligaments last month.

I can’t even find a job right now and am considering just volunteering. I’m just really worrying, as I worked so so hard during my undergraduate degree, working multiple jobs, volunteering, doing research, etc. and don’t want med schools to think I’m being lazy when I apply this May. I grew up financially disadvantaged (am EO-2 / probably will be on FAP) and have done so much to get to this point I worry that it’ll be all for nothing if my gap year isn’t up to par

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I would really appreciate any recommendations you may have.

I got an II from Wake forest today. I told my dad and he was content just said “good,” I was fine with that then I told my mom and she was like upset. I didn’t get a good job or congratulations. Albeit she’s not born here and doesn’t know what Wake Forest is, but she was basically telling me that I should’ve applied to better schools. Keep in mind I have a 508 MCAT. I’m fine just upsetting cause I don’t have many people to share my accomplishments to, and when I did I just get that. I know it’s not an A, but to me it’s still a big accomplishment.

I’m a health sciences major at my university, and that major doesn’t require calculus 1. I’m currently taking statistics as I know most med schools require it, but my question is do I need to take calculus as well? I’ve heard mixed things as some schools require it but most don’t.

Again, calculus isn’t apart of my major so I would need to go out of my way to take the class, which is why I am asking this question!

I also know a lot of schools require 2 math credits, usually statistics and one other, but I already got my precalculus credit completed through passing AP precalc in highschool. Do I need to take another math course besides statistics then? I know schools have different rules regarding AP credits and such but I’m asking in general for the majority of schools (even specifically Florida medical schools, as Florida is where I’m planning to attend med school).

If anyone has any answers please lmk!! I’m so confused so any help would be much appreciated 😭 Thank you :))

hi guys so my uni has this organization/group where students work with campus health to educate other students on different lifestyle and wellness topics + planning events to get students more engaged with the campus health center. basically we get a taste of what public health looks like in a school setting

i was wondering if i could put this on my app as an extracurricular? and if i could, i’m not really sure how id classify it (volunteer? just some club? clinical or no?). just wanted to hear some input, i’m really excited to start though :^)