4.0 GPA, Unsure ECs: Top School Chances?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

Hi guys. I just completed my first year at university. I am a physics and biology double major, and have a 4.0 GPA (with mostly 2nd and some 3rd year courses like ochem or advanced physics). I am also planning to graduate in 3 years.

I have a few reasons for my interest in medical school, however, the story is very long, so I’ll skip that part. Anyway,
I know that we should apply to many less-competitive schools, however, I also wanted to take a shot at a few top schools such as NYU or Stanford. I’m posting here because I’m worried about my EC’s - especially for the top schools.

Unlike high school, in college, I decided to completely focus on activities that I am truly most passionate about, instead of trying to impress with many generic clubs or leadership roles. Currently, I tutor disabled children, volunteer at a senior home (been doing so since high school), and am in an engineering club. I will have served approximately 300 service hours by the time I apply next year.

The activity I spend the most time on is an project I started by myself, where I’m working to invent something that can be used by firefighters to help save lives. I’ve received some competitive grants for this project. My professor advised me to file a patent with the university’s help once my invention is finalized over the summer. I can’t say very much about it due to a NDA, but I think that my project is significant enough that it will help me stand out. I know that the top schools look for this kind of thing, and I thought it may help out.

However, I’m concerned because my ECs don’t really match those of other people. I know I shouldn’t compare myself to others, but I am not sure if I am on the right track or not. I haven’t been able to do many medicine-related activities because I’ve focused so much time on my project, but now I’m worried if this will look bad in my application. So, I’m not sure what I should do for this summer and during the next year, in order to become a better medical school candidate.

Should I join a research lab to help boost my ECs? I have a lot of space next year (after finishing my current project), and found a biochemistry lab that I’m interested in. However, note that if I join, I’ll only have 1 year experience by the time I apply. Also, I was thinking of spending my summer shadowing. What suggestions do you guys have on what I should do? Should I maybe take a gap year? If so, what should I focus on doing during the gap year?

Lastly, how helpful do you think having an invention would be for medical school applications - especially the top ones? I’ve heard that top schools want candidates that they think will innovate in medicine rather than “just” becoming a doctor, and that’s the angle I would like to go for (in real life as well, not just for my application). I think having an impactful invention might help with this. But at the same time, I don’t have many medicine-related activities - yet. Thank you!

2

You’re getting way, way, way ahead of yourself.

You need a MCAT score before anyone can remotely guess whether you’ll be competitive for top schools. Without a strong MCAT, you’ll be DOA for top schools despite the patent.

You don’t need to have ECs that are exactly like everyone else’s, but I am concerned that you are very light on clinical experience (either volunteer or paid employment). If you consider your volunteering at a senior home medical volunteering, then you’re also very light on non-medical community service.

You may want to consider a gap year to beef up your ECs.

The patent by itself might get you a second look from adcomms, but it’s not a home run. It does show initiative and it is unique, but I wouldn’t hang your entire application on it.

Expected ECs for med applicants–

  1. long term community service ( yes, even for top schools, where several hundred to thousands of hours of service aren’t uncommon)

  2. physician shadowing (makes sure to include some primary care physicians)

  3. clinical volunteering or employment (direct patient contact plus the opportunity to do first hand observation of patient-physician interactions are the critical components)

  4. leader positions in your ECs

  5. significant research, including, if possible, a senior research thesis or other project where you have primary responsibility for the success or failure of a project. (Your project might be an adequate substitute for this, but it depends on how the adcomm perceives the project. If it’s just a better mousetrap then it won’t be a sub for in-depth research since the hypothesis element is missing.)

3

Why do you plan to graduate a year early?

4

@WayOutWestMom Yep, that’s what I was thinking. I’m planning to get clinical experience over the summer and next year, and possibly take a gap year to work on it even more. I’ll join the bio lab I was interested in, and hopefully have something good that comes out of it. I’ll also re-enlist at the hospital where I used to volunteer. Thanks for the thorough response!

@thumper1 I’ll have enough credits, so I’d rather save money (I live in poverty) and a year in classes if its a possibility. It may allow me to take a gap year to focus on other things, without being “behind”.

5

@billyjones

  1. What is your state of residency for medical application?
  2. Are you URM or ORM or neither?
  3. Is it fair to assume that you will qualify for need based aid?
  4. Have you or will you be done with most of the science related pre-req during or end of 4th semester? Specifically 2 OChem, BioChem, Physics, Math, Genetics, advanced Bio?

Points based on collect experience of folks in this forum.

  1. Don’t take MCAT or don’t apply UNLESS your prep or application is to the best of your ability.
  2. Said that, if you plan to matriculate right after your 3 years, then during March-May of 2020 you need to take MCAT.
    Also pretty much in first semesters you should have wrapped up all hard courses. Do any required courses (GE) which are light during application year, need to apply (secondary essays), attend interviews, travel, miss classes etc., That may impact your courses prep and may degrade GPA if not careful.
  3. Since you are planning for a double major and busy with invention, also not done strong ECs, it appears you should apply with gap year (assumes you will graduate in 3 years).
  4. Gap year will help in many fronts, earn money to apply, continue your clinical ECs, plan for selective colleges if you are keen about them.
  5. Immediate action needed are:
    A. Shadow 60-100 hours both primary care and few specialists

    B. Clinical experience - accumulate at least 200+ hours

Personal views:

  1. If you are decent test taker and have done with core science courses, take the MCAT latest by Spring/Summer 2020. Without MCAT score it is hard to decide, when to apply and what else prep needed etc.
  2. Continue to maintain the 4.0, don’t take any slack on GPA. GPA and MCAT are foundations (still house may NOT be built for other reasons)
  3. Don’t be particular about any specific medical school. It is trying to predict which slot machine in a casino going to give jackpot.
  4. Understand your desire for NYU. Apply but also apply to other schools. If your app is strong and need based aid is needed, few schools offer good aid.
  5. The school list is another gamble. At times you need to try against the current. At the same time, it is understandable not every one can apply to 30-40 schools due to cost, logistics etc. But still care must be exercised to identify schools list based on trade off. But this can wait and no point in spending time until your MCAT score.
6

@billyjones

Financing medical school. Aside from NYU, there are few other med schools that offer free tuition–Mayo is free, Kaiser-Permanente will be free to its first 5 entering classes, UHouston will be free for its first class. You will still be on the hook for living expenses, transportation, health insurance, books, test fees, etc.

All TX medical schools give OOS students who receive at least $1000 in scholarships in-state tuition rates (among the lowest in the US).

Need-based aid at top schools (except NYU) requires that the student first take out a base loan (typically in the $30-40K range) and pay a family EFC before institutional need-based aid kicks in.

You might also want to take a look at Carle-Illinois which places a heavy emphasis on students with engineering-type backgrounds. They would be every excited by your patent. https://medicine.illinois.edu

Agree with @GoldenRock that trying to predict med school admission on the individual level is an exercise in futility.