Hello- I am a sophomore this year 2016-2017 and I am very interested in a medical career. I plan on applying to BS/MD programs, and I know that I don’t have anything to put on my resume.
Here’s what I’ve accomplished so far:
-Pre-medicine Board Member at Large
-Independent Research- Myopia -no competitions or awards, simply a lit review and data analytics
-Courses: Bio G/T
In the Works this year:
-Chem AP
-Stats AP
-Diabetes public health research- studying public health issues facing diabetics in Baltimore
What I want to do:
-Get an internship at NIH or JHU bayview
-Place at INTEL or Siemens
-Shadowing experience
-Hospital volunteer experience
What can I do to get more involved? It’s really hard for me to get into a laboratory because I am only fifteen. As a freshman I didn’t do anything and now as a sophomore I’m scrambling to see what I can do that would show my academic and leadership potential before I send off college apps in about year and a half.
I greatly appreciate the feedback!!
Don’t worry about being behind. Sophomore year is still a great time to start internships and entering competitions. IMO, this is the time to really try and figure out what you want to accomplish in high school because next year you’ll be swamped with APs and SATs…
NIH is extremely competitive and especially since you mentioned that you haven’t had lab experience (I’m assuming?) I suggest finding a local university to do research. Start by searching up which professors’ projects interest you and try to become informed on their topic of interest. Either that or you can propose your own project. Email them explaining your intentions on interning or shadowing and that you have not had prior lab experience. It will be tedious but it’ll be worth it. As for hospital volunteering, many positions are only 18+ but there are definitely jobs that high school students can assist in.
Here’s a helpful link that might apply: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1629448-teamrocketgrunts-general-guide-to-getting-involved-in-research.html
Just be sure that you really really want a combined BA/MD program. I’ve heard from parents of kids gone before, that these programs are super intense. Basically it’s all that you do. This is not your regular college experience. If that’s what you want, then great. But just be sure that you’re really that into the program.
This is the profile of someone who gets into a BS/MD program:
Very high academic achievement. Taking most demanding courses available and
has mostly As. Testing in the top quartile, so basically, in the mid to
high 700s on each section of the SAT or at least a 32/33 on ACT.
Excellent involvement in extracurriculars, well rounded, and significant
leadership roles.
Significant exploration of the field of medicine, such as volunteering,
shadowing, research, or some combination of those.
Is that you? If not, put more emphasis on the “typical” road to medical school.
Definitely start volunteering in a medical setting where you have contact with patients (e.g., Emergency room, or helping on the hospital floors) ASAP. You need to do that to see if you have interest in medicine as well as showing the BS/mD programs you have sustained volunteering to show them your itnerest. Go to your hospital now and start the process. It takes a while because you have to have flu shots or medical exams and orientation.