<p>I am currently a second semester sophomore at boston college. My overall gpa is 3.75 and my science gpa is a 3.7. I am also a certified emt and take part in the on campus emt squad. </p>
<p>I am wondering what else i should be doing? I have thought about research...and i am looking for summer/school year opportunities. I also know people volunteer in hospitals, but im not sure it would be anything better than my involvent with the ems squad. </p>
<p>I am looking for opinions on where i stand in terms of getting into a med school, and if there is anything you recommend i do that will help me stand out more. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>“research…and i am looking for summer/school year opportunities.” - Do it.</p>
<p>Being an EMT is a great EC (one of my D’s was an EMT-I on mountain search & rescue for 2 years), but it doesn’t give you a pass on doing other non-medical community service work OR from additional clinical volunteering. (You need a broader exposure to a variety of healthcare settings than what being on the EMS squad offers.)</p>
<p>Beside research, you’re also missing physician shadowing.</p>
<p>P.S. Re: research. You already missed the application deadlines for REUs and many of the other research summer programs. Applications were due in mid-to-late January.</p>
<p>In regard to research, it is very very hard to get into outside of your college and it is easy at your college. Shadowing could be done during summer and you do not need to do a lot. Volunteering is the same, but be persistant. In our city, it is not easy to get to voluneering either. Surpise, there are waiting lines that are several months long. Again, check opportunities at your college. Overal, D. did 3 years of volunteering, 3 years of Med. Research and work for 3 years at her UG. She did shadowing (asked around, her frineds’ parents, our family doc.) and additional volunteering during summers. D. did not have EMT training, but had a very good job at college that has helped her with her MCAT.</p>
<p>While you probably missed the boat for a research “program” you definitely have not missed the boat to get a spot in a lab at your UG.</p>
<p>And yes, you definitely need physician exposure. An EMT is not a doctor, and so while EMT experience can help lead you to the path of a physician, it is not sufficient to demonstrate you know what a career as a physician is about.</p>
<p>I forgot to include that i have done shadowing</p>
<p>Thanks for everyones opinion. The research can also be done next summer since i am looking to get a job as an emt to gain more experience this summer. Inwill look into volunteering with a hospital. There are plenty in the boston area</p>
<p>RE: research next summer</p>
<p>When are you applying? At the end of your junior year or the end of your senior year? If you’re applying after your junior year, you won’t be able to include research on your app since you probably won’t have started at the lab yet.</p>
<p>Applying after junior year</p>
<p>I would have been accepted into a program so i could list my future participation in it on my app</p>
<p>You do understand that adcomms ignore activities that you have not yet begun or are projected to happen in the future because they are subject to change ( i.e. not happen).</p>