Hey friends, this week's video is a bit longer than usual, but I hope it's informative to you and worth the watch. Below I've compiled some timestamps that have my main takeaways/analyses for each part of the med school application: 4:31 GPA and MCAT score 6:25 Research publications 7:58 Research presentations 10:16 Clinical volunteering and shadowing 12:19 Awards and scholarships 13:20 Hobbies
Complete app: 4.0 gpa, 520 mcat, 4 years of applied, biomedical physics research (2900 hours), Publications: first author in peer-reviewed journal with a couple other publications, some research presentations and posters (campus level, local level, national conferences [DC, Baltimore], Japan). extracurricular clubs (physics club, chemistry tournament club, orchestra club). 60 hours of shadowing (geriatrician, neurologist, IR). 200 hours as a cancer patient advocate, tutor/teaching assistant (Ochem, Intro to Phys, Intro to Bio), Honors: National Award (Goldwater?), research fellowships, travel awards. Hobbies: pickup basketball (520 hours).
Hey Royce! I wanted to ask you how you were able to present your research at a symposium. Did you have to sign up for it, or was it through an undergraduate research program?
It varied depending on the conference, but most the time I just submitted an abstract on my research project and it then had to be accepted to the conference. I have also heard of research fellowships (e.g. for summer research) where you’re required to present your research at a symposium the following fall semester. Hope this helps!
Hi! Thank you so much for an informative video!!! I had a question about the MCAT. You mentioned that you want your MCAT and gpa to be "high enough" for the school you apply to....how should I gauge that? For instance, if I meet the school's median MCAT score or am higher, should that be high enough? THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!
Hi Melanie! I mentioned this in my video about how to choose your med school list. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QPxfXa4bT9k.html Basically, I think I said if your GPA is within 0.1 and your MCAT is within 2 of the school’s median numbers, then you should be good enough. So the answer to your question is yes, as long as your GPA is in range too. Hope this helps!
Thank you for so much for this video! Tons of useful information! I am an incoming freshman majoring in biophysics. I am so excited when I found this video! I wonder when I should take linear algebra and differential equations in college while balancing with stats that Med schools prefer.
If an internation applicant have below 3 CGPA, one publication and average MCAT score, then what will be to approximate probability to get admission in MD-PhD program? Please answer. Thanks so much to share such informative video!
I’m not too familiar with the chances of international applicants vs. not international applicants. But (ignoring the international applicant part) the low cGPA may hurt your chances. One possibility is doing a postbac program to raise your GPA. I’m just one random (and not fully informed) opinion on the internet, so definitely talk with people who know you and your application better than I do to get their opinions.
@@RoyceDong Thank you so much for your response! Actually I have completed my undergrad in Physics and I have huge interest to do research in breast cancer also I have so many interest in MD program. For PhD program everyone suggests for GRE. So can you tell me , I will apply for PhD program with MCAT score in Biological/Molecular/Biotechnology department, will it be applicable?
If you apply PhD only, then most programs need the GRE and don’t accept the MCAT. If you apply MD or MD/PhD, then most programs only take the MCAT and not the GRE (although some MD/PhD programs might require the GRE as well).
I really only stayed in one lab my entire undergrad, so once I found that I was set. I recommend looking up faculty in your school’s department website (e.g. radiation oncology department website for WashU), read through the different professor’s websites and research interests, and then reach out via email to ones you like! Send an email like “Dear Dr. Smith, I’m an undergrad interested in your lab. I especially like your one paper in Science where you discovered this one disease mechanism. Would you want to meet some time to chat about me potentially joining your lab?…” Hope this helps!
Do you have to go to an Ivy League school? For your undergrad to get accepted into MD/phD program? What if I went to a state school but have really good grades and a high MCAT?
Lmao don’t sweat it-after I got my WashU acceptance (in January) I actually withdrew all my other applications except for WashU and Penn, including upcoming interviews and pending acceptances. So I may have gotten more acceptances than I did, it was just my choice to not hear back about them!
