Senior bio major, URM. I’m on track for two B+s this semester, so my cGPA will be about 3.85 instead of 3.9. MCAT prep burned me out, and it carried over into this semester’s coursework.
Rest of my profile: 518 MCAT, 700+ clinical hours, some valuable research experience and volunteering but nothing to write home about.
Does a 0.05 drop matter, or is it noise at this point? Only reason I ask is because most pre-meds I talk to at my school have 3.9+'s. Every school I look at on MSAR has a higher median gpa than a 3.85, including all my in state ones.

Any advice on my school list? Not going for T20, a couple of my reaches are T40 but will likely stay in-state (FL).

What ECs does one typically need to get into Georgetown or Dartmouth? I know people say you need a lot of non-clinical volunteering and community service, but how many hours? What do they look for?

Had a few questions regarding these fairs if anyone has attended AAMC Fairs before.

1. Is it similar to Research Conferences?
   I've presented research at SACNAS and attended a conference at ABRCMS, and there were set times for when the Schools were available, and set times for when those same school speakers were teaching for meetings (hence their absence at the booths). Does this mean that from the full 11-6PM, we are able to talk with them or is there a lunch break they're gone for. Are there meetings that are hosted during this day as well that explain topics that are important?

2. Are they meeting at all today (the 27th?)
   I noticed the astrix and lack of any scheduled events for today. Nonetheless, would not like to miss anything. (Though due to timezones, I didn't know if I missed it)

3. How 1-1 are we able to be at these meetings.
   Most of the time we're talking with students, and rarely you get the chance to meet their administrators and staff. For the AAMC events, I assume they want more of the staff side there right? If we're asking the deep questions, is this a meeting where they will answer them?

4. Any tips for me personally.
   A few of my favorite California schools are there, but not my #1 of UCI. I know the mentality of you just go where you're accepted, and you can't be too picky with Medical School's you're chosen at. Despite that is this a chance to ask what sets these schools apart from one another? Some schools like UCI still use Cadavers (as least while I'm writing this), and some use virtual study methods. Are there any good questions you would suggest for the staff that are knowledgeable of what sets their school apart? Can they mention stuff about scholarships yet?
   I have a small baseline I'm working off. I have a lot of hours at UCI's hospital where I'm shadowing the same doctor who's training their Medical Colleges' Medical Students and Fellows, so I have a basic understanding from talking with the students there about what their College is like. I've also been talking with my Coach of the Prep Course I'm taking.

Coming at this with a 3.85 GPA student prepared to send in my application bright and early at the start of this cycle (May 2027). MCAT will be taken in early 2027.

So I'm a freshman in college and I'm trying to major in history while going the premed courses. unfortunately, this seems to be unheard of at my college.

For background, I came into college with about 30 transfer credits including gen bio 1 already completed. with these credits, I should be able to complete all the remaining requirements as both free electives and extra classes without taking another semester. For my first semester, I didn't get to pick my classes so I was automatically registered for all classes that would fufill my major and no science classes.

I'm now trying to register for my classes next semester but because a freshman, my academic advisor has to register me for my courses but now that they knke I'm trying to take two science classes next semester, they are forcing me to change my major and be a biology major with a history minor.

I now have to change my major just to get my classes for next semester and then talk to as many people as I can to convince them to allow me to be a history major.

Hi everyone! I’m a freshman thinking about pre-med or pre-PA. I took intro to stats asynch through a cc in HS. My first semester this year I took psych 100 and Hawaii 100 asynchronously. Next semester I’m think of doing Hawaii History 107 and Sustainability 115 online asynch so I can focus on my stem classes. These asynch classes r just gen Ed’s that I need to get out of the way for my Public Health degree…

I will NOT be taking any science courses online and and currently doing genchem1wL in person. I was wondering if med schools and pa schools will not favor my applications if I take asynchronous courses. Please let me know what you all think 🤞🏻

Hi guys! Im currently a second year and plan to go to med school without a traditional gap year (in the sense that I graduate my third year of college and also start primaries during the spring of my third year so I can use my "fourth" year as a gap year. I was wondering what would be wise to do during my summer. For background info, I'm currently a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic and also work in a research lab. I spent this past summer at the research lab entirely and may be able to get 1 poster at a conference and 1 paper by the spring of my second year. Should I work my medical assistant job over the summer, maybe get a different ma job back home (my current employer said it was fine for me to be out for the summer if i am), continue working in my lab again, apply to a research program, apply to biotech internships?

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated :))

I checked the wiki resources, and I went through the links, but I was trying to see if I could find something related to helping kids do arts/crafts or something along those lines since I am really into art.

I would also be interested in just volunteering at a pantry or soup kitchen, but I am afraid that adcoms will think I am just checking a box with this one since it does not directly relate to any of my interests.

I’m applying this upcoming cycle, I currently am a physical therapist. 3.87 gpa, 523 mcat, 10k+ clinical hours, 2 pubs etc.

I read over and over again that writing is very important for apps. So i don’t want to shoot myself in the foot in this area.

Any tips/advice on what resources I can use to write a killer PS, how to write up my activity section. Also what makes a secondary a good secondary and what do I do to prep for all this coming up.

Any help would be appreciated.

I GOT THE A from my dream MD school....still cannot fathom that I am really going to go to medical school next year, I still stare at the email they sent me October 15th in disbelief, and they even called me on the 22nd and I still cannot believe. I have a 3.88 GPA, 511 MCAT, and come from a family with no doctors--all engineers. I am a woman and I came from a family where half of them didnt believe in me and told me to do "something easier". 4Q Casper, and 7 on Preview (sharing my stats to hopefully inspire everyone in similar boats).

I am also the child of immigrants and have had to genuinely pull myself up by my bootstraps every single step of the way, learning the American system from scratch. Hell, literally 7 months out from taking the MCAT I discovered it was a computer exam, if that helps you understand how I got here.

EVERYONE LISTEN, YOU CAN DO THIS, IF THIS IS YOUR DREAM, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. I am the biggest believer in manifestation being at least 10% of the process, and 70% of it being your hardwork and 20% being luck.

DM me or just reply if you have questions I am happy to answer! PS GO VOTE IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Edit: Thank you so much everyone for the well wishes❤️

I don't know how I am going to be able to balance undergrad, research, volunteer/clinical experience, WHILE working a job.

The problem is that I am my only financial support. No one is able to spot me. No one can house me for free.

I was thinking server, because its the highest pay (tips) with the least amount of hours.

So I'm wondering how everybody was able to balance it all? You guys must have had pt jobs during your undergrad, right?

Work.. research.. experience.. pt jobs.. and social life (burnout prevention)..

**requesting responses from current, recently graduate pre-med students, current medical students, and residents.

I appreciate a lot of the established doctors who are willing to contribute, but the economic climate has changed SIGNIFICANTLY since you were a premed.

just the title

I genuinely don't know what to do from here. Not trying to be neurotic. Super grateful to receive an II from my IS MD school but I ended up on the WL again just like last cycle. I genuinely don't know what I'm doing wrong. I thought I interviewed so much better this time and had a better application this time around but ofc doesn't really look like the case. I have only 1 other interview that's my IS DO but it's a newly established school so they don't even have a match list yet, and that's considering I even get accepted there. This process is so brutal has anyone been in the same situation???

This story is so incredibly sad. The chatbot helped a woman taper off a lifesaving drug and hide the plan from her doctors, advice that came with devastating consequences. Neither the public, nor LLMs, are ready for AI to take over the role of a physician. Since there has been a lot of chatter recently over concern that AI may take over medical decision making in these forums, it seemed like a good idea to share.

Rip

With November being just around the corner, how many more waves of interviews can we expect from the texas schools?

So the big question: where should I start?
I’m currently a sophomore and I will begin studying for the mcat this coming summer and I would like some add ice on where exactly to start my prep. I could start with some light prep now but the majority will be in the summer.

It is important to know that even though I’ll start studying this summer I won’t take physics or biochem until the first semester of my junior.

I got the A today! 3.57 cGPA, 3.31 sGPA were my biggest concern but they got the job done. 511 MCAT. Feeling so grateful. If there’s anyone reading this that thinks they can’t go MD with a few C’s on the transcript let me be one of many to tell you that you can. If someone could pigeon doctor me I would appreciate it. Wish everyone all the best

Hey everyone,
Feeling a bit anxious since my only II turned into a WL and have heard nothing back from any other schools. Wanted to get advice on if I should add some more DO schools? I already applied to PCOM, DMU, Michigan State, Rowan, Lecom, Touro Nevada, NYITCOM, UNECOM. I was wondering if I should add Midwestern and West Virginia School of Ostepathic Medicine? If you guys know of any other schools who still may accept apps lmk!

I genuinely can’t believe I’m finally writing this post. After 3 application cycles, countless secondaries, rejections, and so much self-doubt, I FINALLY GOT THE A!!! 😭💛

There were so many moments throughout this journey when I questioned whether this would ever happen for me. But I’m so, so glad I didn’t give up.

To everyone still waiting for their A, especially my fellow reapplicants, please don’t lose hope. I know how exhausting and discouraging this process can be, but sometimes the journey takes longer than we imagined. I’m rooting for all of you, and I hope you get to experience this feeling soon! 🥹

what are some good clinical jobs for someone who's good at english skills like reading and writing and analysis? I also enjoy light math and want to become a doctor (obviously or why am I here right). I also am very methodical and would enjoy a job like sterile processing tech or surgical tech.

My last healthcare job was nursing lab technician at a university and I enjoyed that.

Thanks!

(TX RESIDENT, I plan on applying in state exclusively)

I have about 1000 clinical hours under my belt, (projected 2.5/3k at time of apps), anticipating five publications (secondary and tertiary author on all of them) with about 500 hours of research (est. @ time of apps), 150 shadowing hrs (est @ time of apps), also hoping to gain about 600/500 hours in volunteering, only leadership would be my research lab (lead RA, trained other RAs and delegates tasks) confirmed strong LOR from a prominent physician in TX, an anesthesiologist, and my lab supervisor, hoping to graduate with a 3.7/3.8 cGPA, immigrant and URM.

My issue is I’m currently failing ochem, and likely will have hella Bs on my transcript this semester. (At least two for sure) and my science gpa sucks because I failed an A&P course my first semester of college.

This might sound tone deaf, but I’m extremely anxious about applying. I committed to premed late in my college career, I had about a year left of my psychology degree, and decided to commit to premed. I’m taking upper level science courses (physics, ochem, biochem, etc) for the remainder of my college career & praying that I won’t tank my gpa.

title 🫠 feeling pretty sad after my first II turned into a WL... don't know how to get out of the funk or how to know things will turn out ok?

going to try to not create a bunch of slob but..
for my entire life i have only ever dreamed of becoming a physician and everything and anything i have ever worked for throughout has been for that sole goal. i am now in my 4th year of undergrad expected to graduate in the summer, working, and studying for the mcat and throughout the last few months reality hit me that i need to come to terms with the huge life decision i am making. obviously have done my research on this path for awhile, i have shadowed a ton, and early on in my first year made sure to familiarize myself with the very long and difficult realistic journey of becoming a physician. ive made it this far but now i am torn in what to do. becoming a physician is all i have ever wanted and still want but as someone who also values a work life balance i have came to see how medicine does not offer that and how much of myself i will have to give away and make work my whole life.
which is when i started to consider becoming a PA a few months ago.. however, my fear is that if i continue on the PA route i will live my entire life in regret wondering why i didn’t accomplish my dreams (my journey towards medicine has been deeply personally motivated as well which plays a part).

idk very torn and don’t know what to do rn but im at a point where i kind of should be deciding what direction i want to head towards. i have all my clinical hours, research, ecs, prereqs, and all complete just need to decide if i should take the mcat.

i am also first gen student and the eldest daughter of my immigrant household and navigating this journey has been especially difficult and i just want to make sure i am making the right decisions..

Hi! I'm a freshman and I'm still trying to find the stuff I need for my med application. I was able to become a freshmen rep for an advocate club that is a chapter of an international org, but I was also offered a position to join the advisory committee for AMWA.

I'm just curious if there is a recommended amount of club leadership positions premeds should have. I'm aware that quality matters more than quantity and therefore I fear that taking the second position would look like resume padding.

At the first club i'd probably be taking after the marketing director and the second I'd be organizing events.

Any advice on whether I should take or leave the latter or former position would be much appreciated!