25 y.o male Caucasian, graduated in 2009 with a BS in Microbiology from Penn State
Did poorly as an undergraduate and I\'m trying very hard to make up for it
Undergraduate GPA: 2.91 Graduate GPA: 3.89 Total GPA: 3.04
MCAT: 32N V10 P12 B10
Extra-Curricular Activities
Research
Long Term Survival of Streptococcus pyogenes biofilms (2500 Hours)
For my M.S. thesis, I investigated the survival of S. pyogenes biofilms. I created and designed several hypotheses and worked mostly independently on this project. My advisor is impressed with my research and my conclusions, and admitted that I\'m starting to know the field better than her because I\'m up-to-date on my literature. We\'re hoping to get published. I\'m a 2nd author on a submitted paper being reviewed. I presented my research at 1 conference and 2 posters. I also have 2 semesters of undergraduate research which is pretty insignificant.
Shadowing
Shadowing (30 hours)
Shadowed two doctors. Chief of Rheumatology and an Infectious Disease doctor who ran an HIV clinic
Volunteer
2011-Present: Emergency Medical Services, EMT (100 hours)
Volunteer on my local non-profit emergency ambulance corp (Sub-urban/Urban).
Volunteer Firefighter for local fire department. I have about 500 hours of certifications. I have advanced certification in vehicle rescue, hazmat, swiftwater/marine rescue, ropes, & high angle rescue. I\'m also a licensed EMT, which makes me a bit of a \"hybrid\". I was promoted to a Lieutenant in 2011, which puts me directly in charge of a team of 3-6 people on a scene.
2007-Present: Fire Board Director/Fire Administrator (500 hours)
I\'m an elected Fire Board director, and chair of fire prevention, open house, and banquet hall committees. We have an annual budget of $600,000, and in the midst of a 2 million dollar renovation which helps bring ALS support to our fire district.
2009: Teaching Assistant (8hours/week)
Teaching assistant for a 100 level course in the Spring, and a 400 level course in the fall
2004-Present: Web Forum Administrator
I\'m an assistant administrator on a Top 15 web-based forum.
Work Experience
2010-Present: Huntington Learning Center (8 hours/week)
Math and Science tutor on the weekends.
1999-2010: Garden Center Assistant Manager
This is my family business. I worked a lot in junior high/high school, then worked when I could during college to help pay for it. I\'ll still do a weekend or a few days when the season it busy
I took a lot of courses with him, and he became a good friend. We kept in contact after I graduated, and he was thrilled to write me a letter. I was a TA for him, and I did 2 research projects for one of his classes (1 required and 1 extra). I also helped him for a science camp that he runs.
Medical School Block Director, Microbiology Professor, Research Mentor
M.S. thesis advisor. She can be frustrated when she\'s busy, but she likes me overall and loves my research. She\'ll write me a great letter.
Senior Professor of Microbiology, Medical School
I did very well in her classes, and talked to her a lot afterwards. I did a graduate student seminar with her on a very tough paper that was way out of my comfort zone, and she thought I was outstanding. When I asked her to write, she was delighted but said she\'s disappointed I wasn\'t staying.
Fire Chief
He\'s known me for 7 years, and is practically a great friend. He\'s a high school teacher and president of various state-wide institutions.
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/19/2012
Undergraduate college: The Pennsylvania State University
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Institution: Temple University School of Medicine
Area of Study: Biological/Life Sciences
Degree Obtained: M.S.
Total MCAT SCORE: 513
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 127,
C/P 129,
CARS 127
Overall GPA: 3.04
Science GPA: 3.03
Summary of Application Experience
Applying to DO and MD schools
Applied, Withdrew
Michigan State University (DO)
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: Yes
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: No
Summary of Experience:
Crazy application fee, did not consider my humanities credits, absurd OOS tuition, hassle for LORs. I also realized I couldn\'t afford the flight to attend an interview.
Summary of Experience:
Very nice admissions staff. I think I bombed the interview. I got the impression that my interviewer thought I was applying DO as a backup as my knowledge of OMM is limited and I don\'t have a DO letter - he was a big OMM. Ironically, talking about OMM I became genuinely interested in it.
