Five Years To Graduate

Bigredmed
Wed, 06 May 2009 20:04:06 +0000

You’ve got a “reason” for sticking around, so I wouldn’t worry about it. D-1 sports usually capture most people’s eye.

Your race does help you. Commonly, we talk of “the index” here (MCAT score + GPA *10=index), and that being an African American means you can between 8-10 points. Native American’s might be able to add even more. You’re a competitive applicant as it is already, but with your race factored in, you’re in an even better position.

Are you starting your fourth year in the fall? Or are you at the point where you’d be graduating NOW if you were done in 4?

If you’re in the former, you’ve got your senior year to essentially buff your application - continue to volunteer, continue to shadow, continue to accrue leadership positions or experiences, and then start working on a drafts of a personal statement (why did you decide on a career in medicine), and prepare for interviews (mock interviews through your school’s career services office). This assumes you’d be graduating in 2011.

If you would normally be graduating now, but are taking the extra year to play ball, you need to get on your AMCAS application this summer so you can submit it by early July (July 2009 since I’m assuming you want to graduate in 2010, then start med school in the fall of 2010).