On the right track??

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hey everyone, I just finished my spring semester of freshman year at The Schreyer Honors College of Penn State. I’m working hard to get into one of the nations top med. schools, and I was just wondering what you think I can do to improve my chances at such schools. </p>

<p>Education- Biology(neuroscience) major, economics minor
Pennsylvania State University (Schreyer Honors College) - 4.0 GPA
High School - 4.81 GPA (1510/2250 SATs)</p>

<p>Activities
Schreyer Representative to the UPUA- 2009
President and Founder of Thinking Before Drinking - 2008
UPUA Deputy Director of Multicultural Affairs- 2008
Member of SASA - 2008
Member of Pre-Med Society - 2008
Member of Springfield THON - 2008
Member of Schreyer Honors College Student Council - 2008</p>

<p>Work Experience
Lab Worker — 2007
Volunteered full-time in a lab focused on PCRs and DNA analysis.
Tutor — 2004-2008
Worked part-time as a tutor for students grades K-12.
Tutor — 2006-2008
Worked as a personal tutor for hire for numerous students living in Upper Dublin.</p>

<p>Awards and Recognitions
Winner of The President’s Freshman Award (2009)
Winner of Scholarship for best overall science student in my HS (2008)
Chemistry Olympiad School Finalist/Regional Competitor (2007)
Best German II Speaker in my County (2004)
National Merit Letter of Commendation (2007)
Gold-Key Winner of the Scholastic Writing Awards (2005)
AIME Qualifier (twice; 2007,2008)
Completion of Kumon Reading Program and Top 40 National Ranking (2004)
Publications in Creative Communications Journals (7 times; 2004-2008)</p>

<p>IMPORTANT NOTES: I will engage in research starting next semester. During my freshman year, I received an Underage Drinking Citation. After taking a class, the charge was dismissed, and it is now expunged (off my record). No institutional action was taken against me.</p>

<p>So basically, I have pretty heavy involvement in student government and I have founded an organization to teach underage students about drinking responsibly, but I’d like to know what major steps I should take sophomore year/this summer with regards to internships/shadowing/clinical experience, etc…</p>

<p>Are selective medical schools within my reach, and what long-term goals should I set with regards to my activities? For example, would taking 4th semester off and going overseas to work in a practice (this would carry into the summer) be worth it? What do you think I should do this summer? </p>

<p>I appreciate your feedback.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Well first of all, anything that you did in HS that you don’t still do in college can’t be put on your application. It seemed like you had quite a few things listed from before 2008. Your GPA is obviously spectacular, but you absolutely absolutely need clinical experience as well as some sort of volunteering. It’s good that you’re going to do research, and also good that you show initiative/leadership by founding an organization and being part of student gvnt. But you definitely need something medically related in order to be considered a good applicant.</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I’m actually about a semester ahead of my coursework, so I was thinking about going to South Africa and working in a clinic for a full semester and carrying into the summer. I think that would really give me the best idea possible of whether or not medicine is the right field for me, and if I choose to stick with it, it’ll hopefully show the adcoms that I’m dedicated to my decision.</p>

4

<p>Hey fellow SHC freshmen, haha. Not sure if I know you or not (looks like you were in Simmons this year b/c of springfield). Anyway, if you are still looking for a prof’s lab to get into in the fall, try the College of Ag on campus. Some really interesting stuff going on in the Tox, IID, and Food Sci labs on campus. They pay well too.</p>

5

<p>I go to Penn State and the Tox labs on campus usually pay really well, but I’m yet to find the best lab for getting lots of papers published.</p>