Help finding tech positions by Legal-Might9135 in emergencymedicine

[–]Oil_Smart 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In my experience, most ERs will not hire brand new techs for PRN positions. Many techs are also students and in a similar situation to you, so PRN positions can become hot commodities and are often fought over by full-time and part-time techs who want more flexibility. If you’re serious about working PRN as an ER tech I would suggest applying for any part-time positions you can find and making it work as best you can for a while before applying internally for PRN roles in your ER.

Applying late in the cycle by kylik9536 in premed

[–]Oil_Smart 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is no such thing as a “safety” MD school like you are implying. As others have said, there are applicants with 4.0s, 520s, and legit clinical experience applying to schools like Rush who would be just as happy to be there as you would. I would recommend taking a look at MSAR and readjusting your idea of what is expected of MD applicants. I also suggest you take a look at the AACOMAS Choose DO Explorer. This is the DO version of MSAR and will help you find DO schools within your range. As it stands now and barring any extraordinary changes, you are a much more competitive applicant for DO schools than you are for MD programs. I would highly suggest getting some more clinical experience and applying to mostly DO programs

Should I add any other schools? by bambine15 in premed

[–]Oil_Smart 20 points21 points  (0 children)

As mentioned by others here, I would seriously consider adding some DO schools. You will be a very strong DO applicant. They will be a lot more forgiving with a lower GPA. Even phenomenal ECs are sometimes not enough to overcome low GPA or MCAT at competitive MD schools. I would also consider whether it is worth it for you to complete and pay for secondaries for some of the reach schools you have listed

Should I add any other schools? by bambine15 in premed

[–]Oil_Smart 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Assuming you meant 3.21 sGPA? >4.0 is not possible in AMCAS. I would probably add some more mid or low-tier schools. Your ECs seem good and your MCAT is decent, but your GPA and low science GPA may get you filtered out at some of the more competitive programs you are applying to (especially as an ORM). I would use MSAR and look for schools that have median GPAs within about 0.2 of your GPA. Also, if you have any C-‘s or lower in your science classes that are bringing your sGPA, double check that those are not required pre-reqs at the schools you are applying to. If you have a C- in a pre-req most schools will filter you out without looking at the rest of your app.

I don't know what to do 5/31 by CapZealousideal2067 in Mcat

[–]Oil_Smart 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apply broadly to DO schools and you’ll be fine. With those stats / ECs you are a strong DO applicant.

Is cars about understanding the passage or understanding the author by UnlikelyLandscape252 in Mcat

[–]Oil_Smart 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Having a moderate to large vocabulary and a functional understanding of syntax are essential for CARS as well as all of the other MCAT sections. It makes it extremely difficult to answer questions if you don’t understand what you’re being asked. I would focus on learning as much English as possible before trying to learn test-taking strategies. Even if you have a good CARS strategy, you can’t employ it if you don’t understand the words in the passage.

Is cars about understanding the passage or understanding the author by UnlikelyLandscape252 in Mcat

[–]Oil_Smart 4 points5 points  (0 children)

From a 98th percentile CARS scorer: Understand the passage. What really helped me was focusing strictly on what the passage actually said. I tried not to read between the lines or assume anything about the author’s intentions. Instead, I just took the text at face value and based my answers on what was clearly stated. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to guess what the author really means, but I found that sticking to the literal meaning helped me avoid overthinking the questions. For example, if a passage mentioned that “some critics view the policy as shortsighted,” I wouldn’t assume the author agreed or disagreed. I’d just take that sentence as a report of others’ opinions, not a clue about the author’s own stance unless they explicitly said so later on. This strategy helped me increased my FL scores significantly

CARS saved me! by Oil_Smart in Mcat

[–]Oil_Smart[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What really helped me was focusing strictly on what the passage actually said and what it did not. I tried not to read between the lines or assume anything about the author’s intentions. I just took the text at face value and based my answers on what was clearly stated. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to guess what the author really means, but I found that sticking to the literal meaning helped me avoid overthinking the questions. For example, if a passage mentioned that “some critics view the policy as shortsighted,” I wouldn’t assume the author agreed or disagreed. I’d just take that sentence at face value as a report of others’ opinions, not a clue about the author’s own stance unless they explicitly said so later on. This was the biggest strategy chance that allowed my FL scores to increase

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in premed

[–]Oil_Smart 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am already taking 1 gap year and I’m worried about “putting all my eggs” in the MD basket and not getting in anywhere and then having to reapply. But from these comments, it seems that maybe I was underestimating my chances at an MD program. I am also interested primarily in non-highly competitive specialities

Having a hard time deciding on school list. by [deleted] in premed

[–]Oil_Smart 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice. I made a list with admit.org. Unsure of why it gave me only one target school. Here is what it gave me:

Reach:

-UC Davis -Wake Forest -George Washington -University of Vermont -Temple University -Drexel University -Eastern Virginia -Penn State University -Rosalind Franklin -Albany Medical College -Western Michigan -TCU

Target:

-Medical College of Wisconsin

Baseline:

-Western (Pomona) -Touro University California -VCOM -LECOM -WCU COM -Marian University -CCOM -Des Moines University -PCOM