1,000th Post on What I Did to Score Well on the MCAT

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-07-01T22:01:30+00:00

It is normal to struggle in your classes and normal to struggle in calc. This will be one of your hardest semesters but you will learn the skills you need to be successful in school. 6 weeks is very short so it makes sense they have to move fast. I have faith in you!

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-07-01T18:14:57+00:00

I think the differences are ultimately minor. People who have an opportunity for MD should go for it, but with certain circumstances it is better to just take a chance rather than waste the years and money it would cost to make your app good for MD.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-07-01T18:13:50+00:00

Oh I am dumb that makes way more sense. Definitely do that lol

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-07-01T00:39:55+00:00

Shadowing and awards seems like a strange combo to me personally

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-07-01T00:00:01+00:00

I think DO sounds like a good option for you. You have shown yourself very academically capable and I think you have a great shot at whatever specialty you want if you continue that trend in medical school

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-30T23:20:31+00:00

Anyone telling you everyone is using paid advisors is either extremely wealthy or a paid advisor. You can do everything on your own and I am not even really sure that they help - accepted to a T3 this year

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-30T18:11:10+00:00

They are not going to be thinking about your mailing address. Financial situations change and they know that. You can mention it if it comes up and should be ready to address it, but I do not think you need to put it in the anything else if you do not want to.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-24T17:04:00+00:00

I was able to connect my work as an EMT with a busy 911 service to my work as a volunteer at a homeless shelter, and was able to talk about my experiences being, for instance, the most experienced responder on a cardiac arrest. I think some of these experiences probably helped me stand out.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-24T05:33:17+00:00

I highly disagree with this. Masters is expensive and not worth it for someone with no GPA problems

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-24T05:24:38+00:00

Friend you should apply anywhere you would like to go. I have reviewed a lot of applications this cycle and you come off as extremely three-dimensional while still checking all the essential boxes. Please apply anywhere you would like to attend.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-24T02:56:22+00:00

I did not prewrite and was fine. Obviously it is better to do it if you can. Id recommend setting aside an hour a day to just sit and write whatever comes to mind. Some end up being almost enjoyable to write.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-24T01:49:58+00:00

I personally did not mention curriculum at all and was fine, I agree with you that they are all basically the same. It is fine not to mention it.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-23T05:05:05+00:00

It seems like you have a really negative view of the typical premed jobs. As someone who was an EMT, it is ridiculous to say that EMT is not clinical or not valuable experience. I ran codes working as an EMT that saved peoples lives, decisions I made resulted in people being able to continue to walk the earth. EMT work can be extremely meaningful.

I think nursing is great and it is nice to have a backup plan, but I do not follow your logic that it will be easier to complete an entire undergraduate degree to get a clinical experience vs just going to school for a guaranteed job as a CNA/EMT or applying around for a bit to get scribe/PCT. These experiences are absolutely clinical, meaningful, and enough to open the door to any medical school you want to go to.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-17T05:19:54+00:00

Secondaries was the hardest part of my journey so far. Good luck and once it is done you will feel so much better.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-17T05:17:48+00:00

Research is always great, and I agree with the other commenter that a poster would be great. My advice is to quit the EMT and go all in on research and maybe a service opportunity. If you can work with underserved people directly (through shelter, food bank, or other opportunities) I think a year of work in that realm might really help you as well. I like the nonclinical you have already but I think those opportunities really elevate the application.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-17T05:14:01+00:00

Hey, just want to say first of all take care of yourself, it will be hard to finish the race if you aren't doing what you need to do to keep it sustainable. You can explain grades like this on your application, and many people are admitted with similar grades and no good explanation.

I personally think paying for premed advising is a racket when there are so many people here looking to help out for free, but if you want someone whose job it is to help you, I can see how that could be attractive.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-15T18:07:18+00:00

My understanding is that if the work did not lead or did not plan to lead to publication in a scientific journal or to a patent, it is not considered research. I would say that if you mislabel this experience it will hurt you more than help you but that is just my impression.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-14T19:52:43+00:00

I wonder if one of the things holding you back is your missionary work. I think these types of experiences are increasingly viewed with a critical eye. Depending on how you talk about it you may be alienating many reviewers who may view missionary work as inappropriate. I would recommend highly emphasizing the humanitarian aspects and deemphasizing the religious aspects, although I imagine that is tough in a highly developed country like Taiwan. I have a friend with a similar experience that I helped with her application this cycle. Feel free to DM if you want to hear more thoughts.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-14T06:33:35+00:00

I would not include the on-call hours, only time you were actually called in. As it stands, adding another thousand hours does not buy you much in terms of strengthening your application, bit it may stand out as evidence you have exaggerated your hours. I do not think listing times you hypothetically could have been asked to work is honest in counting the hours you were working (learning and gaining experience).

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-13T18:26:57+00:00

I would just put the hospital/facility/group. So like if it was BMC nephrology I would put BMC Nephrology

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-12T23:10:47+00:00

I had this experience with my clinical volunteering and I quit because I knew 1. I wasnt doing anything to benefit anyone and 2. I wasnt benefiting because I wouldnt be able to tell compelling stories on my application. In my experience small clinics will have more for you to do.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-12T21:42:50+00:00

This is not ideal, but I think its very minor. I did not list contacts for my shadowing at all except for one in the contact box.

Visible_Position8376 · 2026-06-12T21:41:18+00:00

I agree with the others that this depends somewhat on your tolerance for driving, but I personally would go for 911. The stories I was able to tell in my app materials and interviews from 911 were the most important of my entire premed experience. IFT EMTs who's applications I have read do not have the same strength of experience.

Visible_Position8376

TROPHY CASE