r/premedβ€’
Still-Barber-720

1st year wanting to get into top mdphd programs (applying in 3yrs), how's my plan?

β˜‘οΈ Extracurriculars

hi all, i'm in my first year of college shooting for top mstps. gonna apply to a shit ton (shotgun method is a w - i also applied to 50+ colleges lmao so ik how to shotgun). if someone could evaluate my plan for the next 3 yrs i'd really appreciate it πŸ™ looking for honest feedback or if i'm overlooking anything, etc. thank you!!

background & stats:

ORM πŸ’€, 4.0 GPA from CC (83 credits) from HS, now at a top undergrad (BME major), assume 3.9+ GPA and adequate MCAT (520+) cause i'm more worried about evaluating my activities plan rn

taking mcat summer after soph yr, trying to apply w/o gaps so these are projections i would have in 3 yrs

research:

  • 600 hrs summer before freshman yr, comp bio research (2 2nd author pubs since i did this for 2 yrs in hs)
  • 3-4k hrs in wet lab cell bio, 25 hrs/wk (hopefully get some pubs πŸ™)
  • several public health pubs & case reports (done + ongoing)
  • couple hundred hours clinical research
  • 1 poster + 2 orals at undergrad symposiums (already have), gonna apply to GCURS/BMES/NCURS later
  • gonna apply for fellowships but no guarantee

clinical:

  • 1.5k hrs volunteer EMT - getting cert this winter, ~1 12hr shift/wk
  • 400 hrs scribing over summers

extracurriculars:

  • 1k hrs educational: TA every semester starting this spring, tutoring (probably orgo tutor)
  • couple hundred hrs nonclinical volunteering w/ elderly & kids w/ disabilities (try to get leadership in these orgs + various campus tutoring orgs)
  • 6-700 hrs job tutoring SAT/ACT and college prep
  • couple hundred hours campus tour guide & admissions office
  • shadowing - i'll do this over breaks and stop at 50 hrs or smth

ik this depends on awards but is this plan ok? i feel like if i don't win anything substantial there's no way for me to stand out from everyone else with insane hours lol

Posted Sep 13, 2025, 10:43 PM UTC

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