u/Certain-Belt-1524

wrong answers only

I spent a significant amount of time during my undergrad founding and being a president in a student organization, basically for my first 3 years of school. My issue is that:

a. This is a pretty big part of what I did outside of school for a while. If I were to put a number on it, I would say 750+ hours dedicated to the club overall. additionally, I and others organized multiple volunteering events where we served our local homeless community and give out harm reduction supplies. additionally, we organized 2 fundraisers for UNFPA of refugee children in Gaza. I gained a ton of leadership experience, I feel like I really did a lot for my community, and I mean it was just a really valuable experience.

b. This was/is a very political org, literally named Leftist Student Union, and a lot of our actions reflected that. I'm worried about how this will be percieved and obviously a lot, if not most, adcoms are not going to align with me politically.

c. I'm not sure if this would matter, but we actually almost (but did not) have the police called on us by our administration during a protest (completely non-violent and non-disruptive), but it was reported on in a fairly large regional publication of our nearby large city, so that info is def accessible, although my name is not mentioned (but i'm def in a picture or two in the article, but I think i had a mask on?)

My question is how should I approach this and has anyone had to deal with something similar? I don't know how to make it vague as to what my political leanings are or if I even should try to.

Hello all! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my profile and letting me know what you think about me applying this cycle!

Background: White, 22 Y/o straight male, very low SES raised in single parent household (dad died to cancer @ 8 years old), CO resident, BS in Bio, minor in chem and spanish from a respected small liberal arts school in OH

MCAT: Taking 5/30, but averaging 513 but I really think I can get up to 515 in time, have already gotten 516 on one FL

GPA: 3.74/3.6 (worried about this being a tad low, especially the science gpa, but i see very conflicting things about this

Hours:
- Paid Clinical: 500 + working here currently as a scribe (but pretty hands on for a scribe)

- Non-paid clinical: 50 hours as a hospital volunteer in an underserved area

- Volunteering: 150 hours (this is one of my big worries, as 100 of these hours is from january til now w/ me continuing, but i know it's really low, and also frankly i would have loved to do more but i have been living on my own since 18 and so i've had to for the most part just focus on being employed). Around 20 of these hours were during events that i organized while president of a club

- Research: 750 hours, planning on doing more w/ hopefully a pub, 5 poster presentations with one 1st place for my presentation @ a small symposium. research was focused on lung cancer in hispanic communities and lung cancer in LGBTQ+ communities

- Shadowing: 30 hours, this is another big weak spot

- Tutoring: 50 hours as a TA for orgo, 300 hours as a 1-1 peer tutor for Bio and Chem

- Leadership: 500+ hours as president of political club that I co-founded w/ two other people, 2 summers as a freshman orientation leader (made my own workshops in writing, planned out the 3 day trip), RA for 2 years. 1 semester as Spanish club VP

- Non-Clinical work: 2000+ hours between bartending, landscaping, and construction

- ECs: Rhythm guitarist in cover band for 2 years, A-capella group (bass and baritone if anyone is curious) for 4 years (performed at Groundhog day in Puxatauney PA for like 60K people!), animal rights activism (probably won't include this), biking, lifting (225 bench @ 155 (most important part of my app)), rock climbing, also interested in urban planning and interior design

LORS:
- Bio prof I'm super close with, did research w/ her and had 3 classes w/ her. Like a mom away from home (A, A-, A-)
- Chem prof I'm also close with, had her for 2 classes and she likes me (A, A-)

- Spanish prof who i'm also super close with who was ecstatic to write me an LOR (A-, A-)

- PI from research @ CU Anschutz, will be strong as well

- DO doctor who i scribe for

- MD who i shadowed and has known me my whole life

- Can get more if needed

Narritive: Really want to work w/ underserved people, and honestly really want to serve hispanic communities and use my spanish, as i'm functionally fluent and have been speaking since 6th grade. also from low SES, have had a lot of life experience for someone my age (moved out day i turned 18 and lived on my own for 6 months before college, working landscaping and construction). Basically i really have tried it all and there is nothing i want more than to be a doctor

My biggest concerns here and why im asking if i should apply:

A. My volunteering hours are low, and all very recent. My clinical hours are also all recent and relatively low. My shadowing hours are really low.

B. Taking my MCAT on the 30th, so I'd be applying blind. additionally because im working full time, studying for the mcat, and i've also just been dealing w/ being cheated on and breaking my collarbone, i have no writing done for my app so far, no PS written or anything, but I am a very very strong and fast writer. I just don't know if I can get it done in time and if there's a realistic time frame for me to apply?

if i should apply, i would love any suggestions for schools and if/how many DO i should apply to relative to MD? i really want to apply this cycle but i feel like im just borderline on my hours and what not