MD Am I Being Too Ambitious ?

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Hello all, after receiving my July 27 MCAT scores and awaiting my primaries to be verified I have been trying to finalize my list of school to apply to.

-I have both a sGPA and cGPA of 4.0/4.0
-MCAT: 39Q

I have been a 5 yr member/3 yr starter at a major Div. 1 football program, as well as a member of our team's elected leadership council. I was named an Academic All-American as well as an All-Conference selection for 2 years, I have roughly 300 hours shadowing of various specialties, was heavily involved in our program's "service" program, and was facilitated the development of an athlete-lead organization that works to promote rare diseases. To name a few of ECs.

I am currently considering applying to:
Mayo
Stanford
U. of Chicago
U. of Colorado
U. of Michigan
Harvard
and 2-3 state schools

My biggest concern is that I am not competitive in regards to research for some of my "dream" schools. Given my demanding schedule due to athletics, it was never feasible to commit to a research position.

Am I being too ambitious in thinking that I have a chance of being competitive at some of these schools, or does this list seem feasible based on the vague stats that I have provided ?

Originally Posted by fisher42

Hello all, after receiving my July 27 MCAT scores and awaiting my primaries to be verified I have been trying to finalize my list of school to apply to.

-I have both a sGPA and cGPA of 4.0/4.0
-MCAT: 39Q

I have been a 5 yr member/3 yr starter at a major Div. 1 football program, as well as a member of our team's elected leadership council. I was named an Academic All-American as well as an All-Conference selection for 2 years, I have roughly 300 hours shadowing of various specialties, was heavily involved in our program's "service" program, and was facilitated the development of an athlete-lead organization that works to promote rare diseases. To name a few of ECs.

I am currently considering applying to:
Mayo
Stanford
U. of Chicago
U. of Colorado
U. of Michigan
Harvard
and 2-3 state schools

My biggest concern is that I am not competitive in regards to research for some of my "dream" schools. Given my demanding schedule due to athletics, it was never feasible to commit to a research position.

Am I being too ambitious in thinking that I have a chance of being competitive at some of these schools, or does this list seem feasible based on the vague stats that I have provided ?

Nope your definitely competitive for those schools. Good job im sure you worked your tail off for those stats

Originally Posted by fisher42

Hello all, after receiving my July 27 MCAT scores and awaiting my primaries to be verified I have been trying to finalize my list of school to apply to.

-I have both a sGPA and cGPA of 4.0/4.0
-MCAT: 39Q

I have been a 5 yr member/3 yr starter at a major Div. 1 football program, as well as a member of our team's elected leadership council. I was named an Academic All-American as well as an All-Conference selection for 2 years, I have roughly 300 hours shadowing of various specialties, was heavily involved in our program's "service" program, and was facilitated the development of an athlete-lead organization that works to promote rare diseases. To name a few of ECs.

I am currently considering applying to:
Mayo
Stanford
U. of Chicago
U. of Colorado
U. of Michigan
Harvard
and 2-3 state schools

My biggest concern is that I am not competitive in regards to research for some of my "dream" schools. Given my demanding schedule due to athletics, it was never feasible to commit to a research position.

Am I being too ambitious in thinking that I have a chance of being competitive at some of these schools, or does this list seem feasible based on the vague stats that I have provided ?

Harvard, and especially Stanford look for applicants with strong research backgrounds. If you see the statistic for most top tier schools the majority of students will have some research background.

Your lack of research will significantly hold you back at the top tier schools, though that's not to say you won't get interviews.

If a top-tier school is something you are really gunning for, consider picking up a research job this year and if your luck with this application cycle doesn't pan out, apply again next year. With more research, preferably a publication, under your belt, you would be in very strong contention for all the top-tiers.

I guess I was just hoping that being very active in a major college sport would compensate for the lack of research, as adcomms may recognize the difficulties in trying to accomplish both simultaneously.

Originally Posted by fisher42

I guess I was just hoping that being very active in a major college sport would compensate for the lack of research, as adcomms may recognize the difficulties in trying to accomplish both simultaneously.

Most general advice regarding research, volunteering, etc. applies to average applicants. You are not an average applicant, even of top schools, due to your athletic accomplishments. I don't think your lack of research would keep you out of anything other than MD/PhD programs. You might not have as good of a shot at the top research schools as someone with te same stats, same level of extra curriculars, and research, but simply maintaining that GPA while involved with that level of athletic achievement will likely be plenty to make top schools want you.

That said, top schools are never a guarantee for anyone, so be sure to apply to some "back up" schools as well as the research powerhouses just in case.

Eta, if you do have the time to fit research in before you apply, definitely do so as it will only help you. Just don't avoid applying to top schools because most of their students have research while you do not.

Originally Posted by theseeker4

Most general advice regarding research, volunteering, etc. applies to average applicants. You are not an average applicant, even of top schools, due to your athletic accomplishments. I don't think your lack of research would keep you out of anything other than MD/PhD programs. You might not have as good of a shot at the top research schools as someone with te same stats, same level of extra curriculars, and research, but simply maintaining that GPA while involved with that level of athletic achievement will likely be plenty to make top schools want you.

Vast majority of people in top-tiers have some research background, and those who do not usually are postbacs or have something else extremely significant. Collegiate athletics is not enough to stand out I don't think. If you are missing a research background, you are reducing your chances 10 fold as I would say something like 90% of students at top tiers have done at least some research, even minimal stuff i.e. summer research.

Harvard/Stanford tend to look for very heavy research, such as people who have published and have significant research experiences counting in years.

I have no doubts that you will get at least a couple acceptances from that list of schools.

Congrats, your sports career put you over the top when coupled with those stats.

U Mich may have already accepted you.

Originally Posted by fisher42

Hello all, after receiving my July 27 MCAT scores and awaiting my primaries to be verified I have been trying to finalize my list of school to apply to.

-I have both a sGPA and cGPA of 4.0/4.0
-MCAT: 39Q

I have been a 5 yr member/3 yr starter at a major Div. 1 football program, as well as a member of our team's elected leadership council. I was named an Academic All-American as well as an All-Conference selection for 2 years, I have roughly 300 hours shadowing of various specialties, was heavily involved in our program's "service" program, and was facilitated the development of an athlete-lead organization that works to promote rare diseases. To name a few of ECs.

I am currently considering applying to:
Mayo
Stanford
U. of Chicago
U. of Colorado
U. of Michigan
Harvard
and 2-3 state schools

My biggest concern is that I am not competitive in regards to research for some of my "dream" schools. Given my demanding schedule due to athletics, it was never feasible to commit to a research position.

Am I being too ambitious in thinking that I have a chance of being competitive at some of these schools, or does this list seem feasible based on the vague stats that I have provided ?

I can't think of a reason why someone wouldn't interview you unless you completely botched the essays... lol

4.0/4.0/39 cannot be too ambitious.

Well thank you...I just wanted to talk to others who are knowledgable on the subject because, as I am paying for most of the application process on my own, I don't want to unjustly apply to schools for which I'm not qualified.

Yeah, I can't say there's anything not worth taking a shot at.

Originally Posted by fisher42

Well thank you...I just wanted to talk to others who are knowledgable on the subject because, as I am paying for most of the application process on my own, I don't want to unjustly apply to schools for which I'm not qualified.

You're qualified everywhere, don't worry.

4.0/39 as a Div I starter player? Pics or it didn't happen.

Originally Posted by notbobtrustme

4.0/39 as a Div I starter player? Pics or it didn't happen.

I agree. I'm calling bull **** on this one.

Originally Posted by notbobtrustme

4.0/39 as a Div I starter player? Pics or it didn't happen.

GPA is easy to believe since athletes get free grades all the time. MCAT not so much.

Originally Posted by MedPR

GPA is easy to believe since athletes get free grades all the time. MCAT not so much.

even so, the average GPA of division 1 football players is abysmal.

Originally Posted by MedPR

GPA is easy to believe since athletes get free grades all the time. MCAT not so much.

C'mon now... That is completely unnecessary. I have never been given anything from an academic standpoint. I wasn't coming on here to try and boost my ego or brag about stats that are false... Just wanted an honest assessment given the differences in my app from others who apply to top tier schools.

Yeah seriously no need to be jealous everyone. The only way i would be semi not impressed by his GPA was if he was a Communications major or something but even STILL doing pre med requisites makes it very hard to nail a 4.0 with athletics.

Congrats OP on the amazing stats. Don't listen to the non-athletic jealous pre-meds.

Originally Posted by SixStringPsych

Yeah seriously no need to be jealous everyone. The only way i would be semi not impressed by his GPA was if he was a Communications major or something but even STILL doing pre med requisites makes it very hard to nail a 4.0 with athletics.

Congrats OP on the amazing stats. Don't listen to the non-athletic jealous pre-meds.

I played baseball my first few years in college and I can confirm that making a 4.0/39 while playing a sport is definitely something to be proud of. I cant imagine any adcoms who understand the rigors and time commitment of playing a sport at the college level will hold anything against you.

Originally Posted by fisher42

C'mon now... That is completely unnecessary. I have never been given anything from an academic standpoint. I wasn't coming on here to try and boost my ego or brag about stats that are false... Just wanted an honest assessment given the differences in my app from others who apply to top tier schools.

bull****. If you truly do have a 4.0/39, then you obviously know what your chances are.

Your MCAT will tell you that you are in the 99%+ percentile. You have a perfect GPA. Asking WAMC is akin to asking if water is wet.

This is either a brag thread or a troll thread. And given that I've seen what division 3 basketball does to player's GPA, there's almost no way you have a 4.0 playing Division I football.

To put this in perspective, I'd believe a WAMC thread posted by Vladmir Putin asking what his chances are than a 4.0/39 from a Div I player.

I understand that the numbers alone would indicate that I would have a chance at some of these schools, but as it has been frequently said on these forums, getting into some of those schools is about more than numbers. I am just looking for advice from those who have actually been admitted to medical school, as they are likely to be more knowledgable than myself...I'm not looking to get told that my accomplishments are BS.

Be careful throwing around blanket statements like this. I know the prevailing number of div 1 football players give those of us that work hard in school a bad name. But that does not mean that every single player in the country is a communications major who thinks they are going to the NFL. I'm not lokig to prove to anyone that I am telling the truth, because doing so would indicate that I have intentions other than simply asking for advice.