Middling Public School 4.0/~35

[acquiescing]

I won't have my MCAT score back for another week, but my practice MCATs were 36+. I have a 4.0, but it is at a not so highly esteemed public school (85-100 in USNews; 30-40 out of public schools) in the SEC. My degree will be in chemical engineering, so I imagine that could help as far as undergrad's impact on perceived GPA, but I'm wondering how much impact the name might have on my entire application. I want to tailor my application list accordingly.

TX Resident
4.0/upper 30s (38 avg based on 5 practice exams, but still a guess)
Engineering degree at a large public school in the SEC

Significant ECs
Extensive research - full-time job in the summer and ~15 hrs/wk during school (one paper submitted, not published yet as second author)
Member of the marching band
One day a week volunteering at a free healthcare clinic
Tutor and volunteer-coordinator at an after-school program
Youth basketball coach

Schools:
UTHSCSA
UTMB
UT-Houston
UTSW
Baylor
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVa
Mt. Sinai
Hopkins
Harvard

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[Ace-Co-A]

Home state?

 

[acquiescing]

Home state?

Texas

 

[Lamel]

How much clinical do you have?

If you get a 36+, stats wise you will be good for any school.

 

[acquiescing]

How much clinical do you have?

I shadowed in clinic a little over 100 hours a few summers ago. And I am in the volunteer clinic every Tuesday interacting with patients and observing as well as actually helping run the place. I think my clinical experience is the weak part of my application.

 

[Goro]

Come back when you have your MCAT score, please.

I won't have my MCAT score back for another week, but my practice MCATs were 36+. I have a 4.0, but it is at a not so highly esteemed public school (85-100 in USNews; 30-40 out of public schools) in the SEC. My degree will be in chemical engineering, so I imagine that could help as far as undergrad's impact on perceived GPA, but I'm wondering how much impact the name might have on my entire application. I want to tailor my application list accordingly.

TX Resident
4.0/upper 30s (38 avg based on 5 practice exams, but still a guess)
Engineering degree at a large public school in the SEC

Significant ECs
Extensive research - full-time job in the summer and ~15 hrs/wk during school (one paper submitted, not published yet as second author)
Member of the marching band
One day a week volunteering at a free healthcare clinic
Tutor and volunteer-coordinator at an after-school program
Youth basketball coach

Schools:
UTHSCSA
UTMB
UT-Houston
UTSW
Baylor
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVa
Mt. Sinai
Hopkins
Harvard

 

[acquiescing]

Come back when you have your MCAT score, please.

I know that's a huge part, but I will be applying without it in yet, so that doesn't really help me. Hence my best guess. For timeliness sake let's assume I did poorly (against my average) and got a 33-34.

 

[Goro]

OK, with a 4.0 and 36 MCAT, the sky's the limit. Your list is fine, and you should also consider Pitt, Duke, NYU, BU, Yale, Cornell, Columbia, UCLA, UCSD, Rochester, Dartmouth, Wash U, Brown, U Chicago, Northwestern, Mayo, Case, U MI, U CO, and U AZ


UTHSCSA
UTMB
UT-Houston
UTSW
Baylor
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVa
Mt. Sinai
Hopkins
Harvard[/QUOTE]

 

[Lamel]

I know that's a huge part, but I will be applying without it in yet, so that doesn't really help me. Hence my best guess. For timeliness sake let's assume I did poorly (against my average) and got a 33-34.

Well you can apply to one "throw away" school as soon as possible, so you get verified. Then when your MCAT comes in you can add schools that are within range. Depending on your MCAT, it will be best to look at MSAR and find schools that are similar, safer, etc.

I shadowed in clinic a little over 100 hours a few summers ago. And I am in the volunteer clinic every Tuesday interacting with patients and observing as well as actually helping run the place. I think my clinical experience is the weak part of my application.

I think your clinical sounds great, as long as the volunteering in the clinic has been for a decent amount of time so you can talk about it/write about it well.

 

[acquiescing]

I think your clinical sounds great, as long as the volunteering in the clinic has been for a decent amount of time so you can talk about it/write about it well.

Yeah, my pre-med advisors don't like the fact that most of my clinic experience has been as a volunteer not only a shadow, so that has unnerved me. When my MCAT comes in my list may expand, we'll see.

 

[Lamel]

Yeah, my pre-med advisors don't like the fact that most of my clinic experience has been as a volunteer not only a shadow, so that has unnerved me. When my MCAT comes in my list may expand, we'll see.

Don't listen to them. You have 100 hours of shadowing. Unless it was before college, you're fine.

 

[DokterMom]

Do you really want to pay $2,500 more per year for 10 years in student loan payments to go OOS? For your OOS schools, aim at schools you'd prefer that much ($$$) over UTSW/Baylor/UTH and/or schools who would prefer you so much that they'd throw $40,000 per year at you in financial aid. That's probably a pretty small list. If your MCAT comes in 38+, then the list might get longer.

If you get a 34+ on your MCAT, you're probably golden for UTSW, UTH and very possibly also Baylor -- all great schools. Apply to the other TX MDs as your safeties, just in case your MCAT comes in below what you expect.

 

[acquiescing]

Do you really want to pay $2,500 more per year for 10 years in student loan payments to go OOS? For your OOS schools, aim at schools you'd prefer that much ($$$) over UTSW/Baylor/UTH and/or schools who would prefer you so much that they'd throw $40,000 per year at you in financial aid. That's probably a pretty small list. If your MCAT comes in 38+, then the list might get longer.

If you get a 34+ on your MCAT, you're probably golden for UTSW, UTH and very possibly also Baylor -- all great schools. Apply to the other TX MDs as your safeties, just in case your MCAT comes in below what you expect.

For me the location is the reason for many of the OOS schools. I have a few connections in the South that I don't know if I want to be leaving in a year and the SO might have more opportunities in those areas. Finances will be a secondary concern but the primary is location, location, location and that may be worth the money dependent on the situation.

Also take into account that I am applying to a lot of schools, but Baylor/UTSW are my clear first choices as of now. So I agree with your sentiments in general.

 

[acquiescing]

Come back when you have your MCAT score, please.

39. Any further suggestions?

 

[gyngyn]

39. Any further suggestions?

Apply to any OOS school you would pay an extra 50K/annum to attend.

 

[Goro]

Start with all TX schools, especially Baylor and UTSW.

You're good ANYWHERE except the low tiers, who won't think they can attract you to come.

So where do you want to go?


Your list is fine, and you should also consider Pitt, Duke, NYU, BU, Yale, Cornell, Columbia, UCLA, UCSD, Rochester, Dartmouth, Wash U, Brown, U Chicago, Northwestern, Mayo, Case, U MI, U CO, and U AZ
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVa
Mt. Sinai
Hopkins
Harvard

 

[DokterMom]

Apply to any OOS school you would pay an extra 50K/annum to attend.

Congratulations on the 39!

So if you want to go OOS and your reason is your SO, your job is to find a school and/or city that will take you both and throw money at you. Is she applying to medical school? And if so, when? What state? And how competitive an applicant is she?

Rather than handicap your own future with huge amounts of debt, and assuming you're serious about her, what about having her move to Texas and take a gap year? That way, if she's a med student, she'll save on tuition also, plus have a decent chance of getting into a good school near you.

 

[acquiescing]

She's a chemical engineer from Texas who will go into industry most likely. However, she's also a varsity soccer player and has two more years of eligibility. It's something we will discuss, but I'm applying in the southeast mainly to keep those options open. That's my reason for applying, but the future and where I actually matriculate is up in the air. Texas schools have a huge head start. I just want to have options to accommodate both of our futures, whatever they may be.

 

[acquiescing]

Start with all TX schools, especially Baylor and UTSW.

You're good ANYWHERE except the low tiers, who won't think they can attract you to come.

So where do you want to go?


Your list is fine, and you should also consider Pitt, Duke, NYU, BU, Yale, Cornell, Columbia, UCLA, UCSD, Rochester, Dartmouth, Wash U, Brown, U Chicago, Northwestern, Mayo, Case, U MI, U CO, and U AZ
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVa
Mt. Sinai
Hopkins
Harvard

I know this is a big stretch, but with my score now are there any schools that could potentially offer me scholarships? I have read that scholarships do happen, but I feel I'm on the lower end of that spectrum and I don't have any really fascinating extra-curriculars. Just trying to finalize my list and I don't have the money but to pay for a couple more schools (max 3 probably).

Current updated list:
UTHSC SA
UTHSC Houston
UTMB
UTSW
Baylor
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVirginia
UChicago
Icahn
UCSF
Hopkins
Harvard

 

[baxt1412]

congrats on the 39. I can't comment on any of the schools, but again... congrats. you've obviously worked hard and now you will reap the benefits.

 

[Goro]

Sorry, don't know anything about scholarships. Suggest asking in the school-specific threads if they do.

Does Public Health Service still offer them?

I know this is a big stretch, but with my score now are there any schools that could potentially offer me scholarships? I have read that scholarships do happen, but I feel I'm on the lower end of that spectrum and I don't have any really fascinating extra-curriculars. Just trying to finalize my list and I don't have the money but to pay for a couple more schools (max 3 probably).

Current updated list:
UTHSC SA
UTHSC Houston
UTMB
UTSW
Baylor
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVirginia
UChicago
Icahn
UCSF
Hopkins
Harvard

 

[acquiescing]

congrats on the 39. I can't comment on any of the schools, but again... congrats. you've obviously worked hard and now you will reap the benefits.

Thank you! Still super hesitant to be confident.

 

[baxt1412]

Thank you! Still super hesitant to be confident.

Only the Lord knows why! You are an excellent candidate assuming you don't interview like a dunce

 

[snowflakes]

I know this is a big stretch, but with my score now are there any schools that could potentially offer me scholarships? I have read that scholarships do happen, but I feel I'm on the lower end of that spectrum and I don't have any really fascinating extra-curriculars. Just trying to finalize my list and I don't have the money but to pay for a couple more schools (max 3 probably).

Current updated list:
UTHSC SA
UTHSC Houston
UTMB
UTSW
Baylor
Emory
Vanderbilt
UVirginia
UChicago
Icahn
UCSF
Hopkins
Harvard

Top 20 schools are going to be the most likely to have merit scholarship funding. With high numbers, good research involvement, and an overall well-rounded app as well as well written essays and a strong interview, you should be competitive for some. It also helps to have an interesting hobby.The schools I know of that offer the most scholarships are:

Penn (35 full tuition and more partial tuition)
WashU (I believe 18 full tuition, but not sure about the number. More scholarships available if you're a minority and/or a woman)
Duke
UChicago
UCLA (30 full cost of attendance scholarships, more full tuition scholarships)
Michigan
Vanderbilt
Pittsburgh
Northwestern (high numbers seem to be a prerequisite for consideration, moreso than other schools)
NYU (has a few full cost of attendance scholarships)
Case Western
Cleveland Clinic (32 students per class, full tuition scholarship to all 32)
Mayo (depending on the year may offer scholarship to all of its students)

You have a strong application, and I'd recommend applying to as many schools that you know offer lots of scholarships as you can, given you would attend with a scholarship. If you are a competitive applicant, it's hard to predict which school will offer you one, so it's definitely worth applying a bit broadly. Best of luck!

Edit: most schools will offer at least one scholarship, but above are the schools in the top 25 that have at least several. I do know that Cornell does not offer any merit aid, and I'm sure there are a couple other schools with a similar policy, but I am not sure which ones.

 

[DokterMom]

OK, so you're BOTH from TX and she's a Chem E. You know there are a ton of great and high-paying Chem E jobs in TX. I'm guessing the downside you're talking about is two years of physical separation while you'd go to med school and she'd finish her degree?

The only way to avoid that is for you to apply in whatever city she's in, but then that pretty much has her staying there for 2 extra years while you finish med school. Any good med schools in that city?

Or, apply in TX, and maybe she transfers? There are UTs in Dallas and San Antonio, or A&M of course. Or U of H, though admittedly, not the same caliber.

Or spend two years apart. People do it --