School List Help 3.9 GPA 37MCAT

[NorthOfBroad]

Hi everyone,
This is my first time here and I was looking for school list advice. I unfortunately get no help from my advising office which says I can apply to only the Johns Hopkins and Harvard's of the world. I am mainly concerned I do not have enough 'target' schools. Anyway I was hoping I could get some creating a school list and I appreciate any insights.

Biochem major, history minor at Large State University, PA resident
cGPA- ~3.9, sGPA- ~4.0
MCAT (8/2/14)- 37 (14PS 12V 11BS)
ECs:
Research for 4 semester during the school year 2 posters at University fair, (~800hrs), 'strong' LOR
Research at UPenn last summer (will be returning this summer)- No pubs (~400hrs) 'strong' LOR
Volunteering- 250hrs at ED, ~500hrs at hospital that I started in high school and volunteered through college with (not sure how I will put this on my app)
Shadowing- 40hrs with Cardiologist, 20hrs with surgeon, hopefully with another physician before I apply
Chemistry club- Treasurer, Public Relations, Social Chair (3 years)
Pediatric Cancer Dance Marathon- 80 hrs
Philanthropy club for Children in need- Service Chair (1 year)
Worked at theme park for 2 summers in college (started in high school, but will probably only put college work experience)
Club Sports athlete


School List:
Sidney Kimmel SOM
Penn State
Temple
USC
Baylor
Boston University
Giesel Dartmouth
Hofstra
Drexel
TCMC
Wake Forrest
Rochester
Loyola
Rush
Penn
Stanford
UCSF
Michigan
UCLA

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[Faha]

Good list. You could add some more reach schools if there are any that interest you.

 

[tenniseagle92]

My best piece of advice: you can literally NEVER predict which top schools will like your app and which won't. I'm sure a really experienced person could find common threads that each top school looks for (i.e. Stanford loves research), but the best way to make a case is to apply as broadly as possible. You're qualified for all top schools, so I would apply to any top 20/30 schools that interest you. Why not add Hopkins/Harvard/Duke/Yale/Chicago? Unless you don't like the areas, I say go for it. Also, with your stats you'd probably qualify for an automatic secondary at Vanderbilt (3.8./37 screen this year), so that couldn't hurt either.

You are not limited in anywhere you apply, so congrats! You list is possibly a little bottom heavy...I only say that because a school like Drexel that gets 13k apps will likely think you won't go there because you'll end up at a better school (and chances are you will). Break down your preference by region...since you're from Philly, Penn State, Jeff, Temple, and TCMC should be good target/safeties for you.

Again, I can't stress applying broadly enough. Some kids have incredibly unique apps and get in everywhere, and some kids have really rough luck and only get into a few schools even though they're highly qualified. The vast majority of us, though, will get lucky at a few places. As a point of reference, a few top 10 schools accepted me and offered me merit scholarships; a few others had no interest in even interviewing me. It's so hard to predict, so give yourself as many chances are possible.

 

[Goro]

You're golden. Aim high.

I suggest:

Sidney Kimmel SOM and ALL other PA schools
USC
Baylor
Boston University
Hofstra
Rochester
Loyola
Stanford
Harvard
Yale
Northwestern
Columbia
Cornell
JHU
Wash U
Vandy
Case
Mayo
Tulane
U Miami
Duke
NYU
Mt Sinai
Michigan
UCLA
U VA
U AZ
U CO
U WV (maybe)
U VM
UCSD