WAMC —3.9 GPA, 517 MCAT—

[dr_dong]

I'm currently a junior and trying to decide on whether to apply this cycle or next. I'm not sure if my ECs would hold me back, but if I delay my application I can make them much stronger.

1. 3.9 cGPA, 3.9 sGPA
   • Currently 3rd Year
2. MCAT — 517 (128/129/130/130)
3. State of residence — CA
4. Ethnicity — East Asian (Hmong)
5. Undergraduate Institution — CA State School
6. Clinical experience
   • EMT-B — 800 hours
   • Hospital Volunteer — 350 hours
7. Research experience
   • Undergraduate Intern, Neuroscience Lab — 150 hours
     • third author on one poster
     • current leader on one project
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
   • None — working on it
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   • Habitat for Humanity — 50 hours
   • Soup Kitchen — 50 hours
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
    • None
11. Relevant honors or awards
    • Negligible — some deans list

Tentative School List
Reach:
Stanford
UCSF
UCLA
UCSD

UC Davis
California Northstate University
University of Virginia
Drexel
Georgetown
USF

Maybes:
Wayne State?
Hofstra?
Saint Louis University?

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[Mr.Smile12]

You need Doctor shadowing (not a ton, but some variety from your EMT experience). 50 to 100 hours by the time you apply.

Raise both of your nonclinical activities with H4H and soup kitchen to at least 75 hours each, ideally at least 100 each.

 

[chilly_md]

See Mr. Smile’s advice regarding your ECs. It will be especially hard to remain in-state at a UC school.

Cal Northstate has serious concerns regarding its accreditation. Do not apply there.

Once you obtain the additional hours, I suggest:

UCSF
UCLA
UCSD
UC Davis
UCI
Keck
CUSM
University of Virginia
USF
Hofstra
Saint Louis University
Western Michigan
Iowa
Dartmouth
Colorado
Miami
Vermont
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Rochester
Einstein
Ohio State
Cincinnati
UMass
Tufts
Creighton
Quinnipiac
Wake Forest
MCW
VCU

 

[dr_dong]

Great, thank you! I'll try to pull out all the stops to raise my ECs.

It will be especially hard to remain in-state at a UC school.

Can I ask the reason behind this? Is it due to my low ECs or just overall competitiveness?

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

Cali is one of the most populous states and thus has more premeds than average, plus most of the schools aren't super in-state focused.

 

[chilly_md]

Great, thank you! I'll try to pull out all the stops to raise my ECs.


Can I ask the reason behind this? Is it due to my low ECs or just overall competitiveness?

See above. The schools in California are many of the powerhouse schools as well. They do expect applicants to be involved a lot in either research and/or the local community.