hi all, I originally posted this on Reddit and I was advised to utilize this resource to come up with a school list that'll maximize my chances into an MD program! I'm pretty hellbent on going to an MD program, but I'm open to any and all advice. I have mediocre statistics, but I have great LORS and extracurriculars/accomplishments so I'd appreciate any advice on my school list! I'm planning to apply this 2023 cycle (also, I have a heavy neuro application bc that's what I'm mainly interested in doing)
-demographics: ORM (middle eastern), IL resident, female. speaks 3 languages fluently, learning ASL.
-mcat: 506 (125/127/126/128) This was my second attempt, original score was 497 so increased by 9 points within months of revisions
-overall GPA: 3.61 (3.53 from my community college; 3.73 from my university with a BS in Neuroscience with honors) so there is an upward trend
-research: full time neuro research at Feinberg since august 2022. I've accumulated 900 hours so far but I plan to continue doing this for 6-8 more months, so I'll have 1,000+ hours of research. I'll be an author on 5-7 papers, all first or second author within the upcoming 6 months to 1.5 years. (none have been published so far, first one to be published end of this year).
-clinical experience: haven't calculated it exactly but easily 1,000 hours or more (I worked A LOT during undergrad to pay off school). worked as a chiropractic assistant for a year and did physical therapy on patients and vaccinated 500-800 people against covid-19 w/h a hospital for 6 months (we served underserved communities as well!)
-shadowing: ~ 200 hours w/h an MD neurologist
-extracurriculars/accomplishments: my community colleges stem student of the year for 2020, won a service award from the hospital I worked at due to patient satisfaction, was president of my community college's honor society, was vice president of my community college's UNICEF club (we did a lot of service events at my honor's club and UNICEF so I have community involvement)
-great LORs: 1 from my PI, 1 from an assistant professor, and 1 from an MD neurologist.
I'm a first gen who's in her second gap year, so I don't have many people to ask for advice or guidance regarding the school list. I'd greatly appreciate your help
Instate schools:
Loyola
University of Illinois Chicago (my undergrad)
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Out of state schools:
Georgetown (i'm a devout catholic and will have a service-heavy PS)
Temple
Tulane
TCU
Morehouse
Albany
Wayne State
Central Michigan
-demographics: ORM (middle eastern), IL resident, female. speaks 3 languages fluently, learning ASL.
-mcat: 506 (125/127/126/128) This was my second attempt, original score was 497 so increased by 9 points within months of revisions
-overall GPA: 3.61 (3.53 from my community college; 3.73 from my university with a BS in Neuroscience with honors) so there is an upward trend
-research: full time neuro research at Feinberg since august 2022. I've accumulated 900 hours so far but I plan to continue doing this for 6-8 more months, so I'll have 1,000+ hours of research. I'll be an author on 5-7 papers, all first or second author within the upcoming 6 months to 1.5 years. (none have been published so far, first one to be published end of this year).
-clinical experience: haven't calculated it exactly but easily 1,000 hours or more (I worked A LOT during undergrad to pay off school). worked as a chiropractic assistant for a year and did physical therapy on patients and vaccinated 500-800 people against covid-19 w/h a hospital for 6 months (we served underserved communities as well!)
-shadowing: ~ 200 hours w/h an MD neurologist
-extracurriculars/accomplishments: my community colleges stem student of the year for 2020, won a service award from the hospital I worked at due to patient satisfaction, was president of my community college's honor society, was vice president of my community college's UNICEF club (we did a lot of service events at my honor's club and UNICEF so I have community involvement)
-great LORs: 1 from my PI, 1 from an assistant professor, and 1 from an MD neurologist.
I'm a first gen who's in her second gap year, so I don't have many people to ask for advice or guidance regarding the school list. I'd greatly appreciate your help
Instate schools:
Loyola
University of Illinois Chicago (my undergrad)
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Out of state schools:
Georgetown (i'm a devout catholic and will have a service-heavy PS)
Temple
Tulane
TCU
Morehouse
Albany
Wayne State
Central Michigan
Last edited:
