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Solid. Are you applying MD/PHD? Why/not?

How about PREview scores? Will you apply to Casper schools?

Why should any program on your list think you would rather NOT go to another program on your list? What is your specific mission fit and purpose?
 
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I debated for a long time on the MD/PhD and ended up deciding I wouldn't want to pursue it. I definitely want a career as a physician-scientist, but I really enjoyed clinical research much more than translational research. I also really, really enjoy patient care and want that to be the primary focus of my career, with research being secondary to it, I really believe in research being a tool to inform patient care more than the other way around.
So are you interested in a masters in clinical research?
 
I'm a little confused on the PREview and Casper situation, I think Wake requires one of them?

I debated for a long time on the MD/PhD and ended up deciding I wouldn't want to pursue it. I definitely want a career as a physician-scientist, but I really enjoyed clinical research much more than translational research. I also really, really enjoy patient care and want that to be the primary focus of my career, with research being secondary to it, I really believe in research being a tool to inform patient care more than the other way around.

As far as mission fit goes, I am interested in pediatrics/primary care and doing research. I know its a little vague, but I'm not sure how to use that to whittle down schools?
Wait until spring and see which schools are requiring Preview and CASPer. This year only 6 AMCAS schools required Preview , more asked for CASPer
In TMDSAS system many required CASPer but none used Preview.
There should be an updated list in April or May

Also since you’re aiming high one of the major children’s hospitals, CHOP, is affiliated with Penn
And how can you resist the teaching hospital at Case Western: Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital?

I think UNC is unlikely for you unless you have strong ties to the state.
ECU accepted zero OOS students last year
 
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Thank you for the info!

With regards to Penn, I am very interested since one of the papers I submitted was with a CHOP mentor, but my advisor said it wasn't a good idea to apply to UPenn since my stats are 10th percentile for cGPA and MCAT and <10th percentile for sGPA.

She overall was pretty pessimistic about me aiming high because of my stats, do you think it is reasonable for me to try UPenn (and Harvard/Yale/Cornell, etc)? Is the list too top heavy if I add Cincy, Case, Einstein, Tufts, BU to it?

I am actually from NC, so hopefully that makes it easier on the UNC and ECU front. I was raised there, but moved away for college and my gap years (hopefully that won't make too much of an impact?)
If your official state of residence is no longer NC, ECU is a waste of your time.
Your list is top heavy but Faha has a great knack for picking schools so I’d go with their list.
 
If your official state of residence is no longer NC, ECU is a waste of your time.
Your list is top heavy but Faha has a great knack for picking schools so I’d go with their list.
Not OP, but have similar stats. When would it be reasonable to apply to a school when you have 10th-25th percentile stats?

The vibe I see here is that UPenn is unreasonable for OP but Faha also implied Harvard wasn't unreasonable, which doesn't make any sense to me?
 
Looking at MSAR, I found that UPenn states that accepted applicants with MCATs of 518 are at the 10th percentile. They really, really like high MCAT scores. Harvard is a bit more forgiving in that accepted applicants with MCAT of 518 were at the 25th percentile. Another thing to remember is that you really need something unique in your application for a med school to seriously consider you at the 10th percentile.

I, being an ORM with decent stats, plan to target schools with accepted applicant MCAT scores in the 25th-75th percentile. Yeah, I may throw a couple of far reaches on the bottom of the list but those will likely end up being $100 donations. In fact, any college that doesn't accept me after I've applied to them is a $100 donation.
 
Looking at MSAR, I found that UPenn states that accepted applicants with MCATs of 518 are at the 10th percentile. They really, really like high MCAT scores. Harvard is a bit more forgiving in that accepted applicants with MCAT of 518 were at the 25th percentile. Another thing to remember is that you really need something unique in your application for a med school to seriously consider you at the 10th percentile.

I, being an ORM with decent stats, plan to target schools with accepted applicant MCAT scores in the 25th-75th percentile. Yeah, I may throw a couple of far reaches on the bottom of the list but those will likely end up being $100 donations. In fact, any college that doesn't accept me after I've applied to them is a $100 donation.
What constitutes "something unique"? Does OP's pubs suffice or does it have to be something extraordinary like Olympian/Navy SEAL/Rhodes etc?
 
What constitutes "something unique"? Does OP's pubs suffice or does it have to be something extraordinary like Olympian/Navy SEAL/Rhodes etc?
I'll give you my take, if you are reading your application and there is something you've written that makes you take pause and say to yourself, "I bet there are not many applicants who can say they have done that" or " I bet there are not many applicants that have had to overcome those circumstances", then you are probably unique. So yeah, lots of pub, being a Navy Seal/Olympian/Rhodes Scholar are unique qualities. I mean, do you think UPenn's AdComs really care that you got a 512 on your MCAT once they read that you travelled across the Saharan desert in a camelback caravan with the Doctors without Borders?
 
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What constitutes "something unique"? Does OP's pubs suffice or does it have to be something extraordinary like Olympian/Navy SEAL/Rhodes etc?
Mission fit is most important.

A dedication to service: Peace Corps, Americorps, Fulbright, or similar. For a few years.

Extenuating life circumstances or other impactful experience.
 
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