MD 3.76 GPA 39 MCAT Help with school list

[Stella57]

• Year in school: Graduated with majors in Biology and Economics from Wash U
• Country/state of residence: GA
• Cumulative GPA: 3.76 (slight upward trend)
• Science GPA: 3.7
• MCAT Scores: 39 (14/13/12)
• Research – 180 hours. Two semesters doing Cyanobacteria research.
• Volunteering (clinical) – include hours/sites:
-150hrs Worked as a volunteer medical assistant at nonprofit abortion/women's clinic transporting/comforting patients, doing ultrasounds, pathology, sterilizing equipment.
-Spent a month traveling India with two ER physicians teaching Indian EM residents Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). toured hospitals, observed ERs, helped give lectures, sat in on M&Ms, meetings etc.
• Physician shadowing – include hours/specialties
~100 hrs Emory ER in HS
~40 hrs Barnes Jewish ER
-Toured hospitals/clinics in Europe while studying abroad with a premedical program in copenhagen
• Non-clinical volunteering - 100 hrs doing advocacy work at women's clinic from above
-20 hrs cooking donated food into meals for shelters
• Extracurricular activities
-4 yrs Club soccer
-Social Programming Board for a year
-Piano for 10 yrs as a hobby
• Employment history
-summer camp coach in HS
-assistant teacher in HS
-Currently Working doing billing/insurance/checkins at OBGYN office
-Will spend gap year tutoring math in Chicago Public Schools
• Immediate family members in medicine? (y/n) Yes both are doctors
• Specialty of interest: Emergency Medicine, but unsure
• Graduate degrees: None

Worried too top heavy and could add more schools.
School list:
Baylor, BU, Columbia, Duke, Emory, Hopkins, Harvard, Hofstra, Medical College of Georgia, NYU, Northwestern, UPenn, Stanford, Tufts, Tulane, UCSF, UChicago, Pitt, UTSW, Vanderbilt, Wash U, Cornell, Yale

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[GrapesofRath]

The research experience is on the lighter side but these are the types of schools that target people with your stats. It's probably worth adding Mercer even if they are fairly mission oriented.

You have a good shot at MCG. If you are from around the Atlanta region that helps for Emory and you have ideal stats for them.

Given your research experience isnt the most extensive I'd probably be inclined to go through MSAR and add maybe a half dozen or so more schools with an MCAT median around 34-35 that are OOS friendly. Miami, Ohio St, UVA etc types come to mind.

 

[WedgeDawg]

The research experience is on the lighter side but these are the types of schools that target people with your stats. It's probably worth adding Mercer even if they are fairly mission oriented.

You have a good shot at MCG. If you are from around the Atlanta region that helps for Emory and you have ideal stats for them.

Given your research experience isnt the most extensive I'd probably be inclined to go through MSAR and add maybe a half dozen or so more schools with an MCAT median around 34-35 that are OOS friendly. Miami, Ohio St, UVA etc types come to mind.

I agree with all of this and would remove Baylor, UTSW, and possibly UCSF. Agree with adding mid tiers. I think you definitely have a solid shot at top schools, but it's good to be cautious.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I agree with all of this and would remove Baylor, UTSW, and possibly UCSF. Agree with adding mid tiers. I think you definitely have a solid shot at top schools, but it's good to be cautious.

Why should they remove UCSF?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[WedgeDawg]

Why should they remove UCSF?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

UCSF is extremely research heavy, especially for OOS applicants. If they were looking to remove another school, that's what I would take out, but it's not imperative to remove it.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

UCSF is extremely research heavy, especially for OOS applicants. If they were looking to remove another school, that's what I would take out, but it's not imperative to remove it.

I could be mistaken, but doesn't UCSF produce more primary care physicians than its peer schools? If the OP is committed to helping underserved communities, they may have a chance.

Edit: The OP's experience in a women's clinic should be viewed favorably by UCSF adcoms.

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[WedgeDawg]

I could be mistaken, but doesn't UCSF produce more primary care physicians than its peer schools? If the OP is committed to helping underserved communities, they may have a chance.

Edit: The OP's experience in a women's clinic should be viewed favorably by UCSF adcoms.

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

It potentially produces more people who go into "primary care" i.e. internal medicine, etc, but I don't think that accounts for subspecialization post residency, which takes most people out of primary care into specialty practice, and possibly research track faculty.

Again, I only recommend taking it out if OP feels like they need to remove another school, but because UCSF pre-screens secondaries, there's really no risk in applying anyway.

 

[Goro]

You're golden; aim high. I suggest:

Harvard OR Yale
U VA (maybe)
U MI (maybe)
SUNY SB (maybe)
SUNY DS (maybe)
U VM
Jefferson
Rochester
U Cincy
Miami
Albert Einstein
Tulane
Loyola
Emory
BU
Tufts
USC/Keck
JHU
Mayo
Pitt OR Northwestern
NYU OR Sinai
Vanderbilt
Columbia OR Cornell
Duke
Case
Hofstra
Mercer
MCG

NOTE: TX schools are mandated to take 90% of their students from IS, so it's not worth considering.

• Year in school: Graduated with majors in Biology and Economics from Wash U
• Country/state of residence: GA

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

It potentially produces more people who go into "primary care" i.e. internal medicine, etc, but I don't think that accounts for subspecialization post residency, which takes most people out of primary care into specialty practice, and possibly research track faculty.

Again, I only recommend taking it out if OP feels like they need to remove another school, but because UCSF pre-screens secondaries, there's really no risk in applying anyway.

Last year, over 20 UCSF grads matched into primary care. I'd imagine that this doesn't happen at other top 10 schools (with the exception of U Wash).

UCSF 2015 Match List

Family Medicine
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
Sutter Santa Rosa , CA
UC Davis , CA
UCLA , CA
UCLA , CA
UC San Diego , CA
Swedish Medical Center , WA
Swedish Medical Center , WA
U of Washington , WA
Hilo Medical Center , HI

Internal Medicine
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
Alameda County Medical Center - Primary Care , CA
Loma Linda - Primary Care , CA
U of Washington - Primary Care , WA
Brigham & Women's Hospital - Primary Care , MA
NYU - Primary Care , NY
Yale - Primary Care , CT

 

[WedgeDawg]

UCSF has a class size of 167, which is pretty large. So if we're just looking at IM and FM, that's 12% of their class.

Yale had 20 go into IM (19) and FM (1) and has a class size of around 110.

Pritzker had 24 IM and 4 FM out of a class size of around 90.

WashU Had 1 FM and 20 IM (idk class size)

Sinai had 6 FM and 25 IM (idk class size)

Columbia had 3 FM and 36 IM out of 160 class size.

Sorry I don't have time right now to go through all of them but I can

My argument here would be that a school with the resources of UCSF doesn't have to emphasize one or the other - it can do both. I would also argue that many of those going into primary care are native californians who want to give back to their home communities.

Finally, I would argue that for research heavy schools, you can't look at the number of IM and assume all or even most are going into primary care - I would say probably 20% of IM matches will remain without subspecialization (it's 33% remain in primary care for all MD schools, so I assume at the tippy top like UCSF etc, it would be even less).

Again, I'm not saying OP should definitely take off UCSF. I'm saying that if they felt like they needed to remove another school beyond UTSW etc, UCSF would be the first I would remove because they are not from California and don't have an extensive research background.

 

[GrapesofRath]

I think the much bigger point beyond trying to speculate on the specifics of the programs their grads match into we likely know very little about is

1) WE dont know what UCSF perceives as factors that make an applicant more likely to go into primary care if that's what they value. This will vary from ADCOM to ADCOM.

2) We also dont directly know if they try to increase their primary care representation or if that's a byproduct of them seeking out other specific things in applicants.

3) I've seen the theme of "Social Justice" thrown around alot to define UCSF and what they look for when talking to people more familiar with their policies. I think gyngyn has even made mention of it in the past. How they perceive that and how we do from the outside are likely two very different things. It's also something you need essays, LORs, interviews to really gauge in an applicant.

Having said all that, apply to UCSF if you want. The problem with it is they get so many CA applicants and CA applicants on average are so good 3/4 of the class ends up being IS leaving few OOS spots. Same problem privates like Keck have.

 

[7331poas]

ECs seem kind of weak for a harvard application. But with stats this high I suppose its hard to not apply there.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

UCSF has a class size of 167, which is pretty large. So if we're just looking at IM and FM, that's 12% of their class.

Yale had 20 go into IM (19) and FM (1) and has a class size of around 110.

Pritzker had 24 IM and 4 FM out of a class size of around 90.

WashU Had 1 FM and 20 IM (idk class size)

Sinai had 6 FM and 25 IM (idk class size)

Columbia had 3 FM and 36 IM out of 160 class size.

Sorry I don't have time right now to go through all of them but I can

My argument here would be that a school with the resources of UCSF doesn't have to emphasize one or the other - it can do both. I would also argue that many of those going into primary care are native californians who want to give back to their home communities.

Finally, I would argue that for research heavy schools, you can't look at the number of IM and assume all or even most are going into primary care - I would say probably 20% of IM matches will remain without subspecialization (it's 33% remain in primary care for all MD schools, so I assume at the tippy top like UCSF etc, it would be even less).

Again, I'm not saying OP should definitely take off UCSF. I'm saying that if they felt like they needed to remove another school beyond UTSW etc, UCSF would be the first I would remove because they are not from California and don't have an extensive research background.

I only included the IM matches that indicated primary care. Here is the complete 2015 IM match list (well at least according to the person who posted them):

Internal Medicine
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
Kaiser San Francisco , CA
Kaiser San Francisco , CA
Kaiser San Francisco - Preventative Medicine , CA
Alameda County Medical Center - Primary Care , CA
Stanford , CA
Stanford , CA
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center , CA
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center , CA
UCLA , CA
UCLA , CA
Cedars-Sinai , CA
Scripps Mercy , CA
Loma Linda - Primary Care , CA
Loma Linda - Internal Med / Anesthesia , CA
U of Washington - Primary Care , WA
U of Washington , WA
OHSU , OR
U of Colorado , CO
U of Arizona , AZ
U of Chicago , IL
Northwestern , IL
Northwestern , IL
U of Minnesota , MN
UT Southwestern , TX
UT Southwestern , TX
MGH , MA
Brigham & Women's Hospital , MA
Brigham & Women's Hospital , MA
Brigham & Women's Hospital - Primary Care , MA
NYU - Primary Care , NY
Yale - Primary Care , CT
U of North Carolina , NC
Johns Hopkins Bayview , MD
Duke , NC
Duke , NC

Again, with the exception of U Wash, it doesn't look like any of the other top 10 schools match this many people into primary care. And this doesn't include those who do peds (and other primary care tracks) without sub-specializing. You're probably right about native Californians comprising the bulk of UCSF grads who enter primary care, but this high proportion of Californians probably applies to just about everything.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I only included the IM matches that indicated primary care. Here is the complete 2015 IM match list (well at least according to the person who posted them):

Internal Medicine
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
UCSF - Primary Care , CA
Kaiser San Francisco , CA
Kaiser San Francisco , CA
Kaiser San Francisco - Preventative Medicine , CA
Alameda County Medical Center - Primary Care , CA
Stanford , CA
Stanford , CA
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center , CA
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center , CA
UCLA , CA
UCLA , CA
Cedars-Sinai , CA
Scripps Mercy , CA
Loma Linda - Primary Care , CA
Loma Linda - Internal Med / Anesthesia , CA
U of Washington - Primary Care , WA
U of Washington , WA
OHSU , OR
U of Colorado , CO
U of Arizona , AZ
U of Chicago , IL
Northwestern , IL
Northwestern , IL
U of Minnesota , MN
UT Southwestern , TX
UT Southwestern , TX
MGH , MA
Brigham & Women's Hospital , MA
Brigham & Women's Hospital , MA
Brigham & Women's Hospital - Primary Care , MA
NYU - Primary Care , NY
Yale - Primary Care , CT
U of North Carolina , NC
Johns Hopkins Bayview , MD
Duke , NC
Duke , NC

Again, with the exception of U Wash, it doesn't look like any of the other top 10 schools match this many people into primary care. And this doesn't include those who do peds (and other primary care tracks) without sub-specializing. You're probably right about native Californians comprising the bulk of UCSF grads who enter primary care, but this high proportion of Californians probably applies to just about everything.

Fair, it looks like they do have more people go into primary care, but I still stand by my comments regarding why as well as comments regarding the fact that they also have a very high research focus.

 

[Stella57]

Thank you for your responses, I should definitely add ~4 more mid tiers with my subpar ECs. Sadly I checked and I can't apply to Mercer with an old MCAT. I have an exceptional letter of rec from a Baylor physician that I worked with in India and extensive family ties to texas so I thought I'd apply despite the odds. Both parents went to UTSW, still remove? Is it smart to apply to Loyola with an abortion clinic on the resume? @Goro

 

[Goro]

That won't do any good. Family ties mean nothing to Adcoms as well. Baylor has probably the worst out of state acceptance rate for any private college that is not mission-based. It's something like 0.6%. Therefore they do not need the donation from you.

As for Loyola, suggest asking in the school specific Thread about their views on the abortion subject. You could spin it to say something like women's reproductive Health Clinic.


. I have an exceptional letter of rec from a Baylor physician that I worked with in India and extensive family ties to texas so I thought I'd apply despite the odds. Both parents went to UTSW, still remove? Is it smart to apply to Loyola with an abortion clinic on the resume? @Goro[/QUOTE]

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

UCSF is extremely research heavy, especially for OOS applicants.

I still think this is potentially misleading. Approximately 30% of UCSF's class is OOS. How can you know for sure that these 50 or so students applied with extensive research? Aside from being a research powerhouse, UCSF emphasizes primary care (for real) and urban health. It even has a PRIME program that accepts OOS applicants.

The OP will spend a year in Chicago of all places. Aside from tutoring math, they'll have other opportunities to work with an urban population. A productive gap year could go a long way for them!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[7331poas]

I still think this is potentially misleading. Approximately 30% of UCSF's class is OOS. How can you know for sure that these 50 or so students applied with extensive research? Aside from being a research powerhouse, UCSF emphasizes primary care (for real) and urban health. It even has a PRIME program that accepts OOS applicants.

The OP will spend a year in Chicago of all places. Aside from tutoring math, they'll have other opportunities to work with an urban population. A productive gap year could go a long way for them!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

You really dont think a vast majority of UCSF applicants have research experience? I would probably put even money on the fact that its above 80%

is there any msar data on this?

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

You really dont think a vast majority of UCSF applicants have research experience? I would probably put even money on the fact that its above 80%

is there any msar data on this?

It's probably over 90%. My post was referring to the actual quantity of research.

The OP did spend some time in a lab.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[efle]

is there any msar data on this?

MSAR puts UCSF at 94% of applicants have research

 

[MaxPlancker]

While OP has the stats, his ECs will not get him into tip top tiers like Stanford, Upenn, UCSF.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

While OP has the stats, his ECs will not get him into tip top tiers like Stanford, Upenn, UCSF.

Perhaps an additional gap year would help him reach that level.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Stella57]

Just an update if anyone cares. Applied to ~22 schools. I ended up with interviews at Baylor, Yale, MCG, Hopkins, Wash U, Hofstra, Emory, and Einstein. Got into MCG early then waitlisted everywhere else. Currently I'm almost finished with my first year at Baylor College of Medicine. Guess I was in the 0.6% @Goro @WedgeDawg Thank you all for your help.