3.83 gpa 523 MCAT

[2017mdapp]

Posted a WAMC thread a couple months ago and now have final stats and wanted input on school list.
Top 25 UG dual major Psych/Bio just graduated
gpa 3.83 sgpa 3.86 MCAT 130/130/131/132 523
white female Florida resident

Clinical volunteer 400 hrs over 4 years 5 hrs a week 10 weeks per semester in hospital
Shadowing about 220 hrs with 3 different specialist
Hospice volunteer about 40 hrs
Non clinical volunteer teaching inter city high school students health classes about 300 hrs over 4 years
habitat for humanity 40 hrs total over 2 years
feeding the homeless about 60 hrs over 2 years
worked in battered women's shelter about 50 hrs over 2 years
various club volunteer activities for charities about 100 hrs
TA psych class for one year
Residential adviser one year
Clinical research paid intern at competitive program, over one summer about 400 hrs resulted in poster presentation and published 3rd author in medical journal.
One semester bench research in biochem lab about 80 hrs poster presentation won an award.
semi fluent in Spanish and know sign language
numerous academic and service awards nothing special
should have great LOR
Gap year activities paid MCAT tutor about 30 hrs a week and clinical volunteering 8-10 hrs per week, various non clinical volunteer activities about 8-10 hrs per week.
I did a great deal of research of the schools and would likely be happy at all of them on the list except for a couple Florida schools which is why I felt there was no need for other "safety" schools since I should get at least one in state acceptance. I ended up with 20 schools total, any input would be appreciated also I hate super cold weather but I could adapt if necessary. I have no idea what type of medical career I want to pursue at this point but am currently leaning towards cardiology, however that changes constantly. My PS is done and I am working on pre writing secondaries now. Will submit immediately when AMACAS opens up in June.

School List:
All Florida schools
Harvard
Yale
Penn
Columbia
NYU
Sinai
Cornell
Hopkins
U Chicago
Northwestern
Michigan
Pitt
Stanford

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[MaxPlancker]

Have you put your Spanish and sign language skills to use? If you have used them to help underserved populations etc or in some meaningful way, then I think you have a great chance at those schools. If not, then you still have a good chance but perhaps not top 5 excluding Hopkins.

 

[2017mdapp]

Have you put your Spanish and sign language skills to use? If you have used them to help underserved populations etc or in some meaningful way, then I think you have a great chance at those schools. If not, then you still have a good chance but perhaps not top 5 excluding Hopkins.

I have used the sign language when I volunteered at the hospital when a child was in the ER and the mother could only communicate in sign language or writing I translated for the Doctor to her so she could understand her options. I was used in other situations in the hospital about a dozen times over the years since there weren't that many people that were able to sign. Spanish is actually more common but I was able to use it during my clinical research to question some of the subjects that really couldn't speak English. The ER situation is the one that stands out since it was a life threatening situation and my skill of signing was important in that instance.
To be honest sign language is not that difficult to learn and I am surprised more people don't know how to sign. I remember using it once in the soup kitchen when I could tell the man couldn't communicate and I got a huge smile from him, that made my day.

 

[GrapesofRath]

List looks fine largely

 

[2017mdapp]

List looks fine largely

Does that mean I should have a good shot at getting some OOS interviews or should I add a few more to increase my chances. I realize with this list it is possible not to get any OOS interviews since it is so top heavy. Also I know you like to emphasize this, I only took the MCAT once. Thank you for your help.

 

[MaxPlancker]

Does that mean I should have a good shot at getting some OOS interviews or should I add a few more to increase my chances. I realize with this list it is possible not to get any OOS interviews since it is so top heavy. Also I know you like to emphasize this, I only took the MCAT once. Thank you for your help.

Most of the schools on your list don't care about OOS much.

 

[Save a life]

Your chances are good, very good

 

[Sir.SavaLottaLife]

Any reason why you don't add UCSF or UCLA? You're competitive for any school.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Does that mean I should have a good shot at getting some OOS interviews or should I add a few more to increase my chances. I realize with this list it is possible not to get any OOS interviews since it is so top heavy. Also I know you like to emphasize this, I only took the MCAT once. Thank you for your help.

You have to ask yourself which OOS schools you would choose over the state schools you have and their juicy in state tuition for. Youre obviously very very likely to get into one of your state schools. If you wouldn't turn down an OOS school like Boston U or Rochester for that juicy in state tuition( I wouldn't personally) for don't apply to it.

You'll likely get IIs at some top 20s although admission at that level is hard to predict. Me personally in this spot I would just gun for the top 20s OOS and if those don't work just take the state school acceptance and tuition which is basically what your current list is.

 

[2017mdapp]

You have to ask yourself which OOS schools you would choose over the state schools you have and their juicy in state tuition for. Youre obviously very very likely to get into one of your state schools. If you wouldn't turn down an OOS school like Boston U or Rochester for that juicy in state tuition( I wouldn't personally) for don't apply to it.

You'll likely get IIs at some top 20s although admission at that level is hard to predict. Me personally in this spot I would just gun for the top 20s OOS and if those don't work just take the state school acceptance and tuition which is basically what your current list is.

I agree with you and would be happy at most of my in state options I think then I will leave my list maybe add one or two more reach schools that I would attend over my state school contingent on getting scholarship money to off set the cost. Thank you

 

[2017mdapp]

Any reason why you don't add UCSF or UCLA? You're competitive for any school.

I think cost is the biggest factor since they offer few scholarships, but I may consider them since they are both great schools.

 

[MaxPlancker]

I think cost is the biggest factor since they offer few scholarships, but I may consider them since they are both great schools.

UCLA is pretty generous esp with its Geffen Scholarships...

 

[2017mdapp]

UCLA is pretty generous esp with its Geffen Scholarships...

I checked out UCLA and I understand they give out 15 full COA scholarships[Geffen Scholarships about 33 given out to 15 accepted] which is great. What do you think about UCLA? From my brief research they only matriculated 25 OOS students out of class of 133. I know they state their is no in state bias in admissions is this more self selecting . What about the school can you add that isn't accessible on line that you think makes it worth applying other than the scholarship?

 

[Sir.SavaLottaLife]

I don't know too much about the school either, but it's a highly regarded school in a nice area (someone from FL can appreciate palm trees and sunshine right?). I don't think they have too much of an in-state bias; when I interviewed this year, many of my fellow interviewees were from out of state (including me). I'm sure that being fluent in Spanish puts you at an advantage vs other OOS applicants, but I don't think you should be too concerned about biases because you are a competitive enough applicant to have a shot at any school.

If you aren't too concerned about how much you have to pay for applications, I would just add them to give your self a chance to go to medical school for free. Especially since it seems as though cost of attendance is a big deal for you. I would also like to add that theres a few other schools on your list that don't really offer scholarship money aside from need-based aid. Its worth mentioning that the UC's have pretty decent need-based aid as it is, and you can qualify for in-state tuition after your first year.

 

[2017mdapp]

I don't know too much about the school either, but it's a highly regarded school in a nice area (someone from FL can appreciate palm trees and sunshine right?). I don't think they have too much of an in-state bias; when I interviewed this year, many of my fellow interviewees were from out of state (including me). I'm sure that being fluent in Spanish puts you at an advantage vs other OOS applicants, but I don't think you should be too concerned about biases because you are a competitive enough applicant to have a shot at any school.

If you aren't too concerned about how much you have to pay for applications, I would just add them to give your self a chance to go to medical school for free. Especially since it seems as though cost of attendance is a big deal for you. I would also like to add that theres a few other schools on your list that don't really offer scholarship money aside from need-based aid. Its worth mentioning that the UC's have pretty decent need-based aid as it is, and you can qualify for in-state tuition after your first year.

I am not concerned about the application cost, my main concern would be if I would like the school enough to apply vs a similar school. Cost of medical school is important but I feel I could justify paying more[deeper debt] for the right school. I know about half the schools on my list only offer need based grants and that would be okay for the right fit. What I really want to know is why UCLA, you applied and interviewed as an OOS applicant what was your reason, or what was your impression after interviewing? Thanks for your response.

 

[Sir.SavaLottaLife]

I am not concerned about the application cost, my main concern would be if I would like the school enough to apply vs a similar school. Cost of medical school is important but I feel I could justify paying more[deeper debt] for the right school. I know about half the schools on my list only offer need based grants and that would be okay for the right fit. What I really want to know is why UCLA, you applied and interviewed as an OOS applicant what was your reason, or what was your impression after interviewing? Thanks for your response.

My personal reasons for applying and interviewing had mostly to do with reputation and location, as well as the dream of graduating med school debt free. I was a bit naive about my school choices at the time and I wasn't quite as concerned about "fit" as I maybe should have been. I will tell you that I didn't get in, but I was lucky enough to get into another school that I fell in love with and had a great fit with.

To be honest, I was pretty underwhelmed with interview day; they didn't put much effort into it. But a current student was very honest with me and said that they are changing the way they handle admissions and that he wasn't a fan of it either.

By all means, don't apply if you don't like the school. I was just trying to counter the mindset of "I shouldn't apply to any UC's because they don't take that many people out of state" that so many people have on here. It's one thing if you're limited, but I think that if you have a shot then go for it. Same goes for UCSF.

 

[MaxPlancker]

I checked out UCLA and I understand they give out 15 full COA scholarships[Geffen Scholarships about 33 given out to 15 accepted] which is great. What do you think about UCLA? From my brief research they only matriculated 25 OOS students out of class of 133. I know they state their is no in state bias in admissions is this more self selecting . What about the school can you add that isn't accessible on line that you think makes it worth applying other than the scholarship?

Certainly a top-notch school. Although there's no said OOS bias, I think you need to demonstrate some compelling ties or reasons to be in CA for many of the CA schools. If you aren't picky about location (and who wouldn't like CA?), then UCLA is a great school to try and get some $$$ from with an app like yours. It's a school whose quality, reputation, etc make it a no-brainer if you get a Geffen over other schools, even top 5.

 

[Glashutte32]

Does that mean I should have a good shot at getting some OOS interviews or should I add a few more to increase my chances. I realize with this list it is possible not to get any OOS interviews since it is so top heavy.

This cycle I applied with a somewhat similar profile (Same numbers, different home state/EC emphasis). 75% of my interviews came from schools that were rough MCAT matches with me (The 35-39 range). You will absolutely get a good number of interviews at the top OOS's you've included. Just pick ones where you could see yourself and brace yourself for the crapshoot that is the interview game. Don't feel like you need to add more top tier OOS just to get the denominator up