3.91 cGPA, unbalanced 512 MCAT....help?

[littledreamer]

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• Year in school: Senior graduating with B.S. in Human Biology, with a minor in a "critical language" and the other minor in that geographical region's studies [trying to keep this non-identifiable....]
  
• State Residency: CA
• Schools to which you are applying: Really nervous about this but: Albert Einstein, BostonU, Columbia, Drexel, Emory, Dartmouth, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, USC, Loma Linda, Mayo, MSU, NYU, Stanford, Yale, Tufts, Tulane, UCSD, UCI, UCLA, UCSF, UCD, UPitt, Yale
• Undergrad Institution/Ethnicity: Top 50 schools, white
  
• Cumulative GPA: 3.91 (a small upward trend exists...)
• Science GPA: 3.95
• MCAT Scores: 512: (P/C) 125/ (CR) 131/ (B/B) 128/ (P/S) 128
• Research: one year research in speech and hearing, presented a poster, but no publication. one year of research during study abroad, independently ran project. Skin again genes in mice, with lots of PCR, Western blots, etc. Looking for dermatology applications, never presented due to being in a foreign country. Potentially more research during gap year. (See bottom) Not sure if I should mention I helped a physician with his research insofar as compiling and analyzing patient data to look for links between heart failure and PFT results.
• Volunteering (clinical): 100+ hours in ED at local hospital, 100+ hours volunteering/shadowing in outpatient surgery center (will rack up another 100+ hours here over the next year), and 180+ hours in cardiomyopathy ward of hometown medical school hospital (may also return here). Grand total hours will be around 500 hrs.
  
• Physician shadowing: as mentioned above, sometimes shadowed at surgery clinic as opposed to volunteering that day. also sometimes took days in the cardiomyopathy ward to shadow the chief of cardiology. ~80 hrs of shadowing (again, some volunteering) at hospital during study abroad. Not sure how to divide my hours on the application, but safe to say 100+ hours.
  
• Non-clinical volunteering: No idea how many hours off the top of my head. Probably ~150 hrs at local horse rescue. ~100 hours of volunteering related to running a kid's camp for my foreign language, and helping run a conference for teachers of that language. Volunteered for language exchange program while abroad, no idea how many hours. Probably going to estimate around 50 hrs for that. Total: 300 hrs
  
• Extracurricular activities: Club based around my foreign language, which served to help other students learning the language, as well as educate the community at large about the culture/language (that I re-instated and was president of), AMSA member for two years, Founded a club at my university for out of state students, for social activities, support (there aren't many of us) and to help recruit more students from our region. Honors College. Few misc. other things that I'm assuming aren't necessary to list here.
  
• Employment history: research positions listed above. Tutored a kid in English during my year abroad. Currently working in a diagnostic lab (animal samples primarily), will have ~1 yr there when I graduate and leave. Currently in the interview stage for a research position (through a different local medical school) for my gap year. Would be clinical research, with human trials. Fingers crossed I'm offered the position, would work there for a year plus.
• Immediate family members in medicine? n
• Specialty of interest: cardiology. surgery. global health.
• Graduate degrees: none
• Interest in rural health: n
• As part of the minors that I listed above, I have studied abroad in that country twice. Once for a summer on a full ride from the state department. The second time I was abroad, I went for my entire junior year, and I was on multiple scholarships, some of which are nationally competitive federal ones. My PS focuses a good deal on this experience, and how it enriches me as a (potentially) future physician. My adviser is of the opinion that this is a pretty unique factor, given my "unusual" language, and deep investment in it.

To be honest, I don't have many pre-med friends so I don't have any frame of reference for what is good vs what is not. Last year I *legitimately* and genuinely thought I would have to go Carribean because I didn't have a 4.0. I'm still pretty anxious that I'm overestimating myself, but like anyone else, I just want to be a physician. Of course I'd love to get into a dream school, but I'd be thrilled to go virtually anywhere on my list. My MCAT, and specifically the lower score in P/C, concerns me the most. However, to be frank, I doubt that section will get much higher and a retake is unlikely to be in the cards for many reasons. However, my adviser says that because I'm in the range for most of these schools, it's overall a good list (with a handful of reaches....I think.)

I've been really nervous about the whole process lately after watching a good friend not get into any of her professional schools. If I need a complete attitude adjustment, PLEASE by all means let me know, but I would appreciate a compassionate bent. And a sincere thank you for any advice! I really appreciate it.

 

[GrapesofRath]

This list is heavy on the big reaches and low yield schools. I would probably only keep around 6-8 of the schools you listed. Get MSAR and use it to form the rest of your list. Look at schools that take at least 30% OOS with an MCAT median around yours(use 32 as your MCAT score) and you should be able to find plenty of reasonable choices.

The easiest targets to take off are all the top 20 reaches(you know which ones they are), MSU(IS bias) and Loma Linda(you probably dont fit the mission). If you want to keep a couple schools like Keck and Boston U that's fine, but those are the ones that should be your reaches(and hence not the bulk of your list) not the Harvard's and Yale's of the world.

 

[gyngyn]

I count 5 schools on your list where you have a fair to good chance at an interview. Good CA applicants like yourself need at least a dozen.
Are you adventist?

 

[littledreamer]

This list is largely unrealistic reaches and low yield schools. I would probably only keep around 6-8 of the schools you listed. Get MSAR and use it to form the rest of your list. Look at schools that take at least 30% OOS with an MCAT median around yours(use 32 as your MCAT score) and you should be able to find plenty of reasonable choices.

Wow, didn't realize my MCAT=32. I was told my MCAT was closer to a 34, so that's what I was using to formulate my list. Do you really think only 3 of these schools are realistic? I understand that the "replacement" list are all reaches, and I was considering cutting 3-4 of those anyways but I assumed I was relatively competitive at some of the other schools I listed. Not that I expect an interview at all of them by any means!

Thanks for the advice! 🙂 I'll start combing MSAR tonight.

 

[littledreamer]

This list is heavy on the big reaches and low yield schools. I would probably only keep around 6-8 of the schools you listed. Get MSAR and use it to form the rest of your list. Look at schools that take at least 30% OOS with an MCAT median around yours(use 32 as your MCAT score) and you should be able to find plenty of reasonable choices.

The easiest targets to take off are all the top 20 reaches(you know which ones they are), MSU(IS bias) and Loma Linda(you probably dont fit the mission). If you want to keep a couple schools like Keck and Boston U that's fine, but those are the ones that should be your reaches(and hence not the bulk of your list) not the Harvard's and Yale's of the world.

I think your comment got edited, so I replied to the one I saw, whoops! I have strong personal ties to both MSU and LL, hence their appearance on the list. I'm not seventh-day Adventist for LL, but I can get a LOR from a pastor, if you think it would be beneficial, given their mission.

 

[littledreamer]

I count 5 schools on your list where you have a fair to good chance at an interview. Good CA applicants like yourself need at least a dozen.
Are you adventist?

I'm not adventist, (though I am non-denominational Christian and can get a LOR from a pastor if I need to) but I have extremely strong personal ties to the school.

Thanks for the advice! This is what I was afraid of a bit. I'm currently combing MSAR, but do you have any specific instructions for schools I should look at?

 

[gyngyn]

I'm not adventist, (though I am non-denominational Christian and can get a LOR from a pastor if I need to) but I have extremely strong personal ties to the school.

Thanks for the advice! This is what I was afraid of a bit. I'm currently combing MSAR, but do you have any specific instructions for schools I should look at?

OOS privates with a median MCAT between 31 and 32. Bonus points if they have less than 10K applications. Also OOS publics that accept 25% OOS or more with median MCAT around 31.

Do you consume alcohol or have sex outside of marriage? Don't answer me but if the answer is yes, reconsider LL.

DACA? Is that your only MCAT?

 

[GrapesofRath]

Wow, didn't realize my MCAT=32. I was told my MCAT was closer to a 34, so that's what I was using to formulate my list. Do you really think only 3 of these schools are realistic? I understand that the "replacement" list are all reaches, and I was considering cutting 3-4 of those anyways but I assumed I was relatively competitive at some of the other schools I listed. Not that I expect an interview at all of them by any means!

Thanks for the advice! 🙂 I'll start combing MSAR tonight.

512 on the old scale is 86th-87th percentile. 32 on the old scale is 84th-88th percentile. 34 is 92nd-94th percentile. You're right smack in the middle of the 32 range.

There are plenty of schools you are a fine canidate for. It's just a matter of using MSAR to find them; 31-33 median MCAT schools that take at least 30% OOS is the target range I would be using.

 

[littledreamer]

OOS privates with a median MCAT between 31 and 32. Bonus points if they have less than 10K applications. Also OOS publics that accept 25% OOS or more with median MCAT around 31.

Do you consume alcohol or have sex outside of marriage? Don't answer me but if the answer is yes, reconsider LL.

DACA? Is that your only MCAT?

So in the last ten minutes of MSAR scrambling, with trying to stick close to those guidelines, sample short list of places to replace top 20 schools on my list:
UVermont
UCR
Virginia Commonwealth
UWash
Albany
Temple
Rush?
Rosalind Franklin @ Chicago
Wake Forest
Are these the sorts of schools I should be applying to?

Point noted on LL.

I'm not sure what DACA means (sorry!), but yes, that is my only MCAT.

 

[gyngyn]

UCR is a mission-based school. Do you fit the mission?
You are definitely not a candidate for UW (not WAMI).
RF gets a huge number of applications (13K) but it's ok to add them as long as you have the $.

 

[littledreamer]

512 on the old scale is 86th-87th percentile. 32 on the old scale is 84th-88th percentile. 34 is 92nd-94th percentile. You're right smack in the middle of the 32 range.

There are plenty of schools you are a fine canidate for. It's just a matter of using MSAR to find them; 31-33 median MCAT schools that take at least 30% OOS is the target range I would be using.

No problem! My adviser is just totally brand-new, and I think she must have gotten the percentiles mixed up. (Which led me to clearly over-estimate my application.)

I posted some schools that I think fit that criteria in a reply to gyngyn, so if you see any issues with those/similar ilk, please let me know! I'm more than happy to adjust my application list, as I'm not in a knot over rankings and prestige, I'm more just terrified I won't get in *anywhere*. I really, really appreciate the help, and I'm just glad to hear that it's not a total wash where I have no chance anywhere!

 

[GrapesofRath]

No problem! My adviser is just totally brand-new, and I think she must have gotten the percentiles mixed up. (Which led me to clearly over-estimate my application.)

I posted some schools that I think fit that criteria in a reply to gyngyn, so if you see any issues with those/similar ilk, please let me know! I'm more than happy to adjust my application list, as I'm not in a knot over rankings and prestige, I'm more just terrified I won't get in *anywhere*. I really, really appreciate the help, and I'm just glad to hear that it's not a total wash where I have no chance anywhere!

Vermont, VCU and Wake Forest are solid choices. Albany is probably fine also.
Rosalind gets alot of applications(its 11k not 13k) and about 1/3 of their class is from their BMS program so in reality it's really 120 spots for 11k apps but you can still include it
Temple is at over 11k apps and over half the class is from PA so its really 100 spots you are competing for. But like Rosalind, you can still keep it if you want.
Rush has a 150 hr clinical experience and 150 hr volunteering requirement and their avg matriculant last yr had 800 volunteering hrs and 1800 clinical hrs. Not sure if that's the best fit for you.
Get rid of U of Wash. Are you from the Inland Empire? If not you can probably get rid of UCR.

 

[littledreamer]

UCR is a mission-based school. Do you fit the mission?
You are definitely not a candidate for UW (not WAMI).
RF gets a huge number of applications (13K) but it's ok to add them as long as you have the $.

I'll strike UCR, I don't fit it particularly well. A good portion of my family lives in the Inland Empire, but I personally don't. Also, completely missed the WAMI part of UW in the quick comb, my bad.

Other schools I came up with (to look deeper into) really fast:

Oregon (right at 30% OOS)
University of Miss/KC (29 avg MCAT)
East Virginia
West Virginia (also 29 avg MCAT)

 

[gyngyn]

I'll strike UCR, I don't fit it particularly well. A good portion of my family lives in the Inland Empire, but I personally don't. Also, completely missed the WAMI part of UW in the quick comb, my bad.

Other schools I came up with (to look deeper into) really fast:

Oregon (right at 30% OOS)
University of Miss/KC (29 avg MCAT)
East Virginia
West Virginia (also 29 avg MCAT)

OHSU is very low yield for CA applicants, though you just make the MCAT cut-off (probably).
UMKC takes most of it's OOS matriculants from "special programs."
From what I have seen, W VA seems to be taking OOS from neighboring states.

 

[gyngyn]

Rosalind gets alot of applications(its 11k not 13k) and about 1/3 of their class is from their BMS program so in reality it's really 120 spots for 11k apps but you can still include it

12,098. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, though.

 

[GrapesofRath]

12,098. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, though.

Im not saying you are wrong but where did you get 12k from?

This is where I got 11k from(it might not be the most accurate so if it's not correct me) and I think this is actually for the 14-15 cycle because the current MSAR has older data
https://www.aamc.org/download/321442/data/factstablea1.pdf

Rosalind's website has the exact same number for their class profile
https://rosalindfranklin.edu/academics/chicago-medical-school/degree-program/class-profile/

 

[gyngyn]

Im not saying you are wrong but where did you get 12k from?

11k is here and I think this is actually for the 14-15 cycle because the current MSAR has older data
https://www.aamc.org/download/321442/data/factstablea1.pdf

Wow. I guess that means that I have the new data in my MSAR subscription as an admissions officer. Who knew?
Well, that's awkward. Nevertheless, it appears that RF had a big uptick in applications last year.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Wow. I guess that means that I have the new data in my MSAR subscription as an admissions officer. Who knew?
Well, that's awkward. Nevertheless, it appears that RF had a big uptick in applications last year.

This data isnt in MSAR either. It's for the 2014-15 cycle. This is their class profile for the entering class of 2015. Are you saying they got 13k applications for this cycle 2015-16?

Probably the bigger thing to look at with RFU is theyve been cutting back on the number of people they take through their BMS program. If that keeps declining, itll matter more than 11k vs 12k apps to applicants.

 

[gyngyn]

This data isnt in MSAR either. It's for the 2014-15 cycle. This is their class profile for the entering class of 2015. Are you saying they got 13k applications for this cycle 2015-16?

12,098 exactly, not 13K.

 

[GrapesofRath]

12,098 exactly, not 13K.

Im guessing they probably arent close to the only school that saw a big uptake this year with the old MCAT coming to an end.

 

[gyngyn]

Im guessing they probably arent close to the only school that saw a big uptake this year with the old MCAT coming to an end.

There are still no data for CN"U"!

 

[GrapesofRath]

There are still no data for CN"U"!

http://medicine.cnsu.edu/shareddocs/DemographicData.pdf

There's this flimsy self reported data from CNU themselves. I'll take a wild guess and say you are somewhat skeptical to buy into it.

 

[littledreamer]

12,098. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, though.

Vermont, VCU and Wake Forest are solid choices. Albany is probably fine also.
Rosalind gets alot of applications(its 11k not 13k) and about 1/3 of their class is from their BMS program so in reality it's really 120 spots for 11k apps but you can still include it
Temple is at over 11k apps and over half the class is from PA so its really 100 spots you are competing for. But like Rosalind, you can still keep it if you want.
Rush has a 150 hr clinical experience and 150 hr volunteering requirement and their avg matriculant last yr had 800 volunteering hrs and 1800 clinical hrs. Not sure if that's the best fit for you.
Get rid of U of Wash. Are you from the Inland Empire? If not you can probably get rid of UCR.

Alright, so with all that taken into consideration, this is probably my last go for the moment:
SLU
Stritch
Thomas Jefferson

but all three of those have avg. MCATs of 33, aka slightly above the 31-32 recommendation.

Additionally:
Medical College of Wisconsin
Creighton
(not sure how I feel about where they are located though...)

and lastly Cooper, which apparently is quite new.


If I really, really have to, I could potentially retake the MCAT, even though the thought of that kills me. My B/B score could go up a point or two, same with P/S, but CR isn't going up any further, and my P/C has always been pretty abysmal.

So new overall list would look something like:

Albany
Albert Einstein
BU (reach)
Drexel
East Virginia
Emory (reach)
GW
Georgetown
Harvard (just for fun, if I have the $. Understand fully it's a pipe dream)
USC
LL (maybe)
MSU
Rosalind Franklin
Temple
Tufts
Tulane,
UCD
UCSD,
UCI,
UCLA (reach)
UCSF
Vermont
VCU
Wake Forest

 

[gyngyn]

http://medicine.cnsu.edu/shareddocs/DemographicData.pdf

There's this flimsy self reported data from CNU themselves. I'll take a wild guess and say you are somewhat skeptical to buy into it.

They lied to the LCME...

 

[gyngyn]

Alright, so with all that taken into consideration, this is probably my last go for the moment:
SLU
Stritch
Thomas Jefferson

but all three of those have avg. MCATs of 33, aka slightly above the 31-32 recommendation.

Additionally:
Medical College of Wisconsin
Creighton
(not sure how I feel about where they are located though...)

and lastly Cooper, which apparently is quite new.


If I really, really have to, I could potentially retake the MCAT, even though the thought of that kills me. My B/B score could go up a point or two, same with P/S, but CR isn't going up any further, and my P/C has always been pretty abysmal.

So new overall list would look something like:

Albany
Albert Einstein
BU (reach)
Drexel
East Virginia
Emory (reach)
GW
Georgetown
Harvard (just for fun, if I have the $. Understand fully it's a pipe dream)
USC
LL (maybe)
MSU
Rosalind Franklin
Temple
Tufts
Tulane,
UCD
UCSD,
UCI,
UCLA (reach)
UCSF
Vermont
VCU
Wake Forest

Much better.

 

[GrapesofRath]

If I really, really have to, I could potentially retake the MCAT

Dont do this.

You can put back on Einstein and absolutely include Saint Louis(every year they take as many CA applicants as any private school). I would also include Medical College of Wisconsin and perhaps UIC and U of Arizona. You should be fine with that list though.

 

[littledreamer]

Much better.

Dont do this.

You can put back on Einstein and absolutely include Saint Louis(every year they take as many CA applicants as any private school). I would also include Medical College of Wisconsin and perhaps UIC and U of Arizona. You should be fine with that list though.

Thank you both so much! I feel much better now about both my chances and my ability to make a final list out of these. 🙂

 

[AngelintheOutfield]

• Year in school: Senior graduating with B.S. in Human Biology, with a minor in a "critical language" and the other minor in that geographical region's studies [trying to keep this non-identifiable....]
  
• State Residency: CA
• Schools to which you are applying: Really nervous about this but: Albert Einstein, BostonU, Columbia, Drexel, Emory, Dartmouth, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, USC, Loma Linda, Mayo, MSU, NYU, Stanford, Yale, Tufts, Tulane, UCSD, UCI, UCLA, UCSF, UCD, UPitt, Yale
• Undergrad Institution/Ethnicity: Top 50 schools, white
  
• Cumulative GPA: 3.91 (a small upward trend exists...)
• Science GPA: 3.95
• MCAT Scores: 512: (P/C) 125/ (CR) 131/ (B/B) 128/ (P/S) 128
• Research: one year research in speech and hearing, presented a poster, but no publication. one year of research during study abroad, independently ran project. Skin again genes in mice, with lots of PCR, Western blots, etc. Looking for dermatology applications, never presented due to being in a foreign country. Potentially more research during gap year. (See bottom) Not sure if I should mention I helped a physician with his research insofar as compiling and analyzing patient data to look for links between heart failure and PFT results.
• Volunteering (clinical): 100+ hours in ED at local hospital, 100+ hours volunteering/shadowing in outpatient surgery center (will rack up another 100+ hours here over the next year), and 180+ hours in cardiomyopathy ward of hometown medical school hospital (may also return here). Grand total hours will be around 500 hrs.
  
• Physician shadowing: as mentioned above, sometimes shadowed at surgery clinic as opposed to volunteering that day. also sometimes took days in the cardiomyopathy ward to shadow the chief of cardiology. ~80 hrs of shadowing (again, some volunteering) at hospital during study abroad. Not sure how to divide my hours on the application, but safe to say 100+ hours.
  
• Non-clinical volunteering: No idea how many hours off the top of my head. Probably ~150 hrs at local horse rescue. ~100 hours of volunteering related to running a kid's camp for my foreign language, and helping run a conference for teachers of that language. Volunteered for language exchange program while abroad, no idea how many hours. Probably going to estimate around 50 hrs for that. Total: 300 hrs
  
• Extracurricular activities: Club based around my foreign language, which served to help other students learning the language, as well as educate the community at large about the culture/language (that I re-instated and was president of), AMSA member for two years, Founded a club at my university for out of state students, for social activities, support (there aren't many of us) and to help recruit more students from our region. Honors College. Few misc. other things that I'm assuming aren't necessary to list here.
  
• Employment history: research positions listed above. Tutored a kid in English during my year abroad. Currently working in a diagnostic lab (animal samples primarily), will have ~1 yr there when I graduate and leave. Currently in the interview stage for a research position (through a different local medical school) for my gap year. Would be clinical research, with human trials. Fingers crossed I'm offered the position, would work there for a year plus.
• Immediate family members in medicine? n
• Specialty of interest: cardiology. surgery. global health.
• Graduate degrees: none
• Interest in rural health: n
• As part of the minors that I listed above, I have studied abroad in that country twice. Once for a summer on a full ride from the state department. The second time I was abroad, I went for my entire junior year, and I was on multiple scholarships, some of which are nationally competitive federal ones. My PS focuses a good deal on this experience, and how it enriches me as a (potentially) future physician. My adviser is of the opinion that this is a pretty unique factor, given my "unusual" language, and deep investment in it.

To be honest, I don't have many pre-med friends so I don't have any frame of reference for what is good vs what is not. Last year I *legitimately* and genuinely thought I would have to go Carribean because I didn't have a 4.0. I'm still pretty anxious that I'm overestimating myself, but like anyone else, I just want to be a physician. Of course I'd love to get into a dream school, but I'd be thrilled to go virtually anywhere on my list. My MCAT, and specifically the lower score in P/C, concerns me the most. However, to be frank, I doubt that section will get much higher and a retake is unlikely to be in the cards for many reasons. However, my adviser says that because I'm in the range for most of these schools, it's overall a good list (with a handful of reaches....I think.)

I've been really nervous about the whole process lately after watching a good friend not get into any of her professional schools. If I need a complete attitude adjustment, PLEASE by all means let me know, but I would appreciate a compassionate bent. And a sincere thank you for any advice! I really appreciate it.

Impressive resume! I came across this thread and figured maybe I should add my two cents because I'm currently applying with stats almost identical to yours (3.9/33). I'm a CA resident as well with similar ECs. I applied to 24 schools. In fact my school list is very similar to your revised list with maybe 5 or 6 exceptions.

The best advice I can give to you is to REALLY emphasize how important your clinical experience has been to you in your primary app, and be patient during the interview cycle. Although I have good stats and solid ECs, I feel as if I didn't emphasize my passion for medicine enough in my PS and app. Luckily, an update I sent to most of my schools in January seemed to have addressed the mistake I made, and I've received a few II's since then (EVMS, Jefferson, Einstein). But don't be surprised if it takes a few months to get those II's. The odds are stacked up against you as a California resident, so you should definitely apply to a lot of mid-tier out of state schools. You have to realize that 12.5% of U.S. applicants are from CA, so not every school will feel that you are the right fit for their program (and no IS bias for CA schools is a huge bummer). Find a way to really set yourself apart!

With that said, if you are able to express your passion for medicine and show schools that you would be a benefit to their program, with a resume like yours you should not have any problems! Good luck!!! Feel free to message me if you have any questions about the application cycle.

 

[littledreamer]

Impressive resume! I came across this thread and figured maybe I should add my two cents because I'm currently applying with stats almost identical to yours (3.9/33). I'm a CA resident as well with similar ECs. I applied to 24 schools. In fact my school list is very similar to your revised list with maybe 5 or 6 exceptions.

The best advice I can give to you is to REALLY emphasize how important your clinical experience has been to you in your primary app, and be patient during the interview cycle. Although I have good stats and solid ECs, I feel as if I didn't emphasize my passion for medicine enough in my PS and app. Luckily, an update I sent to most of my schools in January seemed to have addressed the mistake I made, and I've received a few II's since then (EVMS, Jefferson, Einstein). But don't be surprised if it takes a few months to get those II's. The odds are stacked up against you as a California resident, so you should definitely apply to a lot of mid-tier out of state schools. You have to realize that 12.5% of U.S. applicants are from CA, so not every school will feel that you are the right fit for their program (and no IS bias for CA schools is a huge bummer). Find a way to really set yourself apart!

With that said, if you are able to express your passion for medicine and show schools that you would be a benefit to their program, with a resume like yours you should not have any problems! Good luck!!! Feel free to message me if you have any questions about the application cycle.

Awesome! 🙂 I'll message you.

 

[Goro]

Really? More dish please!!

And what will the LCME do about it???

They lied to the LCME...

 

[p0gono]

12,098 exactly, not 13K.

Off topic a bit, but speaking of 13k applications - that's the number UCLA said they got this year (on interview day). Yikes!

 

[gyngyn]

Really? More dish please!!

And what will the LCME do about it???

They inquired, only to get "responses" from lawyers.

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

Impressive resume! I came across this thread and figured maybe I should add my two cents because I'm currently applying with stats almost identical to yours (3.9/33). I'm a CA resident as well with similar ECs. I applied to 24 schools. In fact my school list is very similar to your revised list with maybe 5 or 6 exceptions.

The best advice I can give to you is to REALLY emphasize how important your clinical experience has been to you in your primary app, and be patient during the interview cycle. Although I have good stats and solid ECs, I feel as if I didn't emphasize my passion for medicine enough in my PS and app. Luckily, an update I sent to most of my schools in January seemed to have addressed the mistake I made, and I've received a few II's since then (EVMS, Jefferson, Einstein). But don't be surprised if it takes a few months to get those II's. The odds are stacked up against you as a California resident, so you should definitely apply to a lot of mid-tier out of state schools. You have to realize that 12.5% of U.S. applicants are from CA, so not every school will feel that you are the right fit for their program (and no IS bias for CA schools is a huge bummer). Find a way to really set yourself apart!

With that said, if you are able to express your passion for medicine and show schools that you would be a benefit to their program, with a resume like yours you should not have any problems! Good luck!!! Feel free to message me if you have any questions about the application cycle.

I am a CA resident and I have similar stats in every regard (a little more volunteering), but lack those insane number of clinical hours. At best, I could approach 100 hours of working at a free clinic and have under 50 at a children's hospital. Is it best to hold off till next year to boost those clinical hours, you think? And do I need all of those hours at the moment I send in the primaries? I am now sort of realizing how brutal it is for us CA residents...

 

[littledreamer]

I am a CA resident and I have similar stats in every regard (a little more volunteering), but lack those insane number of clinical hours. At best, I could approach 100 hours of working at a free clinic and have under 50 at a children's hospital. Is it best to hold off till next year to boost those clinical hours, you think? And do I need all of those hours at the moment I send in the primaries? I am now sort of realizing how brutal it is for us CA residents...

It's also slowly dawning on me how difficult it is for CA......yikes. I'm really not the best person to ask for advice as I (obviously) am still figuring this out for myself. Hopefully someone responds to you!

 

[gyngyn]

I am a CA resident and I have similar stats in every regard (a little more volunteering), but lack those insane number of clinical hours. At best, I could approach 100 hours of working at a free clinic and have under 50 at a children's hospital. Is it best to hold off till next year to boost those clinical hours, you think? And do I need all of those hours at the moment I send in the primaries? I am now sort of realizing how brutal it is for us CA residents...

You might want a thread of your own (if you haven't already made one!).

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

You might want a thread of your own (if you haven't already made one!).

Great idea! I have an older one...but I will update it.