3.96 bcpm, 3.96c, 29Q; PLEASE give honest suggestions

[italian919]

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Thank you for your honest opinions on this, it will truly help me out!

3.96 bcpm, cumulative GPAs at a top-60 public undergrad
29Q (8 verbal, 10 bio, 11 physical)

EC's:
-BS/MD program (non-binding 4+4) with a top-40 public medical school, accepted at this school in senior year of high school, but decided it might not be for me; just want to have more than one option
-Extensive shadowing experiences (several surgery specialties, one for a week straight living with the physician)
-Lab research (two semesters, no publication)
-Chemistry tutor (one semester)
-Hospital volunteer (one year, bi-weekly)
-Premedical organizations on campus
-President of governing board of Greek community
-Past chapter president of fraternity
-Other leadership roles also within Greek community
-University committee roles, student affairs, also relating to Greek community
-Several university scholarships and awards
-Summers included various jobs, study abroad, lab research

-Five LORs- at least four are very strong; two are from humanities professors (intense reading and writings courses, would these help my low verbal score?)

These are the schools I'm applying to:
Case Western Reserve University
University of Virginia
University of Pittsburgh
The Ohio State Univ.
University of Cincinnati
Northwestern University Feinberg
Georgetown University
Emory University
University of Chicago - Pritzker
Wake Forest University

Submitted primary AMCAS in mid-June, plan to finish secondaries by end of August.

What are my chances of getting offered an interview with my lower 🙂() MCAT score? I'd be confident with my interviewing abilities, but am I shut out of most of these schools regardless? Good chance?

Thanks so much, and good luck to all !

 

[Phoenix.]

Sounds like a good application, but I definitely think you should apply to a few more schools. I'm assuming you're an Ohio resident?

Anyway, how about adding a few more schools in the areas you're already applying? For instance: Toledo, Wright State, Rush, Loyola, RFU, SLU, MCW, Drexel, Temple, Jefferson, VCU and EVMS? An 8 is not an application killer, but it is rather low for the majority of the schools you're applying to.... And I do think it's better to apply more broadly than have to reapply. I'd give it a shot at all of the schools on your list - I'd just add a few more.

 

[italian919]

Thanks for the advice Phoenix, and awesome profile I might add.

Yes, I'm an Ohio resident. And I will go to my "backup" MD school through the BS/MD program before spending more $$ and applying many other places, but I am interested more in the schools I listed here. Do you or anyone else know if any of these schools have cut-off MCAT scores?

Also, if I do get interviews does that mean they have decided that my lower MCAT score has been outweighed by other parts of my application? Or will it come back into play even after my interview?

 

[italian919]

bump

am i being overly ambitious with these schools?

 

[Phoenix.]

bump

am i being overly ambitious with these schools?

Probably. Your MCAT is definitely low for those schools. Perhaps not for Georgetown, but they get over 10,000 applications, so you really can't count on that. Not so sure about Ohio State's stats (you're instate there so perhaps you've got a good shot there), but the other schools are definitely reaches and I wouldn't count on getting an interview at any of them by any means. But you have a fall back, so there's no harm in applying other than the application fees and time spent on secondary essays.