MD 4.0, 35 MCAT. Average/poor ECs. AL Res. Worth applying to a top school?

[wigwom50]

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I'm an Alabama resident attending an in-state undergraduate institution. I'm just wondering if it's even worth applying to some top 25 schools with my stats. I am currently a Junior.

Background:
Male, Asian.
Major: Philosophy
Minors: Chemistry; Biology
GPA: 4.0
MCAT: 35= P12/V10/B13

Volunteering:

• I volunteered twice a week during my sophomore year at a Children's Hospital. I mainly helped children keep up with their homework.
• Volunteer ACT tutor for two months freshman year.
• I've been a member of AED (pre-health society) for all of college, so I've participated in a mixture of community and service projects, a few that I feel I could really emphasize on AMCAS.

Shadowing (appx. 160 hours)

• I shadowed a primary care physician the summer between sophomore and junior year.
• I shadowed in the ER at my university hospital twice.
• This isn't strictly shadowing, but I took a course where I was allowed to perform basic procedures on a simulation dummy. The class was led by a few different physicians each week.

Research

• I did some basic laboratory research Spring semester of Freshman year in the Lung Biology Department at my school. It concerned Acute Lung Injury.
• I am currently working towards my thesis, which will be in Computational Genetics. I'm trying to identify unknown RNAs in particular species of bacteria. I'm almost guaranteed at least two forthcoming publications according to my mentor.
• I participated in a University affiliated paid research program the summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years. I "researched" in the Philosophy Department. Essentially, I wrote an extended research paper. A modified, shortened version was later published in an undergraduate philosophy journal. The journal is affiliated with an Ivy League school, but I'm not sure what credence medical schools give to undergrad journals.

Other Activities

• I've been one of 16 university ambassadors for the past two years.
• I'm the Campus Involvement Coordinator for AED. I'm heavily involved in intramural sports, and I periodically organize socials for AED members.

I know my stats are above average (generally speaking, that is) and fall within the range for some top schools. However, I'm concerned that there's nothing else that really stands out. I'm really inclined towards the humanities, so I'm going to try to emphasize that aspect of myself when I do apply to schools. But I'm not sure if that in of itself is good enough. Do you guys think I have a shot at a top school? Also, I don't plan to take a year off or anything in order to bolster my resume.

 

[masaraksh]

As someone with 3.98cGPA/4.0sGPA/37MCAT, I can tell you that those stats do not mean much when it comes to the 'top 20s'. Many of those schools will screen with a strong 'holistic' approach and you will have trouble competing with applicants with very strong 'EC'/outside pursuits in their resumes. Plus, in that league, your stats may even be below average for some schools (*cough* WashU *cough*). Third, being an asian male (just like being a white male) does not make things 'easier' (but lets not start on the URM debate).

I wouldn't give up on 'top 20' completely. Maybe add 2-4 that fit with you the best AND if you have the $$ (but make sure to research them WELL..... as in, probably don't apply HMS, JHU, Stanford, Penn, Pitt... or the UCs.)

 

[wigwom50]

Cool, thanks for the input! I totally agree with your sentiments regarding the schools you listed. What about a school that's more on par with say Emory? Do you think that's even worth it?

 

[masaraksh]

Cool, thanks for the input! I totally agree with your sentiments regarding the schools you listed. What about a school that's more on par with say Emory? Do you think that's even worth it?

Don't know much about Emory... but Case would be very likely to give you a shot (I have similar stats to yours and got an interview there ... but darn 'waitlist'). Maybe NYU... I'm not sure.

Lets make a top 20s to not apply to list (yeah you can still apply but at these schools your odds will be lower unless there is something amazing you are not telling us about):
- HMS
- Stanford
- JHU
- UCSF
- UCLA
- Yale
- Columbia
- Duke
- UCSD
- UNC - Chapel Hill

 

[deleted271537]

Don't know much about Emory... but Case would be very likely to give you a shot (I have similar stats to yours and got an interview there ... but darn 'waitlist'). Maybe NYU... I'm not sure.

Lets make a top 20s to not apply to list (yeah you can still apply but at these schools your odds will be lower unless there is something amazing you are not telling us about):
- HMS
- Stanford
- JHU
- UCSF
- UCLA
- Yale
- Columbia
- Duke
- UCSD
- UNC - Chapel Hill

I would actually suggest you apply to Duke. I had a similar application and received an interview from Duke- they seem to put a lot of emphasis on your secondary app.