MD 515 MCAT, cGPA 3.84, sGPA 3.82, NY resident

[trinchen]

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Hi everyone!

I am new to this forum, just decided to make an account because this feels like somewhere to get honest and thoughtful feedback on applications. So here goes:

I am a senior at a mid-size private university in NY state and part of the Honors program.
515 MCAT (130 CP / 127 CARS / 130 BB/ 128 PS)
cGPA 3.84, sGPA 3.82 (if everything goes as planned during my last semester)

Caucasian female
Grew up outside US, but have citizenship

Research:
1.5 years in molecular lab (3 semesters + 1 summer on a stipend)
4 months in microbiology lab
Poster presentations for both labs, but no pubs yet

Clinical experience:
Approx. 100 hours shadowing oncologist
Approx. 50 hours in emergency department

Volunteering:
Approx. 120 hours with organization at local hospital dedicated to underserved population
Approx. 100 hours with pre-professional organization

EC's:
Finance chair of pre-professional org
TA for intro Biology labs
Tutor for intro Biology classes
Biology Honors Society

I plan to apply in June 2016 as soon as AMCAS opens. This means I will be taking 1 gap year during which I hope to work in a lab as a research assistant. I will also continue shadowing and volunteering on the side.

School List:

Albert Einstein
Boston University
Columbia
Harvard
Hofstra
Icahn (Mount Sinai)
Johns Hopkins
Keck (USC)
NYU
Northwestern University
OHSU - Have strong ties due to family in OR
Stanford
Tufts
UCLA
UCSD
UCSF
U Chicago
UNC
Weill Cornell
Yale

I feel like many of the above schools might be reaches, so I will be happy to accept your advice on which schools to remove and what to add. I do not know too much about how these schools deal with OOS applications, so any comments on that would be great too.

Thank you for taking your time to help me! I truly appreciate it!

 

[GrapesofRath]

All but 2 of the schools on your list have 34+ median MCATs. And the two that dont are notoriously very difficult to get into OOS. That has to change, particularly since you have no state schools. In fact, I'd play it a little more conservative than usual with no state programs.

You have your reaches(and it's fine to have some), now get MSAR and try to look at schools that are a bit lower in tier, specifically those that take at least 25% OOS and where the median MCAT is 30-33. Wake Forest is an example. Pick about a dozen of them. Combine them with the bigger names and you should have a good list.

 

[gyngyn]

I count one school on your list where your chance of an interview is fair to good.
It's time to take a closer look at the MSAR.

 

[efle]

I count one school on your list where your chance of an interview is fair to good.

Is it Hofstra

 

[GrapesofRath]

I count one school on your list where your chance of an interview is fair to good.

Einstein?

 

[gyngyn]

Is it Hofstra

Their median is up to 34 now, and they are aiming higher this year.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Their median is up to 34 now, and they are aiming higher this year.

Another clear issue is the class is small(90 students) and over half of it is IS. Einstein by comparison is at 183. Do you really think Hofstra can go much higher than 34(it had plateaued at 33 before last year)? It's just hard to surpass that 35 mark; I would be very surprised if they do in the near future.

I would probably have put Tufts after Einstein if I had to guess, although their 10+k apps, regional bias and the fact a number of their matriculants are through special programs(BA/MD, SMP grads etc) makes it difficult.

 

[gyngyn]

Another clear issue is the class is small(90 students) and over half of it is IS. Einstein by comparison is at 183. Do you really think Hofstra can go much higher than 34(it had plateaued at 33 before last year)? It's just hard to surpass that 35 mark; I would be very surprised if they do in the near future.

I would probably have put Tufts after Einstein if I had to guess, although their 10+k apps, regional bias and the fact a number of their matriculants are through special programs(BA/MD, SMP grads etc) makes it difficult.

They could absolutely hit 35 with a class size that small in NY.

 

[efle]

Their median is up to 34 now, and they are aiming higher this year.

Einsteins is 34 too though, and einstein has a higher median GPA...

I'd bet anybody can get a crazy high MCAT median if they throw scholarship money around

 

[GrapesofRath]

Einsteins is 34 too though, and einstein has a higher median GPA...

I'd bet anybody can get a crazy high MCAT median if they throw scholarship money around

Einstein's class size though is almost twice as big. We're talking about MSAR median MCAT stats for accepted students also so scholarship money isnt really relevant here.

They could absolutely hit 35 with a class size that small in NY.

I could easily see 35. Going beyond 35(for accepted median MCAT in MSAR) has been the issue for the "non top 20" schools if that's what you want to call them. Case was the only one to do it and they only were able to do it very recently. Emory has been stuck at 35 forever. Keck and Ohio State havent moved past their either. The small class size is the one variable they have in their favor though.

 

[gyngyn]

Einsteins is 34 too though, and einstein has a higher median GPA...

I'd bet anybody can get a crazy high MCAT median if they throw scholarship money around

With a class that large and a 10th% of 30, there is still plenty of room for OP at Einstein. In contrast, Hofstra is in range to go up a point and gives every indication of wanting to do so. You'll notice that their 90th is 37!

 

[GrapesofRath]

With a class that large and a 10th% of 30, there is still plenty of room for OP at Einstein. In contrast, Hofstra is in range to go up a point and gives every indication of wanting to do so. You'll notice that their 90th is 37!

In fairness Einstein's range was 31-37 the previous 2 years before last.

 

[gyngyn]

Einstein's class size though is almost twice as big. We're talking about MSAR median MCAT stats for accepted students also so scholarship money isnt really relevant here.



I could easily see 35. Going beyond 35(for accepted median MCAT in MSAR) has been the issue for the "non top 20" schools if that's what you want to call them. Case was the only one to do it and they only were able to do it very recently. Emory has been stuck at 35 forever. Keck and Ohio State havent moved past their either. The small class size is the one variable they have in their favor though.

Another school to watch in coming years is Miami. They arent getting as much state funding anymore(if any) and the word has been for several years they have really been trying to use their OOS class to boost up their stats, and it is starting to show.

Yup. Case is the only school with a class that big that has hit a median of 36.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Yup. Case is the only school with class that big that has hit a median of 36.

Case has show a willingness for years to take a chance on applicants with lower GPAs who have the high MCAT scores. I guess it shows; for a class of 217 to have that median is impressive.

Do you think these rising medians are a by product of the rush the past 2 years of people trying to apply before the old MCAT(hence more applicants), or do you expect the trend to continue in coming years?

 

[gyngyn]

In fairness Einstein's range was 31-37 the previous 2 years before last.

It's tough to maintain with a class that big, even in NY

 

[gyngyn]

Do you think these rising medians are a by product of the rush the past 2 years of people trying to apply before the old MCAT(hence more applicants), or do you expect the trend to continue in coming years?

Hard to say.
I do think there may be some unpredictable outcomes in the next year when both types of scores will be listed and Deans will have a hard time bragging as clearly.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Hard to say.
I do think there may be some unpredictable outcomes in the next year when both types of scores will be listed and Deans will have a hard time bragging as clearly.

There also just comes a point of "saturation" per se where it's just hard for MCAT averages to rise, even if the overall quality of the class is. For example there's a reason WashU has never been able to break 38 on their median all these years despite their fetish for such big scores.

 

[vneuro]

Hi everyone!

I am new to this forum, just decided to make an account because this feels like somewhere to get honest and thoughtful feedback on applications. So here goes:

I am a senior at a mid-size private university in NY state and part of the Honors program.
515 MCAT (130 CP / 127 CARS / 130 BB/ 128 PS)
cGPA 3.84, sGPA 3.82 (if everything goes as planned during my last semester)

Caucasian female
Grew up outside US, but have citizenship

Research:
1.5 years in molecular lab (3 semesters + 1 summer on a stipend)
4 months in microbiology lab
Poster presentations for both labs, but no pubs yet

Clinical experience:
Approx. 100 hours shadowing oncologist
Approx. 50 hours in emergency department

Volunteering:
Approx. 120 hours with organization at local hospital dedicated to underserved population
Approx. 100 hours with pre-professional organization

EC's:
Finance chair of pre-professional org
TA for intro Biology labs
Tutor for intro Biology classes
Biology Honors Society

I plan to apply in June 2016 as soon as AMCAS opens. This means I will be taking 1 gap year during which I hope to work in a lab as a research assistant. I will also continue shadowing and volunteering on the side.

School List:

Albert Einstein Competitive
Boston University Slight Reach
Columbia Reach
Harvard Dream
Hofstra Competitive
Icahn (Mount Sinai) Reach
Johns Hopkins Dream
Keck (USC) Reach
NYU Slight Reach
Northwestern University Reach
OHSU - Have strong ties due to family in OR Competitive
Stanford Dream
Tufts Competitive
UCLA Reach
UCSD Reach
UCSF Dream
U Chicago Dream
UNC Reach
Weill Cornell Dream
Yale Dream

I feel like many of the above schools might be reaches, so I will be happy to accept your advice on which schools to remove and what to add. I do not know too much about how these schools deal with OOS applications, so any comments on that would be great too.

Thank you for taking your time to help me! I truly appreciate it!

Expand your quoted post to see my assessment of each school you've listed (Dream/Reach/Slight Reach/Competitive)

Your list is filled with "reach" and "dream" schools, and that's assessing both your stats and the ECs you've listed. You need to re-evaluate your list. I don't see you getting more than 3-5 interview invites, and I wouldn't be surprised if you received 0 acceptances from them given that your list of "competitive" schools is so small.

 

[gyngyn]

Expand your quoted post to see my assessment of each school you've listed (Dream/Reach/Slight Reach/Competitive)

Your list is filled with "reach" and "dream" schools, and that's assessing both your stats and the ECs you've listed. You need to re-evaluate your list. I don't see you getting more than 3-5 interview invites, and I wouldn't be surprised if you received 0 acceptances from them given that your list of "competitive" schools is so small.

OHSU only matriculated 37/5187 OOS applicants who often have a strong public health background or represent uncommon groups.

 

[trinchen]

Thank you for your feedback everyone! Looks like it started quite a discussion. I got the MSAR now and will take your advice to heart.

 

[cardzkp]

I had ballpark stats to yours.. (512 3.84cGPA 3.74sGPA) with very similar ECs. Granted you topped me a little in both areas, apply to the SUNYs. There is literally no reason not to, and they are cheap as hell. I think I now might matriculate to a SUNY after falling in love with one (the price tag certainly helps).

 

[trinchen]

Hello again!

I've looked over the MSAR based on the guidelines you all provided (30-33 median MCAT, higher OOS acceptance rates). Could one of you comment on my fit at the schools listed below? I have noticed that several of these schools receive over 10K applications and/or offer interviews to a very small proportion of OOS applicants (even though the matriculating classes have >25% OOS students). Is it still worthwhile to apply if I like the program and location?

Brown
Drexel
Georgetown
GW University
Irvine
NY Medical College
Rosalind Franklin
Stony Brook
SUNY Downstate
Temple
Thomas Jefferson University
U Albany
U Vermont
Wake Forest

I'm looking forward to your responses!

 

[WedgeDawg]

Hello again!

I've looked over the MSAR based on the guidelines you all provided (30-33 median MCAT, higher OOS acceptance rates). Could one of you comment on my fit at the schools listed below? I have noticed that several of these schools receive over 10K applications and/or offer interviews to a very small proportion of OOS applicants (even though the matriculating classes have >25% OOS students). Is it still worthwhile to apply if I like the program and location?

Brown bad - interviews only 3% of applicants who often fit a very specific profile
Drexel fine, but lots of apps so interview isn't guaranteed
Georgetown fine, but lots of apps so interview isn't guaranteed
GW University fine, but lots of apps so interview isn't guaranteed
Irvine UC school - not worth it if you're not from CA
NY Medical College fine
Rosalind Franklin fine
Stony Brook fine
SUNY Downstate fine
Temple fine, but lots of apps so interview isn't guaranteed
Thomas Jefferson University fine, but lots of apps so interview isn't guaranteed
U Albany fine
U Vermont fine
Wake Forest fine

I'm looking forward to your responses!

Comments in bold. Other schools to consider (some of these were on your original list) are Quinnipiac, VCU, EVMS, Einstein, Rochester, Hofstra, Upstate, and Emory and Duke (as reaches).

 

[GrapesofRath]

Brown
Drexel
Georgetown
GW University
Irvine
NY Medical College
Rosalind Franklin
Stony Brook
SUNY Downstate
Temple
Thomas Jefferson University
U Albany
U Vermont
Wake Forest

I'm looking forward to your responses!

I like Jefferson and Wake from this list. Try Vermont, Downstate and Stony Brook as well. Couple other to consider are Einstein, Tulane, Miami, Emory, Medical College of Wisconsin and Saint Louis.

 

[whatever5]

That is way too top heavy, and you don't have the awesome research credentials a lot of those schools look for.

Buy the MSAR.

 

[ditritium monoxide]

That is way too top heavy, and you don't have the awesome research credentials a lot of those schools look for.

Buy the MSAR.

He said he had poster presentations for both his labs. The circumstances of the presentations ofc would have impact, but what exactly do you mean by research credentials? Publications?