A good risk profile?

[Kikaku21]

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Ok, I know people hate these threads, but I have to ask.

Here are my stats and the schools I am applying to. Is this to risky? Should I add more?

GPA = 3.71 (3.66 non-sci, 3.77 sci)
MCAT = 35 (VR = 10, PS = 12, BS = 13)

School List:
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medici
Mayo Medical School
Medical College of Wisconsin
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicin
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Scien
Rush Medical College
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
University of Chicago - Pritzker
University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Medic
University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine

 

[Meatwad]

Very nice numbers. Your list looks good, but I'm sure some people with more experience with these schools will chime in with some good tips. You'll probably do well, as long as your ECs are strong and you interview well. Good luck.

 

[ilovescrubs]

Yeah, looks fine to me...good mix. Now stop worrying cause you got a 35 and have a good gpa. You have nothing to be concerned about.

 

[luv2sd]

Ok, I know people hate these threads, but I have to ask.

Here are my stats and the schools I am applying to. Is this to risky? Should I add more?

GPA = 3.71 (3.66 non-sci, 3.77 sci)
MCAT = 35 (VR = 10, PS = 12, BS = 13)

School List:
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medici
Mayo Medical School
Medical College of Wisconsin
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicin
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Scien
Rush Medical College
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
University of Chicago - Pritzker
University of Illinois at Chicago-College of Medic
University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine

just curious
no ivyleagues?

 

[postbacker]

Looks good, but what about Case and Ohio State to keep with the midwestern theme? Michigan as a reach?

 

[searun]

I would add Dartmouth, Georgetown, Case Western, Emory, Vanderbilt and perhaps Cornell.

 

[GuzzyRon]

I would add WUSTL for the heck of it.

 

[TomWestmanRules]

Here are my stats and the schools I am applying to. Is this to risky? Should I add more?

GPA = 3.71 (3.66 non-sci, 3.77 sci)
MCAT = 35 (VR = 10, PS = 12, BS = 13)

Completely ridiculous to even be starting a thread like this given the info above.

 

[Kikaku21]

Completely ridiculous to even be starting a thread like this given the info above.

20% of applicants with a 35 do not get in.
30% of applicants with a 3.7 do not get in.

While I do not have the bivariate data, (i.e. how many with 35 AND 3.7 do not get in) the only thing I can do at this point to minimize risk is pick a list of schools intelligently and prepare for interviews. So, this is by no means a ridiculous, or stupid question. Yeah, I have good scores, but we all know this is not a guarantee. And don't give me the line about how I have no business starting a thread like this because there are plenty of people who would kill for better scores. If they had those terrific scores, they would still try to allocate their time and $ in the best possible way.

 

[TomWestmanRules]

So, this is by no means a ridiculous, or stupid question.

It's both.

The only legit "What are my chances" threads here are those with scores in the gray area (26-30, or GPA around 3.4), or those with severe red flags.

Anything above that mark, particularly if it's high above that mark, reeks of simply wanting to get a bunch of pats on the back. Your scores/marks are terrific and you've already chosen about a dozen schools (the average #). You really can't be that stupid to think you'll be in trouble in this process.

 

[postbacker]

20% of applicants with a 35 do not get in.
30% of applicants with a 3.7 do not get in.

While I do not have the bivariate data, (i.e. how many with 35 AND 3.7 do not get in) the only thing I can do at this point to minimize risk is pick a list of schools intelligently and prepare for interviews. So, this is by no means a ridiculous, or stupid question. Yeah, I have good scores, but we all know this is not a guarantee. And don't give me the line about how I have no business starting a thread like this because there are plenty of people who would kill for better scores. If they had those terrific scores, they would still try to allocate their time and $ in the best possible way.

First, ignore the whiners. Your question is completely legit; I share your concerns.

I also would like to see the "bivariate" data on this question - surely such data has been collected and analyzed - anybody ever seen such? Can it be figured out from the MSAR data and charts?

 

[LifetimeDoc]

First, ignore the whiners. Your question is completely legit; I share your concerns.

I also would like to see the "bivariate" data on this question - surely such data has been collected and analyzed - anybody ever seen such? Can it be figured out from the MSAR data and charts?

If you extrapolate from those numbers, I'd look at it as an > 80%+ chance of getting into medical school which is >36% higher than the norm (44% of applicants get into medical school each year). Being all freaked out because there is a small < 20% chance that you might not get in, IMHO, is whining when you have an above average matriculant GPA and well above average matriculant MCAT (top 7% of all MCAT takers).

OP Data
GPA = 3.71 (3.66 non-sci, 3.77 sci)
MCAT = 35 (VR = 10, PS = 12, BS = 13)

AMCAS Data 2006
This data is for matriculants (those who got into medical school) and not all applicants.
(Source: http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2006/mcatgpastatemat.htm)

• Average Science GPA = 3.57
• Average Non-Science GPA = 3.71
• Average Total GPA = 3.64
• Average MCAT Verbal = 9.8
• Average MCAT Physical Sciences = 10.1
• Average MCAT Biological Sciences = 10.5
• Average Total MCAT= 30.4
• Total Matriculants = 17,370

I only say this because the OP is basing their entire application on the numbers they gave, which are completely fine. What kills applications like this with great numbers are the other factors such as LOR, essays, ECs, and the interview. No matter what your numbers are, there is no 100% guarantee you'll get in (or if you are a half-glass-empty kinda person, no 0% chance you'll not get in).

 

[Kikaku21]

It's both.

The only legit "What are my chances" threads here are those with scores in the gray area (26-30, or GPA around 3.4), or those with severe red flags.

Anything above that mark, particularly if it's high above that mark, reeks of simply wanting to get a bunch of pats on the back. Your scores/marks are terrific and you've already chosen about a dozen schools (the average #). You really can't be that stupid to think you'll be in trouble in this process.

1. This is not a "what are my chances" thread. This is a "does this look like a decent list of schools given my stats" thread.

2. If I were looking for pats on the back, I'd find a more creative way to go about it. I just wanted to know what people thought of my list.

 

[GeorgeFoster]

I'm all for going easy on the kid because, well, some people honestly don't know much about applying to med school.

I also feel empathy because I feel like I am the exact same canidate. He matched my GPA exactly. Creepy.

I also live in Chicago and am Applying to the same regional schools (with OSU as safety/good fit and Penn and Mich as reaches instead of MAYO, WashU) so its interesting to see people's comments and how many schools apply to.

Also, I feel like this is probably a valid question because a lot of people with good numbers who focus on their numbers do have weak areas elsewhere (I have only fuzzy LOR's,[b/c Ive been out of school a few years], and EC's are decent but no match for my numbers).

But the answer ultimately is on MDapplicants.com, it'll tell you more than we will, and less sarcastically as well.

 

[Tenacity]

It's both.

The only legit "What are my chances" threads here are those with scores in the gray area (26-30, or GPA around 3.4), or those with severe red flags.

Anything above that mark, particularly if it's high above that mark, reeks of simply wanting to get a bunch of pats on the back. Your scores/marks are terrific and you've already chosen about a dozen schools (the average #). You really can't be that stupid to think you'll be in trouble in this process.

Perhaps you are bitter. I relate with Kikaku since we have all seen how random a process such as this is, and scores do not guarantee acceptance to any school.

Seems like you could add another safety or two, if you are really set on going to med school. Safeties have been known to reject well-qualified applicants, and high tier schools regularly reject well-qualified applicants, so beat the statistics!

 

[smeagol]

People seem very willing to provide words of encouragement to those whose stats are sub-average. And yet, it's strange to see how these words become threatening when someone like the OP comes along.

He's not asking 'what are my chances' as much as he is asking 'where else should I apply.'

Sure, the OP seems a bit paranoid but that's no excuse to be rude.