Any Input Appreciated! (3.65, 33P)

[box8psych]

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Hello all, I really would just like to get a feel for what everyone (from their various experiences) thinks about my app. I feel very middle-of-the-road but I keep getting various people telling me to apply above my stats, which I am afraid is biased and overly optimistic. Is it truly realistic for me to apply to "reaches" (top 20ish), or are my friends/colleagues blowing smoke? Thanks and sorry for the length of the post!

Here's the rundown:

Male, Caucasian, CA resident, First-gen college student
MCAT: 33P = 10,11,12
3.65 cGPA at UCSD w/ large upward trend = 3.1 freshman year in mostly non-major prereqs, then much higher for rest of college w/ ~3.85 in-major GPA
3.8 sGPA - almost all science done at well regarded formal Post-Bac (did not get lower than A-)
McNair Scholar - used honors project as my research project (see below)
Received a presidential honor as a volunteer for work in high school (see below)
TA for upper-division neurophysiology class

Volunteering:
One of the founding volunteers in what is now large organization that works w/ children with autism (this is one of my more significant experiences and got me interested in health care)
Currently working at Free Clinic in Downtown LA doing patient advocacy/registration, already have 40 hrs and plan to continue through app process (6-7 hrs/week)

Research:
Fully-independent honors research project/experiment (EEG-based) for my major's honors program (comes out to about 20 hrs/week for two years). Presented posters of project at multiple conferences (SFN, McNair) - no publication though (boo)
2nd Author Publication of clinical research project w/ Peds Surgeon I shadowed (see below)

Shadowing:
120 hrs w/ Peds Gastrointestinal Surgeon = going on rounds, in OR, in clinics
30 hrs w/ Pediatric Allergist

Work:
Worked with clients with autism throughout college as mentor/tutor (15-20 hrs/week)
Now work as behavior therapist, been at company for total of 2 years and will continue through app process (40 hrs/week)

I think that about covers it. Obviously, without reading my PS and 15 things its impossible to make a definite statement, but really any input would be greatly appreciated. If you read this whole post, thank you and good luck on your path in medicine!

 

[gyngyn]

As you know, your stats are below median for UCSF, Stanford, USC, and UCSD. They are slightly above median for UCI and UCD ( no data on UCR but you are probably above average). You should certainly apply to the prime programs (and Loma Linda if you are ok with the various forms of abstinence required).

Although your EC's are fine they don't scream future leader of medicine that the "top 20" say they are looking for.

 

[box8psych]

Thanks for the input! I should add that I am actually very open to going anywhere in the country, so staying in California is not an issue.

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the input! I should add that I am actually very open to going anywhere in the country, so staying in California is not an issue.

Excellent. Get the new MSAR and identify at least a dozen OOS schools where you are near the median score for matriculants (and that are either private or accept a significant proportion of OOS applicants). Combine this with your CA aps and you will be fine.

 

[box8psych]

Thats the thing, I will definitely use the MSAR as a guide to where my stats fall for various schools. The main reason I posted is to get an idea of if I might outperform my stats (like multiple people keep assuring me) and therefore apply to more reaches than I otherwise would. Thanks for the help!

 

[gyngyn]

Thats the thing, I will definitely use the MSAR as a guide to where my stats fall for various schools. The main reason I posted is to get an idea of if I might outperform my stats (like multiple people keep assuring me) and therefore apply to more reaches than I otherwise would. Thanks for the help!

There is nothing wrong with hoping for some luck with schools whose medians are higher than your stats. You would be wise not to count on it, though.

 

[Weewee]

Kind of creeped out because we almost have the exact same stats and ECs. I think your story puts you at an advantage, just make sure all your apps cohesively convey your motivations etc. and apply early. You should be fine with higher level schools but throw in some others like temple (had luck here), Drexel, and others that show love for oos and non-trads. Good luck!

 

[Meihua]

Upward trend in overall GPA + decent sGPA means you can probably treat your GPA as slightly higher than 3.65. Based on your ECs (and assuming you can get good LORs from your PI and professors), you should be able to apply a bit higher than what your numbers alone would suggest.

 

[jtbball33]

That username looks quite familiar. Go Angels.

 

[jorgediaz]

We have identical stats, but you beast me on ECs. I got an acceptance at a pretty good school.

I think you are out of reach for top 10, but could apply to 1 or 2 top 20 though. Don't expect anything since your stats are good, but not brilliant. You have great ECs, but they have other applicants with the same along with baller stats. Apply broadly (20+ schools) and you should do great. Might not get your CA school, but who cares right?

 

[jorgediaz]

There is nothing wrong with hoping for some luck with schools whose medians are higher than your stats. You would be wise not to count on it, though.

Completely agree. ECs can only do so much when pitted up against 36-40 MCATs.

 

[leeyuhang]

http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=24762
http://mdapplicants.com/profile.php?id=25951

if you needed a school list or something.

 

[penguinism]

Thats the thing, I will definitely use the MSAR as a guide to where my stats fall for various schools. The main reason I posted is to get an idea of if I might outperform my stats (like multiple people keep assuring me) and therefore apply to more reaches than I otherwise would. Thanks for the help!

If you have the money and the time, I see no reason why not to choose 3-5 reach schools. I'm happy that I did, because I attend one of my "reaches" now!

Just make sure that your list is balanced. There's a good chance that you can out-perform your MCAT score, and your sGPA is pretty good (along with the fact that you have an upward trend in undergrad). Just don't be disappointed if the reach schools don't bite.

 

[box8psych]

Thank you everyone for the advice. It seems like the consensus agrees with what I've been told/advised elsewhere, just not to be too optimistic. I've just started diligently working on my app, so I will probably be back here with an actual school list in a month!