Applying to over 80 schools...Would you like to know more?

[1-800-HOTDOGJONES]

Yo! First-time poster here but long-time lurker. Long story long, my school list is massive and I'd love a tiny bit of guidance chopping it down. I'm able to apply VERY broadly so there's no need to remind me on that front, lol. I've gone over the WARS calculator, LizzyM, other SDN posts, and reddit threads extensively. I've religiously used MSAR to x-reference mcat and GPA scores, OOS/IS preferences, and have read every school's mission statement at least 2x ensuring I'm able to vibe with the school.
Where I'd love some input is on if I'm just maybe missing something big that locals might know that I don't. Like school X,Y,Z has a hidden research requirement, or maybe I should add school W because they are heavy clinical experience etc.
Thanks for the help!!!

Year in school: Graduated 2018; Non-trad.
Country/state of residence: California Resident; (ties to Virginia [due to a 'sons of the civil war' type of thing], also 2nd cousin that's an Alabama Senator...). Did school in CA.
MCAT Scores: 502 (yeah, I know... ugh. Ended my practices with a sample of 512, FL1 500, FL2 504 and a FL3 of a 509 taken in order... I just **** the bed on the test i guess???)

GPA: 1st Undergrad ended 3.2 when I transferred schools as a "junior". 3 years later repeated Soph through Senior year at the new uni and ended with a 3.87; major was 3.8; biology, minor in biochem (currently awaiting verification; I submitted on June 8th.)
LOR's: ER Chief, Chief of Heme/Onc UCSF, Ca Politician, Sci Prof, Speech Prof: compiled into a committee letter.
ORM/URM Status: Guatemalan/mayan, Filipino, and White (basically, i'm a dark-olive skinned ambiguous mutt). Not low-SES. Male.
Research – none
Physician shadowing/experiences – heh heh heh. no shadowing in the traditional sense. See below.
Extracurricular/ Employment/clinical/non-clinical: approx 8-10k hours EMS (BLS, ER tech, sports med); men's mental health facilitator/student board with UCSF approx 300 hrs; 1500 hrs as autistic youth caretaker; various under-the-table healthcare jobs; Local nature conservation volunteer approx 200 hrs; approx 10k hrs as a local trainer/co-instructor at a Muaythai/karate/taekwondo studio (youth to adults); ESL tutor approx 200 hours; More stuff not listed (sales, restaurant work, fight promotion, college lacrosse [non-NCAA b/c we don't have that on da left-coast really])
Immediate family members in medicine? (y/n): Yes. one is a prison psychiatrist, and the other was a youth parole officer and now an LCSW (social worker) for foster/homeless youth services.
Schools to which you are applying: Jesus Bruce Lee Christcakes...here we go.
ALLOPATHIC
Albany Medical College
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
California Northstate University
Central Michigan University
Creighton University
Drexel University
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Emory University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University (Wertheim)
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Howard University
Indiana University--Indianapolis
Kansas City University of Medicine
Loma Linda University
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical University of South Carolina
Meharry Medical College
Michigan State University (Allopathic Medicine)
Morehouse School of Medicine
New York Medical College
Northeast ohio medical university
Nova Southeastern University (allo)
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Ohio State University
Rocky Vista University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Cooper medical school of Rowan University
Rush University
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
St. Louis University
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Temple University (Katz)
The Geisenger Commonwealth Medical College
Tufts University
Tulane University
UC San Diego
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
University at Buffalo--SUNY (Jacobs)
University of Alabama--Birmingham
University of Arizona College of Medicine-- Tucson
University of California--Davis
University of California--Irvine
University of California--Los Angeles (Geffen)
University of California--Riverside
University of California--San Diego
University of California--San Francisco
University of Central Florida
University of Chicago (Pritzker)
University of Illinois
University of Iowa (Carver)
University of Louisville
University of Miami (Miller)
University of Minnesota
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Southern California (Kek)
University of Toledo
University of Vermont
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wayne State University
West Virginia University
Western Michigan University
Wright State University (Boonshoft)
OSTEOPATHIC
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences--Mesa
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Des Moines University
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Michigan State University (Osteopathic Medicine)
Midwestern University (arizona)
Midwestern University (chicago)
New York Institute of Technology
Nova Southeastern University (osteo)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (California)
University of Arizona (osteo)
University of New England
Western University of Health Sciences

Sorry for any of the spelling errors or mis-categorizations. And thanks for any input or advice.

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[workaholic181]

Honestly OP if I were you I would retake the MCAT and apply early next cycle. You have very strong GPAs, but that 502 is going to make an MD program really, really tough. If you’re good with DO and dont feel like doing a retake and putting off another year, then I’d apply to the DO schools on your list and maybe a handful of MD if you’re so inclined. If you lived in a “lucky” state I’d feel better about your chances for MD. Unfortunately as I’m sure you know CA is super competitive.

 

[femmegoblue]

I see a few OOS publics on there (Central MI, MSUCHM, MSUCOM) that barely take any OOS students. I don't know exactly for the other states public "University ofs" but I assume their OOS acceptance is pretty low as well. KCU should be on your DO school list instead of MSU imo, & your MCAT is low for both Midwesterns & Touro. Also, what is University of Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine? I don't think that's a school. Also Rocky Vista and Kansas City University are both DO schools and they're on your MD list.

No physician shadowing is gonna be a major red flag. Why aren't you re-taking the MCAT, spending a year shadowing and applying next cycle? You're already on the late side for someone with borderline stats.

 

[Goro]

Yo! First-time poster here but long-time lurker. Long story long, my school list is massive and I'd love a tiny bit of guidance chopping it down. I'm able to apply VERY broadly so there's no need to remind me on that front, lol. I've gone over the WARS calculator, LizzyM, other SDN posts, and reddit threads extensively. I've religiously used MSAR to x-reference mcat and GPA scores, OOS/IS preferences, and have read every school's mission statement at least 2x ensuring I'm able to vibe with the school.
Where I'd love some input is on if I'm just maybe missing something big that locals might know that I don't. Like school X,Y,Z has a hidden research requirement, or maybe I should add school W because they are heavy clinical experience etc.
Thanks for the help!!!

Year in school: Graduated 2018; Non-trad.
Country/state of residence: California Resident; (ties to Virginia [due to a 'sons of the civil war' type of thing], also 2nd cousin that's an Alabama Senator...). Did school in CA.
MCAT Scores: 502 (yeah, I know... ugh. Ended my practices with a sample of 512, FL1 500, FL2 504 and a FL3 of a 509 taken in order... I just **** the bed on the test i guess???)

GPA: 1st Undergrad ended 3.2 when I transferred schools as a "junior". 3 years later repeated Soph through Senior year at the new uni and ended with a 3.87; major was 3.8; biology, minor in biochem (currently awaiting verification; I submitted on June 8th.)
LOR's: ER Chief, Chief of Heme/Onc UCSF, Ca Politician, Sci Prof, Speech Prof: compiled into a committee letter.
ORM/URM Status: Guatemalan/mayan, Filipino, and White (basically, i'm a dark-olive skinned ambiguous mutt). Not low-SES. Male.
Research – none
Physician shadowing/experiences – heh heh heh. no shadowing in the traditional sense. See below.
Extracurricular/ Employment/clinical/non-clinical: approx 8-10k hours EMS (BLS, ER tech, sports med); men's mental health facilitator/student board with UCSF approx 300 hrs; 1500 hrs as autistic youth caretaker; various under-the-table healthcare jobs; Local nature conservation volunteer approx 200 hrs; approx 10k hrs as a local trainer/co-instructor at a Muaythai/karate/taekwondo studio (youth to adults); ESL tutor approx 200 hours; More stuff not listed (sales, restaurant work, fight promotion, college lacrosse [non-NCAA b/c we don't have that on da left-coast really])
Immediate family members in medicine? (y/n): Yes. one is a prison psychiatrist, and the other was a youth parole officer and now an LCSW (social worker) for foster/homeless youth services.
Schools to which you are applying: Jesus Bruce Lee Christcakes...here we go.
ALLOPATHIC
Albany Medical College
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
California Northstate University
Central Michigan University
Creighton University
Drexel University
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Emory University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University (Wertheim)
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Howard University
Indiana University--Indianapolis
Kansas City University of Medicine
Loma Linda University
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical University of South Carolina
Meharry Medical College
Michigan State University (Allopathic Medicine)
Morehouse School of Medicine
New York Medical College
Northeast ohio medical university
Nova Southeastern University (allo)
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Ohio State University
Rocky Vista University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Cooper medical school of Rowan University
Rush University
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
St. Louis University
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Temple University (Katz)
The Geisenger Commonwealth Medical College
Tufts University
Tulane University
UC San Diego
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
University at Buffalo--SUNY (Jacobs)
University of Alabama--Birmingham
University of Arizona College of Medicine-- Tucson
University of California--Davis
University of California--Irvine
University of California--Los Angeles (Geffen)
University of California--Riverside
University of California--San Diego
University of California--San Francisco
University of Central Florida
University of Chicago (Pritzker)
University of Illinois
University of Iowa (Carver)
University of Louisville
University of Miami (Miller)
University of Minnesota
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Southern California (Kek)
University of Toledo
University of Vermont
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wayne State University
West Virginia University
Western Michigan University
Wright State University (Boonshoft)
OSTEOPATHIC .
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences--Mesa
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Des Moines University
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Michigan State University (Osteopathic Medicine)
Midwestern University (arizona)
Midwestern University (chicago)
New York Institute of Technology
Nova Southeastern University (osteo)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (California)
University of Arizona (osteo)
University of New England
Western University of Health Sciences

Sorry for any of the spelling errors or mis-categorizations. And thanks for any input or advice..

Your MCAT is lethal for MD but fine for DO. But...see below.

I'm trying to say this int he nicest possible way, but it is foolish and suicidal to apply to 80 school. Take a look at the %s of IS vs OOS applicants to matriculants for the state schools. You will see that state schools favor the home team. Thus, one has to be > avg for them. Your ties to VA are not what the state schools in VA are looking for. You have a number of mission-based like the HBCs and so you're DOA for them.

As pointed out, without shadowing, you app is even more DOA. DO schools require a clinician's LOR (although most are fine with an MD LOR).

If you are not SDA or a devout Christian, forget about Loma Linda.

IF you're boning for the MD, you need to retake the MCAT

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

I've gone over the WARS calculator, LizzyM, other SDN posts, and reddit threads extensively. I've religiously used MSAR to x-reference mcat and GPA scores, OOS/IS preferences, and have read every school's mission statement at least 2x ensuring I'm able to vibe with the school.

You have done none of this . . . PERIOD! If you did then you would not have a list the size that you do. To say you have done this and come up with this list really calls your judgement into question.

There are only like 6 MD schools that are also OOS friendly where your MCAT is at the school reported 10th percentile for accepted/matriculants . . . 10th PERCENTILE!! In case your not sure what that means that means it is incredibly unlikely - chances are astronomically low - that you get accepted. Additionally, many of those that do get accepted who are in the 10th percentile are URM's (which you are not), Veterans, D1 athletes, Disadvantaged applicants, or those who have fought tooth-and-nail to climb out of a GPA hole and shown that who they are now is not who they were before.

These are the schools your MCAT is at or slightly higher than the schools reported 10th percentile for accepted/matriculants.

1. West Virginia
2. Oakland Beaumount
3. Rosalind Franklin
4. Loyola
5. Penn State
6. Medical College of Wisconsin
7. UC Riverside

You currently have two options

1) Your best chance as is would be applying mostly to DO schools (10-15) and then if you want, throw in these MD schools as far reaches.
OR
2) If boning for MD, take the year and study for the MCAT, get some shadowing hours, and then apply next year with a much stronger app (assuming you do well on the MCAT).

Applying to medical school is expensive, exhausting, and mentally draining and is something you should do only once your app is at its strongest. Your app has room for enough improvement to really make a difference if you do well and apply next year.

 

[DSM_302.0]

If you got invited to secondaries for all these schools, writing them would be more than a full time job, and you want to turn them around in a week or two.

If you're already non-trad, what's the rush? Even if not, don't rush! If you were doing well on the practice exams under timed and realistic conditions, an improvement on the MCAT is definitely possible.

And if you want to apply DO, you need those DO letters. You really don't want to be a reapplicant, and I'm sure our collective advice will be that your app is close, but not ready. Wait a year and round it out with a higher MCAT and/or a DO letter.

 

[gyngyn]

The HBCU's matriculate very few non-African Latinos. If you are applying as Latino, do you have language skills needed in this community?
Are you aware that Northstate continues to deny its students access to federal loans and payback mechanisms?
Your stats are way below the 10th percentile for many of the schools on your list.

If you take all the advice here and above, you can reduce your MD list dramatically.

 

[Astharia]

Schools like Iowa and Nebraska should really be crossed off unless you're instate. You have to be a pretty damn perfect traditional applicant to apply there if you're OOS. Especially Nebraska. Their in state bias so very very high. I think 80some % of their students are residents. Iowa is more like 60ish if I'm not mistaken.

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[1-800-HOTDOGJONES]

Thanks, everyone! Definitely re-evaluating some of my options here. Going to go through MSAR again and make more changes. DO is seeming like the main thing atm.

 

[1-800-HOTDOGJONES]

You have done none of this . . . PERIOD! If you did then you would not have a list the size that you do. To say you have done this and come up with this list really calls your judgement into question.

There are only like 6 MD schools that are also OOS friendly where your MCAT is at the school reported 10th percentile for accepted/matriculants . . . 10th PERCENTILE!! In case your not sure what that means that means it is incredibly unlikely - chances are astronomically low - that you get accepted. Additionally, many of those that do get accepted who are in the 10th percentile are URM's (which you are not), Veterans, D1 athletes, Disadvantaged applicants, or those who have fought tooth-and-nail to climb out of a GPA hole and shown that who they are now is not who they were before.

These are the schools your MCAT is at or slightly higher than the schools reported 10th percentile for accepted/matriculants. .

1. 
   
   
   • West Virginia.
     [*]Oakland Beaumount.
     [*]Rosalind Franklin.
     [*]Loyola.
     [*]Penn State.
     [*]Medical College of Wisconsin.
     [*]UC Riverside.

You currently have two options

1) Your best chance as is would be applying mostly to DO schools (10-15) and then if you want, throw in these MD schools as far reaches.
OR
2) If boning for MD, take the year and study for the MCAT, get some shadowing hours, and then apply next year with a much stronger app (assuming you do well on the MCAT).

Applying to medical school is expensive, exhausting, and mentally draining and is something you should do only once your app is at its strongest. Your app has room for enough improvement to really make a difference if you do well and apply next year. .

Dang, seems like you really know what's up. I'll take it into consideration when going back over my list. Sometimes you gotta start large then get small, ya know? And you may be right with the URM thing; I thought I read somewhere that certain schools consider central America and Pinoys to be URM. And I guess my playing a collegiate sport wouldn't count since it wasn't D1? Oh well. I'll go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate all of this. Thanks!

 

[1-800-HOTDOGJONES]

Schools like Iowa and Nebraska should really be crossed off unless you're instate. You have to be a pretty damn perfect traditional applicant to apply there if you're OOS. Especially Nebraska. Their in state bias so very very high. I think 80some % of their students are residents. Iowa is more like 60ish if I'm not mistaken.

Copy!

 

[gyngyn]

Dang, seems like you really know what's up. I'll take it into consideration when going back over my list. Sometimes you gotta start large then get small, ya know? And you may be right with the URM thing; I thought I read somewhere that certain schools consider central America and Pinoys to be URM. And I guess my playing a collegiate sport wouldn't count since it wasn't D1? Oh well. I'll go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate all of this. Thanks!
.

UCI has considered Filipinos UiM. At least a few CA schools consider Central Americans UiM but language skills and evidence of commitment to their service is also required...

 

[MedicineN'Jazz]

The MidWest schools will take you. Leave Central Michigan, MCW, Indiana, Oakland Beaumont, Loyola, Wayne and Writght State. Despite having strong IS bias, these schools were surprisingly friendly to OOS minorities. To give an example, 95% of the admitted URMs for Central Michigan were out of state/Canadian. I was one of them 😉

 

[1-800-HOTDOGJONES]

The MidWest schools will take you. Leave Central Michigan, MCW, Indiana, Oakland Beaumont, Loyola, Wayne and Writght State. Despite having strong IS bias, these schools were surprisingly friendly to OOS minorities. To give an example, 95% of the admitted URMs for Central Michigan were out of state/Canadian. I was one of them 😉

WONDERFUL! Your post was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks 🙂

 

[1-800-HOTDOGJONES]

UCI has considered Filipinos UiM. At least a few CA schools consider Central Americans UiM but language skills and evidence of commitment to their service is also required...

I recall seeing that, but I'm up a creek without a paddle on the tagalog front...any ability I had to speak as a kid is gone. lol. oh well! Thanks for the suggestion! I'll throw one out there if time permits.

 

[RumDMC]

I don't think you're serious.

 

[1-800-HOTDOGJONES]

I don't think you're serious.

Serious? Nah, not really; most people say that I'm a fairly light-hearted bro 😉