Applying too Top-Heavy?

[Contr0lz]

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Hi all,

Just got back my MCAT today, and I was wondering if it would be a mistake for me to only apply top-heavy (top 20 medical schools plus a few safeties). My primary are already finished and verified, and I have received also most secondaries from the schools I applied to in my primary app. Was wondering if I have to add on more schools? I don't have too much extra cash to apply to 30+ schools at the moment.

• State/Country of Residence: MA (currently)
• Ties to other States/Regions: TX Residency, a few cousins in Cali
• Year in School: Non-trad (24 yrs); ORM
• Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): BS in Chemical engineering, Physics (state school)
• Graduate Degrees (if applicable): MS in Chemical engineering from HYPSM (originally PhD, but mastered out)
• Cumulative GPA: 3.86 (Got 2 Cs for stupid reasons)
• Science GPA: 3.97
• MCAT Score(s): 522 (lowest score was 128 CARS)
• Research Experience: A lot. (>8000 hrs total)
• Publications/Abstracts/Posters: 7 1st authors, 29 other co-author publications (mostly 2nd or 3rd), 120+ Abstracts (All either presented in poster form or via podium/symposium talks at international conferences (not only by me)); mix of basic (stem cell engineering) and clinical and translational (orthopedics; implant development and kinematics) research. All published (or soon to be published) in good/great impact factor journals. Also, UG and Master's thesis if that additionally counts.
• Clinical Experience: 900 hours scribing at an acute care facility
• Physician Shadowing: ~90 hrs (4 different physicians)
• Non-Clinical Volunteering: >1200 hrs (various activities)
• Other Extracurricular Activities: developed and taught my own programming course in college to students and faculty for 3 years, ESL tutor for service employees in grad school, led some service and research clubs, etc.. (>2000 hrs)
• Other Employment History: lots of engineering internships in the US and abroad, lots of TA ships and tutoring, etc.
• Medical School List: All top 20, a few texas schools

 

[Nontraddddds]

36 publications? Who did you blow? Seriously, wow. Good luck at Harvard or Stanford or wherever you decide to go.

 

[Contr0lz]

No blowing. I just found the right lab (super lucky) that matched my intensity I guess..

 

[ekaplun]

Yo dawg MA to MA person share the lab lmao

 

[Dr.K124]

Hi all,

Just got back my MCAT today, and I was wondering if it would be a mistake for me to only apply top-heavy (top 20 medical schools plus a few safeties). My primary are already finished and verified, and I have received also most secondaries from the schools I applied to in my primary app. Was wondering if I have to add on more schools? I don't have too much extra cash to apply to 30+ schools at the moment.

• State/Country of Residence: MA (currently)
• Ties to other States/Regions: TX Residency, a few cousins in Cali
• Year in School: Non-trad (24 yrs); ORM
• Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): BS in Chemical engineering, Physics (state school)
• Graduate Degrees (if applicable): MS in Chemical engineering from HYPSM (originally PhD, but mastered out)
• Cumulative GPA: 3.86 (Got 2 Cs for stupid reasons)
• Science GPA: 3.97
• MCAT Score(s): 522 (lowest score was 128 CARS)
• Research Experience: A lot. (>8000 hrs total)
• Publications/Abstracts/Posters: 7 1st authors, 29 other co-author publications (mostly 2nd or 3rd), 120+ Abstracts (All either presented in poster form or via podium/symposium talks at international conferences (not only by me)); mix of basic (stem cell engineering) and clinical and translational (orthopedics; implant development and kinematics) research. All published (or soon to be published) in good/great impact factor journals. Also, UG and Master's thesis if that additionally counts.
• Clinical Experience: 900 hours scribing at an acute care facility
• Physician Shadowing: ~90 hrs (4 different physicians)
• Non-Clinical Volunteering: >1200 hrs (various activities)
• Other Extracurricular Activities: developed and taught my own programming course in college to students and faculty for 3 years, ESL tutor for service employees in grad school, led some service and research clubs, etc.. (>2000 hrs)
• Other Employment History: lots of engineering internships in the US and abroad, lots of TA ships and tutoring, etc.
• Medical School List: All top 20, a few texas schools

Your application is super-star level. As long as you include your state schools, apply wherever else you want.

The only issue will be clearly explaining why you want MD and not MD/Ph.D. Interestingly enough, you have too much research.

 

[jwow1337]

I understand the concern about wanting to make sure you're not shooting yourself in the foot, but I know people who've gotten into Duke/Columbia/Harvard with half the application strength you have. You're 100% fine, esp since your research will push you so far past anyone else in those really research heavy schools like Hopkins. Consider an MD/PhD too. Donate a couple pubs to me pls thnx

 

[KeViN2502]

Jesus please let me know if you get into Harvard

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

How is your cycle so far?

 

[clumsy.md]

How is your cycle so far?

I'm curious too. Any movement from Baylor or UTSW? The reason I mention UTSW is that they've been known to offer full-ride schollys to people like yourself. Although, I won't be surprised if you get something similar elsewhere.

 

[theonezepphyr]

Lemme know how Harvard is

 

[Contr0lz]

Hey Guys, quick update:

(1) rejected from UCLA pre-interview
(2) Interviews at UTSW and Baylor scheduled
(3) Nothing else so far :/ :/

the UCLA rejection was first and it hurt bad :/ I put in the technical competencies page of their application that I wasn’t competent in Spanish (only took a little bit in high school haha)...not sure if that shut me out... oh well

 

[clumsy.md]

Hey Guys, quick update:

(1) rejected from UCLA pre-interview
(2) Interviews at UTSW and Baylor scheduled
(3) Nothing else so far :/ :/

the UCLA rejection was first and it hurt bad :/ I put in the technical competencies page of their application that I wasn’t competent in Spanish (only took a little bit in high school haha)...not sure if that shut me out... oh well

Out of curiosity, when was your primary complete? It sounds like it might be later than what is preferred.

We all have the one that got away...sorry about UCLA. UTSW and Baylor are both great programs (and relatively affordable)!

 

[KeViN2502]

Hey Guys, quick update:

(1) rejected from UCLA pre-interview
(2) Interviews at UTSW and Baylor scheduled
(3) Nothing else so far :/ :/

the UCLA rejection was first and it hurt bad :/ I put in the technical competencies page of their application that I wasn’t competent in Spanish (only took a little bit in high school haha)...not sure if that shut me out... oh well

Please keep us updated. If you get rejected I don't know who else will get in...

 

[Banco]

You only have 2 interviews? That's honestly wild to me...Though the ones you do have are great.

Did you apply late?

 

[Kracin]

Baylor sends majority of A’s in Feb-April. When I applied T20’s and TMDSAS, my decision came down between Baylor and UTSW when I was expecting more national options.

But they’re both great schools and I would choose them over majority of other T20’s (strength and $$). You still have a great shot. Keep your head up!

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Hey Guys, quick update:

(1) rejected from UCLA pre-interview
(2) Interviews at UTSW and Baylor scheduled
(3) Nothing else so far :/ :/

the UCLA rejection was first and it hurt bad :/ I put in the technical competencies page of their application that I wasn’t competent in Spanish (only took a little bit in high school haha)...not sure if that shut me out... oh well

Surprised by lack of responses so far. When did you submit secondaries? UCLA is hard to understand. My son is instate and competent in Spanish and still got Pre-II R, so Spanish can't be the reason for you. As others said UTSW and Baylor are great choices and very economical. May be TX residency is hurting you little bit with other T20s.

 

[Contr0lz]

Out of curiosity, when was your primary complete? It sounds like it might be later than what is preferred.

We all have the one that got away...sorry about UCLA. UTSW and Baylor are both great programs (and relatively affordable)!

You only have 2 interviews? That's honestly wild to me...Though the ones you do have are great.

Did you apply late?

Surprised by lack of responses so far. When did you submit secondaries? UCLA is hard to understand. My son is instate and competent in Spanish and still got Pre-II R, so Spanish can't be the reason for you. As others said UTSW and Baylor are great choices and very economical. May be TX residency is hurting you little bit with other T20s.

Baylor sends majority of A’s in Feb-April. When I applied T20’s and TMDSAS, my decision came down between Baylor and UTSW when I was expecting more national options.

But they’re both great schools and I would choose them over majority of other T20’s (strength and $$). You still have a great shot. Keep your head up!

Update: II from Columbia.

Yeah I was a bit late unfortunately. The OP was made in mid October when I was just about to start secondary apps...Finished my secondaries toward the end of October. Had a bunch of issues going on in my personal life (some related to COVID, some not).

I guess I just have to be patient and hope my app is looked at more schools. I did grad school in MA and currently work at a medical school nearby, so I hope they wouldn’t think that I would restrict myself to TX schools if accepted to multiple places :/

EDIT: I also feel that some schools that I applied to are a bit conservative and didn't like what I had to say about my goals in medicine (discussed a lot about my plans for incorporating Artificial Intelligence in Medicine as this is a huge part of my background and current research [not mentioned in the OP]). I may have inadvertently come across as some sort of psycho planning to eliminate healthcare jobs -___-

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Update: II from Columbia.

Yeah I was a bit late unfortunately. The OP was made in mid October when I was just about to start secondary apps...Finished my secondaries toward the end of October. Had a bunch of issues going on in my personal life (some related to COVID, some not).

I guess I just have to be patient and hope my app is looked at more schools.

EDIT: I also feel that some schools that I applied to are maybe a bit conservative and didn't like what I had to say about my goals in medicine (discussed a lot about my plans for incorporating Artificial Intelligence in Medicine as this is a huge part of my background and current research [not mentioned in the OP]). I may have inadvertently come across as some sort of psycho planning to eliminate healthcare jobs -___-

Congrats on Columbia II. you will get more. I don't think it's more to do with your secondary submission date than talking about AI. My kid applied in July and haven't heard from lot of schools yet.

 

[Contr0lz]

Congrats on Columbia II. you will get more. I don't think it's more to do with your secondary submission date than talking about AI. My kid applied in July and haven't heard from lot of schools yet.

Thank you! I hope he has a wonderful season! He's lucky to have a parent that really cares about medical school admissions. I wish mine were more like that!

I've been perusing a lot of SDN forums lately, and it seems it's been a really rough cycle so far. I'll count whatever I manage to get as blessings.

 

[Banco]

Yeah I think you will get more, you're an exceptional applicant and I doubt anything about AI in your secondary has something to do with it.

The late submission date is slowed things for you but the season is not fully over. Congrats on the columbia II.

 

[Mr.Blackdoc.5]

I know how your feeling (multiple pubs in journals >35 IF), but keep your head up!

The earliest app I submitted was mid October, yet I've still gotten interviews at top schools (Harvard, Mayo, Penn, Columbia, Wash U, Yale, CCLCM etc.), but rejected at other top schools (UCLA, UCSF, Pitt, BU) etc. This process definitely has a degree of randomness, but trust that if the schools like you they will interview you!

Remember that schools will be lucky to have YOU. As soon as you get those Rs, just delete the school from your memory and never think about them again! It's been helpful for me to do that 🙂

I'm really curious what you did with your EC & Activities section of your primary app though. Lol, did you just list # of pubs in terms of authorship then send a CV to each school in your secondary?

 

[Contr0lz]

I know how your feeling (multiple pubs in journals >35 IF), but keep your head up!

The earliest app I submitted late was mid October, yet I've still gotten interviews at top schools (Harvard, Mayo, Penn, Columbia, Wash U, Yale, CCLCM etc.), but rejected at other top schools (UCLA, UCSF, Pitt, BU) etc. This process definitely has a degree of randomness, but trust that if the schools like you they will interview you!

Remember that schools will be lucky to have YOU. As soon as you get those Rs, just delete the school from your memory and never think about them again! It's been helpful for me to do that 🙂

I'm really curious what you did with your EC & Activities section of your primary app though. Lol, did you just list # of pubs in terms of authorship then send a CV to each school in your secondary?

Thanks for the motivation and congrats on all those interviews!! Was also rejected from UPitt today :/

Regarding the pubs, what I did was this: (1) Only cited two of my first author papers and (2) Included a URL link for my google scholar profile.
The URL is "clickable" from the primary app and automatically opens the scholar website, so it's really easy for the adcom members to check it out (unless they're printing out all the apps XD). Also, I mentioned that I had >35 published papers in one of my most meaningful activities section (corroborated by my PIs in the letters).

 

[dustnstars]

Congrats!! I'm also a late applicant this cycle and research focused. (No II's and rejected by NYU, JHU, UPitts so far) I've been told that this might be a negative and am wondering how you balanced it in your app.