Are these school choices realistic?

[pisceswonder1]

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OK....here's my stats:

MCAT=36Q: 11 Verbal, 12 BS, 13 PS
GPA: 3.9
Research experience, some clinical exp (a little weak there), clubs, study abroad, tutoring etc.

I'm a white female and an Illinois resident

I'm thinking of applying to the following places:

Univ of Chicago
Univ of Illinois-Chicago
Northwestern
Rush or Loyola (any opinions on which is better?)
Harvard
Tufts
Univ of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Duke
UC-San Diego
Univ of Michigan

I'm feeling like I might need some more "back-up schools"...some more sure shots. What do you think? Any ideas for back-ups in those areas?

You're all great! Thanks! 🙂

 

[IndyZX]

take UCSD off the list for sure, they barely accept OOSers... i dont know about UNC. add a few more mid to high rangers, and you'll prob be fine. you dont really need to dip to lower end schools.

 

[willthatsall]

Absolutely more backup schools. You have a fine chance at most of those places, but you are just an average applicant at top schools like that. Also, UNC and UCSD will be tough out of state as well. Not sure why you put Tufts on there, but your whole list is kind of random at first glance. Not a bad list, of course, but maybe find some other schools that you are interested in.

 

[merlin17]

Your stats give you a shot at any school in the country. It is completely a crap shoot at any of the top schools so if you can afford it and you think that you want to attend a big research school, you should apply to any that you could see yourself at and hope for the best!

Tufts is really expensive and they don't look too fondly at people who they think are using them as a safety.

 

[pekq]

It's that time of the year when new trolls post 4.0 and 45 and debate about whether they should attend Harvard or JHU.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

They're not knowingly trolls, they just like to have people comment on their choice of schools, and inevitably, their 35+ MCAT and their 3.5+ GPA, and their wonderful EC's, and sometimes, their "strong" LOR's.


🙄 🙄 🙄

 

[IndyZX]

these kinds of posts are best tolerated when they come from people who have been on the boards longer than a week

 

[docwannabe2]

As someone who has been on the board for less than a week, I would ask humbly for your patience... I just found this website yesterday, and really wish I had found it earlier. I've found people's responses here to be really helpful and knowledgeable, and as someone who has graduated and has less than ideal contact with their pre-med advisor, I really appreciate all the help I can get. So, please don't count against me and others just because our names are unfamiliar! We need your expertise too! (and will offer our own when possible!)

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Its no problem if the purpose of the thread is to get real help. But with some of these threads(not this one), it seems that a large portion of the motivation is so they can drop their numbers and hear, oh you're fine, good job, etc... Of course no one will admit this, and will plead ignorance and deny it all together even to themselves, but we all know.

 

[R_C_Hutchinson]

OK....here's my stats:

MCAT=36Q: 11 Verbal, 12 BS, 13 PS
GPA: 3.9
Research experience, some clinical exp (a little weak there), clubs, study abroad, tutoring etc.

I'm a white female and an Illinois resident

I'm thinking of applying to the following places:

Univ of Chicago
Univ of Illinois-Chicago
Northwestern
Rush or Loyola (any opinions on which is better?)
Harvard
Tufts
Univ of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Duke
UC-San Diego
Univ of Michigan

I'm feeling like I might need some more "back-up schools"...some more sure shots. What do you think? Any ideas for back-ups in those areas?

You're all great! Thanks! 🙂

Is it just me or is this the prototypical premed? 35+ with high GPA, experience and a kind demeanor? I see no reason this person shouldnt be applying to MORE harvard/hopkins etc. With the exception of UCSD (sorry, but we like to keep our sun to ourselves here in CA 😎 ) I see no school on the list that this person doesn't have an excellent shot at.
maybe i'm wrong, but have we all gone so mad as to suggest that a 3.9/36 will have a difficult time getting in?

 

[dankev]

UCSD admits a small number of highly qualified students from outside of Cali. If 3.9/36 ain't highly qualified, I don't know what is. If you want to go to UCSD, go for it!

 

[willthatsall]

Man, I hope I ace the MCAT this August because I promise I will be posting one of these threads. I can't wait. This one really isn't that bad though, the better ones are the ones with like a 40 asking if they are "competitive".

 

[pisceswonder1]

Thanks a lot to those of you who gave me some serious feedback on those schools...looks like UC-SD is gonna be dropped from my list. 🙁 Not worth the money.

It makes me sad though that people who want to be doctors automatically assume that I'm asking for help b/c I want to show off my scores...talk about expecting the worse from people. Have some trust in people...I'm a nice girl and definitely not a braggart (I haven't even told most of my FRIENDS my scores...only doing it here for advice)...or you can go on thinking the worst. Whatever you want.

 

[bkmonkey]

play nice kids...

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Like we said Pisces, this one ain't bad. Its the others that have got us riled up.

 

[rgporter]

Is it just me or is this the prototypical premed? 35+ with high GPA, experience and a kind demeanor? I see no reason this person shouldnt be applying to MORE harvard/hopkins etc. With the exception of UCSD (sorry, but we like to keep our sun to ourselves here in CA 😎 ) I see no school on the list that this person doesn't have an excellent shot at.
maybe i'm wrong, but have we all gone so mad as to suggest that a 3.9/36 will have a difficult time getting in?

It's hard to get in no matter what your numbers are. If a person only applies to top tier schools they have a very good shot at pulling off a premed "miracle"; the 35+, 3.9+, 0 acceptance application. I personally know two people who did this, one of them 3 years in a row. Your choice of schools absolutely makes a difference.

To the OP, check your private messages, and BTW I'm willing to read your PS if you pm it to me. I believe it was you soliciting PS advice in another thread.

 

[pushkin]

Hey Pisceswonder1,

I don't really have any advice, since I'm trying to come up with my own list and having just as hard a time! It's not really obvious to me which schools are considered "backups," although I'm interested to know.

It is fine to post questions like this. People who don't like reading other people's tentative school lists just shouldn't read them. When you are trying to come up with a school list, you need advice--it's that simple! I'm sure you are in good shape though. Well, good luck to you.

 

[mentoz]

i say don't worry. apply to wherever your heart desires 🙂

 

[DrThom]

I definititely think you should take off all those illinois schools. Pfft, who wants to go to an illinois school anyway with stats like that? That way, there will be more room for me, who's stats are not quite as good as yours.

All kidding aside...i think it looks good.

 

[Medikit]

Hey indy, what's an OOSers? 😕

 

[exmike]

tufts sticks out of that group like a sore thumb (not in IL, not elite).

 

[Fermata]

Hey indy, what's an OOSers? 😕

Out-of-stater

 

[WalterSobchakk]

Out Of State-er I think

 

[pisceswonder1]

Ahhhhh! I don't want to be the "pre-med miracle" who doesn't get in with good enough scores! Good advice to look at more schools.....now to find them. Boston U (but isn't that hard too?) or Rush ?

Thanks for all your posts.