MD Avg GPA (3.65) / High MCAT (521)

[GoVols2020]

Hello! I am having trouble trying to figure out my school list with fairly unbalanced stats. I would appreciate any guidance!

Please do not quote also!

• Year in school: Graduated last year, Top20
• Country/state of residence: TN
• Cumulative GPA: ~3.65 (3.55 > 3.35 > 3.7 > 3.9) plus a 4.0 at cc in high school (have strong reasons for trend)
• Major: Chemistry
• Science GPA: ~3.55
• MCAT Score: 521
• WARS Score: 85
• Research: 3000+ hours.
  • Honors thesis (1000 hours). Presented one poster at a national conference
  • Currently work full time in a virology lab working on HIV/influenza and now covid-19. I am also the lab manager. I expect to have some publications in the coming months and have been credited secondary authorship on multiple posters/ abstracts at well-known conferences. (2200 hours).
• Physician shadowing: 50 ish hours of physician shadowing in the emergency department.
• Non-clinical volunteering:
  • Leader of sexual assault advocacy group throughout college (~400 hours).
  • Current search and rescue team member (~100 hours currently).
  • Part of multiple efforts to promote queer inclusion on campus and visibility (~50 hours).
  • Crisis text line (~ 100 hours)
• Extracurricular activities:
  • Varsity Athlete throughout college with a national championship and multiple leadership awards (fairly unique sport for the US, team sport) (15-20 hours per week) (~2500 hours).
  • Current youth coach for rock climbing (~250 hours currently).
• Employment history:
  • Worked as CNA/EMT full-time on every break from college for 4 years to pay for school and get clinical exposure (~1600 hours) (4 years).
  • Worked as a tutor, TA, and lab assistant for many years across multiple disciplines in college (10-15 hours per week for 3 years) (1000+ hours).
  • Currently work in research and as a coach as previously described.
  • Worked various jobs such as being a barista and secretary during school to pay for tuition
• Immediate family members in medicine? (y/n): yes, my mother and grandmother are nurses.
• Specialty of interest: EM or gen surg
• Graduate degrees: None
• Interest in rural health (y/n): Yes, from rural/underserved area
• Should have very strong LORs and a compelling PS
• Also part of the LGBT communtiy if that matters (I know for northwestern it seems it would help)

Current school list:

Harvard
Michigan (strong ties)
Duke
Pitt
Vanderbilt (IS, which actually seems to have a really high A% at 10%)
Northwestern
Mayo
Emory
Colorado
Case Western
Dartmouth
BU
Tufts
Cincinnati
Wake Forest
Vermont
MCW
Ohio State
Tennessee (IS)
ETSU (IS)

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[Faha]

You should receive several interviews from your list. You could add these schools:
Washington University
Hofstra
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Rochester
Brown
UVA
Tulane
Miami

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm still a little concerned with a strong but relatively lower sGPA. You do have a strong application, but I want to be sure that you aren't putting too many donation schools on your list (seeing Harvard, even WashU though your MCAT should give you some attention). Don't forget to network with students attending the schools where you really want to attend.

 

[GoVols2020]

I'm still a little concerned with a strong but relatively lower sGPA. You do have a strong application, but I want to be sure that you aren't putting too many donation schools on your list (seeing Harvard, even WashU though your MCAT should give you some attention). Don't forget to network with students attending the schools where you really want to attend.

Thanks! Yeah Harvard is somewhere I know I don’t have much of a shot at but I already work for a Harvard lab and my SO is here so it’s kind of just my Hail Mary to maybe stay here.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks! Yeah Harvard is somewhere I know I don’t have much of a shot at but I already work for a Harvard lab and my SO is here so it’s kind of just my Hail Mary to maybe stay here.

That does explain your other Boston schools on the list. I would consider a few more privates in the New York area. Maybe Brown too? See Faha's list.

 

[GoVols2020]

That does explain your other Boston schools on the list. I would consider a few more privates in the New York area. Maybe Brown too?

I’m fairly anti NYC just because it overwhelms me a little as someone who does not necessarily love cities to begin with haha. However, willing to overlook that some for this process if there’s a school I really like. I originally had brown on there but was worried it was too low yield. Also, when you say to network with students from the schools im interested in, do you just mean to get a better sense of fit?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I’m fairly anti NYC just because it overwhelms me a little as someone who does not necessarily love cities to begin with haha. However, willing to overlook that some for this process if there’s a school I really like. I originally had brown on there but was worried it was too low yield. Also, when you say to network with students from the schools im interested in, do you just mean to get a better sense of fit?

Student community and wellness for sure. What is it really like to be a student?

 

[GoVols2020]

Student community and wellness for sure. What is it really like to be a student?

Not to circle back, but do you think I need to explain my grade trend pre-interview? And I’m not overshooting a ton with a lower gpa for Top20 schools? I think I’ve gotten way too focused on that as my “anchor”.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Not to circle back, but do you think I need to explain my grade trend pre-interview? And I’m not overshooting a ton with a lower gpa for Top20 schools? I think I’ve gotten way too focused on that as my “anchor”.

I don't think you need to fixate on it. You should focus on your capabilities and potential as a physician. I'll admit seeing worse grade trends that were ultimately overcome.

 

[GoVols2020]

@Goro any advice given the grade trend? Been reading a lot of your reinvention posts.

 

[Goro]

What exactly are the strong ties to MI? Gramma living there doesn't count.

I recommend
Michigan (strong ties)
Duke
Pitt
Vanderbilt
Northwestern (maybe)
Mayo
Emory
Case Western
Dartmouth
BU
Tufts
Cincinnati (maybe)
Wayne State
Wake Forest
Vermont
MCW
Ohio State (maybe)
Tennessee (IS)
ETSU (IS)
Washington University
Hofstra
Einstein (maybe)
Mount Sinai
Rochester (maybe)
UVA (maybe)
EVMS
Tulane
Miami
JHU
U Chicago
SLU
Jefferson
NYU.LI
UCSF
UCLA
Keck

 

[GoVols2020]

What exactly are the strong ties to MI? Gramma living there doesn't count.

I recommend
Michigan (strong ties)
Duke
Pitt
Vanderbilt
Northwestern (maybe)
Mayo
Emory
Case Western
Dartmouth
BU
Tufts
Cincinnati (maybe)
Wayne State
Wake Forest
Vermont
MCW
Ohio State (maybe)
Tennessee (IS)
ETSU (IS)
Washington University
Hofstra
Einstein (maybe)
Mount Sinai
Rochester (maybe)
UVA (maybe)
EVMS
Tulane
Miami
JHU
U Chicago
SLU
Jefferson
NYU.LI
UCSF
UCLA
Keck

My family is just originally from Ann Arbor and many still live there. I myself have not lived there. I know it probably will not influence my app much, but it is more of just another reason I am applying there. Would you say most of schools you recommended that I would initially think were too competitive for my GPA would maybe overlook it with my MCAT (Ex. JHU, UCSF, U Chicago, WashU etc)?

 

[Goro]

My family is just originally from there and many still live there. I myself have not lived there. I know it probably will not influence my app much, but it is more of just another reason I am applying there.

Treat it as a maybe. In general, state schools aren't that great for reinventors unless you're on the home team. Being LGBT IS probably a hook, hence my qualification.

IF you get no love in terms of IIs by end of November, add some DO schools to the list, except for the newest schools and those on my Bad Boys list.

 

[GoVols2020]

Treat it as a maybe. In general, state schools aren't that great for reinventors unless you're on the home team. Being LGBT IS probably a hook, hence my qualification.

IF you get no love in terms of IIs by end of November, add some DO schools to the list, except for the newest schools and those on my Bad Boys list.

Thank you! I assume there will be a lot of chance involved with how my stats are seen at the top30 schools or so. Hoping to just have a couple give me a shot with an II.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

You're a strong applicant apart from the GPA, which is a bit low although with an upward trend. Your ECs are solid. If you want to apply to Harvard, go for it; you're allowed a bit of optimism or a Hail Mary or two as long as the rest of your list is decidedly realistic. You will probably have an interview invite by Thanksgiving.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

My family is just originally from Ann Arbor and many still live there. I myself have not lived there. I know it probably will not influence my app much, but it is more of just another reason I am applying there. Would you say most of schools you recommended that I would initially think were too competitive for my GPA would maybe overlook it with my MCAT (Ex. JHU, UCSF, U Chicago, WashU etc)?

You should make sure you connect with the admissions recruiters at UMich to be sure that it is clear you do have family in the vicinity. It may be icing on the cake when it comes to evaluating your application, but sometimes that does help if you really have a reason to practice in the state.

 

[GoVols2020]

You're a strong applicant apart from the GPA, which is a bit low although with an upward trend. Your ECs are solid. If you want to apply to Harvard, go for it; you're allowed a bit of optimism or a Hail Mary or two as long as the rest of your list is decidedly realistic. You will probably have an interview invite by Thanksgiving.

Honestly, thank you for this. It’s nice to hear when I feel like I keep fixating on this one rougher part of my app while I think I’ve done really well building the rest of it. It’s all a crap shoot so I’ll probably add 2-3 mega reaches in and see if any bite.

 

[GoVols2020]

You should make sure you connect with the admissions recruiters at UMich to be sure that it is clear you do have family in the vicinity. It may be icing on the cake when it comes to evaluating your application, but sometimes that does help if you really have a reason to practice in the state.

Should I just email their admissions department maybe to see if I can talk to someone about the school and slip this in? I was hoping their secondaries would allow me too, but they do not really lend themselves to that. Both Vandy and UMich are close to family and I would easily pick them over any other school probably.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Should I just email their admissions department maybe to see if I can talk to someone about the school and slip this in? I was hoping their secondaries would allow me too, but they do not really lend themselves to that. Both Vandy and UMich are close to family and I would easily pick them over any other school probably.

I would email their office, though be flexible if they are unable to talk with you about how to clarify your interest in staying close to family.

 

[GoVols2020]

What exactly are the strong ties to MI? Gramma living there doesn't count.

I recommend
Michigan (strong ties)
Duke
Pitt
Vanderbilt
Northwestern (maybe)
Mayo
Emory
Case Western
Dartmouth
BU
Tufts
Cincinnati (maybe)
Wayne State
Wake Forest
Vermont
MCW
Ohio State (maybe)
Tennessee (IS)
ETSU (IS)
Washington University
Hofstra
Einstein (maybe)
Mount Sinai
Rochester (maybe)
UVA (maybe)
EVMS
Tulane
Miami
JHU
U Chicago
SLU
Jefferson
NYU.LI
UCSF
UCLA
Keck

Do you think JHU would be a donation with how high their GPA percentiles are? I originally really wanted to apply there but was scared off by this.

 

[Goro]

Do you think JHU would be a donation with how high their GPA percentiles are? I originally really wanted to apply there but was scared off by this.

The only caveat might be if you have something they really, really want/like.
EDIT: You have something they like!!! They consider LGBT to be URM! That's why I had the school on the list. My bad.

 

[GoVols2020]

The only caveat might be if you have something they really, really want/like.
EDIT: You have something they like!!! They consider LGBT to be URM! That's why I had the school on the list. My bad.

Oh nice. I know Northwestern does as well so that’s good. Are there any others off the top of your head that you know also consider that to be URM? I’ve been looking around. Thank you! (I know a lot of people seem to not like this but I actually think it’s a great initiative when you consider the current disparities within LGBT healthcare”

 

[Goro]

Oh nice. I know Northwestern does as well so that’s good. Are there any others off the top of your head that you know also consider that to be URM? I’ve been looking around. Thank you! (I know a lot of people seem to not like this but I actually think it’s a great initiative when you consider the current disparities within LGBT healthcare”

U Chicago AND MCW.UCSF, probably