Chances at ivy league md/phd, URM, good gpa/mcat

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IvyHopeful20

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Looking to apply to less than 15 schools - preferably all md/phd and ideally I'd like to end up at a top 10 school. I need suggestions on where to apply.

School: State U
Major: Math
cGPA: 3.98
sciGPA: 4.0
MCAT: 15p, 12v, 12b (39R)
Research: 4 years at the same lab. A couple posters, three publishes, though none as first author (3rd, 3rd, 2nd)
Clinical: 400 hours various settings, and medical mission
Shadowing: None
Non-Clinical: bunch of stuff. Black belt judo, judo instructor, leadership in Anti gang outreach organization

I've been following SDN guidelines since freshman year and aside from shadowing have done my best. I know SDN also says to apply early but it was not in my control so I know it will hurt me. I should be verified on Monday based on that thread.
 
IvyHopeful20 said:
Looking to apply to less than 15 schools - preferably all md/phd and ideally I'd like to end up at a top 10 school. I need suggestions on where to apply.

School: State U
Major: Math
cGPA: 3.98
sciGPA: 4.0
MCAT: 15p, 12v, 12b (39R)
Research: 4 years at the same lab. A couple posters, three publishes, though none as first author (3rd, 3rd, 2nd)
Clinical: 400 hours various settings, and medical mission
Shadowing: None
Non-Clinical: bunch of stuff. Black belt judo, judo instructor, leadership in Anti gang outreach organization

I've been following SDN guidelines since freshman year and aside from shadowing have done my best. I know SDN also says to apply early but it was not in my control so I know it will hurt me. I should be verified on Monday based on that thread.
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You've got the GPA and the MCAT, the only thing holding you back from Ivy is the EC's, there's nothing that screams unique, but the stellar GPA and MCAT could always be enough, but it's just my opinion, I'm sure a more senior member would be able to give much better advice.
 
With your numbers you can reasonably apply to any school you are dreaming about, and you certainly have the research strength that top schools seem to like. Your clinical experience also looks good. You have teaching and leadership/community service. If the latter is substantive it would help you a lot. Despite these positives, getting in some shadowing is a good idea, even if you have to do it after submitting and inform schools via update letter.

Any hobbies aside from martial arts, artistic endeavors, or unique activities to give you a "hook?"
 
Well I'm came from the inner city and have a pretty compelling personal statement I think (a lot of people went to jail in the family, etc) 0 or at least my adviser thought it was compelling.

During college, I am part of a few other organizations, like the Red Cross, Read Across America, etc. I [try to] win medals at judo tournaments, so that does take a lot of my time, but I'm part of about 3-4 clubs, but I've been part of them since Freshman year and I have a leadership position in almost all of them. I would put down that I play the an instrument, but I play it very very badly. :laugh:

I'm kind of getting worried now, obviously the first job is to get in somewhere...maybe I should apply to 5-6 "lower tier" schools, maybe schools that do accept black applicants historically, plus some state and privates?
 
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Did you apply to just one school initially to get the verification process going while you research other schools to be sure their mission is right for you, as well as weather, safety of area, proximity to home, grading style, curriculum type, cost of living in the area, etc? Applying broadly is always a good idea. I think you'll have lots of acceptances to choose among.

Hopefully you have access to the MSAR in your library or prehealth advising office to help with further school choices.
 
Yes, I applied to one ivy school that's close to my home while my verification got going.

Right now, after what you guys have said, I am thinking:


  1. Harvard
  2. Hopkins
  3. Columbia
  4. UPENN
  5. Stanford
  6. U Chicago
  7. Cornell
  8. Wash in St. Louis
  9. Northwestern
  10. Yale
  11. Georgetown
  12. Mayo
  13. University of Michigan
  14. Penn State
  15. Howard
  16. Morehouse
  17. Tulane
  18. Temple
  19. University of Pittsburgh

I really don't feel like doing more than 19 secondaries. :laugh:

I added Howard and Morehouse since I'm African American, and along with Temple, Tulane and Penn State, could be my safety schools? Maybe I'm too top heavy and I should add other mid/low tiers?
 
Some more upper mid-selectivity schools would be nice if you feel any of those top schools are located where you'd prefer not to live. A problem with applying to schools too far below your stat range is that they may not interview you feeling you are unlikely to attend there.
 
Catalystik said:
Some more upper mid-selectivity schools would be nice if you feel any of those top schools are located where you'd prefer not to live. A problem with applying to schools too far below your stat range is that they may not interview you feeling you are unlikely to attend there.
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I have my dreams but weather/location doesn't matter. Neither of my parents finished high school, let alone medical school so I don't have any 'legacy'...so I don't know my competitiveness really. Plus, I don't know if any rural/big academic schools would want someone with my background, so I'm applying widely in that regard.


I was thinking about adding Tufts, BU, NYU, and removing Yale, Hopkins, Cornell and maybe one other?

I don't think I'd be competitive at Harvard/Stanford/Yale/Hopkins, but I put them there because I'd want to at least say I tried.
 
By the way, thank you so much Catalystik - it is appreciated.
 
What about Rochester or Einstein (or UVirginia, or Case-free tuition in the Lerner research track even if not MD/PhD, or Ohio State) in place of BU, which gets 10,000+ applications a year? And Georgetown gets 11,000+ applications per year. I'd like you to choose schools becasue you're drawn to something about the place, not just due to a name.

Everyone will want you, unless you have the personality of an amoeba at your interview. If there's any risk of that, you need to start practice interviews. You can review interview questions for each institution in the Interview Feedback section.
 
I've given lots of presentations and been in a lot of interviews and everyone compliments me on those skills, so I'm not worried at all. I really feel that if I get an interview, I will get in. I'm pretty outgoing and carry myself very well in that type of an environment.

Your advice is right, I should increase my chances by applying to schools with less apps so maybe I can stand out more.

So I will apply to the following programs for sure:


  1. Harvard
  2. Hopkins
  3. Columbia
  4. UPENN
  5. Stanford
  6. U Chicago
  7. Cornell
I really like Pitt, since I did a summer volunteering thing there, so I'll add Pitt. I always really like to live in big cities, so I'm thinking NYU, AECOM, Northwestern, Georgetown, Jefferson, University of Illinois, and Ohio State.

I think Howard, and Meharry might also provide some interesting places, and I might really enjoy the atmosphere at those schools, so I'll apply there too.

I think that's probably a good list. If I don't get any interviews this year, I'll know and just apply to like 40 schools next year. :laugh:

Oh, and I've also contacted two physicians who've agreed to let me shadow them, so I'll have more ECs for next year and/or update letters. I'm also planning on continuing my ECs through this year, and maybe going overseas for something later in the year. I'd rather not take any more classes unless I have to, but I've worked pretty hard in a relatively hard major so I don't thing any schools will have problems with my academics. I'm a math major, so I've only taken the basic Bio sequence + biochem + cell bio, and I know some require Genetics, and I can pick it up in the spring or summer if I go to a school and they require it.

I know about the Case Western 5 year MD/MS track, but I really really want to do a PhD (in fact, I was close to doing just a pure PhD at one point), and I can't see myself not having a lab and doing that along with a MD (I know you dont have to have a PhD, but it's nice to have and I really enjoy it anyway, even the annoying parts). So if I can get in, I'd much rather do a MD/PhD.
 
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IvyHopeful20 said:
Verified! Thanks guys.
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The sky is the limit brother. I come from a bad background as well, so I can understand what it takes to get up every day and hope that you don't become like the people around you. I'm a grad student at Hopkins and I think you will be a great fit. I hope you are still applying there and Harvard. Good job and best wishes.
 
Wow, talk about spam from schools asking me to give them their secondary money!

Little do they know, I have fee waivers! 😛

Anyway, SDN and some school admins have given me a lot of confidence that I'm competitive for any program I want. I need to stop selling myself short and stop being intimidated by the other ivy league applicants it seems. Thank you so much 🙂.
 
Question: for the secondary, would it be advisable to bring attention to things like helping a friend through their addiction issues and helping them get a GED and to college? It was a very sensitive situation, so I am mindful of the privacy but assuming I don't mention them by name, would that be OK?
 
IvyHopeful20 said:
I have my dreams but weather/location doesn't matter. Neither of my parents finished high school, let alone medical school so I don't have any 'legacy'...so I don't know my competitiveness really. Plus, I don't know if any rural/big academic schools would want someone with my background, so I'm applying widely in that regard.


I was thinking about adding Tufts, BU, NYU, and removing Yale, Hopkins, Cornell and maybe one other?

I don't think I'd be competitive at Harvard/Stanford/Yale/Hopkins, but I put them there because I'd want to at least say I tried.
Click to expand...
Wow Inspiring!
 
there's no reason you won't get acceptances to all of the places you apply. you'll do fantastic this cycle. good luck brother!
 
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