Chances, deciding on secondary submissions

[Got Heem]

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I've been lurking on this forum as a guest for a while, and while taking a break from secondary essays, thought I'd get your opinion on some of my schools, based on my statistics.

I feel that I have a lot of reaches, maybe even mostly reaches. I think some are borderline between reach and target, and then there are a couple back-ups (hopefully). I'm trying to decide whether it is worth the money and time to submit my secondaries to some of the clear reaches. Already second guessing JHU, Harvard, and Duke. I doubt I will write any of those. Where do you guys feel are my best chances?

I've submitted 5 secondary apps so far, so I feel alright about my timing. Need to get cooking though.

I'm aware that I need more activities, there are others that weren't worth listing, but I'll be working on that during my gap year. I have the opportunity to continue many of my listed activities, should I do that to show commitment, or diversify my activities a little more?

 

[SN12357]

Your list is super top heavy. You should apply to ALL the Florida schools, trim off some of those reaches (but not all) and add some more schools with median MCATs below or closer to yours (private schools, mostly likely, as they will be OOS friendly).

 

[gyngyn]

I coount 4 schools where you have a fair to good chance of an interview. That's often not enough.

 

[Got Heem]

I coount 4 schools where you have a fair to good chance of an interview. That's often not enough.

Wow, four? I agree it is very top heavy, but I thought I was competitive at most of the schools I applied to. Are their averages misleading to me since I am OOS? I guess I should make note that I have a dramatically upward trending GPA (3.7 first two years, 3.94+ after), if that helps at all.

I've added the other 3 Florida schools to my list.

EDIT: Just realized many of the schools were included on the same bullet point, my mistake, I copied and pasted them. I've fixed it, hopefully that contributed to the disconnect here.

 

[gyngyn]

Wow, four? I agree it is very top heavy, but I thought I was competitive at most of the schools I applied to. Are their averages misleading to me since I am OOS? I guess I should make note that I have a dramatically upward trending GPA (3.7 first two years, 3.94+ after), if that helps at all.

I've added the other 3 Florida schools to my list.

EDIT: Just realized many of the schools were included on the same bullet point, my mistake, I copied and pasted them. I've fixed it, hopefully that contributed to the disconnect here.

Sorry. With that MCAT you would need some extraordinary qualities to get a second look at all but four of your original list. You are in better shape now by adding all the FL schools.

 

[volcomx]

UCLA, Duke, Harvard, Hopkins, Northwestern, Stanford, Pittsburgh, Cornell.

You won't get an interview at any of them. Your GPA is average, your MCAT is below average, your volunteering is weak, and your research is nonexistent.

I had a similar application to you a couple years ago, and similarly aimed high. I wish someone told me that back then. Get the MSAR and look for schools where you are near the top 90th percentile for gpa and MCAT, and add them to your list. You need your stats at these schools to compensate for weak ECs if you plan on getting in this cycle.

 

[Got Heem]

Sorry. With that MCAT you would need some extraordinary qualities to get a second look at all but four of your original list. You are in better shape now by adding all the FL schools.

No, please don't apologize, I appreciate brutal honesty here.

 

[gyngyn]

The HCBU's are a long shot unless you have a validated commitment to that community.
LSU only took 3 OOS last year. You'd better check Kansas and WV.

 

[SN12357]

The HCBU's are a long shot unless you have a validated commitment to that community. LSU only took 3 OOS last year. You'd better check Kansas and WV.

WV has strong in-state and regional preference. Regional basically means states bordering WV. Not a good option for a Florida resident unless you have a strong demonstrated interest in rural healthcare.

 

[volcomx]

I'd add jefferson, drexel, temple, einstein, albany, slu, downstate, buffalo, mcw, and all the private new schools (hofstra, etc.)