Comments on my list of schools? Thanks!

[littleteeth]

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Hi everyone! I think I have finally narrowed down my list of schools for this cycle, let me know what your thoughts are.

My stats:

DAT

AA: 21
TS: 21
PAT: 20
QR: 16 🙁
RC: 23

GPA: 3.69 science, 3.65 total

I am a Hispanic female and attended a prestigious liberal arts college in MA (bio major). I am also a Florida resident.
I have 100 hours of shadowing and 60 hours of volunteering and will be working at a dental office for my gap year.

List

UF
UCSF
Maryland
UConn
Rutgers
Case Western
Univ Pacific
NYU
Marquette
Tufts
BU
Temple
Nova

Reach schools
UPenn
Columbia
Pittsburgh

I feel like 16 schools is too much to apply to (I also don't have the $$$), so I would appreciate help in narrowing it down 🙂

 

[artist2022]

Off the bat I'd remove NYU as it's too expensive, and Rutgers if you have AP credit. Also maybe UCSF if you don't have much research experience (I think they're big on it). Good luck!

 

[littleteeth]

Thanks for the advice! I forgot to mention that I've been doing research for 4 years (all throughout undergrad) and presented at several scientific conferences.

 

[littleteeth]

Off the bat I'd remove NYU as it's too expensive, and Rutgers if you have AP credit. Also maybe UCSF if you don't have much research experience (I think they're big on it). Good luck!

Why would having AP credit affect going to Rutgers?

 

[artist2022]

Why would having AP credit affect going to Rutgers?

Oh they don't accept any AP credit, even if you have upper divs. I applied last cycle and asked if they would accept my AP credit for pre-reqs although I've done well in my upper divs, they said yes, but I was rejected nonetheless.

Thanks for the advice! I forgot to mention that I've been doing research for 4 years (all throughout undergrad) and presented at several scientific conferences.

Okay then you're fine for UCSF and maybe even UCLA if you want to apply.

EDIT: Just saw in the other thread about QR, some schools have cutoffs so make sure the schools on your list don't...the 16 may hold you back.

 

[helloboys]

Oh they don't accept any AP credit, even if you have upper divs. I applied last cycle and asked if they would accept my AP credit for pre-reqs although I've done well in my upper divs, they said yes, but I was rejected nonetheless.

You mean as long as the AP credit doesn't fulfill a pre-req right? Cause I have AP classes, but I don't need them for pre-req. I have taken other classes.

 

[artist2022]

You mean as long as the AP credit doesn't fulfill a pre-req right? Cause I have AP classes, but I don't need them for pre-req. I have taken other classes.

Yup, I had AP credit and I'd taken tons of upper divs and done well but was rejected. But I guess yes if you had History or Spanish AP credit (or something else besides Science, Math & English), you'd be okay, OR if you had AP credit for the sciences but you took the entire, year-long pre-req sequences anyways, that you're okay.

 

[Prima Donna]

Pitt says they have cut offs at 17 so I would probably remove them

 

[molar743]

I know Rutgers likes high DAT scores, especially for out of state applicants, but if you do get in there I know you can get NJ tuition after a year. Maybe add LECOM, since you're a FL resident? I know they have a PBL curriculum, so not sure if that's why they're not on your list. If you want to narrow down your list, maybe just apply to either Penn or Columbia instead of both. Columbia is crazy about high DAT scores, so if it was me, I would apply to Penn out of those two. Also, you might want to take out Marquette. You have the stats for them, but they enroll 50 out of state people a year and if you look on their website, most of those out of state people are from midwest/west. I applied there as a NJ resident, similar GPAs to yours, lots of research experience, and 23 AA/25 TS. If you're looking to save some money, it could be a good one to cut. Besides that, I think you have a pretty good list with a mix between private and out of state friendly public schools, as well as in state schools for you. Like others have said, you should call the admissions office/search through websites to see cutoffs for DAT scores. Sometimes schools don't care as much about QR score, so it might be worth calling and seeing how much weight they put on it. I would still apply to a decent amount of schools, just to be on the safe side.