Critique School list?

[littlealex]

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Sorry for doing this, but I really don't know where else I can go to find a huge group of supportive people knowledgeable in pre-medicine. I am a California resident but I attended college on the East Coast.

So I have a 3.51GPA with a 3.42 Science GPA from a relatively good private school (top20?). My MCAT is 36O but with a 10 on verbal. I have a year of research and about two years of volunteer work. Nothing spectacular regarding my ECs. I'm taking a year off and would likely be volunteering as an EMT next year while I apply.

I'm applying to 28 schools. Is that a bit too ambitious? I'm actually just quite scared I won't get into anywhere. Do you guys think 29 applications are too much to fill out?

What schools would you recommend me to add? What schools to take out?

• Albany Medical College
• Boston University
• Creighton University
• Drexel University
• Georgetown University
• George Washington university
• Jefferson Medical College
• Loyola University Chicago
• University of Pittsburg
• Rosalind Franklin University
• SUNY Downstate
• SUNY Upstate
• Tufts University
• Tulane
• University of California, Davis
• University of California, Irvine
• University of California, Los Angeles Geffin
• UCLA Drew
• University of California, San Diego
• University of California, San Fransisco
• University of Southern California
• NYMC
• Yale
• U Maryland
• Indiana
• Albert Einstein
• U Chicago-Pritzker
• Case Western

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http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=8351

 

[Star2008]

Hey, sorry, don't know much about schools, still deciding myself. But just wanted to say CONGRATS on the mcat score!!

 

[enigma85]

Gtown and GW each get 10k+ apps every year. Just applying to those two will cost you ~$300. Only apply to them if you really want to be in DC.

Indiana and Maryland are not very amenable to OOS students. Do you have any ties to the state?

Have you done enough research to be attractive to Yale? (They require a thesis during med school.)

Are you sure you want to serve the underserved? If not, don't apply to Charles Drew.

You could probably remove 2-3 safeties and add 2-3 of these: Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Michigan, Mt. Sinai, VCU, NYU

 

[littlealex]

I did undergrad in Maryland and have done most of my volunteer work in the region. Part of my motivation to become a doctor is to help the Baltimore community if possible.

I know I have only a small chance of getting into Gtown, GW, and UMaryland, but being in these schools would allow me to continue the volunteer work I've been doing.

Also based on your advice, I've decided to add NYU to the list. I kept the safeties though... just don't feel brave enough yet.

 

[littlealex]

Lets not all jump in to help at once now.

 

[cleothecat]

I thing you left out a couple of US schools...................

 

[alwaysaangel]

Looks good.

 

[littlealex]

I thing you left out a couple of US schools...................

Yeah I'm actually very afraid that i won't be able to finish all the secondaries...

2 essays a school, 8 hours per secondary... THIRTY DAYS of full time work!

yay....

yay.....

 

[whoami]

I see you have all the UCs listed, though there are always exceptions, your GPA is really a bit low for UCs. You may also want to add UMiami, SLU and Temple.

 

[Magus]

I think I know what private school you're talking about...why not apply to its medical school? It's definitely a challenge to get in, but doesn't that medical school take lots of its own undergrads? All the suggestions made before are solid, good luck with your application!

 

[Knockout Mouse]

What state do you claim for residency?

With a 3.5 and 36 MCAT you should be competitive at a bunch of schools. You may want to cut your list down.

 

[Husky85]

don't apply to so may schools...seriously...pick like 12-15 of your favorites.

if you don't get in when applying to 15, you're not gonna get in, period. also, the more applications you fill out, the less time you'll have to devote to each and the crappier of a job you'll do on them

 

[Knockout Mouse]

Sorry, just read that you did your undergrad at U Maryland so I assume you are a MD resident.

Why do you think your chances at U Maryland are low? They have a 26% in state acceptance rate and the average matriculating has a 3.6 and 29 MCAT.

Since you obviously have ties to your area I would definitely keep GW, Georgetown and U Maryland. I might even add John Hopkins. But I would cut the list of schools from out of your local area down until your list totaled 15.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Oh - I assumed you were a Cali resident. If you're not a Cali resident then you need to dump all the UCs. Non-resident status + your GPA = no shot.

 

[littlealex]

I think I know what private school you're talking about...why not apply to its medical school? It's definitely a challenge to get in, but doesn't that medical school take lots of its own undergrads? All the suggestions made before are solid, good luck with your application!

You sneaky, how do you know where I'm from?

Well, my scores are no where near the range of my school's medical school. I really have no chance at getting in, so I thought I'd save myself a few bucks.

 

[littlealex]

Sorry, just read that you did your undergrad at U Maryland so I assume you are a MD resident.

Why do you think your chances at U Maryland are low? They have a 26% in state acceptance rate and the average matriculating has a 3.6 and 29 MCAT.

Since you obviously have ties to your area I would definitely keep GW, Georgetown and U Maryland. I might even add John Hopkins. But I would cut the list of schools from out of your local area down until your list totaled 15.

I claim California residency. In retrospect I wish I had attempted to gain MD residency, but its too late now.

My chances are UMaryland is low as a result. They really are not so friendly towards Out of State applicants.

Hopkins is out of my reach. Every one I know in the medical school here is more or less amazing, and I just don't compare... =(

 

[littlealex]

don't apply to so may schools...seriously...pick like 12-15 of your favorites.

if you don't get in when applying to 15, you're not gonna get in, period. also, the more applications you fill out, the less time you'll have to devote to each and the crappier of a job you'll do on them

I guess I'm just scared that I won't get accepted anywhere. If you look at my list, 6 of those schools are UCs, which, even as a resident, my chances are fleeting.

About 5 of my schools are reach schools, around 5 safeties, and another 10 are just East Coast schools I'd love to go to but have a very small chance of getting in.

 

[Magus]

Heh, it wasn't too hard to guess when you said 'top private' + Maryland undergrad. 😉

But, honestly man, you have a solid MCAT which is well in range of this medical school (33 avg MCAT, 3.7 avg. GPA). Trust me when I say I know its a very hard school for premeds...hopefully med schools understand that because your MCAT makes up for your grades. Also, you mentioned a strong interest in the underserved in Baltimore and working to improve that city? I think you'd fit right in there...it's worth it to try, right? In 10 years, are you going to regret spending $50 on a secondary app or not ever having the chance to be a med student at Hopkins? Consider it, I guess, is all I can say.

Who knows, maybe the alma mater will have some love for ya after all. 😛

 

[alwaysaangel]

don't apply to so may schools...seriously...pick like 12-15 of your favorites.

if you don't get in when applying to 15, you're not gonna get in, period. also, the more applications you fill out, the less time you'll have to devote to each and the crappier of a job you'll do on them

This isn't really true for California residents. For us its more like, if you don't get in when applying to 20 schools you're not gonna get in period. UCs are extremely competitive and its like tacking on a bunch of ridiculous reaches to your app. Then add in the fact that we don't have the nice little "in-state" safety that most people have and we need 20+ schools.

For most states I would agree with you, but your advice is VERY wrong for most average Californian applicants.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Yeah I'm actually very afraid that i won't be able to finish all the secondaries...

2 essays a school, 8 hours per secondary... THIRTY DAYS of full time work!

yay....

yay.....

8 hrs per secondary?!?! Good grief, I don't think I spent that long on ANY secondary let alone all of them.

Lets take a look at your list:
* Albany Medical College (fill in name and send money - 5 min)
* Boston University
* Creighton University
* Drexel University
* Georgetown University (1 essay and send money - 2 hrs TOPS)
* George Washington university (1 SHORT essay - 1 hr TOPS)
* Jefferson Medical College
* Loyola University Chicago
* University of Pittsburg
* Rosalind Franklin University
* SUNY Downstate
* SUNY Upstate
* Tufts University (no essays - 30 min TOPS)
* Tulane
* University of California, Davis (couple of essays maybe 4-5 hrs)
* University of California, Irvine(couple of essays maybe 4-5 hrs)
* University of California, Los Angeles Geffin(couple of essays maybe 4-5 hrs)
* UCLA Drew (couple of essays maybe 4-5 hrs)
* University of California, San Diego (couple of essays maybe 4-5 hrs)
* University of California, San Fransisco (couple of essays maybe 4-5 hrs)
* University of Southern California (couple of essays maybe 4-5 hrs)
* NYMC (send money - 5 min)
* Yale
* U Maryland
* Indiana (Now that I'm looking closer you should drop this - they don't like OOSers - I had a lot of family ties and they still dumped me pre-secondary)
* Albert Einstein
* U Chicago-Pritzker
* Case Western


Thats only the ones I applied to and know about - but I think you're assuming secondaries are a lot harder than they actually are.

 

[littlealex]

Thanks Alwaysangel =)

Your comments are always very encouraging and definitely gives me a little more confidence about the process. Just want to thank you for being active on SDN.

 

[littlealex]

I took your advice and dropped Indiana. I added Temple in its place of a safty school, and added UPenn as a reach school because they don't have an essay on secondary.

1. Albany Medical College
2. Boston University
3. Creighton University
4. Drexel University
5. Georgetown University
6. George Washington university
7. Jefferson Medical College
8. Loyola University Chicago
9. University of Pittsburg
10. Rosalind Franklin University
11. SUNY Downstate
12. SUNY Upstate
13. NYU
14. Tufts University
15. Tulane
16. University of California, Davis
17. University of California, Irvine
18. University of California, Los Angeles Geffin
19. UCLA Drew
20. University of California, San Diego
21. University of Southern California
22. NYMC
23. Yale
24. U Maryland
25. Albert Einstein
26. U Chicago-Pritzker
27. Case Western
28. Temple
29. UPenn

 

[alwaysaangel]

Thanks Alwaysangel =)

Your comments are always very encouraging and definitely gives me a little more confidence about the process. Just want to thank you for being active on SDN.

Happy to be helpful!

And remember - do whatever you can to get into a UC. Your GPA isn't that low and your MCAT is awesome. They're tough but workable. UC Irvine especially appreciates a lot of interest and update letters. Just show how bad you want it and you can get it.