Do I have a chance at T20s as an ORM with high MCAT/average everything else?

[rmfo12]

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I think I have okay stats, but as an ORM with no unique/disadvantaged background or "X factor" I'm not sure if I have a good shot at T20s. I'm a strong writer and my essays are good, but it still doesn't detract from the fact that I'm basically your run-of-the-mill Asian applicant. Clearly the MCAT is the standout of my app. Luckily money isn't too much of a barrier in applying, but I'm also applying broadly to 30+ schools (my list isn't completely finalized), so I also don't want to put in too much time/effort for secondaries for schools that I have pretty much 0% chance of getting into. What do you think? is it still worth it to apply to a lot of T20s with my stats? If not, what schools should I be targeting?

Obligatory stats:
ORM female/3 gap years by time of matriculation/MI resident
3.65 cGPA/3.57 sGPA (upward trend; double majored Neuro/Psych at UMich)
GPA by year: (cGPA/sGPA)
Freshman: 3.48/3.16
Sophomore: 3.38/3.39
Junior: 3.79/3.76
Senior: 3.94/3.94
522 MCAT (132/129/130/131) - taken once

Research:
2000+ hours in public health/clinical research - CDC-funded influenza/COVID study (current job) but no pubs/posters
50 hours in psych lab - food addiction/obesity study

Clinical:
400+ hours hospital volunteering over several years - primarily ER
caretaker for an immediate family member at end-of-life (mentioned in PS)

Nonclinical volunteering:
250+ hours total (youth running coach, Red Cross volunteer, musician at nursing homes, store volunteer at local non-profit)

Teaching/leadership:
100 hours as a biology study group leader at my University

Shadowing:
70 hours total across 5 specialties

 

[proudofmykids]

You look like a solid candidate.
Apply to all schools of interest where your gpa is at least 25th percentile according to msar. I’d also include some reach schools too but defer to others’ opinions.

 

[Goro]

You look like a solid candidate.
Apply to all schools of interest where your gpa is at least 25th percentile according to msar. I’d also include some reach schools too but defer to others’ opinions.

I agree. But keep in mind the goal is to get into A medical school. You'll get a fine education at Drexel or Albany.

@rmfo12, can you give us year by year GPAs?

 

[MyOdyssey]

Apply to UMich Medical School for sure given your MI residency and your undergraduate degree from UMich. If you look at their stats, they heavily favor their own residents and undergraduate degree holders.

Certain schools are known to be heavily stats driven, at which your MCAT alone might open doors.

These include Wash U (at St Louis), Vanderbilt, NYU, UChicago, Northwestern, Vanderbilt.

Was your MCAT achieved on a single take?

 

[rmfo12]

I agree. But keep in mind the goal is to get into A medical school. You'll get a fine education at Drexel or Albany.

@rmfo12, can you give us year by year GPAs?

Added year by year GPAs to post!

 

[rmfo12]

Apply to UMich Medical School for sure given your MI residency and your undergraduate degree from UMich. If you look at their stats, they heavily favor their own residents and undergraduate degree holders.

Certain schools are known to be heavily stats driven, at which your MCAT alone might open doors.

These include Wash U (at St Louis), Vanderbilt, NYU, UChicago, Northwestern, Vanderbilt.

Was your MCAT achieved on a single take?

Yep, taken once in April 2019.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Yep, taken once in April 2019.

Is U Mich known to be heavily grade deflationary?

 

[Morc]

Apply to UVA too, they’ll lick their chops at your MCAT