Do I need to add more schools?

[follicle]

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3.85 cGPA, 3.75 sGPA
31 MCAT (9 PS, 11 VR, 11 BS)
MA resident
3 years of research, working on a pub

I applied to:

UMASS
BU
Tufts
Dartmouth
NYU
Cornell
Sinai
Columbia
Harvard (have a legacy)
NY Medical College
Case Western
Rochester
Vermont
Maryland
UVA
Stanford
Brown (but may not submit secondary, seems like a waste for only 40 spots)
Stony Brook
Albany
Einstein


This has been expensive and I don't wanna apply to more than 25 schools. I would be happy going to my state school. Do you have any other suggestions?

 

[red doctober]

3.85 cGPA, 3.75 sGPA
31 MCAT (9 PS, 11 VR, 11 BS)
MA resident
3 years of research, working on a pub

I applied to:

UMASS
BU
Tufts
Dartmouth
NYU
Cornell
Sinai
Columbia
Harvard (have a legacy)
NY Medical College
Case Western
Rochester
Vermont
Maryland
UVA
Stanford
Brown (but may not submit secondary, seems like a waste for only 40 spots)
Stony Brook
Albany
Einstein


This has been expensive and I don't wanna apply to more than 25 schools. I would be happy going to my state school. Do you have any other suggestions?

I would suggest applying more broadly as your 31 MCAT is on the low-end for almost every school on your list. Keep in mind that the average MCAT for many of the schools on your list is 34-37.

 

[1289]

yikes extremely top heavy

 

[grapepopsicle]

I would say you're applying too top heavy. Stanford is a flat-out waste of money. I agree that you should drop Brown, as well as Columbia, Cornell, and Sinai. Anytime you're below a school's 10th percentile MCAT score, then it's (most likely) a waste of money applying there. You could keep Harvard because of the legacy connection, but again your MCAT score is below their 10th percentile so you're in all likelihood not a serious candidate there. Why not check out the Philadelphia schools? (Drexel, Jefferson, Temple) Medical College of Wisconsin, Wake Forest, and Cincinnati are probably worth looking into as well.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Add 9 points to your MCAT and that's still a top heavy list.

 

[follicle]

I forgot to mention I am disadvantaged. I also work in a big name lab and want to go into clinical or academic medicine, hence the big name schools since they tend to have the most research funding. Hoping at least one will look past my MCAT score and grant me an interview, as I know a girl from my undergrad. who got into HMS with a 29. I have great LORs from important people, but I agree that the MCAT is holding me back. I will look into those other schools. Thanks everyone.

 

[coolingglasses]

I forgot to mention I am disadvantaged. I also work in a big name lab and want to go into clinical or academic medicine, hence the big name schools since they tend to have the most research funding. Hoping at least one will look past my MCAT score and grant me an interview, as I know a girl from my undergrad. who got into HMS with a 29. I have great LORs from important people, but I agree that the MCAT is holding me back. I will look into those other schools. Thanks everyone.

Disadvantaged how? Are you saying you're URM?

 

[follicle]

Disadvantaged how? Are you saying you're URM?

In terms of ethnicity, no. Socioeconomically, very much so. I wrote about it on the disadvantaged part of the AMCAS app. but didn't highlight it anywhere else unless secondaries specifically asked about hardships.

 

[1289]

In terms of ethnicity, no. Socioeconomically, very much so. I wrote about it on the disadvantaged part of the AMCAS app. but didn't highlight it anywhere else unless secondaries specifically asked about hardships.

that obviously won't hurt. but you asked for people's opinions on whether or not you should apply to more schools and the opinions of those who've read this seems to be an overwhelming yes.

 

[follicle]

Yes, I agree. And I will add a few more low tier schools to my list.

 

[follicle]

I would like to bump this thread for all of you low MCAT-ers out there. I have heard back from 9 schools so far and have received 7 interviews. I am waiting to hear from 20 more schools. Among my interviews are interviews from Mayo, Stanford, BU, and U Wisconsin.

Please keep in mind that MCAT and GPA aren't everything! And take the SDN community's advice with a grain of salt.