Hate to be a pest...

[ClarinetGeek]

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Part of me hates to be pest, as there have been several posts on this in the past few months; however, I would greatly appreciate some feedback. I really don't want to mess this up....yet I may have done that by completing my primary so late (Auguest 15 is my goal). My indecision to finalize my schools to apply has forced me to swallow a bit of pride and ask for help.

A bit of background (ok, nm, a lot...)

I will graduate from UW in May 2006 with both Honors in the Liberal Arts and Honors in the Major; thus, a majority of my course has been for honors, in particular my science work. I have an overall GPA of 3.9 and a science GPA of 3.87 (AB in calc II, ochem I, and a B in ochem II). My MCAT is a 32R (PS 11, V 10, BS 11). I have been a unique honors biology program, which has/will also given me the opportunity to be a undergrad TA, peer mentor, and the assistant program coordinator for the peer mentoring program. I have spents some time as a CNA, so I have some clinical experience. I also a few community service activities, member of several honor societies, and the treasurer for one of them. As a clarinet performer (hence the sn), I have spent a considerable amount of time in the School of Music. Most importantly I have spent 2+ years (3 by the time I graduate) in a Molecular Virology lab. I don't have any publications. My senior year will be spent conducting a senior honors research thesis.

Sorry for that long winded resume; however, I wanted to give enough detail in order to get good feedback. I am looking for some advice on the list of schools I am interested in applying to. Here is the current list:

Case, Emory, Mayo, Med. College of Wi, Northewestern, PSU, Rosalind, UChicago, UIowa, UMich, UPenn, UPitt, UW-Madison, Vandy, WashU, and UTMB.

Does this look like a reasonable mix as a WI resident? I fear it may have too many heavy hitters, as my MCAT is not stellar and I have no pubs (although I realize that is not all they look at, hence the extra info).

Other schools I have interest in include: BU, Duke, JHU, MUSC, Tufts, UCincinnati, UNC-Chapel Hill, Wayne State, and Yale. I am looking too keep the number around 15-16. I would appreciate any comments no matter how harsh. I am up for any suggestions, espeically if you think I need to switch some of my final list schools with the leftovers.

I realize that it is late in the game. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[ClarinetGeek]

Feel free to PM me.

 

[gwang]

I think your chances are good and you should include a few more "reach" schools.

I'm assuming you are from UWisconsin. But really, residency does not matter at all for MD/PhD. Your GPA is stellar, and MCAT scores are solid. In my experience I don't think the Honors program counts. I was in the Honors College and it never once came up during interviews. But your experiences are valuable. Although I found that it really came down to your research. Other things are nice to have, but how well you understand your project and the significance of your project is the most important thing.

Out of your current list, WashU is the only one I know of that greatly values a high MCAT score. So maybe take that out and replace it with somewhere else? But then again, you never know. With your stats, and assuming your research is good and you have some (charming) personality, you will get in somewhere. Why not add a few more dream schools, you might surprise yourself in the end.

Good luck.

 

[kermitdfrog]

Don't worry about your primary not being completed until August 15th, as you already have your MCAT score so it shouldn't be a problem getting secondaries/interveiws anywhere. I agree with gwang in that your GPA is excellent and your MCAT is solid, so I would definetely include several "reach schools". Not having any pubs is not a big deal as a lot of applicants don't. It would just have been a plus to your application. However you seem to have good research experience, and as long as you can talk intelligently about it you'll do fine.

Out of the possible additions that you listed I'ld throw in Duke, great research and amazing clinical training. Judging by your list of schools it looks like you want to stay in the Midwest or maybe venture over to Pennsylvania and possibly the South. If this is the case I wouldn't add Tuffs, BU or Yale (especailly since they aren't on your original list). I would keep WashU, as your MCAT falls within their range of scores, and the program is so large and near the area you seem to want to stay. If you want to throw out a reach from your list maybe Emory or Vandy, although I personally really like both schools. Or maybe choose between either UChicago or Northwestern, unless you would love to be in Chicago in which case I'ld keep both. It is definetly good to have a wide range of schools, but make sure that you would actually really love attending even your last choice school if that is the only one you get accepted to. Remember it is 7-8 years of your life, so it's important to evalute how far away from family/friends you are willing to be. Also moving to an area that you don't want to live in doesn't make sense regardless of the education that you'ld recieve.

 

[beary]

I think you will certainly be a competitive applicant with your stats. I am at Iowa and love it here. Feel free to PM me if you would like.

 

[ClarinetGeek]

Thanks everyone on for your help and advice, especially your confidence in my chances. I submitted my primary last night. I applied to 16 schools: Case, Emory, Mayo, Med. College of Wi, Northewestern, PSU, Loyola, UIowa, UMich, Twin Cities, UPenn, UPitt, UW-Madison, Vandy, WashU, and UTMB. So we will see how this goes!

Thanks again.

 

[dave613]

Thanks everyone on for your help and advice, especially your confidence in my chances. I submitted my primary last night. I applied to 16 schools: Case, Emory, Mayo, Med. College of Wi, Northewestern, PSU, Loyola, UIowa, UMich, Twin Cities, UPenn, UPitt, UW-Madison, Vandy, WashU, and UTMB. So we will see how this goes!

Thanks again.

you'll be fine, just apply.