Help with MD/PhD School list

[Datypicalpremed]

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Hi All,


So I am applying to MD/PhD for this upcoming cycle and I was wondering if I could get a few comments on my school list. I basically selected some reach, match, and “safety” schools using info from school sites and this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AgO_VJ3HntJpdG12WHRQTS1kQWg2bllYVGtma1NIY2c&output=html


My stats:

GPA: 3.97

MCAT: 30 (10/8/12)

Research: 2 ½ years upon graduation; fellowship w/ poster conference; 2 co-authored papers; honor’s thesis + defense upon graduation

UG University: Elite liberal arts (from what people have told me, including MD/PhD directors, my school is considered “very competitive”)

ECs:

Volunteer EMT (>100 hours)

Shadowing (30-40 hours)

Hospital volunteer (>50 hours)

Tutoring (>20 hours)

Letters: Feeling pretty good (1 from a famous PI)

Other: NOT international, NOT URM


School list:

University of Texas in San Antonio

University of Texas in Houston

University of Texas in Galveston

University of Kansas

Thomas Jefferson

New Jersey Medical School

Robert Wood Johnson

Drexel

SUNY Downstate

SUNY Upstate

Stony Brook

Mt. Sinai

NYU

Cornell

Albany

Rochester

University of Arizona

Albert Einstein

Brown

Harvard

Boston University

Tufts

Rush University

Rush Medical College

University of New Mexico

Case Western Reserve

Georgetown University

University of Colorado

Northeastern Ohio

University of Nebraska

University of Maryland

University of North Dakota

Hofstra

Carnegie Mellon

Dartmouth

Columbia

Urbana Champaign

Most likely, I’m gonna have to drop some reaches for some “safety” schools. I’m hoping that applying broadly will land me some invites, despite my low MCAT. Thanks and please let me know what you think.

 

[Fencer]

Read this notice about the UT-Austin-UTMB program: http://www.mdphd.utexas.edu/
UT-Austin (the new school) will not be recruiting until 2016. See the open forum link at: http://www.utexas.edu/dell-medical-school/announcements
You might consider applying to the UTMB MD/PhD at Galveston.

PM me if you want more info about Texas schools

 

[Member011]

What kind of research are you interested in? That should help dictate where you should be applying and what your chances are.

 

[Datypicalpremed]

What kind of research are you interested in? That should help dictate where you should be applying and what your chances are.

For the sake of maintaining anonymity, I will only say that my research (that I am interested in continuing) falls mostly into the field of neurobiology and most certainly has biomedical implications. I've conducted mostly in vitro research, but I've also used in vivo models as well.

Given that my MCAT score will likely get me screened out of some programs, I want to apply broadly and to schools that will get me as many interviews as possible based on face value (i.e. the stats I posted above). Once I attend some interviews, I'm hoping that my type of research and my ability to explain it will land me some acceptances. And should I get the luxury of multiple acceptances, I will definitely choose which school to matriculate to based on the research I am interested in, the school I would like to attend based on personal opinion, etc.

 

[Patros]

For the sake of maintaining anonymity, I will only say that my research (that I am interested in continuing) falls mostly into the field of neurobiology and most certainly has biomedical implications. I've conducted mostly in vitro research, but I've also used in vivo models as well.

Given that my MCAT score will likely get me screened out of some programs, I want to apply broadly and to schools that will get me as many interviews as possible based on face value (i.e. the stats I posted above). Once I attend some interviews, I'm hoping that my type of research and my ability to explain it will land me some acceptances. And should I get the luxury of multiple acceptances, I will definitely choose which school to matriculate to based on the research I am interested in, the school I would like to attend based on personal opinion, etc.

I would think long and hard about whether you really want to invest the $100 application fees to these:
Harvard
UPenn
NYU
Mt Sinai
Cornell

These schools generally accept people with average MCAT of 35-38, with research experiences equal or greater than yours. Hell, I wasn't even offered an interview to these guys with a >3.8/35, and 3 years in research. Admittedly, I had no publications. Of course, if you can afford the $500, then feel free to chase your dream.

Also I am pretty sure NYMC does not have a MD/PhD program you can apply for. They only allow MS2's to apply to grad school, which is pretty lame. At least in the 2013-14 AMCAS, there was no MD/PhD option.

 

[peanutcashew]

Also I am pretty sure NYMC does not have a MD/PhD program you can apply for. They only allow MS2's to apply to grad school, which is pretty lame. At least in the 2013-14 AMCAS, there was no MD/PhD option.

This is correct. I contacted the PD and he confirmed this.