Help with school list, 3.58c, 3.8s, 37 MCAT

[surfdoc29]

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I made a post a few weeks ago asking about my chances, but now that AMCAS is open I need help with my school list. I am a non-trad student and was a business major in undergrad at a well-respected state university. I unfortunately did not take school as seriously as I should have (hence the GPA on the lower end), especially early on.

I will be 28 when applying and will have been married for a year. I live in Southern California and would really like to stay in the area as my wife I have family close which will be helpful as were planning on having kids during med school (UCSD and UC Irvine would by my top two choices). Also, my wife broke her back a few years ago and cannot live somewhere that gets too cold as it ends up causing her a lot of pain if its real cold for an extended period of time, so keep that in mind when suggesting schools.

GPA:
I had a 3.44 GPA in undergrad, but have been doing an informal postbac at various community colleges and also UCSD and SDSU. I currently have a 4.0 in all of my postbac work (which includes pretty much all of my med school prereqs) which should continue with the end of this semester (have a borderline A in my Orgo 2 lab and hoping I don't mess it up). Depending on what happens with that my overall GPA will be from 3.57-3.58 cumulative and 3.79-3.83 BCMP. I also have a pseudo-upward trend from undergrad (fresh-soph-senior all an increasing trend, junior year dipped a little but by senior year was by far my best).

MCAT - 37 (11p, 13v, 13b) taken this past January

Was a teacher and high school football coach for 2 years out of college, then worked some random business jobs for a little over a year before getting my EMT cert and working full time as a paid EMT and volunteer firefighter for 6 months before realizing I wanted to become a doctor. Started working on the informal postbac while still working full time as an EMT.

ECs:
-Just started working as an ER Scribe last week (hoping this suffices for shadowing)
-2+ years as an EMT
-6 months as a volunteer firefighter
-Worship and Arts Director for a church (was volunteer first, then started getting a stipend)
-2 years as a teacher and football coach
-Other employment - working for a small business consulting company
-Played D1 football in college
-Student leader in a campus fellowship for 2 years
-Played guitar and sang in a band
-Have been on many service projects both overseas and local (housebuilding and orphanage trips to Mexico, housebuilding in Fiji, aid trips to Tonga and Kentucky, english teaching trip to China, worked with various homeless outreaches over the years as well)

Other interests:
-Avid surfer and ice hockey player
-Still play guitar and sing in a band

I feel like I have a strong personal statement and will have moderate-strong letters. I plan on submitting the first day.

My school list so far:
UCSD
UCI
UCLA
USC
UCR
Loma Linda
UCD
UCSF
University of Hawaii
Medical University of South Carolina
Univeristy of Miami
University of Central Florida
University of Arizona - Tucson
University of Arizona - Phoenix
Wake Forest
Duke (big reach I know but thought I'd throw it in there)
University of South Florida
University of Texas San Antonio
University of Texas Galveston
Emory
Stanford (why not lol)

I know MUSC, UH, and the Texas schools aren't super OOS friendly but I'm gonna apply anyway.


Is this a good list? Any schools I should add or remove? Any insights would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[rodmichael82]

I'd apply to another 4 lower end schools to play it safe.

 

[red doctober]

My school list so far:
UCSD
UCI
UCLA
USC
UCR
Loma Linda<-- understand that they have a unique code of conduct
UCD
UCSF
University of Hawaii <-- not OOS-friendly
Medical University of South Carolina <-- not OOS friendly
Univeristy of Miami
University of Central Florida<-- not OOS friendly
Florida International University<-- not OOS friendly. $75K/yr for OOS in tuition + fees alone!
University of Arizona - Tucson <--- I don't think they are as OOS-friendly as AZ-Phoenix
University of Arizona - Phoenix
Wake Forest (maybe)

I think you have a pretty unique app that will impress adcoms. I think you'll have a decent shot at one of the UCs but some of these other schools are tough as an OOSer to get in.

 

[surfdoc29]

I'd apply to another 4 lower end schools to play it safe.

Any suggestions on which ones? Been through the MSAR and haven't been able to find anything that's OOS friendly that I think I might have a chance at.

Also Red, according to MSAR UCF lets in about 25% of OOS... is that a low number? And holy crap did not realize FIU was soooo expensive... definitely crossing that one off the list.

 

[red doctober]

UCF's classes are small compared to most med schools. Sure their class is 25% OOS, but that's actually 20 out of 80... 20 out of the hundreds if not thousands of OOS apps they get every year.

 

[Alejandro]

Seems like you have a regional/locational bias goin on here...haha. Or maybe a weather bias?

I would definitely apply broadly though. having liek 10'ish schools to apply to seems a little foolish if you want to take this seriously. Perhaps apply within Texas?
Otherwise, check out the northeast and the midwest. Plenty of schools to apply to. I think your application will be impressive and you will probably get a few good looks here and there. Just make sure you apply to enough schools to maximize your odds.

 

[surfdoc29]

Seems like you have a regional/locational bias goin on here...haha. Or maybe a weather bias?

Ha ha yes there is but there's a legitimate reason for it. I mentioned it in my original post but I know it was kinda long so I'll explain again. Basically my wife broke 4 vertebrae in her back a few years ago, and it's really hard for her to be in cold weather for prolonged periods of time as it gets painful, so I was hoping to avoid having to live somewhere that gets too cold.

How competitive am I for Texas schools? I was under the impression it was tough to get in if you weren't a Texas resident?

Any other schools anyone can recommend?

 

[Alejandro]

Aha, that's actually a very legitimate reason. haha.

Texas is not impossible to apply to. And I think they will appreciate your application. The problem with texas is because it is a different application system. You'll have to change your PS, etc etc. That's why it is a pain to apply to texas. Furthermore, people with so so stats might find it harder to get in, but I think your stats are more than good enough to be competitive there. I've had freinds with a 3.8 35 interview at UTSW which I see to be their most competitive school. So I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[xffan624]

My school list so far:
UCSD
UCI
UCLA
USC
UCR
Loma Linda<-- understand that they have a unique code of conduct
UCD
UCSF
University of Hawaii <-- not OOS-friendly
Medical University of South Carolina <-- not OOS friendly
Univeristy of Miami
University of Central Florida<-- not OOS friendly
Florida International University<-- not OOS friendly. $75K/yr for OOS in tuition + fees alone!
University of Arizona - Tucson <--- I don't think they are as OOS-friendly as AZ-Phoenix
University of Arizona - Phoenix
Wake Forest (maybe)

I think you have a pretty unique app that will impress adcoms. I think you'll have a decent shot at one of the UCs but some of these other schools are tough as an OOSer to get in.

I got an II at UA-Tuscon and not UA-Phoenix, as a OOSer non-trad. I did not have as good stats as the OP either. I know n=1, but I would definitely leave Tuscon on the list, especially considering OP has limitations on needing to attend schools in warmer climes. OP, you might want to add USF to the list. I would suggest the SELECT program as you would fit their mission statement (leadership emphasis), but the last 2 years are in Pennsylvania, but you might as well try for the CORE program.

 

[surfdoc29]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I updated my school list with a few new additions. If anyone else has any other suggestions I'm definitely very appreciative. Thanks again!

 

[Alejandro]

Didn't do my homework, but is LSU OOS friendly?

 

[surfdoc29]

Didn't do my homework, but is LSU OOS friendly?

Looks like they only take about 10% OOS. Tulane might be an option though... Anyone know anything about Tulanes med school?

 

[Alejandro]

lol, i'd take tulane over loma linda...🙂