Help with School list (3.73/516)

[tuz345]

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Hi everyone,

I am in need of help in creating a school list. I have schools in mind but I would really appreciate advice from experienced members on SDN.

My GPA is 3.73 and I have an MCAT score of 516. I attended a top 20 public university and I graduated May of 2017. I worked on a semester long research project during my study abroad at the National University of Singapore in an immunology lab (30 hours a week for 16 weeks). I have 19 months of full time research in clinical and translational cardiovascular research at a top 20 university in which I have had hundreds of hours of patient interaction. I have 3 abstract submissions in the Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC). I volunteered at a clinic for refugees and the uninsured for those same 19 months. I helped coordinate a biomedical conference through a non-profit organization in December 2018. I am currently working for a precision medicine startup.

I unfortunately do not have any leadership experience from college but I am an Eagle scout. I understand that this an achievement from before college but I believe being an Eagle scout is viewed favorably. I have 5 strong letters of recommendation(Biochemistry professor, Organic Chemistry professor, English professor, Scoutmaster, and Principal Investigator for my clinical cardiovascular research). I have previously applied and only received an interview invite from my state school (University of Connecticut). This will be my last opportunity to apply to medical school because my MCAT score is from May 2018. If anyone could help me out I would really appreciate it.

My state residence is CT.

My first time applying I was put on hold by Mayo Clinic and NYU (Grossman). I am not sure if that means that I should apply to both of these schools again.

Current list so far:
University of Connecticut
Dartmouth
Boston University
Wake Forest
Emory University
Mayo Clinic (reach)
Kaiser Permanente
SUNY Downstate

I'd really appreciate any additional school suggestions.

Thank you.

 

[Faha]

Did you receive any interviews in your previous cycle ? Any wait list post interview ?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You're an Eagle Scout alumnus but you don't want to retake an MCAT because your old one is expiring? It makes me wonder how invested you really are in medicine, and with those stats and lack of success, something is going on that you may not be telling us.

 

[tuz345]

Did you receive any interviews in your previous cycle ? Any wait list post interview ?

I received an interview invite from University of Connecticut which is my state school. The interview went really well but they put me on the wait list.

 

[tuz345]

You're an Eagle Scout alumnus but you don't want to retake an MCAT because your old one is expiring? It makes me wonder how invested you really are in medicine, and with those stats and lack of success, something is going on that you may not be telling us.

I have read from experienced members on SDN that retaking the MCAT if you already have a solid score is not advised. Scoring worse on a second attempt reflects very poorly on an applicant. I am open to taking the test again but its a decision not without risks. Seeing how different my specific section scores were from those of my practice tests showed me how varied the tests can be.

I can't really put my finger on why I haven't had success but its not due to a lack of investment. I would never have spent the time I did in research, volunteering, and being so focused on grades if I wasn't invested.

 

[Faha]

I suggest all these schools with your stats:
UConn
Quinnipiac
Vermont
Boston University
Tufts
Dartmouth
Albany
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Seton Hall
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Pittsburgh
George Washington
Georgetown
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Miami
USF Morsani
Tulane
TCU-UNT
Creighton
St. Louis
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Cincinnati

 

[Mr.Smile12]

IMO, the only reason you retake the MCAT is if your scores become too old for consideration (usually within 3 years before intended matriculation), but the risks are still there about a result that is worse. My initial point was that yes, being an Eagle Scout is an accomplishment but it might not impress people as much as you would hope in the screening process.

 

[tuz345]

I suggest all these schools with your stats:
UConn
Quinnipiac
Vermont
Boston University
Tufts
Dartmouth
Albany
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Seton Hall
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Pittsburgh
George Washington
Georgetown
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Miami
USF Morsani
Tulane
TCU-UNT
Creighton
St. Louis
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Cincinnati

Thank you!

 

[tuz345]

IMO, the only reason you retake the MCAT is if your scores become too old for consideration (usually within 3 years before intended matriculation), but the risks are still there about a result that is worse. My initial point was that yes, being an Eagle Scout is an accomplishment but it might not impress people as much as you would hope in the screening process.

Yeah I hear you. It definitely depends on if one is lucky to get an adcom or interviewer that actually cares. In my only interview, the Dean of admissions as well as my faculty interviewer asked me a lot of questions about it.