MD HELP WITH SCHOOL LIST PLEASE: URM, Low GPA, High MCAT

[soccerplayerjc5]

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Hey SDN,

I'm starting my app rn and am struggling to finalize my school list. Looking to apply to ~40 schools.
MCAT: 509 (127/129/126/127) --> 516 (128/131/129/128)
GPA:

-cGPA: 3.5 (w/ upward trend due to current postbacc)​

-sGPA: 3.1 (w/ upward trend due to current postbacc)​

-postbacc GPA: 3.7​

Major/Minor: Music (Vocal Performance)/Society & Genetics - did all pre-med reqs concurrently with my Music degree/minor so that's why my GPA is so low
EC:

-Volunteering at 2 hospitals, multiple departments x 4yrs (~1200 hrs), including med-surg, cardiothoracic unit, post-partum, ER, in-patient ortho​

-Scribing with family physicians, specialists (urology, GI) x 2yrs (~1600 hrs)​

Research: Minimal, took a few classes in college but no pubs/posters. One of my LORs is from my research prof, though. Not at all interested in research, more clinically-oriented
Leadership:

-Department Coordinator's Assistant --> Department Coordinator for Hospital Volunteer Program​

-Lead Tour Guide x 1 yr​

-Currently Chief Medical Scribe at Family Med Group, expanding to specialists and ER this yr​

LOR:

For sure have:​

-1 science (research prof mentioned above)​

-1 non-science​

-Program Director of hospital volunteer program​

-3 MDs (all from scribing)​

​

Working on:​

-Science #2​

-Non-Science #2​

​

All good quality letters, none who doesn't know me personally/would write a bunch of fluff​

Residence: CA
Nontrad: 2 gap yrs, currently working full-time and doing postbacc (12-14 units/quarter)
Disadvantaged/URM: yes, AA female (also half-white but not sure if that changes anything)
LizzyM Score: 70 (LizzyM Score Calculator - What are my chances for medical school?) - 90th percentile according to black applicants 2013-2016
Other Stuff: (not sure any if any of this is relevant)

-Regent's Scholar Recipient x 4yrs​

-Alumni Scholar Recipient x 4yrs​

-Tour Guide x 3yrs (paid)​

-Starbucks Employee x 2.5yrs​

-A cappella group x 4yrs (held several leadership positions)​

-Freelance tutor since high school​

I know I should apply broadly, but I'm not sure if I should stick to mostly low-tier bc of my GPA and lack of research or if the URM, MCAT, and tons of clinical experience might help catapult me into the middle-tier/top 20 realm. Prepared to spend a lot of money on apps but don't want to be just giving donations if I'm going to be rejected right off the bat.

Also very interested in MD/JD programs (mom and grandma are both lawyers), so I have these on my list:

• University of Miami Miller
• Boston U
• Case Western
• Indiana U
• Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson
• Stanford
• Duke
• Baylor
• Ohio State
• UVA
• University of Iowa
• University of Florida

I know I don't have a chance at a few of them but I'm trying anyway. Would appreciate any help/advice I can get. Thank you!

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
Howard
Meharry
Morehouse
The UCs
USC Keck
California University
Kaiser
Miami
USF Morsani
Duke
Emory
George Washington
Georgetown
UVA
Jefferson
Seton Hall
Hofstra
Einstein
Mount Sinai
Rochester
Boston University
Tufts
Brown
Dartmouth
Pittsburgh
Ohio State
Case Western
Cincinnati
Wayne State
Iowa
Indiana
St. Louis
Loyola

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hopefully you've reached out to the MD/JD schools to learn whether students take advantage of that track and what it would take to go for it. Obviously the necessity of having to take the LSAT vs. GRE would be an obvious question.

 

[soccerplayerjc5]

Hopefully you've reached out to the MD/JD schools to learn whether students take advantage of that track and what it would take to go for it. Obviously the necessity of having to take the LSAT vs. GRE would be an obvious question.

Yeah I've done quite a bit of research about the programs and the vast majority of them are structured such that your first few years are in the Med School, then 2 years of law school, and then the last year is a combination of both degrees for a total of 6 years.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

That is typical timing, but do you need to have a threshold med school GPA or passing USMLE 1 to participate? Do you have to take the LSAT or GRE, or doesuoyour medical school GPA supersede?

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