Help with School List Please!

[getme2medschool]

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cGPA: 3.9
sGPA: 3.85
MCAT: 34P (14 PS, 10VR, 10BS)

Some clinical/volunteer/research, not extensive. LOR are probably gonna be ok, maybe 1 really good one.

Didn't really consider applying to med school this year, but decided I'm just gonna go for it. Not sure what schools to apply for (ie. reach schools, feasible schools, backup schools), just know that I'll be applying to all CA schools for sure (I'm CA resident). So that makes 7 schools for sure. It'd be great if you could suggest some schools. I've been looking through the MSAR lots and using the Lizzy score, but it seems that for the schools that I've been suggested, my GPA and MCAT are average...

 

[Catalystik]

cGPA: 3.9
sGPA: 3.85
MCAT: 34P (14 PS, 10VR, 10BS)

Some clinical/volunteer/research, not extensive. LOR are probably gonna be ok, maybe 1 really good one.

Didn't really consider applying to med school this year, but decided I'm just gonna go for it. Not sure what schools to apply for (ie. reach schools, feasible schools, backup schools), just know that I'll be applying to all CA schools for sure (I'm CA resident). So that makes 7 schools for sure. It'd be great if you could suggest some schools. I've been looking through the MSAR lots and using the Lizzy score, but it seems that for the schools that I've been suggested, my GPA and MCAT are average...

For your stats there aren't many reach schools. Keep in mind, your stats just get you noticed; it's the ECs that get you in the door. Since you feel your ECs are not extensive, it would be a good idea to keep beefing them up through the application cycle, for the sake of Secondary essays, interview conversations, and update letters where allowed.

Download this google.doc spreadsheet data (an SDN collaborative effort from 5/11), so you can fill in your own stats, and it will tell you for which US med schools you’re competitive.

Next look at the sheet's in-state matriculation data before you do further research on each school, removing any from your list that take more than 85% in-state students: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmKVGWwobG5GdEx2MjlBTDE0bXFXNGFZczZqYTZKb2c&hl=en_US#gid=0

Then look up the mission statement of each, and be sure your ECs are a "fit" for the school. If you have one summer of research and no leadership, then consider going light on Top Twenties, for example. If you have no nonmedical community service to the poor, then avoid schools with a humanitarian mission.

Once you have a list, check out other factors that you care about: curriculum type, grading policy, weather, safety of area, rural vs city, cost of living & cost of attending, location of clinical sites, proximity to home, etc, and use those to prune the list to a manageable number.

Then come back and post your list and someone will point out other factors you diidn't notice, like regional bias or requirement for strong state ties.