Help with school list

[premed8446]

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Hello. Looking for advice on compiling an application list. I am currently a junior and plan to apply this cycle.

GPA: overall 3.99, science 3.98 (Dual degree - Chemistry and Classics, minor in Biology)

MCAT: 524 (131,131,130,132)

State of residence: Ohio

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Undergraduate: OOS public state flagship

Clinical experience: 200 hours (and ongoing) volunteer at a free clinic for medically underserved; 125 hours paid Cardiac Monitor Technician (had to stop because the hospital wanted more 8 hour shifts/week than I was able to do), just hired as a scribe and will continue that next year as well.

Research: 600+ hours and ongoing; mostly public health and epidemiology. 7th author in a publication, abstract presentation, poster presentations.

Shadowing: 80 hours in person - Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Ophthalmology

Non-clinical volunteering: 150 hours and ongoing working with autistic children and adults; miscellaneous sorority volunteering

Other extracurriculars: tutoring (paid and volunteer); worked as a server at an ice cream store and as a restaurant hostess; 2 study abroad experiences

Honors: Dean's List; NMF scholarship; awards for undergraduate research, top Latin student

Ohio State (I have a family member who graduated from OSUCOM - does that count for anything?)
Cincinnati
Toledo
Vanderbilt
Emory
Duke
Harvard
NYU
Columbia
Wash U
USC
Mayo
UVA
Cornell
USF Morsani
Stanford
Michigan
Yale

I feel like my list is too top heavy and I need more mid-level schools.

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[KnightDoc]

You don't need help. You just need a little confidence. You fit the profile of a successful candidate at a top school, and there really is no such thing as "top heavy" for such a candidate.

That said, yes, of course you have no idea how your cycle is going to go until you are in it, so, sure, add some mid-level schools. You don't need us to tell you which ones. Pick the ones you like.

You are going to do very well. Depending on your confidence level, you should apply to between 20-30 schools. You clearly have the top schools covered. Feel free to add any ones you missed that you think you might like, and then flesh out your list with all OH schools you are willing to attend (since you will have an IS advantage at all of them), plus any other school that strikes your fancy, until you have reached your target number of applications.

When you are done, your list will be a little more balanced than it is now, but it's not going to greatly impact your rate of success. If you do as well at the top schools as it appears you might, you'll likely find yourself resource protected out at many if not most of the lower tier schools. And, if there is a problem with you application that is not apparent from your post (bad writing, bad LORs, bad interviewing, etc.) that creates problems at the top schools, your stats likely won't bail you out at lower tier schools, other than maybe at your state schools. Good luck!!

 

[Goro]

Ohio State (I have a family member who graduated from OSUCOM - does that count for anything?)

No, but OSU is still good to have on the list.

Cincinnati
Toledo
Vanderbilt
Emory
Duke
Harvard
NYU
Columbia
Wash U
USC
Mayo
UVA
Cornell
USF Morsani
Stanford
Michigan
Yale

Add all other OH schools,
All Manhattan titans
Pitt
U VM
USF.MORSANI
UTx.SW
Western MI
UCSF
UCLA
BAYLOR
HOFSTRA
U ROCHESTER
U WI
U MA
SUNY.SB
U CO
TUFTS
BU

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Have you talked with any schools? What are you looking for?

 

[premed8446]

Have you talked with any schools? What are you looking for?

I was unaware that I should be talking to any schools. I have registered for a few online info sessions (though it seems like most schools do not offer them?).
I am looking for suggestions for mid-tier level schools to add to the list.

 

[chilly_md]

Thread moved to WAMC.

You can add Einstein, Iowa and Case.