High GPA, High MCAT, poor EC

[Honsur]

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So I have worked my ass off at McGill University and I have managed to maintain a 3.94 overall GPA. My major is microbiology and immunology and I am currently in the process of completing my Honors project. I just took the MCAT in June and I received a 40Q (13 PS, 12 VR, 15 BS). For my ECs I didn't do much my freshman/sophmore year, partly because I didn't realize how much I was screwing myself and partly due to personal problems. However, I did work as a lifeguard during the summers so it wasnt like I was sitting around on my ass all the time. Anyway in my Junior year I got my **** together and did an undergraduate research project in the Fall and continued to volunteer during the winter semester as a research assistant. Over the summer I won a scholarship to begin my Honors project early and when not in the lab, I have spent my spare time filling out my primary application which I submitted in early August. I am still waiting on this to be completed and have pre-written all of my secondaries. The schools I applied to are:

UCONN
University of Massachussetts
Boston University
Tufts University
Stanford
Columbia
Mount Sinai
Albert Einstein
Dartmouth
Mayo Clinic (don't think I will get in)

I realize that some of these schools are a reach due to my poor ECs but I would be very happy attending either UMASS or UCONN. I also plan on applying to McGill University since I have a very good recommendation from a former graduate and current professor. So SDNers what are my chances?

 

[Doctor246853]

So I have worked my ass off at McGill University and I have managed to maintain a 3.94 overall GPA. My major is microbiology and immunology and I am currently in the process of completing my Honors project. I just took the MCAT in June and I received a 40Q (13 PS, 12 VR, 15 BS). For my ECs I didn't do much my freshman/sophmore year, partly because I didn't realize how much I was screwing myself and partly due to personal problems. However, I did work as a lifeguard during the summers so it wasnt like I was sitting around on my ass all the time. Anyway in my Junior year I got my **** together and did an undergraduate research project in the Fall and continued to volunteer during the winter semester as a research assistant. Over the summer I won a scholarship to begin my Honors project early and when not in the lab, I have spent my spare time filling out my primary application which I submitted in early August. I am still waiting on this to be completed and have pre-written all of my secondaries. The schools I applied to are:

UCONN
University of Massachussetts
Boston University
Tufts University
Stanford
Columbia
Mount Sinai
Albert Einstein
Dartmouth
Mayo Clinic (don't think I will get in)

I realize that some of these schools are a reach due to my poor ECs but I would be very happy attending either UMASS or UCONN. I also plan on applying to McGill University since I have a very good recommendation from a former graduate and current professor. So SDNers what are my chances?

I didnt read any of your post before I posted this. I seen your gpa/mcat and it reminded me of a convo I had with a resident last night. I work at Parkland and the student is a UTSW grad (R2). Out of curiousity I asked what was his stats and he said and I quote " I had no research, 3.8gpa and 40 mcat" only applied to one school and got in. He was a preppy white male so he wasnt a urm. I think he is an exception but hey....

 

[Catalystik]

You're a Massachusetts resident?

At least four of the schools you listed would probably prefer to see more than a year of research on your application. All of them would like to see clinical experience, some altruistic endeavors, and leadership.

Maybe one of them will snatch you up due to your MCAT score, but you will be well served to start mending some of the holes in your application and advising schools via update letter that you've made some improvements. If worse comes to worst and you end up reapplying, you'll have a better application next June.

Adding more schools would be a good idea. Wash U might be a good one to consider, among others that don't emphasize research so much.