How do I build a solid school list? / Please help refine my school list

[AdamFields]

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How do I build a solid school list? / Please help refine my school list​

Overall GPA: 3.80
Science GPA: 3.72
MCAT score: 517 (129, 128, 128, 132)
State of Residence: TX

Undergrad Attended: TAMU
Major: Biology (B.S.)
Minority? No
Reapplicant? Yes
Nontrad? Yes (gap year)

Shadowing Experience: 720 hours: Houston Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, UNC REX, Vision Source (Optometry)
Volunteering Experience: 150 hours: Habitat for Humanity / Volunteer Crisis Counselor
Employment: N/A.
Research: Neuroscience research at TAMU, Bioinformatics research at TAMU, Summer research at Baylor College of Medicine, 420 hours, 2x poster presentations
Other Extracurriculars: Tennis
Relevant Honors or Awards: 3x Dean's List and Biology Honors Program degree
LOR type and strength: 2x research PIs and 1x doctor I wrote case reports for and shadowed

Last cycle I only applied to in-state TX MD programs, as I only had a 503 MCAT, so I wasn't too confident (I received 0 ii). This cycle I have improved almost every aspect of my application (higher GPA, higher MCAT, more volunteering + research hrs). I am reapplying to TX MD/DO programs and want to apply to MD programs out-of-state to boost my chances of admission, but I am at a loss as to where to apply.

I was wondering if anyone could help recommend some ideas as to where to look/what to look for in applying out-of-state. Out-of-state tuition is very expensive, so I want to find some MD programs in or below the range of my stats. that also offer aid (if medical schools even do this; I am honestly not sure).

Also, when applying to schools, do people ever apply to reach schools? Like, when I look at a school's median GPA/MCAT and they are slightly out-of-range, should I even bother applying? Isn't it more strategic to only apply to schools with GPA/MCAT medians below the applicant's stats.?

Presently, here's what my school list is looking like:

TMDSAS:

1. UT Southwestern Medical School, 2. Sealy School of Medicine at UTMB, 3. McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center Houston, 4. Long School of Medicine at UT San Antonio, 5. UT Austin Dell Medical School, 6. UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, 7. Texas A&M College of Medicine, 8. Texas Tech HSC School of Medicine at Lubbock, 9. Texas Tech HSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at El Paso, 10. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at University of Houston, 11. Baylor College of Medicine, 12. UT at Tyler School of Medicine, 13. UNT Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), and 14. Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

AMCAS: (here is where I am struggling... let me know of any schools to add/cut)

Reach Schools:
1. NYU Grossman (Manhattan Campus), 2. NYU Grossman (Long Island Campus), 3. Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 4. Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, 5. Johns Hopkins, 6. Vanderbilt, 7. UC Davis, 8. UC Irvine, 9. UC Riverside.

Target Schools:
10. Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 11. Tulane University School of Medicine, 12. Drexel University College of Medicine, 13. Albany Medical College, 14. Ohio State University College of Medicine, 15. University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 16. Howard University College of Medicine, 17. University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 18. Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.

Baseline Schools:
19. Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 20. Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, 21. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 22. Temple University School of Medicine, 23. Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, 24. Medical College of Wisconsin, 25. University of Vermont College of Medicine, 26. George Washington University School of Medicine, 27. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.


Please let me know of any schools to add/remove to boost my chances at admission. Perhaps I should cut from the # of reach schools and add more baseline "safety" schools. Let me know of any recommendations. I know my TMDSAS + AMCAS has 30+ schools, which feels like a lot.

 

[Faha]

OOS MD schools interview few Texas residents since they know from years of experience that Texas applicants will attend a Texas school (cheaper tuition as you mentioned). You could try these AMCAS schools:
TCU
Tulane
Roseman
Alice Walton
Belmont
Methodist (when it opens)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If you haven't networked with OOS schools before applying, you would need to show very strong mission fit and inclination to attend their medical school over the reasonable tuition that Texas schools offer you.

 

[Tomiee]

Your stats are so solid. Texas is your best bet and I am sure that stats will NOT hold you back this cycle. With that said, your 503 MCAT should have been okay for some other schools such as UTMB, UH etc, so make sure your writing and personal statement are fleshed out as well.

To be honest with you, you can apply to every Texas school and have a fair chance at them. Anything out of state is more of making sure if you have their mission fit in mind. Do they want research heavy students? Public health/ community based missions? Be honest with yourself when you read their website and DONT just look at stats.

I have a lot of faith in you this cycle. You got this.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your stats are so solid. Texas is your best bet and I am sure that stats will NOT hold you back this cycle. With that said, your 503 MCAT should have been okay for some other schools such as UTMB, UH etc, so make sure your writing and personal statement are fleshed out as well.

I have a suspicion the OP wrote their application essays in a way that was a mismatch with the more regional-focused schools (probably didn't express specific interest in wanting to stay in Texas to care for the diverse communities that the hospital systems need help with). I'm also unsure about 700+ hours of shadowing. Letters focused on research (2 professor/PIs) might have left the impression that the OP values research over clinical. Again, there's 1 doctor for three different locations for shadowing, and it's not clear from the profile here which one was chosen.

But I agree, it's still disappointing there were no invitations.

 

[Tomiee]

I have a suspicion the OP wrote their application essays in a way that was a mismatch with the more regional-focused schools (probably didn't express specific interest in wanting to stay in Texas to care for the diverse communities that the hospital systems need help with). I'm also unsure about 700+ hours of shadowing. Letters focused on research (2 professor/PIs) might have left the impression that the OP values research over clinical. Again, there's 1 doctor for three different locations for shadowing, and it's not clear from the profile here which one was chosen.

But I agree, it's still disappointing there were no invitations.

Just realized his employment is blank… that might hold OP back. His shadowing is high, but I wonder if those hours are going to translate well when he has to write about them.

To be honest, shadowing is an okay experience but not having clinical employment (scribe,MA etc), or any employment might also be something OP needs to be self aware about. In a gap year you managed to get a great MCAT score but no clinical employment, imagine how that might come across to an admissions person.

With that said, as long as your writing is on point there should be more success this cycle. You can also address the no employment experience in the optional essay if you want.

 

[PLsPLsPLs]

I think you should have success at Texas schools.

As for your AMCAS schools, NYU, CCLCM, JHU, and the UCs all dont make sense to me. As someone who interviewed at multiple of these schools: NYU has a 10th percentile MCAT of 519, with their lowest accepted a cycle or 2 ago being 516, so that's already a longshot. CCLCM is insanely research heavy and with 420 hours, I do not think you'll be successful (I had ~4000 +2000 more projected and more productivity for instance and was WL). JHU is also very stat and research oriented, and I'm not sure your app has enough depth. UC Davis and Riverside have very strong regional bias (they dont even look at everyone from their own state) and Irvine is not one of the more OOS friendly UCs (those are UCLA, UCSF, and UCSD to a lesser extent iirc). Also, As of now, Kaiser will not be free next year. Vanderbilt is fine, but they also value research a lot (eg average student had 2000 hours for incoming class 4 years ago). In short, I'm not confident in any of the reaches, but if you wanna shoot your shot, it is up to you.

Your other schools look more likely, but you should look up "low yield schools," because schools like George Washington (which you consider a baseline) are statistically unlikely for any applicant. Also, howard is a HBCU, so 100% remove that

Any else feel free to chime in

 

[AdamFields]

Just realized his employment is blank… that might hold OP back. His shadowing is high, but I wonder if those hours are going to translate well when he has to write about them.

To be honest, shadowing is an okay experience but not having clinical employment (scribe,MA etc), or any employment might also be something OP needs to be self aware about. In a gap year you managed to get a great MCAT score but no clinical employment, imagine how that might come across to an admissions person.

With that said, as long as your writing is on point there should be more success this cycle. You can also address the no employment experience in the optional essay if you want.

Thank you so much for your replies; I really appreciate the constructive feedback! You’re absolutely right that having clinical employment, especially in roles like scribing or working as an MA, can really strengthen an application and provide meaningful exposure. That’s definitely something I recognize I’m missing right now.

For context, I just graduated this May and am only now starting my gap year, so I haven’t yet had the opportunity to work in a clinical position, but it’s one of my top priorities. I’ve been actively applying and am hopeful I’ll be able to begin soon so I can gain that hands-on experience and grow further in patient care. Thank you again for your feedback; it’s incredibly helpful as I work to strengthen my application.