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

[AdamFields]

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.

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[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.