If I want to apply to two reach schools, how should I go about choosing them?

[mcatasu]

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I got a 506 MCAT with a 4.00GPA. I wanted to include two reach schools into my list, but I am not sure how to choose. I want to at least have somewhat of a chance that they'll look at my app before rejecting me.

I'm an AZ resident.

I am interested in UCLA mainly, but have been told not to apply due to their screening process.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[ed*26]

Your MCAT score is roughly a 28-29 on the old score. Buy the MSAR. Find schools that regularly accept people with 28-29 scores (i.e. their 10th percentile MCAT is a 29 or lower). Pick the two you are drawn most to while keeping in mind your particular appeal to schools (e.g. instate bias, schools that like research, service to underserved, rural focus, etc). UCLA's 10th percentile is a 27, but they also have a strong instate bias that will likely work against you.

Why not retake the MCAT? Your GPA is perfect. A higher MCAT will go a long ways towards opening up more school options. On the other hand, it looks like you're competitive for Arizona schools.

 

[mcatasu]

Your MCAT score is roughly a 28-29 on the old score. Buy the MSAR. Find schools that regularly accept people with 28-29 scores (i.e. their 10th percentile MCAT is a 29 or lower). Pick the two you are drawn most to while keeping in mind your particular appeal to schools (e.g. instate bias, schools that like research, service to underserved, rural focus, etc). UCLA's 10th percentile is a 27, but they also have a strong instate bias that will likely work against you.

Why not retake the MCAT? Your GPA is perfect. A higher MCAT will go a long ways towards opening up more school options. On the other hand, it looks like you're competitive for Arizona schools.

Because my lowest score was in the verbal section. My science scores are pretty high. I haven't seen much improvement in my verbal even after doing LOTs of passages. I learned English in my late teenage years, so I am still unsure how much I can improve; it's going to take more practice.
I figured I'll try it this cycle and re-take if I don't receive an acceptance.

 

[efle]

Because my lowest score was in the verbal section. My science scores are pretty high.

Knowing the subsection breakdown will probably help people gauge your competitiveness, same for knowing what kind of research, volunteering, clinical exposure etc you've got.

 

[Goro]

The schools don't need the donations. Take your parents out to dinner instead.

Make smart choices.

I got a 506 MCAT with a 4.00GPA. I wanted to include two reach schools into my list, but I am not sure how to choose. I want to at least have somewhat of a chance that they'll look at my app before rejecting me.

I'm an AZ resident.

I am interested in UCLA mainly, but have been told not to apply due to their screening process.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[gyngyn]

Your MCAT score is roughly a 28-29 on the old score. Buy the MSAR. Find schools that regularly accept people with 28-29 scores (i.e. their 10th percentile MCAT is a 29 or lower). Pick the two you are drawn most to while keeping in mind your particular appeal to schools (e.g. instate bias, schools that like research, service to underserved, rural focus, etc). UCLA's 10th percentile is a 27, but they also have a strong instate bias that will likely work against you.

Why not retake the MCAT? Your GPA is perfect. A higher MCAT will go a long ways towards opening up more school options. On the other hand, it looks like you're competitive for Arizona schools.

UCLA actually has no preference for IS applicants. There are just so many good ones from CA who choose to come!

 

[mcatasu]

Knowing the subsection breakdown will probably help people gauge your competitiveness, same for knowing what kind of research, volunteering, clinical exposure etc you've got.

Here's my breakdown:
C/P 129
CARS 123
BIO 128
Psych 126

I did biology research for about a year and completed my thesis on it.
I have been working as an EMT for almost 2.5years and accumulated a little over 3000hours.
I did hospital volunteering for 2 years with approximately 200hours, and some non-clinical volunteering for about 60hours.
Shadowing of about 30hours.
Biology tutoring for 2 years ~400hours.

 

[mcatasu]

The schools don't need the donations. Take your parents out to dinner instead.

Make smart choices.

Thanks, I did and applied to schools I should be more competitive at. I just figured that everyone says to apply to 2-3 reach schools since you never know who reads the app. I guess that's not the case?

 

[gyngyn]

Here's my breakdown:
C/P 129
CARS 123
BIO 128
Psych 126

I did biology research for about a year and completed my thesis on it.
I have been working as an EMT for almost 2.5years and accumulated a little over 3000hours.
I did hospital volunteering for 2 years with approximately 200hours, and some non-community volunteering for about 60hours.
Shadowing of about 30hours.
Biology tutoring for 2 years ~400hours.

How about SLU and Creighton?

 

[Goro]

I suggest the following:


Temple

Jefferson

Drexel

Quinnipiac

WVU

Rosy Franklin

MCW

SLU

Creighton

Loma Linda (but read their list of don'ts)

Albany

NYMC

VCU

U VM

EVMS

Oakland-B

Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

Rush (note: very service/experience oriented with a 150hr service requirement. Avg student has 800 hours of community service, and >1800 hours of health care exposure.)

Netter

Your state school(s).

Any DO school, starting with TUNCOM, Western, AZCOM and SOMA

 

[mcatasu]

I suggest the following:


Temple

Jefferson

Drexel

Quinnipiac

WVU

Rosy Franklin

MCW

SLU

Creighton

Loma Linda (but read their list of don'ts)

Albany

NYMC

VCU

U VM

EVMS

Oakland-B

Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

Rush (note: very service/experience oriented with a 150hr service requirement. Avg student has 800 hours of community service, and >1800 hours of health care exposure.)

Netter

Your state school(s).

Any DO school, starting with TUNCOM, Western, AZCOM and SOMA

I already applied to the majority of those! I have just heard one should add 2-3 reach schools since the application process is so unpredictable, but I guess you would just advice me not to waste my time, right?

 

[Goro]

Again, you heard wrong, and the schools don't need the donations. It's a seller's market and top schools can handily afford to turn away people with much better apps than yours.

I already applied to the majority of those! I have just heard one should add 2-3 reach schools since the application process is so unpredictable, but I guess you would just advice me not to waste my time, right?

 

[efle]

add 2-3 reach schools since the application process is so unpredictable

Well what do you mean by reach schools? Reach like Harvard/Hopkins, or reach relative to Composite 29 / Verbal 7?

 

[Stagg737]

I already applied to the majority of those! I have just heard one should add 2-3 reach schools since the application process is so unpredictable, but I guess you would just advice me not to waste my time, right?

Also, don't apply to reach schools unless they're places you really want to go. There's no point in applying to Harvard if you'd rather take an acceptance to AZ.

 

[mcatasu]

Well what do you mean by reach schools? Reach like Harvard/Hopkins, or reach relative to Composite 29 / Verbal 7?

Reach relative to my composite score, or schools where I'm at least within the 10th to 90th percentile, but have higher median scores. For instance, UCLA has a 10th percentile of a 27, but the schools median lies I believe at a 33. Harvard has a 10th percentile of a 33 and wouldn't even be considered a reach, but rather impossible.

 

[gyngyn]

Reach relative to my composite score, or schools where I'm at least within the 10th to 90th percentile, but have higher median scores. For instance, UCLA has a 10th percentile of a 27, but the schools median lies I believe at a 33. Harvard has a 10th percentile of a 33 and wouldn't even be considered a reach, but rather impossible.

I don't think UCLA is your best Hail Mary. Think of how many amazing CA applicants have your scores and won't get an interview.
How about Einstein or Tulane?

 

[Toutie]

I'm going to go against the crowd here. If you have the money for a Hail Mary and UCLA is your choice, then just go for it. Know that it's a very long long shot...but you have NO chance at all to get an II or an acceptance if you don't even turn in an app. If the cost won't hurt you financially and you will sleep better at night knowing you gave it a shot, go for it. (spoken like a true Bruin, huh? 🙂)

Heck, just this week they took someone off the waitlist who looks like they only had an acceptance at a DO school.

 

[mcatasu]

I don't think UCLA is your best Hail Mary. Think of how many amazing CA applicants have your scores and won't get an interview.
How about Einstein or Tulane?

Thanks, I'll look into both.
What do you think about UofMiami?

 

[mcatasu]

Thanks, I look into both.
What do you think about UofMiami?

I'm going to go against the crowd here. If you have the money for a Hail Mary and UCLA is your choice, then just go for it. Know that it's a very long long shot...but you have NO chance at all to get an II or an acceptance if you don't even turn in an app. If the cost won't hurt you financially and you will sleep better at night knowing you gave it a shot, go for it. (spoken like a true Bruin, huh? 🙂)

Heck, just this week they took someone off the waitlist who looks like they only had an acceptance at a DO school.

Thanks for the response! Are you currently a student there or are you at a different school that accepted people from the waitlisted last-minute?

 

[Toutie]

Thanks for the response! Are you currently a student there or are you at a different school that accepted people from the waitlisted last-minute?

Oh God no! I haven't been a student there in a long time. 😱 😀

I'm just going by what was announced in the UCLA thread this past week. 2 acceptances and one of them looks to have had only a DO acceptance and very average stats....but WAS also a local LA resident.

 

[Stagg737]

I agree with Toutie. If you know UCLA is your dream school and they don't have a hard-line for their screening, then might as well apply if you've got the money to donate. Chances are obviously extremely low that you won't get in, but I've heard of crazier things happening.

 

[mcatasu]

Again, you heard wrong, and the schools don't need the donations. It's a seller's market and top schools can handily afford to turn away people with much better apps than yours.

Thanks, what do you think about my chances at UofMiami?

 

[mcatasu]

I agree with Toutie. If you know UCLA is your dream school and they don't have a hard-line for their screening, then might as well apply if you've got the money to donate. Chances are obviously extremely low that you won't get in, but I've heard of crazier things happening.

Thank you! We'll see what happens.

 

[Goro]

Doable.

Thanks, what do you think about my chances at UofMiami?