liverotcod School List Advice

[liverotcod]

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I would be grateful if my fellow SDNers would review my school list before I submit (tonight)...
CT Yale
IL Rosalind Franklin/Finch
IL Loyala
IL Northwestern
IL Pritzker
IL UI Chicago
MA Harvard
MI Michigan State
MI U Michigan
MN Mayo
MN UMinn - Twin Cities
MO St Louis U
NH Dartmouth
NY Columbia
NY Mt Sinai
NY NYMC Valhalla
NY NYU
NY U Rochester
OH Ohio State
OH U Cincinnati
PA Drexel
PA Jefferson
PA Penn State
VT U Vermont
VA EVMS
VA UVA
VA VCU/MCV
WI MCW
WI U Wisconsin

My stats
GPA: Harvard undergrad + VCU post-bacc - 2.95 (50 credits at 4.0 at VCU)
BCPM GPA: 3.4
MCAT: 39Q
Personal: 36 years old, married with 2 children, substance abuse problem in early college, 13 years sober
Residency: Virginia, with strong ties to Wisconsin
Clinical: 300+ hours emergency room volunteer, shadowing
LORs: 6 strong letters

I would like to wind up in the Northeast or Midwest eventually, and have chosen schools in those areas, but I'm not completely averse to the south & west.

 

[EvoDevo]

Looks pretty solid. You've got the schools in there that I would have suggested (VCU, Drexel, etc). I might take out Mayo because there are sooooo few spots available, but what the heck?


Good luck!

 

[Fermata]

Looks like a good list to me.

 

[liverotcod]

Looks pretty solid. You've got the schools in there that I would have suggested (VCU, Drexel, etc). I might take out Mayo because there are sooooo few spots available, but what the heck?


Good luck!

Thanks. Yeah, Mayo is a long shot, but what's $30 compared to what people plunk down on lottery tickets, with similar odds?

 

[stinkycheese]

Looks good!!! 👍

 

[dnelsen]

Take U of MN Twin Cities off...you won't get in (ok, I guess I just don't want competition 😉 )

Looks like a good list and if anything I think you are applying to too many schools. Yeah your GPA isn't great, but you have an explanation and look at your trend (4.0 in last 50 credits!). You are non-trad so they will know you are serious and have explored other career options. You have a family so you are stable (right? 😀 ) and your MCAT is out of this world. You will probably get interviews all over the place with your list so you might want to start saving now for plane fare 🙂

 

[liverotcod]

Take U of MN Twin Cities off...you won't get in (ok, I guess I just don't want competition 😉 )

Looks like a good list and if anything I think you are applying to too many schools. Yeah your GPA isn't great, but you have an explanation and look at your trend (4.0 in last 50 credits!). You are non-trad so they will know you are serious and have explored other career options. You have a family so you are stable (right? 😀 ) and your MCAT is out of this world. You will probably get interviews all over the place with your list so you might want to start saving now for plane fare 🙂

I plan to hit you guys up for plane fare. On the quantity issue, you're probably right (and $1,000 is pretty brutal), but I thought it was better safe than sorry. Several of these do have pre-secondary screening, so I may be able to avoid some secondary fees. Also, if I can get one or more early acceptances at top choices (VCU, UMN, UW) then I can withdraw from the rest of the "safety" schools. But yup, it's a lot. I kept finding schools that looked promising!

 

[EvoDevo]

I plan to hit you guys up for plane fare. On the quantity issue, you're probably right (and $1,000 is pretty brutal), but I thought it was better safe than sorry. Several of these do have pre-secondary screening, so I may be able to avoid some secondary fees. Also, if I can get one or more early acceptances at top choices (VCU, UMN, UW) then I can withdraw from the rest of the "safety" schools. But yup, it's a lot. I kept finding schools that looked promising!

To paraphrase Jalby, the thing that most people fail to do is to apply to a large enough number of schools. You have NO idea who's gonna show you love, and the cost of applying to a large number this year vs. re-applying next year (with the attendant loss of one year of physician's salary) is relatively small.

Good to go, man!

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

fwiw, pitt is pretty nontrad friendly (at least they were to me!). it's an awesome school and a pretty cool city too. i think i'd drop penn state and add pitt.

 

[liverotcod]

fwiw, pitt is pretty nontrad friendly (at least they were to me!). it's an awesome school and a pretty cool city too. i think i'd drop penn state and add pitt.

Hmmmm... I considered Pitt. I will reconsider. Thanks.

 

[liverotcod]

I am also considering applying to a few osteopathic schools, but haven't considered which ones other than VCOM. Any thoughts on that? Or do I have to ask in the DO forum 😉 ?

 

[EvoDevo]

I am also considering applying to a few osteopathic schools, but haven't considered which ones other than VCOM. Any thoughts on that? Or do I have to ask in the DO forum 😉 ?

I found DMU and VCOM to be outstanding schools who were receptive to the idea of non-trads like us. I'd give them a try.

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

Hmmmm... I considered Pitt. I will reconsider. Thanks.

cool. also, does your wife make decent coin, or do you have a good pile o' cash? if not, i'd drop Columbia, MSSM and NYU. living in NYC can be REALLY rough if you're poor w/ a family. even if you take every available penny in loans, that still aint $hit for a family in ny.

edit to add: i hate to discourage anything. maybe i should just say that you should really consider the financial realities of life in nyc before making any decisions.

 

[liverotcod]

cool. also, does your wife make decent coin, or do you have a good pile o' cash? if not, i'd drop Columbia, MSSM and NYU. living in NYC can be REALLY rough if you're poor w/ a family. even if you take every available penny in loans, that still aint $hit for a family in ny.

edit to add: i hate to discourage anything. maybe i should just say that you should really consider the financial realities of life in nyc before making any decisions.

It's a nice pile, but unfortunately it's all pennies. I like the idea of living in NYC, and the schools have explicit statements (bs, perhaps?) in their MSAR statements that speak to "special" students. Maybe I will keep Columbia as a reach, and drop MSSM and NYU.

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

It's a nice pile, but unfortunately it's all pennies. I like the idea of living in NYC, and the schools have explicit statements (bs, perhaps?) in their MSAR statements that speak to "special" students. Maybe I will keep Columbia as a reach, and drop MSSM and NYU.

like i said, don't let me be any discouragement. i'd just seriously crunch numbers first. if they have good scholarship programs for broke students, then you might be ok (since loan money and spousal contributions would probably suffice). just something to consider.

 

[GBFKicks]

Your official state of residency is Virginia?... Some of those publics might be pretty brutal on you, but you have as good of a shot as anyone? No love for U of I when you apply to Finch?

Good list though...

 

[Freakingzooming]

nice spread. I think you got some reachers and a lot of mid range which is the thing to do. Any love for rush? Or the 11 essays scaring you away?

 

[Fermata]

nice spread. I think you got some reachers and a lot of mid range which is the thing to do. Any love for rush? Or the 11 essays scaring you away?

ELEVEN?!?!?!

 

[liverotcod]

Your official state of residency is Virginia?... Some of those publics might be pretty brutal on you, but you have as good of a shot as anyone? No love for U of I when you apply to Finch?

Good list though...

You mean U of I at Chicago SOM? I've got that one, although I'm not sure I've got the pre-reqs: a two-semester sequence in the social sciences plus one additional semester social science, per the MCAR. I looked at some of the other state schools (Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, Connecticut) but had a hard time choosing among them and eventually just booted them in favor of some of the more traditional lower tier schools.

 

[Freakingzooming]

ELEVEN?!?!?!

7 are 2000 character limits, 4 are 1000 characters..

i mean i guess my first reaction was to do a double take cuz past secondaries from rush were just a couple lines long for each question. it seems tho a lot of people aren't going to the limit for each essay.

 

[liverotcod]

nice spread. I think you got some reachers and a lot of mid range which is the thing to do. Any love for rush? Or the 11 essays scaring you away?

I had Rush at one point, not sure why I deleted... it's a little hard to differentiate all the Chicago-area schools. Their 16/2509 ratio of matriculated/applied out-of-state (0.64%) is pretty low, and they don't report exact GPA and MCAT. 11 essays? Wow.

 

[nascentdoc]

I had Rush at one point, not sure why I deleted... it's a little hard to differentiate all the Chicago-area schools. Their 16/2509 ratio of matriculated/applied out-of-state (0.64%) is pretty low, and they don't report exact GPA and MCAT. 11 essays? Wow.

Entering Class of 2003: Avg: GPA-3.62, MCAT-29.3P, 80% in state
http://www.rushu.rush.edu/medcol/admissions.html

 

[10minutes]

Your list looks good. It includes most of the schools I applied. Good luck from a fellow Virginian!

 

[skiz knot]

I would be grateful if my fellow SDNers would review my school list before I submit (tonight)...
CT Yale
IL Rosalind Franklin/Finch
IL LoyOla
IL Northwestern
IL Pritzker
IL UI Chicago unless you are URM, or MD/Phd, acceptance is pretty unlikely as out of stater. Most out of state matriculants are one of the above
MA Harvard
MI Michigan State
MI U Michigan
MN Mayo
MN UMinn - Twin Cities
MO St Louis U
NH Dartmouth
NY Columbia
NY Mt Sinai
NY NYMC Valhalla
NY NYU
NY U Rochester
OH Ohio State
OH U Cincinnati
PA Drexel
PA Jefferson
PA Penn State
VT U Vermont
VA EVMS
VA UVA
VA VCU/MCV
WI MCW
WI U Wisconsin

My stats
GPA: Harvard undergrad + VCU post-bacc - 2.95 (50 credits at 4.0 at VCU)
BCPM GPA: 3.4
MCAT: 39Q
Personal: 36 years old, married with 2 children, substance abuse problem in early college, 13 years sober
Residency: Virginia, with strong ties to Wisconsin
Clinical: 300+ hours emergency room volunteer, shadowing
LORs: 6 strong letters

I would like to wind up in the Northeast or Midwest eventually, and have chosen schools in those areas, but I'm not completely averse to the south & west.

My advice is to drop schools in red.
You may be a little top-school heavy (imo) and unfortunately you might get screened out with your low gpa. I wouldn't apply to so many state schools that you are not a resident of, for the same reason. You have to be a pretty stellar candidate (by numbers, and although your mcat roxxx, your overall gpa doesn't) to get a look as an out of stater.

Just my opinions here. Take them for what (you think) they are worth.

 

[GBFKicks]

You mean U of I at Chicago SOM? I've got that one, although I'm not sure I've got the pre-reqs: a two-semester sequence in the social sciences plus one additional semester social science, per the MCAR. I looked at some of the other state schools (Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, Connecticut) but had a hard time choosing among them and eventually just booted them in favor of some of the more traditional lower tier schools.

Ohh yeah... I missed UIC when I read your list. UIC is pretty flexible with the social science requirement. I believe they "waive" that requirement for quite a few people. It's a good concept on their part, but most people don't think about it while in school and then when it's time to apply they don't want to take the series of social sciences. I don't think it's a big deal at all to not have that.

 

[liverotcod]

Skiz, do you have any you would add?

 

[skiz knot]

Skiz, do you have any you would add?

Off the top of my head, Geo. Washington University, Georgetown, Hopkins... You are in the area allready, which gives you the regional advantage at private schools. You may as well try Rush too.

If you got the cash, maybe Med. College of Ohio. I also didn't have a strong GPA (3.3 overall), but I did well on the MCAT (34) and I was accepted. Maybe MCAT is good enough to get you in, even as out o' state?

Good luck.

 

[calcrew14]

1) You?ll get secondaries from all schools that screen.(Don't know about top 8 though.)
2) Drop Finch and any back up schools that receive more than 10,000 primary applications except NYMC. NYMC should offer you interviews early. Michigan State and many state schools don?t like their instate applicants with MCAT this high. They might like you though.
3) A Richmond resident with GPA a tad below 4.01and MCAT near 46 (nobody gets 45?) was rejected by all medical schools in Virginia. Ask him why.
4) Cincinnati, Ohio State and Case Western Reserve are your schools of choice, back up and best bet all in one.
5) To avoid an excessive amount of deposit to keep your seat, the only DO school that you would apply to is PCOM. In case of VCOM, you need to delay the game as much as you can.
6) Rush is not as friendly to non-residents as Loyola. 👍 , looks like you are very keen picking correct answer.
7) Make sure that Mt Sinai will give you a second chance.
8) Mr. Alan Greenspan would suggest you do OB-GYN. It?s good economy-wise. He is feeling bad you appear to have more interest in research and academics.
9) Apply to Iowa, the medical center ranks very highly (may be at the top?) The school used to rank high only in primary care. Not any more in the latest rankings where she also leaps in research category. The school's ophthalmology residency is one of the best in the nation. And the cost of living shouldn?t ruin even your pile of pennies. Number wise, the school once accepted out of state applicant with 3.9/28. You have a very good first choice and a back up all in one.
10) I have heard that U of I accepts Stanford graduate from Cali, easily.
11) Don?t drop Ohio State, the school accepted someone with a carbon copy of your application last year. They like high MCAT and yours is higher. And you pay instate fee in Ohio.
12) I ?d better stop before it reaches 100.
Good luck.

 

[JMC_MarineCorps]

To paraphrase Jalby, the thing that most people fail to do is to apply to a large enough number of schools.

So true.

 

[ZOT! ZOT!]

Mayo also requires a 100.00 fee just to LOOK at your AMCAS app to see if you will be granted a secondary phone interview. I would think again about that one.

Were you correct in typing 2.95? I think that is below any cutoff that may exist. Apply to more schools.

 

[nascentdoc]

Mayo also requires a 100.00 fee just to LOOK at your AMCAS app to see if you will be granted a secondary phone interview. I would think again about that one.

Were you correct in typing 2.95? I think that is below any cutoff that may exist. Apply to more schools.

Hey,
May I ask why that user name? I'll tell you the reason for my question if your name does not mean what I think it does 😎

 

[liverotcod]

...Were you correct in typing 2.95?

Unfortunately, yes.

I think that is below any cutoff that may exist. Apply to more schools.

Theories on this vary, as evidenced by this thread. I don't want to apply to more than 30.

 

[LUBDUBB]

Hey Liver....Virginian here too

Def add GW to your list...also as far as stats go...maybe Temple, Rochester, Tufts, Loyola...they all sound good to me

 

[calcrew14]

Everyone including adcoms knows that Liv is a smart guy. It?s just a matter of willingness to give him second chance and his performance at interviews. Adcoms knows of his age (and family life?) They only want to make sure that Liv isn?t vulnerable anymore.

Yes, there is always a good reason why Liv should apply to as many schools as possible. He is cutting with a two-edges sword at every level. But he has already had a good idea of making up with a few applications to DO schools.

Thirty applications are fine as long as some of them let you know of favorable result early. USC in Cali probably serves such purpose well. Looks like they are one of those team that always looks for an impact player. Tulane had accepted a 3.7/31 in October or earlier. And Drexel may surprise Liv with a suggestion to consider MD-PhD adventure. An applicant that I know received such advice. He didn?t even have a single second of experience in research. BTW, the guy declined the phone interview with Mayo. He didn?t know that it could save him a lot of expenses if he got in, then.

 

[EvoDevo]

Everyone including adcoms knows that Liv is a smart guy. It?s just a matter of willingness to give him second chance and his performance at interviews. Adcoms knows of his age (and family life?) They only want to make sure that Liv isn?t vulnerable anymore.

Yes, there is always a good reason why Liv should apply to as many schools as possible. He is cutting with a two-edges sword at every level. But he has already had a good idea of making up with a few applications to DO schools.

Thirty applications are fine as long as some of them let you know of favorable result early. USC in Cali probably serves such purpose well. Looks like they are one of those team that always looks for an impact player. Tulane had accepted a 3.7/31 in October or earlier. And Drexel may surprise Liv with a suggestion to consider MD-PhD adventure. An applicant that I know received such advice. He didn?t even have a single second of experience in research. BTW, the guy declined the phone interview with Mayo. He didn?t know that it could save him a lot of expenses if he got in, then.

How forgiving is Case to people in situations like Liver's (and mine)? I mean, is admission there realistic?

 

[liverotcod]

...Adcoms knows of his age (and family life?) They only want to make sure that Liv isn?t vulnerable anymore...

Both my family and my substance abuse (and its resolution) are featured in my PS.

...He is cutting with a two-edges sword at every level...

That's really well put, and exactly how I consider it. The biggest weakness in my application is also, in many ways, its greatest strength. Should be interesting to see how the adcoms react.

...And Drexel may surprise Liv with a suggestion to consider MD-PhD adventure. An applicant that I know received such advice. He didn?t even have a single second of experience in research...

I didn't realize they came looking for MD-PhDs. Contrary to your earlier suggestion I am mostly interested in clinical medicine, but I come from a family of academics and could definitely see teaching (just not a career of bench research).

Great posts, calcrew, even if I don't understand all of your points.

 

[calcrew14]

How forgiving is Case to people in situations like Liver's (and mine)? I mean, is admission there realistic?

Exmike is accepted by Case, Ohio State (early in the game) and several other schools including Drew in Cali. I know only that X had bad GPA during his first few years, but not his problem. X is lurking somewhere. He can answer your question better. Wait, I thought that you have been a few years in med school somewhere already. Write them adcoms some poem and they will forgive everything you could have done. 😉

 

[EvoDevo]

Exmike is accepted by Case, Ohio State (early in the game) and several other schools including Drew in Cali. I know only that X had bad GPA during his first few years, but not his problem. X is lurking somewhere. He can answer your question better. Wait, I thought that you have been a few years in med school somewhere already. Write them adcoms some poem and they will forgive everything you could have done. 😉

Perhaps I will. Indeed.

So I just added Case (already applied to OH state). Thanks. It's only $30, right? 😉

 

[calcrew14]

Perhaps I will. Indeed.

So I just added Case (already applied to OH state). Thanks. It's only $30, right? 😉

Ohio schools save you a lot of $ before and after you get in. Good luck.
Cincy likes high MCAT too and I belive the school ranks in the upper half.

I didn't realize they came looking for MD-PhDs. Contrary to your earlier suggestion I am mostly interested in clinical medicine, but I come from a family of academics and could definitely see teaching (just not a career of bench research).

Great posts, calcrew, even if I don't understand all of your points.

My brother didn't respond to Drexel's letter. May be that's why I am rejected post secondarily there. I mentioned OB-GYN because the residency training doesn't take too much time while giving you one of the best return for your investment, financially. And with surgical aspect of the specialty, you are not expendable.

You are not the only one who don't understand my points. All but one of those adcoms had the same problem too. 😀

 

[ZOT! ZOT!]

Hey,
May I ask why that user name? I'll tell you the reason for my question if your name does not mean what I think it does 😎

ZOT! is the sound Peter the Anteater, UCI's mascot, makes.

So, why did you want to know?