MCAT 31R, cGPA 3.62 - chances?

[toby13]

Here are my stats:
MCAT (31R) - 10PS 9V 12BS
cGPA: 3.62
sGPA: 3.5

Volunteer work: 5 years of direct patient contact/interaction at hospital, palliative care + hospice work
Research: 1 publication, currently doing ALL and CML research at UCSF


plan on applying June 2012 to start school in 2013.

Few questions:
1. Should I retake my MCAT?
2. Should I consider taking a class or two during this time off to show schools I can still take rigorous coursework?
3. What do you think my chances are in getting into a top 25 school?

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[Catalystik]

Here are my stats:
MCAT (31R) - 10PS 9V 12BS
cGPA: 3.62
sGPA: 3.5
undergrad: UC Berkeley, class of 2011
Volunteer work: 5 years of direct patient contact/interaction at hospital, palliative care + hospice work
Research: 1 publication, currently doing ALL and CML research at UCSF
Hobby: serious musician, music blogger, and sound engineer

plan on applying June 2012 to start school in 2013.

Few questions:
1. Should I retake my MCAT?
2. Should I consider taking a class or two during this time off to show schools I can still take rigorous coursework?
3. What do you think my chances are in getting into a top 25 school?

1) No reason to do so since your score is close to the average for those accepted to MD schools (31.1).

2) I think that 's a good idea to help raise your BCPM, as you're below the average of 3.61.

3) Stats-wise, I see no reason for optimism, unless significant modifying factors are present that you didn't mention. EC-wise, you don't give sufficient information to make a comment on whether they'd possibly trump your numbers, but substantive research and leadership activities tend to make one's application more appealing to the US News Top Twenty-five.

 

[technopoly]

This may or may not be helpful to you, but I was sure I wanted to do research/ go to a Top 25 medical school and become a research clinician before I began applying. I have interviewed at Top 25s this cycle and in doing so, it became apparent to me that I am much more interested in medical service, brainstorming ways to serve patients who don't qualify for Public Assistance but who can't afford private insurance, etc... basically that clinical and bench research really aren't my thing.

My cum MCAT is the same as yours though my gpas are a little higher. I guess my advice to you going forward is to determine what your rationale is for going to a Top 25, because there may be a non-1st tier school that will suit your individual interests in medicine in a way that they won't.

 

[toby13]

Thanks for your comments!

I mainly asked about top 25 schools because I wanted to gauge other people's opinions about my chances. I personally don't think I'd have a good shot, but getting some feedback on my numbers is helpful for me to see if it might be worth applying to a few. Do you have any ideas on what schools I may have a good shot at? Funding for applications is limited, so I'm trying my best to pick schools I think I'd have a fair chance of getting into.

My goal is to be a hematologist/oncologist who does clinical work and research related to the immune system's fight against cancer. I would prefer to do clinical work with underrepresented minorities and low income folks, since I have a bunch of experience working with them and I enjoy working with them more than other demographics.

A few schools that I would like to attend based on programs and my stats:
SUNY Downstate
Drexel
NYU
Albert Einstein
NY Medical College
Temple
Jefferson
Boston University
Rosalind Franklin
Oregon Health & Science
Rush Medical College
Univ. of Illinois

Any thoughts on my chances for these schools given my stats? Any others that you would suggest?

 

[Catalystik]

Oregon requires a 3.65/32 for OOS aaplicants to be considered.

NYU, BU, and Einstein would be a reach with a 3.62/31.

In addition to the others you listed, other schools to look into for "fit" that would be more likely to offer you an interview:

UWisc, Tufts, Cincinnati, Jefferson, Keck, Virginia Tech (newer, research focus), Albany,
Toledo, Wake, Creighton (no CC credit for prereqs), Nebraska, LSU-NO, Vermont, Hofstra (newer)
Wayne, Wright, Tulane, MSU (high OOS tuition), Oakland (newer in MI), Penn State (requires a research thesis), Commonwealth in Pa (seeks to train rural NE PA docs), Arizona X 2,
VCU, Louisville, Buffalo,
EVMS, Cooper (new)

 

[toby13]

UC Davis or Irvine possible?

Again, thanks for your help. You've been very helpful thus far.

 

[Catalystik]

If you are not a California resident, I wouldn't waste the money trying, as neither is particularly OOS friendly.

 

[toby13]

I am a CA resident and attended UC Berkeley.

If you had to bet on me getting into any allopathic medical school, what would they be? Basically, do you think I can get into any allopathic school?

 

[JosefStalin87]

I am a CA resident and attended UC Berkeley.

If you had to bet on me getting into any allopathic medical school, what would they be? Basically, do you think I can get into any allopathic school?

Sorry to rain on your parade, but I had a 3.7/3.6 with a 35 MCAT and I have YET to receive a II this cycle.

 

[toby13]

Sorry to rain on your parade, but I had a 3.7/3.6 with a 35 MCAT and I have YET to receive a II this cycle.

That definitely makes me feel much less confident. Sorry to hear about that! Hopefully you get one soon...

Do you mind giving me a little bit more info about what school you attended and your EC's? And also, how many schools did you apply to and what tiers would you think they are in?

 

[Catalystik]

I am a CA resident and attended UC Berkeley.

If you had to bet on me getting into any allopathic medical school, what would they be? Basically, do you think I can get into any allopathic school?

Assuming your ECs are suited to the Mission of each school, that you have supportive LORs, a well-written Personal Statement and essays, and interview well, you have a decent shot of an acceptance (~66% per AMCAS for All Applicants who applied with your stats in the past) at the schools I listed previously, as well as possibly schools in your home state that you think are suitable.

Hopefully you also have or will have shadowing, leadership, teaching, and some nonmedical community service, so as to appeal to the broadest possible range of schools.

 

[toby13]

For the past few weeks I've been compiling together a list of schools I plan on applying to. I have indicated whether the schools are target schools, reach schools or super reach schools. I want to apply to no more than 30 schools so I need some help finalizing my list.

.1. ..Albany Medical College (T).
.2. ..Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University (T).
.3. ..Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (T).
.4. ..Drexel University College of Medicine (T).
.5. ..Hofstra North Shore (T).
.6. ..Jefferson Medical College (T).
.7. ..Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (T).
.8. ..Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (T).
.9. ..SUNY Downstate (T).
.10. ..Tufts University School of Medicine (T).
.11. ..University of Colorado (T).
.12. ..University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – NJ Medical School (T).
.13. ..Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (T).
.14. ..Virginia Commonwealth (T).
.15. ..Virginia Tech School of Medicine (T).
.16. ..Albert Einstein College of Medicine (R).
.17. ..Boston University School of Medicine (R).
.18. ..George Washington University School of Medicine (R).
.19. ..Georgetown University School of Medicine (R).
.20. ..Mount Sinai School of Medicine (R)**.
.21. ..New York Medical College (R).
.22. ..NYU School of Medicine (R).
.23. ..Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (R).
.24. ..Rush Medical College (R).
.25. ..SUNY Upsate (R).
.26. ..Temple University School of Medicine (R).
.27. ..The School of Medicine at Stony Brook (R).
.28. ..University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (R).
.29. ..Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (super R)...
.30. ..UCSF (super R).
.31. ..Weill Cornell Medical College (super R)...
. .
. .
. .
.32. ..University of Washington (R)**.
.33. ..Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (R)**.
.34. ..University of Maryland (R)**.
.35. ..University of Massachusetts (R)**.
.36. ..Penn State College of Medicine (R)**.
.37. ..Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (R)**.
.38. ..University of Connecticut (T)**...
.39. ..University of Hawaii (T)**...
.40. ..UC Davis (T)**...
.41. ..UC Irvine (T)**...
.42. ..University of Arizona College of Medicine (T)**...
.43. ..The Commonwealth College (T) **...
.44. ..University of Wisconsin (T)**...
.45. ..University of Illinois (T)**...
.46. ..UCSD (R)**...
.47. ..University of Pittsburgh (super R)**.
.48. ..University of Michigan (super reach)**.
.49. ..UPenn School of Medicine (super R)**.
.50. ..Harvard Medical School (super R)**.
.51. ..Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine (super R)**.
.52. ..Stanford School of Medicine (super R)**.
.53. ..University of Chicago (super R)**.
.54. ..University of Virginia (super R)**.
.55. ..Yale University School of Medicine (super R)**.
. .
.The schools listed below 31 are schools that I have put to the side for the time being. Please let me know if you think I should include some of them. And also if I should get rid of others already in the above 31. I really want to apply to a broad range of schools, but I also want to be sure to keep my chances as high as possible. I would appreciate any help.
.

 

[Desp]

For the past few weeks I've been compiling together a list of schools I plan on applying to. I have indicated whether the schools are target schools, reach schools or super reach schools. I want to apply to no more than 30 schools so I need some help finalizing my list.

.1. ..Albany Medical College (T).
.2. ..Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University (T).
.3. ..Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (T).
.4. ..Drexel University College of Medicine (T).
.5. ..Hofstra North Shore (T).
.6. ..Jefferson Medical College (T).
.7. ..Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (T).
.8. ..Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (T).
.9. ..SUNY Downstate (T).
.10. ..Tufts University School of Medicine (T).
.11. ..University of Colorado (T).
.12. ..University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – NJ Medical School (T).
.13. ..Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (T).
.14. ..Virginia Commonwealth (T).
.15. ..Virginia Tech School of Medicine (T).
.16. ..Albert Einstein College of Medicine (R).
.17. ..Boston University School of Medicine (R).
.18. ..George Washington University School of Medicine (R).
.19. ..Georgetown University School of Medicine (R).
.20. ..Mount Sinai School of Medicine (R)**.
.21. ..New York Medical College (R).
.22. ..NYU School of Medicine (R).
.23. ..Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (R).
.24. ..Rush Medical College (R).
.25. ..SUNY Upsate (R).
.26. ..Temple University School of Medicine (R).
.27. ..The School of Medicine at Stony Brook (R).
.28. ..University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (R).
.29. ..Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (super R)...
.30. ..UCSF (super R).
.31. ..Weill Cornell Medical College (super R)...
. .
. .
. .

C'mon you can't have an equal number reach/target schools. Take the number of reach and divide it by a 4.

 

[toby13]

Ok. I hear that Oregon Health Science and Rush Medical are not OOS friendly. Is that true?

 

[Deadlifts]

Ok. I hear that Oregon Health Science and Rush Medical are not OOS friendly. Is that true?

Typical Profile of Admissions Cycle and Entering Class

• Total applications received: 4,500+
• Of the 4,500 applications received, approx. 9% are Oregonians, 91% are non-residents
• Applicants Interviewed: 550+
• Number of acceptance offers made: 210+
• Class size: 115
• Profile of Entering Class:
  • 70% residents of Oregon
  • Average age: 26
  • Average total GPA: 3.63
  • Average science GPA: 3.56
  • Average MCAT: 31
  • 30% are previous applicants

Source: OHSU admissions page.

From talking with a couple of their admissions people and my pre-med advisor (I'm an Oregon resident), the nonresidents they end up taking are supposedly pretty stellar applicants.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Typical Profile of Admissions Cycle and Entering Class

• Total applications received: 4,500+
• Of the 4,500 applications received, approx. 9% are Oregonians, 91% are non-residents
• Applicants Interviewed: 550+
• Number of acceptance offers made: 210+
• Class size: 115
• Profile of Entering Class:
  • 70% residents of Oregon
  • Average age: 26
  • Average total GPA: 3.63
  • Average science GPA: 3.56
  • Average MCAT: 31
  • 30% are previous applicants

Source: OHSU admissions page.

From talking with a couple of their admissions people and my pre-med advisor (I'm an Oregon resident), the nonresidents they end up taking are supposedly pretty stellar applicants.

How much do you deadlift?

 

[toby13]

thanks!

I've made an improved list:
.1. ..Albany Medical College (T).
.2. ..Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University (T).
.3. ..Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (T).
.4. ..Drexel University College of Medicine (T).
.5. ..Hofstra North Shore (T).
.6. ..Jefferson Medical College (T).
.7. ..Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (T).
.8. ..Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (T).
.9. ..SUNY Downstate (T).
.10. ..Tufts University School of Medicine (T).
.11. ..University of Colorado (T).
.12. ..University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – NJ Medical School (T).
.13. ..Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (T).
.14. ..UC Davis (T).
.15. ..UC Irvine (T).
.16. ..The Commonwealth College (T) .
.17. ..Temple University School of Medicine (T/R) .
.18. ..University of Illinois (T).
.19. ..University of Connecticut (T).
.20. ..Virginia Commonwealth (T).
.21. ..Virginia Tech School of Medicine (T).
.22. ..Albert Einstein College of Medicine (R).
.23. ..George Washington University School of Medicine (R).
.24. ..Georgetown University School of Medicine (R).
.25. ..New York Medical College (R).
.26. ..NYU School of Medicine (R).
.27. ..Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (R).

If you have any feedback or advice on what to add or take off, let me know!

 

[ur2l8]

How much do you deadlift?

Haha. I was also wondering this.

But good luck!

 

[toby13]

Here is my final list:
.1. ..Albany Medical College (T) .
.2. ..Albert Einstein College of Medicine (R).
.3. ..Boston University School of Medicine (R).
.4. ..Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University (T).
.5. ..Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (T).
.6. ..Drexel University College of Medicine (T).
.7. ..George Washington University School of Medicine (R).
.8. ..Georgetown University School of Medicine (R).
.9. ..Hofstra North Shore (T).
.10. ..Jefferson Medical College (T).
.11. ..Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (T).
.12. ..Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (T).
.13. ..Mount Sinai School of Medicine (R).
.14. ..New York Medical College (T).
.15. ..NYU School of Medicine (R).
.16. ..SUNY Downstate (T).
.17. ..Temple University School of Medicine (T/R).
.18. ..Tufts University School of Medicine (T).
.19. ..UC Davis (T).
.20. ..UC Irvine (T).
.21. ..UCSF (super R)*.
.22. ..University of Colorado (T).
.23. ..University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – NJ Medical School (T).
.24. ..University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (T).
.25. ..Virginia Commonwealth (T).
.26. ..Virginia Tech School of Medicine (T).

..
.There are 4 schools that I am still debating including or not, since my budgeted limit is 30 schools and I still have room. The schools are:
. .1. ..The Commonwealth College (T).
.2. ..University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (R).
.3. ..The School of Medicine at Stony Brook (R).
.4. ..SUNY Upsate (R).
.Do you think, given my stats/info above, I should consider applying to these schools too?.