MD/PhD MCAT: 515 sGPA: 3.88

[Prolix]

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I’m planning on applying to MD/PhD schools for the 2019 cycle, along with applying to the NIH GPP program (OxCam). The school list I have made is based on schools that would be likely to accommodate GPP students (just in case my application into that program is successful) and are in a location that I like. I would appreciate feedback on my list. Thank you!

1. GPA: cGPA of 3.92; sGPAof 3.88
2. MCAT: 515: C/P: 130, Bio: 127, CARS: 127, P/S: 131. I took the MCAT in January 2017 (junior year), so this is my last year to apply with my score.
3. Residency: Maryland for the past 5 months
4. Race: Caucasian
5. Home Institution: Small low tier liberal arts school
6. Clinical: 40 hours of shadowing and over 200 hours with hospice over the past 4 years
7. Research: Summer research at Northwestern University in 2017, 4 month research project at my home institution in 2017 and currently at the NIH as a 2 year post-bacc in a cancer lab (not NCI). In that position, I assist with current research projects and am developing my own research project.
8. Volunteering: Occasional volunteering with my church and judging science fairs.
9. ECs include commuter student advocate at my home institution, a summer semester at Oxford for fun (i.e., I did it after I graduated and didn't need the credits), and vice president of the Alpha Chi chapter at my school.
10. Awards and Honors: Academic achievement scholarship, Honor Society scholarship, Outstanding Scholar of my graduating class, and Dean’s list.
11. I am working on a review paper but have no publications.

My school list:
University of Washington
Michigan State University
Penn State University
University of Massachusetts
Oregon Health & Science University
Medical College of Wisconsin
Indiana University
University of Maryland
Tufts University
University of Wisconsin
University of Rochester
Mayo Clinic
University of Michigan
Mount Sinai
Stony Brook University
Duke University
New York University
University of Virginia
Johns Hopkins University
Harvard University / Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yale School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
Vanderbilt University
University of Pennsylvania
Washington University in St. Louis

 

[vrazzles]

IMO, you have far too many reaches and state schools that take few OOS applicants.

Frankly, your activities are rather cookie cutter other than the NIH internship, but your productivity (and luck) will determine to some extent how that is looked at by schools. You don't sound like you have very much nonclinical volunteering with underserved populations.

I would apply to lower ranked private schools like NYMC, Drexel, etc. Use the MSAR.

Your stats are great, but your ECs are not.

Edit: For MD-PhD your research isn't very impressive, especially for the programs you are applying for. Do you have any posters or publications?

 

[jarednogeek]

Me and you basically have the same stats. I do not believe your EC’s or MCAT put you in the running for a good shot at T10 so I would add a lot more schools that match your app. Your current list is a recipe for an unsuccessful cycle.

Summary: your research/MCAT/EC’s seem weak for your school list

 

[Prolix]

IMO, you have far too many reaches and state schools that take few OOS applicants.

Frankly, your activities are rather cookie cutter other than the NIH internship, but your productivity (and luck) will determine to some extent how that is looked at by schools. You don't sound like you have very much nonclinical volunteering with underserved populations.

I would apply to lower ranked private schools like NYMC, Drexel, etc. Use the MSAR.

Your stats are great, but your ECs are not.

Edit: For MD-PhD your research isn't very impressive, especially for the programs you are applying for. Do you have any posters or publications?

I do have a poster and will have another this spring. Thank you for the feedback. I'll be looking into those schools, along with picking up some volunteer work in underserved communities.

 

[jarednogeek]

I do have a poster and will have another this spring. Thank you for the feedback. I'll be looking into those schools, along with picking up some volunteer work in underserved communities.

When you get closer to applying post on here and ask adcoms for a good school list. So many good applicants don’t get in because of a bad school list.

 

[Prolix]

When you get closer to applying post on here and ask adcoms for a good school list. So many good applicants don’t get in because of a bad school list.

Will do! Thank you!

 

[Goro]

I’m planning on applying to MD/PhD schools for the 2019 cycle, along with applying to the NIH GPP program (OxCam). The school list I have made is based on schools that would be likely to accommodate GPP students (just in case my application into that program is successful) and are in a location that I like. I would appreciate feedback on my list. Thank you!

1. GPA: cGPA of 3.92; sGPAof 3.88
2. MCAT: 515: C/P: 130, Bio: 127, CARS: 127, P/S: 131. I took the MCAT in January 2017 (junior year), so this is my last year to apply with my score.
3. Residency: Maryland for the past 5 months
4. Race: Caucasian
5. Home Institution: Small low tier liberal arts school
6. Clinical: 40 hours of shadowing and over 200 hours with hospice over the past 4 years
7. Research: Summer research at Northwestern University in 2017, 4 month research project at my home institution in 2017 and currently at the NIH as a 2 year post-bacc in a cancer lab (not NCI). In that position, I assist with current research projects and am developing my own research project.
8. Volunteering: Occasional volunteering with my church and judging science fairs.
9. ECs include commuter student advocate at my home institution, a summer semester at Oxford for fun (i.e., I did it after I graduated and didn't need the credits), and vice president of the Alpha Chi chapter at my school.
10. Awards and Honors: Academic achievement scholarship, Honor Society scholarship, Outstanding Scholar of my graduating class, and Dean’s list.
11. I am working on a review paper but have no publications.

My school list:
University of Washington
Michigan State University
Penn State University
University of Massachusetts
Oregon Health & Science University
Medical College of Wisconsin
Indiana University
University of Maryland
Tufts University
University of Wisconsin
University of Rochester
Mayo Clinic
University of Michigan
Mount Sinai
Stony Brook University
Duke University
New York University
University of Virginia
Johns Hopkins University
Harvard University / Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yale School of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
Vanderbilt University
University of Pennsylvania
Washington University in St. Louis

Here's your MD list...I think MD/PhD is a stretch with that MCAT score.
Mt Sinai (maybe)
U VA (515+)
U MI (maybe)
Case
Mayo (maybe for 514)
U VM
U IA
U Toledo
USF Morsani
OH State
UCF
U Cincy
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
NYMC
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Creighton
Tulane
USC/Keck
Dartmouth
Seton Hall
MCW
Loyola
Emory
BU
Duke
Pitt
Hofstra
Tufts
Oakland-B
Western MI
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
Nova MD
U MD