Hi,
Im a postbacc at Columbia, just wondering (1) where to apply and (2) if I have a child, will it hurt me to talk about this in my personal statement? Here is some info:
4.1 postbacc gpa (most of my med school prereqs were taken here), but 3.5 undergrad gpa from an average school (including several science/math B+s, one science C+ and one science UW counting as an F)
41T mcat (15VR, 14PS, 12BS)
150 hospital volunteer hours
3-4 months clinical research, including 1 publication
A couple semesters of undergrad non-medical international research/volunteering
Nothing spectacular career-wise in the year and a half between undergrad and postbacc
I am weak on lab research, though this summer Im working part time in a lab, and I may be able to find a lab research position for the fall. Still, I realize it is a little late to get started on this type of thing. So I am not sure what my chances are overall. I am thinking of applying to: Albert Einstein, Boston University, Case Western, Chicago (Pritzker), Cornell, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Mayo, Mt Sinai, Northwestern, NYU, Stanford, SUNY Downstate, SUNY Stonybrook, UMDNJ, and WashU
Am I including too many reach schools? Are there some schools listed above that I just have no real shot at, such that I shouldnt apply (because I have so little research experience, etc)? Should I apply to more safe schoolsand if so, what would that meanother New York state schools (Im a NY resident)? My personal statement is not spectacular, if this helps answer any of these questions.
Second, as I said, is it potentially detrimental to talk about having a child in my personal statement and/or secondaries? I have done so, because this has been such a huge part of my experience as a student, and as a human. But might it hurt my chances? Or are most medical schools fairly accepting of women with children pursuing a medical career?
Thanks.