Need advice on school choice!

[brianmartin]

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So I'm a first time reapplicant, or I'm assuming so because I'm on two waitlists. 35Q, 3.5, lots of clinical experience and ECs, but thin on research.

I applied to: Boston, Cornell, Drexel, Emory, Sinai, NWestern, OHSU, SLU, Tufts, UCSF, USC, Colorado, UVermont, Vanderbilt,

Interviewed at OHSU, SLU, USC, had good interviews but very late at SLU and USC. #117 on OHSU waitlist.

I think my school selection was partly to blame. Any suggestions on better schools to apply to?

 

[Krisss17]

So I'm a first time reapplicant, or I'm assuming so because I'm on two waitlists. 35Q, 3.5, lots of clinical experience and ECs, but thin on research.

I applied to: Boston, Cornell, Drexel, Emory, Sinai, NWestern, OHSU, SLU, Tufts, UCSF, USC, Colorado, UVermont, Vanderbilt,

Interviewed at OHSU, SLU, USC, had good interviews but very late at SLU and USC. #117 on OHSU waitlist.

I think my school selection was partly to blame. Any suggestions on better schools to apply to?

Well, not sure when you applied...that could be one big factor. Your MCAT is good as well as the rest of your application, minus the research. I'm not sure, but from your list, there seems to be a lot of research intensive schools...that might be what has held you back. If you don't get to one of your schools this year, I would do what I can to up my resesarch experience during this coming year, especially if you are going to apply to the same or other schools like this.

I would definitely widen the net to other schools. Are you only looking to pursue MD or do you want to be a doctor? If you are open-minded and flexible enough, consider DO schools as well.

Best of luck

 

[brianmartin]

Well, it's a bit late to start a research project considering I already submitted my AMCAS. And I think research isn't really my thing, so yes I do want to apply to different schools. But WHICH ones? The MSAR doesn't exactly tell you which are "research intensive" schools.

 

[brianmartin]

Anyone have any suggestions for less research-oriented schools that are friendly to out-of-staters?

 

[dragonfly99]

I don't think you are competitive for UCSF and probably not Vanderbilt either, and perhaps not Emory, with a 3.5 GPA. Not sure about some of the other schools.

I wouldn't worry so much about "research intensive" schools vs. less research intensive. I would just apply to a lot more schools (like 30) and more of them that have lower average GPA's. For example, what is the average GPA for an accepted student at UCSF and Vandy? Keep in mind then that a lot of people with the same average GPA didn't even get in...

I am curious whether you also applied late last year.

What is your state of residence?

I would definitely reapply to all the schools where you got wait-listed last year.

Continue with volunteer work to increase your number of hospital/clinic hours.

Since your GPA is lowish, in your situation I'd go take a class next fall term, and next spring. I'd take upper level bio or something like that. You need to do everything to show you are academically ready, and to drag up your GPA. Not that it's bad, but med school applicants are star students, with many 3.8 and 3.9 GPA applicants floating around...

 

[brianmartin]

Hmm, I see your point but I just don't think grades were my problem. I have A's in all my prerequisites and A's in multiple upper division bio classes. I don't want to sell myself short here. My MCAT is high and I have lots of clinical experience so is my 3.5 really that big of a problem, that I should tailor my school choice around it? I did apply somewhat late last year as well.

 

[dragonfly99]

I think you need to broaden your application and yes, apply to more schools that are not reaches. Schools like Vanderbilt and Northwestern are very, very hard to get in and are probably top 20 in the country. Northwestern is also in a very desirable city. I think you are overestimating how competitive you are.
There are plenty of people with your MCAT score, and a higher GPA.
You need to be realistic. You MIGHT get in to one of those reach schools, but don't assume.

 

[brianmartin]

Okay, I added University of Vermont, and Einstein. Any other suggestions? Basically I think I need to add schools that aren't so much of a reach for me.

 

[gman33]

This might sound harsh, but I just want to see you get in next year.

Above average MCAT + below average GPA = average candidate.

Most of the schools on your list are very competitive. Great if you want to apply to them, but make sure you have 20 less competitive schools as well. If you don't want to apply to 30+ schools, drop some of the very competitive ones.

 

[lostsoul2007]

you don't need to apply to 30 schools.
you need to just take away all the impossible schools and put in realistic choices.

 

[dragonfly99]

It sounds like he applied late last year, and that might be a big part of the problem. The thing with med school admissions is that they are rolling admissions, and the stated deadlines are not really the dealines. It's not like college admissions where if you just beat the application deadlines you are good...so reapply early (like now, if not already done). Also, just really sell yourself in the interview, as to why you want to go to THAT particular school. Just remember they have a lot of candidates who, on paper, are similar to you, and that you have to do something or say something to make them drop you in the top 1/3 to 20% of those they interview (at the very least top 40-50%) to have a shot at getting in.

 

[gman33]

Selling yourself to a school is very important, especially for the so called safety schools. Some of these schools get 10-15k applicants a year and they are not interviewing or handing out any more seats. You need to have something in your app this appeals to that school directly.
For example, you didn't get an interview at Drexel, which has one of the lower mean GPA/MCAT for accepted students.

Again, they get a TON of applications and you need to stand out in some way. Even if you have to BS some, get specific info on the school and put that in your secondary. Talk about ties to Philly, how you like the patient population of the hospitals, the PBL curriculum. Just make a strong argument about what you like about the school and what you can add to the med school class. You can stretch the truth a little, but don't outright lie about anything. A little butt kissing never hurts, just make sure you do it in a good way.

 

[brianmartin]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm still looking for some specific school suggestions too.

As for the point about BS'ing, I feel it is ridiculous that I would have to "BS" to get into medical school with my application. I mean, really?

 

[Ariodant]

If you don't plan to beef up your research experience before reapplying, try to avoid schools that heavily emphasize research (Stanford comes to mind), and expand your list of schools--14 is too few nowadays. It's hard to give specific suggestions without knowing your detailed profile and geographic preference, though.

I agree that you have to BS at least mildly on your secondary essays. Thousands of other applicants with similar stats as yours are also doing them, and if they BSed and you didn't, you will be put at a disadvantage. I don't recommend BSing at interviews, as they will certainly see through it. It's much easier to stand out in person than on paper for many people, but if you fail to stand out on paper, you won't get the chance to stand out in person in the first place.