Need help trim down my med school list

[wonderfulname]

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Little something about me:
NE resident
MCAT: 14Ps, 10Vr, 10Bs, M
GPA: 3.89
sGPA: around 3.75
Some volunteers at hospitals, shadowing, BBBS, Guitar, TAs, Tutors, member of 2 clubs...

Three weaknesses of my stat:
(1) unbalanced MCAT, total of 34 all because of PS; otherwise, I would have a 30..
(2) M in writing
(3) Little research experiences, Little leadership positions

Here are some med schools which I am going to apply to:

Baylor
UChicago Pritzker
USC-Keck
Wake Forest
U of Iowa
Boston
University of Illinois
Jefferson MC of Thomas Jefferson
Tulane
Penn State University
St. Louis University
NY Medical College
Loyola University Chicago Stritch
Medical College of Wisconsin
U of Arkansas
UNMC
U of Toledo


Several Questions:
(1) Which schools are heavy on research? And I probably shouldnt apply to those?
(2) Should I have more safety schools added to my list?
(3) Are Baylor, Pritzker, and Keck too far reached for me?
(4) Which OOS schools emphasize on applicants' strong ties to those OOS schools? (I might have to avoid those schools because I probably couldnt think of any strong ties to those OOS schools).
(5) I am planning to apply to around 15 schools, would that be too much or too less for my stat?

Any commends would be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[wonderfulname]

no one gave any commends in 4 days... so i guess my list is fine?

 

[pianola]

Little something about me:
NE resident
MCAT: 14Ps, 10Vr, 10Bs, M
GPA: 3.89
sGPA: around 3.75
Some volunteers at hospitals, shadowing, BBBS, Guitar, TAs, Tutors, member of 2 clubs...

Three weaknesses of my stat:
(1) unbalanced MCAT, total of 34 all because of PS; otherwise, I would have a 30..
(2) M in writing
(3) Little research experiences, Little leadership positions

Here are some med schools which I am going to apply to:

Baylor
UChicago Pritzker
USC-Keck
Wake Forest
U of Iowa
Boston
University of Illinois
Jefferson MC of Thomas Jefferson
Tulane
Penn State University
St. Louis University
NY Medical College
Loyola University Chicago Stritch
Medical College of Wisconsin
U of Arkansas
UNMC
U of Toledo


Several Questions:
(1) Which schools are heavy on research? And I probably shouldnt apply to those?
(2) Should I have more safety schools added to my list?
(3) Are Baylor, Pritzker, and Keck too far reached for me?
(4) Which OOS schools emphasize on applicants' strong ties to those OOS schools? (I might have to avoid those schools because I probably couldnt think of any strong ties to those OOS schools).
(5) I am planning to apply to around 15 schools, would that be too much or too less for my stat?

Any commends would be appreciated! Thanks.

I believe Arkansas strongly favors in-staters; check the MSAR to be sure, though. Also look for UIllinois while you're there.

I think you basically have a good list. IMHO you're fine in terms of safeties, but what do I know?

Keck, Pritzker, and Baylor are reaches for everyone; I don't think you're worse off than others.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[flip26]

Your list looks fine. Baylor is heavy research, and quite tough OOS.

Might even want to add a few more reaches (most people have way too many reaches and not enough ballpark/safeties).

Not too sure about Iowa, Illinois and Arkansas OOS, though - when applying to schools like these as an OOS applicant, they are effectively "reaches." And isn't Illinois OOS tuition exorbitant? Personally, I would dump these and add in some reaches in your region like Northwestern and Mayo, and maybe another NY school like NYU or AECOM...

BU is a waste of app money and is a reach of questionable value - extremely competitive due to huge number of apps - very tough to get an interview there without making a strong case for "why BU?"

Good luck.