Need help with my list - yes, I read the "chances" sticky...

[sanktank7]

Hey guys, I am a reapplicant and need some help with my school list. My goal here is not to get commentary on whether or not I am a competitive candidate in general (I hope I am), but to get an idea of how I can apply wisely to minimize application costs.

My stats:
First MCAT (last year): 30S - 12P 7V 11B
Second MCAT (this year): 35O - 12P 11V 12B

GPA: 3.8 Bio major at a UC school (not CA resident tho)

Research: 1.5 year thesis in undergrad, 2 years research post-bacc fulltime - no accepted pubs but submitting a 1st and 3rd author by October

Extras: Shadow 50hrs in US, Shadow/Clinical research 150hrs abroad (all pediatrics)

*NOT an underrepresented minority applicant*



Submitted Primaries (in order of preference, md/phd only):

Top:
UPenn
Harvard
U of Washington
Hopkins
Emory
NYU
UCLA
Yale
Case Western



Mid:
Columbia
Stanford
UCSF
UCSD
UCI
UNC

Low:
OHSU
Maryland
Alabama
UCD
Medical College of Georgia


Questions: Is this list overkill, too few, too top heavy? I am interested in infectious disease (molecular epi, immunology, pathology...) - any schools not on my list that are particularly good for this? I am amcas verified and submitting secondaries now. Any advice greatly appreciated, Thanks!

 

[Neuronix]

That looks reasonable to me.

 

[dmblue]

Looks good.

I find your "tiers" amusing though as some of your middle schools are generally considered top tier and some of your top tiers are considered more middle.

 

[sanktank7]

heh, I figured someone would notice my whacky tier preferences. I got some regional and research biases factored in there right now - this will likely change after some interviews...

 

[Naijaba]

heh, I figured someone would notice my whacky tier preferences. I got some regional and research biases factored in there right now - this will likely change after some interviews...

UCSF, Stanford, and UCI are definitely *not* mid-tier for MD/PhD:

UCSF: Average GPA last year was a 3.9, MCAT 37.5.
Stanford: The 2009 class has 5 students : (
UCI: "Over the past few years MCAT ranges were from 11 to 14 in all categories." In other words, no sub-11 scores in any section. [Although you have 11+ as well.]

 

[sanktank7]

Just to reiterate, my list is "my personal preference" I realize ucsf and stanford are top tier schools but honestly they do not appeal to me as much as say emory or case western. Why you ask? I am looking for research in infectious disease and emory has research opportunities at the CDC and Case has great research in this field as well.

Dont you think its a bit superficial to just rank md/phd programs based on US News and GPA/MCAT stats? I hope Im not alone in thinking this way.