Need help with school list, unique GPA situation

[neurotroph]

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Hey folks,

I'm trying to construct my list of MD/PhD programs to apply to this coming cycle, but I'm not really sure where I stand because of my schooling history and how that factors into my GPA. I'm a senior at a highly ranked university, and I'm looking to graduate with around a 3.6 cGPA/3.45 sGPA (bad freshman and sophomore years, have had a strong upward trend since then). However, in high school I took enough college credits at a 4-year university (none of which transferred to my current school) to bump my AMCAS GPA up to a ~3.8 cGPA/3.75 sGPA. Can I rely on this inflated GPA while applying to schools, or should I assume that those dual-enrollment credits won't be seriously considered and that my 3.6/3.45 is what will really be looked at? Most people on SDN who have asked about this before haven't taken enough dual-enrollment credits to change their GPA so dramatically, and it's almost always a negative and not a boost. So idk what to think. Assuming that I can rely on that 3.8/3.75, this would be my ideal (and very top-heavy, I know) list based mostly on location:

Columbia
Cornell
Duke
Einstein
Harvard
Hopkins
Michigan
Sinai
NYU
Northwestern
Penn
Stanford
UCSF
UChicago
WashU
Yale

But if not, I'm thinking of adding these to better my chances:
Pitt
UCSD
Tufts
UConn (CT resident)
Washington

Other relevant info: 38 MCAT, URM, 3 years research experience (4 when I matriculate) with 2 significant presentations and a conference award, tons of volunteer (clinical/non-clinical) and leadership experience, ~30 hrs shadowing but I'll get more in before June

What do you all think about my list? I'm not well-off financially so I'd like to keep it as short as I can. Any advice appreciated!

 

[Neuronix]

The most important number is the overall GPA. In your case, you're URM with a decent GPA even at the "highly ranked" university with an otherwise very strong application. I think you'll be fine even with your initial list alone.

 

[referee3]

That list should work for you since you are a URM...

 

[neurotroph]

The most important number is the overall GPA. In your case, you're URM with a decent GPA even at the "highly ranked" university with an otherwise very strong application. I think you'll be fine even with your initial list alone.

Awesome thanks!

 

[Fencer]

Despite your MCAT, admission committees will not uniformly agree with the advice given above. The low GPA of the coursework from your "top" university is likely to be highlighted by some. The extent of your research experiences is critical.

PM me if you want to keep the conversation private.

 

[Neuronix]

admission committees will not uniformly agree with the advice given above.

Admissions committees don't uniformly agree about anything. I think that she will obtain one acceptance out of the list assuming the usual strong essays and interviews. But, it's a crystal ball style prediction.

 

[Nanorust]

Long time lurker, first time poster with a similar issue,
I have been doing a BS/MS program and am just now starting to apply MD/PhD. I felt strong about my undergrad stats (3.9GPA/39MCAT), so my initial list was pretty top heavy (see below). Now, since I have only done a few credit hours in the MS, so my grad GPA is sitting at a 3.6. I have plenty of leadership (President, VP, and Treasurer in three separate clubs and honor societies), an acceptable amount of non-clinical volunteer work (~150h in a continuous program, with 50 more sporadic) and 3 years of strong research (posters at regional and international conferences with 2 co-author pubs in review and a first author manuscript being written), but I had already been relying on those numbers to save my measly clinical experience (30h shadowing with no significant clinical volunteering since high school). Do I need to back off and look elsewhere in case the adcoms only see what appears to be a drop in grades? Would I be better off just looking for more clinical work and not worrying about it?
The list as it stands:
Chicago
Case Western
Harvard
Hopkins
Illinois (Chicago)
Michigan
UAB
Stanford
Vanderbilt
WashU

 

[Jagon]

Long time lurker, first time poster with a similar issue,
I have been doing a BS/MS program and am just now starting to apply MD/PhD. I felt strong about my undergrad stats (3.9GPA/39MCAT), so my initial list was pretty top heavy (see below). Now, since I have only done a few credit hours in the MS, so my grad GPA is sitting at a 3.6. I have plenty of leadership (President, VP, and Treasurer in three separate clubs and honor societies), an acceptable amount of non-clinical volunteer work (~150h in a continuous program, with 50 more sporadic) and 3 years of strong research (posters at regional and international conferences with 2 co-author pubs in review and a first author manuscript being written), but I had already been relying on those numbers to save my measly clinical experience (30h shadowing with no significant clinical volunteering since high school). Do I need to back off and look elsewhere in case the adcoms only see what appears to be a drop in grades? Would I be better off just looking for more clinical work and not worrying about it?
The list as it stands:
Chicago
Case Western
Harvard
Hopkins
Illinois (Chicago)
Michigan
UAB
Stanford
Vanderbilt
WashU

I would add more schools to that list just because how much of a crap shoot applications can be.

 

[Campingwithpie]

I would add more schools to that list just because how much of a crap shoot applications can be.

I agree 100%. Having just completed the application process, I can tell you it is full of surprises. Sure, shadow if you have time, but adding a few safety schools will keep you sane and minimize your chance of needing to reapply. Personally, I interviewed at ~1/3 of the 20+ programs I applied to and some interviews just flopped for reasons beyond my control (e.g. bad weather kept all of my interviewers at home, one interviewer held a grudge against my Alma mater, etc.). Good luck to you Nanorust!

 

[Nanorust]

Thank you for the input. Does adding these look a bit better?

Colorado
Emory
Cornell Tri-I
Penn St
Penn-Perelman
Cincinnati

 

[Fencer]

@Nanorust Which schools do you think are you safety (3-4), match (5-10), and reach (~10)?

 

[Nanorust]

Which schools do you think are you safety (3-4), match (5-10), and reach (~10)?

Let's see
Reach:
Hopkins
Harvard
Penn-Perelman
Michigan
Stanford
WashU
Cornell Tri-I
Chicago
Vanderbilt

Match:
Case Western
Colorado
Emory
UAB
Illinois (Chicago)

Safety:
Cincinnati
Penn St
other schools I apply PhD only (My home state TN does not have strong public MD/PhD offers)

That feels about right, but I may still be overestimating myself.

 

[Fencer]

If you are in TN why you didn't apply to Texas schools... There are a couple of MSTPs, and at least 3 UT schools that are at least safety. Check them out.

 

[Nanorust]

Thanks, Texas had been where I was planning to look next, but I have been hoping to move to a land where it isn't so hot. I have been researching in AL for a few summers, and the thought of going further south for eight years frightens me.