Don’t worry about lack of research - clinical experience is more important unless you’re looking for an MD / PhD program. Your experience is solid and should make you a shoo-in, and i would expect you could get some very good offers! 31 is still young - my eldest classmate was 42 when she started school.
And, there is nothing wrong with going to a state school - you’ll still get a solid education, and will come out owing less. UWM is a good school, and Madison is such a great town...
