ORM 3.7/517 (2022-2023)

[sassquatchh]

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[Mr.Smile12]

Could you properly fill out a WAMC template and provide more details on what you mean with the "(gap)" designation; is it something you did in your reapplication or something you will do for your third try?

 

[MyOdyssey]

Hey all, I have a tentative, top-heavy school list and I'd appreciate if you could knock some sense of reality into me. This is my second round so I'm trying to avoid bad fits and non-OOS friendly state schools

MN ORM, 2021 grad
Neuro BS, physio BA, eastern language/culture minor
3.7/3.64s (B-/C+ ochem, B/B+ physics)
517 (126/130/130/131)
1600 hrs/2 yrs HHMI biochem lab with one major project, 3rd author pub in a high impact journal, 1st author presentation
800 hrs/2 yrs neuro lab, multiple small projects
2 sem biochem TA, class of 130+
100 hrs honors mentor across 3 yrs
1200 hrs (expected) scribing in ED during gap
300ish community volunteering between math tutor, science museum guide, Korean camp counselor (gap), homeless shelter meal delivery (gap)
100 hrs/1 yr children's hospital volunteer with lots of patient contact
100 shadowing clinic, surgery, hospital
Interesting ECs would be drawing/art which I'm pretty good at. Also into skiing, hiking, skincare, anime

LORs from first PI, neuro post doc (prob my strongest letter), biochem prof I ta'd for (strong), physio prof who I bugged every week in office hours (strong), my fav EM doc who went to Mayo (new, prob strong?), also a generic humanities one but could ask a different prof

I've gained a lot from personal connections and mentorship (teaching/learning is kinda my theme I guess) and atm I'm more interested in addiction/developmental health esp in poor communities, so I'm looking for schools that would fit this vibe. However, I feel like an incredibly well-rounded, non-stand out applicant lol. Atm I have pretty much every NY and Cali school that I don't think has a huge in-state bias, but I'm looking for privates and DOs (I haven't researched any DOs yet). Also I'm at the low end for almost every school on my list ... schools I'm thinking of removing are CW, Emory, UCSF, UCLA because I don't think I'm competitive

Case Western - reapp
Mayo - top choice, reapp w interview hold (so a tiny bit better than outright R?)
Emory
California Irvine
UCSF
California LA
California Keck
Rochester NY
Hofstra NY
Albany NY
Medical College of NY
NY Long Island
Albert Einstein NY
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania Geisinger
University of Vermont
Cincinnati
Iowa - reapp, talked to their admissions and they gave advice on what to work on (which I've followed)
MN TC - reapp
MN Duluth
Medical College of Wisconsin
North Dakota
Western Michigan - ties to area
Wake Forest - ties to area, reapp
Miama?
Tulane?
Loyola?

Add: Oakland (Beaumont), Tulane, Miami, UCF + DO.

@Goro @Faha Your thoughts about school list?

 

[sassquatchh]

Could you properly fill out a WAMC template and provide more details on what you mean with the "(gap)" designation; is it something you did in your reapplication or something you will do for your third try?

fixed! I have two gap years, this year until the app cycle and then second year. I'm not sure what else I'll be doing, I was thinking of getting involved in an adult reading program or teaching ESL abroad during my second year if possible

EDIT: this upcoming cycle will be my second round, hopefully there won’t be a third

 

[sassquatchh]

Add: Oakland (Beaumont), Tulane, Miami, UCF + DO.

@Goro @Faha Your thoughts about school list?

Do you think I should cut down on any of the Cali/NY schools listed?

 

[chzsux]

I'm someone who's very similar on paper to you - 3.7/3.65 and 518, ORM but your research/clinical experience are better while I had more community service hours. I think that there's a few things that stand out to me. I think a theme of teaching/learning is fine but one thing some people think is that tutoring as volunteering may be viewed as not "real" volunteering. I did a lot of tutoring as well but with prisoners in maximum security prisons and was able to frame it differently.

I think your school list is just fine but as a reapplicant, even if finances were potentially an issue, you should have applied to more schools and more OOS-friendly schools. I'm someone who applied for the 2020-21 cycle and didn't get accepted but for this cycle, I applied to 50 schools and have so far been able to get 8 interviews -> 3 WL, 1A, still waiting on the other schools. Is there a reason you didn't apply to OOS friendly schools like VCU, EVMS, UVA, UCF, Penn State? Also, I would not categorize a school like UC Irvine as having no in-state bias.

Either way though, I think your app is really great but I feel like your school list, especially as a re-app, is way too top-heavy/low-yield/non OOS-friendly

 

[sassquatchh]

I'm someone who's very similar on paper to you - 3.7/3.65 and 518, ORM but your research/clinical experience are better while I had more community service hours. I think that there's a few things that stand out to me. I think a theme of teaching/learning is fine but one thing some people think is that tutoring as volunteering may be viewed as not "real" volunteering. I did a lot of tutoring as well but with prisoners in maximum security prisons and was able to frame it differently.

I think your school list is just fine but as a reapplicant, even if finances were potentially an issue, you should have applied to more schools and more OOS-friendly schools. I'm someone who applied for the 2020-21 cycle and didn't get accepted but for this cycle, I applied to 50 schools and have so far been able to get 8 interviews -> 3 WL, 1A, still waiting on the other schools. Is there a reason you didn't apply to OOS friendly schools like VCU, EVMS, UVA, UCF, Penn State? Also, I would not categorize a school like UC Irvine as having no in-state bias.

Either way though, I think your app is really great but I feel like your school list, especially as a re-app, is way too top-heavy/low-yield/non OOS-friendly

Hey thanks for the feedback! I’ll look into those schools, and I agree Irvine does have a high IS bias. Do you have other suggestions for schools to take out/reconsider? I’m not sure I have a real chance at UVA so I hadn’t considered it.

As far as tutoring, it was through an honors community outreach program that worked with diverse/low income schools in the city (should’ve specified that) so that might help it stand out a little more?

 

[chzsux]

Yeah, for tutoring I'm someone who doesn't put much stock into the "tutoring isn't real volunteering" thing but I thought I'd just mention. What community service are you actually doing right now? It might help if you can bump up your hours with something a little different, especially since a lot of schools do have really heavy service focuses.

You can PM me for my full school list but other schools could include schools like Creighton, MCW, and Loyola Chicago. I think that if I were in your situation, I'd go through MSAR and pretty much find any school that is OOS friendly and apply to them. One thing to note is that some schools like Einstein I believe don't allow for 3rd-time applicants so you may have to adjust your list. I also think that as a Midwest resident, you may also have some luck with Midwest schools that are not traditionally considered OOS-friendly because of in-region bias. either way though, I think that if you're really committed to going to med school, as a 3rd-time applicant, you should really consider applying to as many schools as possible next cycle including a few DOs.

Other than that, I would say that your best bet is to work on update letters for this cycle? Have you been able to get any interviews as well this year?

 

[sassquatchh]

Yeah, for tutoring I'm someone who doesn't put much stock into the "tutoring isn't real volunteering" thing but I thought I'd just mention. What community service are you actually doing right now? It might help if you can bump up your hours with something a little different, especially since a lot of schools do have really heavy service focuses.

You can PM me for my full school list but other schools could include schools like Creighton, MCW, and Loyola Chicago. I think that if I were in your situation, I'd go through MSAR and pretty much find any school that is OOS friendly and apply to them. One thing to note is that some schools like Einstein I believe don't allow for 3rd-time applicants so you may have to adjust your list. I also think that as a Midwest resident, you may also have some luck with Midwest schools that are not traditionally considered OOS-friendly because of in-region bias. either way though, I think that if you're really committed to going to med school, as a 3rd-time applicant, you should really consider applying to as many schools as possible next cycle including a few DOs.

Other than that, I would say that your best bet is to work on update letters for this cycle? Have you been able to get any interviews as well this year?

I’m a second time applicant for next cycle so hopefully Einstein doesn’t count me out haha! And thanks for the other suggestions, I really appreciate it 🙂 honestly if I can I would apply to 30ish if possible

 

[Faha]

UCSF, UCLA and UC Irvine accept few non residents with no connection to the state so remove those. You could add any of these schools:
Miami
USF Morsani
Tulane
Jefferson
Drexel
Temple
Seton Hall
Quinnipiac
Oakland Beaumont
George Washington

 

[sassquatchh]

UCSF, UCLA and UC Irvine accept few non residents with no connection to the state so remove those. You could add any of these schools:
Miami
USF Morsani
Tulane
Jefferson
Drexel
Temple
Seton Hall
Quinnipiac
Oakland Beaumont
George Washington

Thank you! Do family/heritage ties to states count or is it simply if you’ve lived there?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you! Do family/heritage ties to states count or is it simply if you’ve lived there?

Each university has its rules on residency, but family ties don't usually count.