Please critique my school list.....

[Bernoull]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Here's my background:

Academic:
MCAT: 31S (PS/VR/BS; 12/10/9)..
cGPA: 3.4, sGPA 3.5 (pending AMCAS verification)
gGPA: 4.0 (Biomedical Engr)

Note: For all but 2 semesters, my uGPA ranged b/t 3.8-4.0. I had a family death in my junior year and my gpa dropped to 1.8 & 3.0 for the following 2 semesters. I brought it back up to 4.0 for my final semester. I addressed this issue in my PS.


ECs/Awards:
Shadowing family doctor (100hrs), volunteering & leadership (2yrs), conferences, summer research (FTIR application), 2 symposium presentations, Dean's scholarship (3.5yrs), Honors Society (3yrs), President's Volunteer award (White House) and work-related award

Work:
Scientist @ Pharmaceutical Co (3yrs); worked throughout undergrad & grad school.

FL resident


Schools

"Low-Tier"
Howard, Morehouse, U Kansas, Meharry, U of N. Dakota

"Mid-Tier"
U of Miami, U of Florida, Florida International Univ, Florida State, U of C. Florida, U of S. Florida, U of Massachusetts, U of Toledo, MC Wisconsin, U of Utah, St. Louis U, Tulane, U of Iowa, U of Illinois, Georgetown, U at Buffalo, NYMC, Boston U, GWU, U of Alabama, Wayne State

"Reach"
Case Western, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Tufts, Mayo

Note: I've already applied to the schools in red, I intend to add those in black.

Thanks for all ur help!!

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think all of the schools you have in the "Low-Tier" category are wasted efforts. I don't believe North Dakota accepts anyone at all who isn't from there or a neighboring state. Similarly, KU is an in-state-only thing. The HBCU's, as you might expect, heavily favor black applicants, and they also expect you to demonstrate some sort of dedication to primary care and/or practicing in underserved areas.

In the rest, cross off U of U, Bama, (for residency reaosns) and everything in the "reach" category unless you have some extra cash and want to take the chance on the reaches.

Other than that, I think you're in decent shape. Good luck!

 

[Bernoull]

Many thanks,

I'll remove Univ N. Dakota, I misread their generous admission rates for OOS applicants. I didn't realize their OOS matriculants were mostly from the WICHE program.

I'm applying to 30 schools and I'm shooting for this distribution: 16% for both "low-tier" and "reach" schools and ~61% "mid-tiers."

For the HBCUs, I'm a URM and I'm interested in working with the medically underserved.

For the reach schools, I suffer no illusions, but I'll give them a shot and let the chips fall where they may.

I'm cautiously optimistic about getting into one of my state schools preferably UMiami, USF or UFlorida.

1. What schools would you suggest to replace U North Dakota, U Kansas, U Alabama?
2. Also, how do you assess "OOS friendliness" of schools. I look at the % of OOS that matriculate from the OOS applicant pool. Is there a better way of guaging this?

Thanks again.

 

[sustentacular]

UMass doesn't accept any OOS unless you're applying to MD/PhD.

 

[Bernoull]

UMass doesn't accept any OOS unless you're applying to MD/PhD.

U just saved me $106!!! Thanks!!!

I need to effing read the MSAR more closely, I skimmed through the first pass to narrow down the list but I'll read it more carefully for my remaining schools.

Good catch!

Thanks

 

[sustentacular]

No problem. I hope they wouldn't send you a secondary when they realized you weren't an MA resident, but who knows.