MD Please help me trim down my school list!

[LoveKFriedChicken]

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Hi everyone,

I took a gap year after earning my bachelor's on Biochem/Cell Biology to retake the MCAT, and now I am about to apply for this cycle.

My first MCAT was 23 (9/5/9), and my retake was 511 (129/125/128/129)-- Yes, verbal/CARS are weak in both cases, but I am a naturalized Asian-American citizen, who came to the U.S. 10 years ago. I tried my best to improve the section, and 125 is what I got.. (It's so hard to improve Verbal!)

My GPA is ~3.9 in both science and non-science GPA's.

Here is the gist of my experience:
- Transferred from a community college to a 4 year university. Spent two years in each to get my bachelor's.
- Honors Thesis that was completed with >500 hrs of research, and also a poster presentation at the annual biology showcase at my university.
- >250 hours of hospital volunteer experience--200 of which came from ER volunteering, and will continue to volunteer at the ER during my upcoming second gap year.
- TA experience in 2 upper-div bio classes.
- Just started shadowing a DO, and I will continue the shadowing during my upcoming second gap year.
- 100 hours of volunteering as a tutor at my community college.
- Work as a tutor, and the position emphasizes assisting students with "basic learning skills". i.e. a position that teaches students with backgrounds that had low emphasis on education.

I am a CA resident, and would prefer schools on the east coast. However, beggars can't be choosers right? haha My list of schools is as shown below, and I would really appreciate it if anyone could provide me with any advice and/or trim it down please! I know some schools are far-fetched, but who knows..

Albany

BU

Rosalind Franklin

Drexel

Eastern Virginia

Dartmouth

George Washington

Lewis Katz (Temple)

Loyola

Mayo

NYMC

Rush

Rutgers

Saint Louis

Tulane

UCD

UCI

UCLA

UCSD

UCSF

Rochester

U of Vermont

Virginia Commonwealth

Wake Forest

Thank you!

 

[To be MD]

Hi everyone,

I took a gap year after earning my bachelor's on Biochem/Cell Biology to retake the MCAT, and now I am about to apply for this cycle.

My first MCAT was 23 (9/5/9), and my retake was 511 (129/125/128/129)-- Yes, verbal/CARS are weak in both cases, but I am a naturalized Asian-American citizen, who came to the U.S. 10 years ago. I tried my best to improve the section, and 125 is what I got.. (It's so hard to improve Verbal!)

My GPA is ~3.9 in both science and non-science GPA's.

Here is the gist of my experience:
- Transferred from a community college to a 4 year university. Spent two years in each to get my bachelor's.
- Honors Thesis that was completed with >500 hrs of research, and also a poster presentation at the annual biology showcase at my university.
- >250 hours of hospital volunteer experience--200 of which came from ER volunteering, and will continue to volunteer at the ER during my upcoming second gap year.
- TA experience in 2 upper-div bio classes.
- Just started shadowing a DO, and I will continue the shadowing during my upcoming second gap year.
- 100 hours of volunteering as a tutor at my community college.
- Work as a tutor, and the position emphasizes assisting students with "basic learning skills". i.e. a position that teaches students with backgrounds that had low emphasis on education.

I am a CA resident, and would prefer schools on the east coast. However, beggars can't be choosers right? haha My list of schools is as shown below, and I would really appreciate it if anyone could provide me with any advice and/or trim it down please! I know some schools are far-fetched, but who knows..

Albany

BU

Rosalind Franklin

Drexel

Eastern Virginia

Dartmouth

George Washington

Lewis Katz (Temple)

Loyola

Mayo

NYMC

Rush

Rutgers

Saint Louis

Tulane

UCD

UCI

UCLA

UCSD

UCSF

Rochester

U of Vermont

Virginia Commonwealth

Wake Forest

Thank you!

You face an uphill battle as an Asian with an okay MCAT in the state of CA. I'd say add a few more low-tier schools that accept OOS students and would not recommend trimming anything down with your numbers.

 

[gyngyn]

Delete:
Rutgers (they almost never take OOS).
Rush (community service).
Mayo (small class size; not quirky enough, you not them!)
Dartmouth (not quirky enough)
Rochester (your state schools already provide your reaches)

 

[LoveKFriedChicken]

You face an uphill battle as an Asian with an okay MCAT in the state of CA. I'd say add a few more low-tier schools that accept OOS students and would not recommend trimming anything down with your numbers.

I never expect a smooth-sailing. Thank you very much for your advice! I will be sure to add some low-tier schools.

 

[LoveKFriedChicken]

Delete:
Rutgers (they almost never take OOS).
Rush (community service).
Mayo (small class size; not quirky enough, you not them!)
Dartmouth (not quirky enough)
Rochester (your state schools already provide your reaches)

Thank you very much for the advice. I have removed these from my list, and have added some schools as their replacements. If you wouldn't mind, would you provide your view on my newly-added schools please?

Quinnipiac
Hofstra
Loma Linda
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Penn State
Thomas Jefferson

Thank you!

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you very much for the advice. I have removed these from my list, and have added some schools as their replacements. If you wouldn't mind, would you provide your view on my newly-added schools please?

Quinnipiac
Hofstra
Loma Linda
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Penn State
Thomas Jefferson

Thank you!

Loma Linda is an entirely mission-based school (is medicine a means to serve Christ for you?)
Hofstra uses CA applicants to boost it's median MCAT (currently 34).
Jeff has historically averaged MCAT's...