please review my school list?

[erotangos]

Stats:

GPA: c3.95, s3.90

MCAT:
5/2009: 36R (14p 11v 11b)
1/2009: 30Q (10p 10v 10b)

My pre-med adviser described my PS as excellent, and said that my LORs are outstanding.

Activities and more details on my MDApplicants Profile

Schools (listed geographically-ish):
NYU
Columbia
Mt. Sinai
Weill Cornell
UMDNJ-RWJMS
Harvard
Yale
UPenn
Drexel
Georgetown
Duke
UNC
Standford
UCSF
UCSD
UCLA

Concerns:
1)Too many schools are out of my reach?
2) Not enough volunteer/research?
3) Too much involvement in music groups? (see MDApplicants Prof)
I've already submitted my amcas, but I'm just having one of those days... I'm just looking for some honest feedback and would appreciate the fantastic advice/opinions people always seem to have on sdn. Thanks!

 

[Phosphorus Ylide]

What is the depth of your involvement in those activities listed on MD apps?

As far as which schools to add, well I'll say that I'm not very experienced with this matter. Wait until Camaras or Stratego come on, they seem to know what's going on in the app world . If it were me though, I think I would add some more mid-tier schools. Also with the CA schools, UCSF and UCSD are pretty ridiculous with their selection factors. I'm not sure what the methodology for selection is, especially at UCSD, but it seems some very highly qualified applicants get denied. Good luck.

 

[erotangos]

I would consider myself very involved in the activities listed on MDApps. Every single one has weekly commitments, some more than once in a given week. The marching band season is about August-January, but overlaps and then is taken over by pep band.

Is it too late to add mid-tier schools to my app? Thanks for your response

What is the depth of your involvement in those activities listed on MD apps?

I think most of those schools are probably a good start. I'm not very experienced with this matter. Wait until Camaras or Stratego come on, they seem to know what's going on in the app world . If it were me though, I think I would add some more mid-tier schools. Also with the CA schools, UCSF and UCSD are pretty ridiculous with their selection factors. I'm not sure what the methodology for selection is, especially at UCSD, but it seems some very highly qualified applicants get denied. Good luck.

 

[Phosphorus Ylide]

I don't think it's too late. I myself didn't get verified until a little over a week ago. I hear that July is still quite early. Since you are verified, I don't think it would be a problem. As far as which schools to add though. IDK, you'd have to wait until someone more experienced comes along to help.


Are the shadowing experiences once a week as well? Since how long ago?

 

[erotangos]

shadowing experiences were not once a week, but rather 3-4 days a week during winter/summer vacay. Shadowed the medical oncologist since winter break freshman year, whereas the orthopedic surgeon was last summer and this summer abroad (Taiwan).

btw your sn is awesome haha

 

[camaras2480]

Stats:

GPA: c3.95, s3.90

MCAT:
5/2009: 36R (14p 11v 11b)
1/2009: 30Q (10p 10v 10b)

My pre-med adviser described my PS as excellent, and said that my LORs are outstanding.

Activities and more details on my MDApplicants Profile

Schools (listed geographically-ish):
NYU
Columbia
Mt. Sinai
Weill Cornell
UMDNJ-RWJMS
Harvard
Yale
UPenn
Drexel
Georgetown
Duke
UNC
Standford
UCSF
UCSD
UCLA

Concerns:
1)Too many schools are out of my reach?
2) Not enough volunteer/research?
3) Too much involvement in music groups? (see MDApplicants Prof)
I've already submitted my amcas, but I'm just having one of those days... I'm just looking for some honest feedback and would appreciate the fantastic advice/opinions people always seem to have on sdn. Thanks!

1. No, but not enough schools that you are relatively safe at - I only see UMDNJ and Drexel as your fallbacks. Almost everything else (save Georgetown, which is mid tier) is a top school. IMO, too risky, especially since your ECs are stacked with music rather than medical/scientific things. Not that music is bad (schools like to ECs that are non-medical), but note that many top tier schools are not particularly thrilled with international activities like shadowing and research.

2. Your volunteering is fine, but I can't tell if it is great or not because you didn't post hours. Your research is international, and you haven't indicated how long you did research, or what you got out of it (posters/presentations/publications). Note that the schools are ranked based on research, so needless to say, they do like to see research. No, it is not a requirement, but would be very helpful.

3. Too much, no. But you can only talk about that so much. While you are in the application cycle, you may want to find an additional shadowing experience in the US, while continuing your volunteer work. It is probably too late to start a research project now.

Anyway, you wanted to know about the ECs, there you have it. Doesn't sound great right? But here is the fun part for you - your numbers will pick up the slack. Your MCAT is at or above the median accepted MCAT at every school in the US, as is your overall GPA (I think your BCPM is actually below WashU's median lol).

Overall, yes I think you will get into one of the schools on your current list. But is it a gamble - yes. Consider adding a few schools from the following list: Ohio State, Rochester, Dartmouth, Minnesota, Boston, GWU, Cincinnati, Einstein, Wake, Tufts, Temple, St. Louis, and Jefferson.

Then consider adding ~2 schools from this list: Albany, NYMC, Tulane, VCU, Wayne, UIllinois Chicago, Wright, and Creighton.

No, it is not too late to add schools. When you add them to AMCAS, they will ask you to recertify your application after every school you add. Keep pressing "no" until you add your last school. Most schools will get your information in about 2-3 business days, a week at most, so you won't be far behind at all.

 

[camaras2480]

What is the depth of your involvement in those activities listed on MD apps?

As far as which schools to add, well I'll say that I'm not very experienced with this matter. Wait until Camaras or Stratego come on, they seem to know what's going on in the app world . If it were me though, I think I would add some more mid-tier schools. Also with the CA schools, UCSF and UCSD are pretty ridiculous with their selection factors. I'm not sure what the methodology for selection is, especially at UCSD, but it seems some very highly qualified applicants get denied. Good luck.

Thanks for the referral Jen! But you're good too!!

 

[erotangos]

Oh my gosh, thank you SO much. I really appreciate the in-depth analysis, as well as the honesty. I actually didn't think to post hours, though would have made sense in retrospect. (hindsight is 20/20?)

I will definitely add to the list from your suggestions. Thanks a ton again to you both!

 

[erotangos]

Oh yeah-- and one more question? Why don't med schools like international experiences? I thought that the experience would give me a broader view of medicine, and would give me something which I can contrast with my experiences in the US?

Not challenging you by any means, I'm just curious and was surprised to read that.

 

[camaras2480]

Oh my gosh, thank you SO much. I really appreciate the in-depth analysis, as well as the honesty. I actually didn't think to post hours, though would have made sense in retrospect. (hindsight is 20/20?)

I will definitely add to the list from your suggestions. Thanks a ton again to you both!

No problem, glad to help - good luck!

 

[camaras2480]

Oh yeah-- and one more question? Why don't med schools like international experiences? I thought that the experience would give me a broader view of medicine, and would give me something which I can contrast with my experiences in the US?

Not challenging you by any means, I'm just curious and was surprised to read that.

Because it doesn't give you insight into how the american medical/health care systems work. There are huge differences between international medical systems and the american one. Furthermore, this is more of an issue now, because the health care system may be undergoing major reforms in the next few years.

Sure, the international experience lets you contrast with the US, but if you really think about it, how much use is that, when you only have limited experience in the US itself?

 

[erotangos]

then why do many med schools offer rotations abroad?

the benefit of shadowing internationally was also that when i was shadowing the orthopedic surgeon, i was allowed into the O.R. and a lot more patient interaction than was allowed in the U.S. experiences-- will this be taken into consideration?

 

[camaras2480]

then why do many med schools offer rotations abroad?

the benefit of shadowing internationally was also that when i was shadowing the orthopedic surgeon, i was allowed into the O.R. and a lot more patient interaction than was allowed in the U.S. experiences-- will this be taken into consideration?

Because you are already IN med school.
I'm not saying your experience was not helpful, I'm saying additional experience in the US would be MORE helpful.

 

[erotangos]

hmm well, i am going to continue shadowing a U.S. doctor regularly this fall. Does it matter if my shadowing experiences aren't varied specialty-wise? As far as U.S. experiences go, I've only shadowed in oncology.

 

[camaras2480]

hmm well, i am going to continue shadowing a U.S. doctor regularly this fall. Does it matter if my shadowing experiences aren't varied specialty-wise? As far as U.S. experiences go, I've only shadowed in oncology.

Nope, its okay. Students generally report 2-3 specialties, but you do have a second one (the one abroad). With US and international both being reported, all is merry