Please tell me if this seems like a good idea...

[Mr. H]

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Hi, I'm trying to figure out what to apply to, and please tell me if this seems like a reasonable list. I'm IL resident, go to top 35 school, 3.81, 33 mcat.

JHU, U of MIchigan, Yale, U Penn
U of chicago, Northwestern, Cornell, Vande, Emory
Georgetown, UW-Madison, NYU, Uof I in chicago, Loyola, Rush

thanks a lot everyone, do you think I should try other schools?

 

[Amy]

Applying to med school is a crap shoot. There will always be people with very strong numbers who don't get in, and those on the low end that do. No one can tell you for sure how the process will turn out for you. Apply to a good variety of schools, and you should be fine. 15 is a good amount, especially with your high numbers. Remember, though, that GPA and MCAT are only a small part of the picture.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Mr.D]

Souds like a good list...I would venture to add Baylor, Stanford, and Pitt to the mix while sprinkling a couple more bac-ups just in case. Along with the numbers, keep in mind the importance and quality of your ECs (eg. research, clincial volunteer work, mentoring, work, etc.) and letters of recommendation. Your GPA and MCATs look pretty good. If anything, find something in your application that is unique and try to make it stand out, but whatever you do, make sure that is comes across genuinely rather than something that you're tacking on simply to try to woo the adcoms.

 

[Incendiary]

With the little info you offered, seems like a good list. Best of luck!

 

[Mr. H]

thanks for the advice

Anybody know a little about Baylor? I've never been to Texas before...

 

[vyc]

it's kinda hard to say where you should apply, not knowing anything more than just your numbers.

what about preference?

do you want to be in a big city?
do you want a big class size?
are you interested in research?
etc.

 

[Mr. H]

Hi

Well, location isn't that big of a factor. I just want to go to a school that can open some doors. I think research would be cool, though I'm not sure I'd do if for the rest of my life. The main reason is that I heard competetive residencies (plastic, neuro, ENT) almost always do not accept applicants with no research in med school.

 

[Incendiary]

Yeah, go for Baylor. Like I said before, I think you have a great list, just from your numbers. Assuming you have good everything else too, you're pretty solid for a top 20-25 school. There's definitely good research going on at any of those schools.

Maybe ask your pre-med adviser if any med schools happen to like candidates from your school. I've heard some schools like students from particular undergrad schools, while some hate them. So see if your school matches either of the above categories.

 

[ecm2]

Just a good piece of info about Georgetown... I added this school on to AMCAS later than the others, say in October, and wasn't able to send in my secondary until a few days before it was due. I ended up getting an interview there; besides having the credentials, on the "why do I want to attend Georgetown" essay I just made a really good connection with some personal experiences from a class I took and an interesting course that they offered.... as with all schools, do this.

 

[Mr. H]

Excellent idea about talking to someone to see if they like a particular school. I heard that UC schools like graduates from UW-Madison, but I'm not positive. My dream is to just go to med school, and I guess why not shoot for a greater dream and apply to some really top schools? What's another 100 bucks in the long run?

Any other tips?

 

[Incendiary]

If you go to Madison, PM me and I'll see if I can put you in touch with someone I met from there. He got into both Columbia and Duke, so he might have some good tips for a fellow Badger (that is UW's mascot, right?).

 

[Doctora Foxy]

I looked up to see #35 😀 I think it's UI Urbana?

 

[Mr. H]

GO BADGERS!!! I PM'ed you.
thanks!

 

[Mr. H]

YO foxy, what about UIUrbana? Is it ranked or something? I can't find it ranked anywhere...

 

[Doctora Foxy]

ok forget it I was wrong. It just made me wanna look it up when you said 35 b/c my school is ranked 34 😛 :wink: I thought you were in Chicago for some reason....

 

[Mr. H]

oh i see, i just said 35 as any number

One more question, which of the top schools are especially demanding of research experience? I did some basic lab work for one year, and this summer I'm going to do some basic research. So I'm not sure what schools would just throw my app out right off the bat, without giving me the chance to send them an update on what I did over the summer.

 

[Jalby]

K, My .02.

JHU, U of MIchigan, Yale, U Penn
U of chicago, Northwestern, Cornell, Vande, Emory
Georgetown, UW-Madison, NYU, Uof I in chicago, Loyola, Rush

Great schools. I wouldn't bother with GT, because I don't think you'd like it as much as the others. Also, people love Yale. I'm not sure why.
Let me second the others, apply to Baylor. I had never heard it, but it ended up being my faovrite school after the interview. I would also put Columbia in the mix, and I think you would stand a good chance at UCLA and UCSF. Don't get your hopes up with them compared to the other schools.

 

[Mr. H]

yeah, thanks Jal, so the UC schools may be good to apply to? You said don't get my hopes on them compared to others, so is it still worth it to apply to those UC schools then?
thanks bro