Question about school choice

[realmadridstorm]

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Hi Guys

I plan to apply this coming cycle and have some questions. My situation is I am from TX and applied this past cycle to mainly TX schools after my Aug MCAT. However during the cycle, my grandfather passed away and I didn't feel I could cope with the loss and complete the cycle, so I withdrew from the schools that had already gave me interview invites (UTSW, UTH,and UTMB). Right now I plan to apply through both AMCAS for only top 20/reach schools and TMDSAS. My main question is that is it wise to apply to only reach schools through AMCAS?

My stats for those who need more info?
Went to Baylor, graduated in 3 years
GPA: 3.7/3.6 overall/science
MCAT: 31M and 39N
EC: Shadowing one semester 4hr/wk, fraternity stuff, undergraduate research one semester, lab tech at UTSW currently, volunteer at a free clinic 4 hrs/wk and have direct patient contact. Worked for an after school program for inner city elementary students, going to mexico in Feb for medical mission.
LOR: Committee packet contain 4 letters, I think at least 2 of them are very favorable.

Any feedback are welcomed

 

[oblvioustigress]

You sound like a great applicant but I would still recommend that you apply broadly (to schools you would definitely attend if you only had one choice) through the AMCAS. I think it's best to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

 

[Soggun]

Agreed with previous poster. Unless you are content to take a year off (which, I don't know, maybe you are and just want to test the top 20 schools), you're really tempting fate by applying to only those. Ultimately things are such a crapshoot with med. school admissions that it's pretty easy to get screwed into waiting an additional year by applying too narrowly. But that's just my 2c

 

[notdeadyet]

My main question is that is it wise to apply to only reach schools through AMCAS?

No. People with better applications than you have been turned down by all the top schools. Mind you, I think you have a great app and will find a great med school to call home, but the top schools are very finicky and quirky. I would apply broadly, as the other posters have suggested.

 

[sprinkibrio]

I think you've probably figured out that TMDSAS will let you in somewhere. If the only thing that would draw you out of Texas would be to go to a top 20 school somewhere else, then only apply to top 20 schools. I can guarantee you would have gotten into SW with that MCAT score if you decided to stay in this round. Make sure you do some great stuff during this year off and be ready to answer the question of why you withdrew last year. Actually, I don't know how favorably schools will take that. That would be my only caution for not applying to a range of out of state schools... if they decide to take that badly and you don't get as much love next time around from Texas, then you would be screwed. But I don't really think that will happen.

This is my MDapps if it will help. Out of states are a million times harder to get into.
http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=7112

 

[FemalesCANTDriv]

I think you've probably figured out that TMDSAS will let you in somewhere. If the only thing that would draw you out of Texas would be to go to a top 20 school somewhere else, then only apply to top 20 schools. I can guarantee you would have gotten into SW with that MCAT score if you decided to stay in this round. Make sure you do some great stuff during this year off and be ready to answer the question of why you withdrew last year. Actually, I don't know how favorably schools will take that. That would be my only caution for not applying to a range of out of state schools... if they decide to take that badly and you don't get as much love next time around from Texas, then you would be screwed. But I don't really think that will happen.

This is my MDapps if it will help. Out of states are a million times harder to get into.
http://www.mdapplicants.com/viewprofile.php?myid=7112

i second this sentiment... i did the exact same thing... in tx, you should get into utsw and baylor with those numbers and activities and stuff so just apply top 20 cuz that is prolly all that would get u to leave tx