Quick Question...

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thyroidectomy

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Rising senior at a top 10-20 university. 4.00 GPA w/ double major (Math/Chem.) and 35 MCAT. No research experience but good everything else (EC/Volunteering/Internships). I was disappointed by the MCAT (practice tests were closer to 38), so I want to know given the 35 how high I can realistically aim for med school.

-Annoying question I know... but its hard to get objective guidance. Thanks.
 
Without a research experience, I wouldn't have high hopes if applying to the most-selective research powerhouses. But even they are know to accept some with wow-level leadership or community service backgrounds. Personally, I'd look at the MSAR and see what percent of those accepted have a research experience to guide the choice. An extract from it can be found in the School Selection spreadsheet stickied at the top of this forum.
 
With no research on your application, you should be aiming for schools that are clinically oriented and like high GPAs. Some schools that would be good for you to look at include Creighton, St. Louis U., and Medical College of Wisconsin. You are unlikely to do well with the research oriented schools, but your numbers will open the door to the midtier schools. By the way, a 35 MCAT won't hold you back from any school in the country save Wash U. (as they are blatant number ******.) You wouldn't be any more desirable with a 38 than a 35.
 
Maybe I should clarify... When I say no research, I mean that I have no medical related research. I do, however, have significant statistical and mathematical economics related research. Does this type of research still count as research? If so, where do I stand now? Thanks again.
 
How many years of involvement and how many publications to list?
 
Extent of Research:
-One rigorous research paper per semester my junior year. No publications, but I'll be working on a honors thesis paper all senior year (mathematical economics) that by the end should be of that quality.
-Worked in a biotech lab summer of freshman year.
-Doing biotech consulting this summer, which will require what could be considered research.

So... not terribly strong but not absent.
 
"Research' for AMCAS purposes means a scholarly investigation that adds to human knowledge. It need not be science based to count as research. It does not mean a literature search that summerizes work done by other investigators. So whether what you did counts or not, depends on the type of work done. If your honors thesis is of the latter type, you would not list it under "Research" but rather under "Publications," or "Other" or "Awards and Honors" depending on which is most correct (if it's completed by application time).

If what you did was research as meant for AMCAS purposes, having a year is the average amount. Having two years would be sufficiently substantive to appeal to research-strong institutions. Unfortunately, I suspect you will not have completed year 2, or the biotech job, by the time you submit.
 
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