school app list: you know you love them, don't lie

[C.P. Jones]

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first, let me apologize for making one of these threads when I know how much they are hated; however, they are helpful to the person making them (me). but would you really look if you didn't want to see? 🙂

This will be my third application cycle if I am not accepted off a waitlist, so I plan on applying to many schools. I have made a list of schools that I believe I have a good chance or even just a shot at getting in/getting an interview. However, this list is just way too long, and I wanted to see what anyone thinks of some of these schools.

before listing schools, here are my stats, etc. to go by.
gpa: 3.74
mcat: april '04: 9p 9v 10b O august '04: 8p 😡 9v 12b Q

ECs: lots and lots of research, hopefully publications soon? (so far abstract authorships) honors thesis
volunteer at geriatric center a few years ago, ED last year, and at the YMCA
ultimate frisbee club, soccer club, intramurals
general academic honors/honor societies

Schools I WILL be applying to:
Drexel (interview,waitlist)
EVMS (interview, waitlist)
GW (interview, reg)
UConn (interview, waitlist)
NYMC
Penn State (interview, waitlist)
SUNY Upstate (preint hold)
Albany

Schools I think are very good additions:
Albert Einstein (I was rejected the 1st time i applied to this school 2 yrs ago)
Finch, Chicago Med School
Loma Linda
Loyola
Rush
Temple
UMDNJ-NJMed
UMDNJ-RWJ
UVermont
Virg. Commonwealth
Wayne State (now at 19 schools)

Schools I question:
BU - MCAT average 10.9/10.1/11, many apps
Case Western - mcat 10.6
Creighton - mcat 10/9/10 (not too bad compared to me)
Georgetown - relatively high mcat (forgot what it was)
Jefferson - mcat 10.2/10/10.4
Med College of Ohio - ok OOS, lower stats, but in toledo....don't ppl die in
toledo?
Med College of Wisc - MCAT 10/9.7/10, gpa 3.72, ok OOS, but high averages,
so hard for OOS
Michigan State - not sure
Saint Louis - 10.1/9.6/10.4 3.6
Tufts - 10.3/9.9/10.5, many apps
Tulane - many apps
U Cincinnati - mcat 10, but looks like a good cinderalla school 🙂
UIC (Illinois) - 90 percent Ill., but 9.4/9/9.6 3.5
U Kansas
U Maryland
U Miami - OOS w/ below 3.6 gpa need not apply....so i'm higher, maybe a
shot?
Wake Forest - eh, many apps

Reach School:
Yale - i work in a lab there and live close by, i think i'll have a talk w/ the
dean.....hey, as a non-rolling school, they may not be the first to give
me a rejection 😀



obviously there are schools like U Wisc that i will probably remove unless someone has a reason that I have a shot........this is the same for many of these state schools (kansas, maryland, etc) that basically interview a similar percentage of OOS as private schools do because of the number of apps

i also think schools like jefferson, tufts, bu, cinci deserve to be on the list, but it's just so many apps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you for anyone willing to help, i've spent a lot of time going through this, and now i need a little help trimming this list 😍

 

[chandelantern]

first, let me apologize for making one of these threads when I know how much they are hated; however, they are helpful to the person making them (me). but would you really look if you didn't want to see? 🙂

This will be my third application cycle if I am not accepted off a waitlist, so I plan on applying to many schools. I have made a list of schools that I believe I have a good chance or even just a shot at getting in/getting an interview. However, this list is just way too long, and I wanted to see what anyone thinks of some of these schools.

before listing schools, here are my stats, etc. to go by.
gpa: 3.74
mcat: april '04: 9p 9v 10b O august '04: 8p 😡 9v 12b Q

ECs: lots and lots of research, hopefully publications soon? (so far abstract authorships) honors thesis
volunteer at geriatric center a few years ago, ED last year, and at the YMCA
ultimate frisbee club, soccer club, intramurals
general academic honors/honor societies

Schools I WILL be applying to:
Drexel (interview,waitlist)
EVMS (interview, waitlist)
GW (interview, reg)
UConn (interview, waitlist)
NYMC
Penn State (interview, waitlist)
SUNY Upstate (preint hold)
Albany

Schools I think are very good additions:
Albert Einstein (I was rejected the 1st time i applied to this school 2 yrs ago)
Finch, Chicago Med School
Loma Linda
Loyola
Rush
Temple
UMDNJ-NJMed
UMDNJ-RWJ
UVermont
Virg. Commonwealth
Wayne State (now at 19 schools)

Schools I question:
BU - MCAT average 10.9/10.1/11, many apps
Case Western - mcat 10.6
Creighton - mcat 10/9/10 (not too bad compared to me)
Georgetown - relatively high mcat (forgot what it was)
Jefferson - mcat 10.2/10/10.4
Med College of Ohio - ok OOS, lower stats, but in toledo....don't ppl die in
toledo?
Med College of Wisc - MCAT 10/9.7/10, gpa 3.72, ok OOS, but high averages,
so hard for OOS
Michigan State - not sure
Saint Louis - 10.1/9.6/10.4 3.6
Tufts - 10.3/9.9/10.5, many apps
Tulane - many apps
U Cincinnati - mcat 10, but looks like a good cinderalla school 🙂
UIC (Illinois) - 90 percent Ill., but 9.4/9/9.6 3.5
U Kansas
U Maryland
U Miami - OOS w/ below 3.6 gpa need not apply....so i'm higher, maybe a
shot?
Wake Forest - eh, many apps

Reach School:
Yale - i work in a lab there and live close by, i think i'll have a talk w/ the
dean.....hey, as a non-rolling school, they may not be the first to give
me a rejection 😀



obviously there are schools like U Wisc that i will probably remove unless someone has a reason that I have a shot........this is the same for many of these state schools (kansas, maryland, etc) that basically interview a similar percentage of OOS as private schools do because of the number of apps

i also think schools like jefferson, tufts, bu, cinci deserve to be on the list, but it's just so many apps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you for anyone willing to help, i've spent a lot of time going through this, and now i need a little help trimming this list 😍

Finch & Chicago Med are 2 different schools. Chicago Med is the same as Rosalind Franklin. I think you should keep that on your list. I also think you should keep Saint Louis, Med Coll of WI, Med Coll of Ohio, & Tulane on your list. I would remove U Kansas, U Maryland, U Miami, Loma Linda (unless you really feel you fit their 7th day adventist philosophy), Rush (gives large pref to IL residents), and probably U of IL (unless you will diversify their class or are IL resident.) Just my suggestions. Also - just a heads up BU does NOT accept any community college or AP classes.

 

[Apparition]

Finch & Chicago Med are 2 different schools. Chicago Med is the same as Rosalind Franklin. I think you should keep that on your list. I also think you should keep Saint Louis, Med Coll of WI, Med Coll of Ohio, & Tulane on your list. I would remove U Kansas, U Maryland, U Miami, Loma Linda (unless you really feel you fit their 7th day adventist philosophy), Rush (gives large pref to IL residents), and probably U of IL (unless you will diversify their class or are IL resident.) Just my suggestions. Also - just a heads up BU does NOT accept any community college or AP classes.

Finch/CMS and Rosalind Franklin are all the same school.
Agree about UMiami. Random piece of info about Rush - their secondary is like 9 essays, which was enough to make me decide not to apply there.

 

[novawildcat]

I would get rid of Uconn. they only accept a small amount each year, and 80% of them are female. I would only keep it if you are female and from uconn or ct.

 

[C.P. Jones]

Finch & Chicago Med are 2 different schools. Chicago Med is the same as Rosalind Franklin. I think you should keep that on your list. I also think you should keep Saint Louis, Med Coll of WI, Med Coll of Ohio, & Tulane on your list. I would remove U Kansas, U Maryland, U Miami, Loma Linda (unless you really feel you fit their 7th day adventist philosophy), Rush (gives large pref to IL residents), and probably U of IL (unless you will diversify their class or are IL resident.) Just my suggestions. Also - just a heads up BU does NOT accept any community college or AP classes.

i'm confused w/ chicago med school...looking at msar and princeton review book, they both have finch w/ no mention of rosalind franklin

princetonreview.com has rosalind franklin, but no finch....however, they are at the same address......so....are finch/chicago med/rosalind franklin all the same school?

i believe i can fit into loma linda's philosophy. i tried finding what this may be on their website, but i couldn't find it....i guess i just have to look up the religion later for a general idea

thanks for your suggestions 👍

 

[strawberryfield]

obviously there are schools like U Wisc that i will probably remove unless someone has a reason that I have a shot...

I have similar stats and I applied to U Wisc for this year as OOS, they did not even send me a secondary. I think you have to have very high scores as OOS or ties to the state/school... just my $0.02!

I think you will be gettin' off a waitlist or 2 though... 😉

 

[C.P. Jones]

Finch/CMS and Rosalind Franklin are all the same school.
Agree about UMiami. Random piece of info about Rush - their secondary is like 9 essays, which was enough to make me decide not to apply there.

ok, so they are the same....amcas better just have one of those names!!!

nova: i've got one of those requirements down, all i need now is a sex change and i'm all set! 🙂

 

[MollyMalone]

UWisc and MCW are two different schools, FYI. I think you've got a good shot at MCW, but I don't think you should bother applying to UWisc.

 

[Duchess742]

i think you sound like a pretty good applicant to me! anyway, i've got just a few questions that'll prob help us evaluate your application:

1. what was your undergrad school/major?
2. what will you be adding to your app that wasn't on it last time you applied?
3. what sort of research have you been doing? (btw, i think it's great that you've done a lot of it)

best of luck!!

 

[C.P. Jones]

i think you sound like a pretty good applicant to me! anyway, i've got just a few questions that'll prob help us evaluate your application:

1. what was your undergrad school/major?
2. what will you be adding to your app that wasn't on it last time you applied?
3. what sort of research have you been doing? (btw, i think it's great that you've done a lot of it)

best of luck!!

first, molly, yep MCW is the one i'm talking about 🙂

1. UConn, bio
2. adding, volunteer at ED, volunteer at YMCA, research job at yale (since i graduated last may)....those are newest since graduating, which i did try to send as updates to my schools last year
3. 1st: summer internship at yale cancer center characterizing a genetic mutation......this was summer before college, my first taste of bio/research...so a big learning experience
2nd: worked in a lab at uconn for about a year and a half for my honor's thesis project....trying to figure out what a gene in tomato plant cell wall does
3rd: after grad., summer internship studying west nile virus transmission
4th: got a full-time position at the mouse metabolism phenotyping center at yale (so hard to get a FT lab job when they know you're trying for med school!), we work on multiple projects (therefore the many publication opportunities). none of the projects are "mine" since i work for other post-docs, but i do get to do a lot of cool experiments and have learned a lot....a lot...about metabolism. research focuses on diabetes II, and other metabolic illnesses. if i apply again, i will stay in this lab (as long as grants renew)

hope that helps, duchess, thanks

 

[dajimmers]

first, let me apologize for making one of these threads when I know how much they are hated; however, they are helpful to the person making them (me). but would you really look if you didn't want to see? 🙂

Hey, anyone with 1000+ posts deserves at least one of these threads, and yours avoids many of the headaches of the others anyways. And good luck with the waitlists, it looks like you've got a good shot!

I can't really help much with your list right now, but would like some clarification that may help others:

1) How long are you planning on waiting to here from waitlists before making the AMCAS plunge? A tip you likely already know: if you apply to at least one school and submit your AMCAS early, it will be processed and ready for you. If you don't get in a waitlist, you can then add more schools and the processing time for them will be significantly decreased (hope that made sense).
2) How many schools do you want to apply to in total?
3) Any reason you haven't considered the DO route, just in case?

Good luck!

 

[Duchess742]

first, molly, yep MCW is the one i'm talking about 🙂

1. UConn, bio
2. adding, volunteer at ED, volunteer at YMCA, research job at yale (since i graduated last may)....those are newest since graduating, which i did try to send as updates to my schools last year
3. 1st: summer internship at yale cancer center characterizing a genetic mutation......this was summer before college, my first taste of bio/research...so a big learning experience
2nd: worked in a lab at uconn for about a year and a half for my honor's thesis project....trying to figure out what a gene in tomato plant cell wall does
3rd: after grad., summer internship studying west nile virus transmission
4th: got a full-time position at the mouse metabolism phenotyping center at yale (so hard to get a FT lab job when they know you're trying for med school!), we work on multiple projects (therefore the many publication opportunities). none of the projects are "mine" since i work for other post-docs, but i do get to do a lot of cool experiments and have learned a lot....a lot...about metabolism. research focuses on diabetes II, and other metabolic illnesses. if i apply again, i will stay in this lab (as long as grants renew)

hope that helps, duchess, thanks

ok it definitely sounds like you have a good amount of substantive research! plus, you've done a lot since your last app. although you sent in the updates, it's probably better for a school to see everything in one place b/c they'll get a better initial impression of you as an applicant and they won't lose track of anything. if i were you, i'd feel good enough about my application improvements to reapply to schools.

maybe a couple of things you could do differently:

1. get a couple more LORs...esp from ED and your lab at yale (although i'm sure you knew that already 😉 ).
2. write a more compelling PS, and maybe let the work you did in the past year (esp ED volunteering) shed some light on your dedication to medicine. have credible ppl read your PS and make sure it's really convincing.
3. i dunno if ppl generally do this, but i would prob send a letter of interest with my secondary to the schools i applied to last yr that didn't accept me, explaining how i was a better applicant than before and how i thought i would make a significant contribution to their school if they'd give me a chance. it might be hard to do this w/o sounding like you're begging/desperate, but just be sure to be sincere.
4. have confidence in yourself! you definitely have the potential to kick ass this time around! 🙂

 

[strawberryfield]

4. have confidence in yourself! you definitely have the potential to kick ass this time around! 🙂

I definitely admire your perseverance in going after your dream... and I know I'd be doing the same thing (applying again) if I were in your position. 😳

*sighs* if only I were on the adcom, you'd be in in a heartbeat! 😛

 

[popbirch]

I would definetly apply to St. Louis Univ. I had a lot of success there this last application cycle, and the 3 people I knew that applied this year(including myself) were accepted there. I was probably had the weakest app of those three (MCAT 30, GPA 3.6). They seem to take a lot of people, its almost 2/3rds of all that interview if I remember correctly. I think NYMC is a good add, they are another school that I really enjoyed and I had the stats to be competitive at.

Temple and VCU are good adds too. I think that your stats make you competitive. I don't think that the new jersey schools are a good idea unless you happen to be a resident there. State schools aren't worth the money to apply to unless you are a resident (thats just what I think). The stats for most state schools just turn me off, and the only reason I applied to VCU was my brother lives nearby, so I thought I would take a chance, but I got waitlisted and got off of it in early may.

I think jefferson and Tulane are good places to apply this cycle. I think Tulane is still hurtin a little from the hurricane so they having to accept more than usual to fill there class, in spite of that, I think it would be a cool place and time to do med school. Once again I don't think that many state schools are worth the money unless there is some specific reason to be in that state. If you are having a difficult time check out the stats for accepted vs. matriculated for out of staters at that school. It is usually much lower than for any private school. Check out this thread for some help in that department. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=51012&page=3&pp=25 For example U Kentucky out of state acceptance from interviews is like 45% compared to like Wake Forest of an overall acceptance from interview of 52%. Which means to me that you are more likely to be accepted at Wake Forest if you get an interview there than if you are interviewed at U kentucky. I didn't apply to any school that was below 50% in OOS acceptance from interview.

That was how I widdled my list down last appication cycle. It also didn't matter to me where I went to school, so I only chose schools that I felt I was competitive at (stats wise) and that the statistics of application where favorable for me (i.e. total interview vs. OOS interviews, interviews to acceptances).

Thats my two cents

 

[crazy_cavalier]

Drexel
EVMS
GW
NYMC
Penn State
SUNY Upstate
Albany
Chicago Med School
Loma Linda
Loyola
Temple
Virg. Commonwealth
Wayne State
Jefferson
Med College of Ohio
Ohio State U
Saint Louis
Tulane
MCG
Mercer

 

[Will Ferrell]

I would get rid of Uconn. they only accept a small amount each year, and 80% of them are female. I would only keep it if you are female and from uconn or ct.

I feel very bad for the males applying from CT.

 

[DrVanNostran]

I feel very bad for the males applying from CT.

But im sure the guys who do get in are pretty happy...

 

[uclasoccer]

did you guys break your app list into tiers? it's pretty easy to make a tier for those 'reach' schools, but i'm having trouble figuring out what is a competitive school and what's more of a 'backup' (not that there really are any). anyone want to help me out? i'm a california student with a 3.7, 35 mcat and a decent amount of extracurriculars.. what schools would you guys recommend?

 

[Duchess742]

did you guys break your app list into tiers? it's pretty easy to make a tier for those 'reach' schools, but i'm having trouble figuring out what is a competitive school and what's more of a 'backup' (not that there really are any). anyone want to help me out? i'm a california student with a 3.7, 35 mcat and a decent amount of extracurriculars.. what schools would you guys recommend?

from what i've seen, it seems like you have a good shot with any of the UC schools. i'm not sure what ECs you have, but if they include research and leadership stuff, with your stats, you prob have a chance at what are typically considered "top-tier" schools (harvard, j-ho, penn <3, wash u). the best way to find "backup" schools is to decide where you'd be happy living for the next 4 yrs (area of the country, city, whatever, depending on how picky you are), and apply to schools in those areas where the avg mcat/gpa is significantly lower than yours. good luck!

 

[lyn2006]

If I were in your situation (reapplicant) I'd apply to as many schools as possible. I only applied to schools in the northeast (philly-north) so I won't try to comment on the others on your list since other people on here know more about them.

Your first 2 lists look good, and from your questioning list I think I'd add Jefferson (I interviewed there and really liked it), but maybe leave off Tufts and BU. I applied to those and thought I had a good shot - I'm from MA and my numbers were about their average, and I heard nothing. They just get soooo many apps. And what about Temple? It has similar numbers to Jeff/Drexel. The only other private school in the northeast that I'd possibly consider is Dartmouth, as a reach. They like people who've taken time off.

As for Yale - you might as well apply! That was my dream school this past cycle and my numbers were below theirs - but I still got an interview and ended up waitlisted. I'm not expecting to come off, but it was still surprising to even interview there.

And I believe UConn accidentally ended up with a largely female class - it's not like you have a better chance if you're a girl. My fiance interviewed there this past cycle and the Dean said that many more females decided to matriculate. On a side note, he was accepted off the waitlist recently but declined the offer - so maybe that will open up a spot for you and this list you're trying to make will be meaningless!

 

[kevster2001]

in my mdapps link

 

[Orthodoc40]

To answer your question from way back, yes, Finch/Rosalind Franklin/Chicago Medical school = 1 & the same. Look at the address they list in the book - that should help! Names may change, but locations rarely do!!

 

[Taurus]

3rd cycle? Wow, that shows determination. I know one person who got in on the 4th try. Personally, I would have quit after 2 attempts.

 

[C.P. Jones]

Hey, anyone with 1000+ posts deserves at least one of these threads, and yours avoids many of the headaches of the others anyways. And good luck with the waitlists, it looks like you've got a good shot!

I can't really help much with your list right now, but would like some clarification that may help others:

1) How long are you planning on waiting to here from waitlists before making the AMCAS plunge? A tip you likely already know: if you apply to at least one school and submit your AMCAS early, it will be processed and ready for you. If you don't get in a waitlist, you can then add more schools and the processing time for them will be significantly decreased (hope that made sense).
2) How many schools do you want to apply to in total?
3) Any reason you haven't considered the DO route, just in case?

Good luck!

thanks dajimmers,

1) i will definitely send in my app for processing before april mcat scores come out, probably much earlier since choosing schools is the only thing i have left. i probably will do the apply to one school and add more later move since i think the penn state and evms lists should get a bunch of movement by mid-june.
2) that's tough for me to say right now, i'd like to say 20-30, depending how much the money will scare me away
3) i have very briefly considered DO, but i'm not too sure about it at this point. i really think i should be able to get into MD. i may do the DO app later on, but i'm really doubting it. there's a lot of stuff to consider, especially since i'm not sure i would even be happy doing so.

duchess, already got LOR from my PI....i should definitely ask from the ED as well......is there such a thing as having TOO MANY lors? at this point i have had a lot of letters sent to my committee, so i don't know how they actually handle them. either way, i don't see how it could hurt at all.

i rewrote my PS and had a friend read it over (english ed major) and told him to tell me anything no matter how critical it was. he did help me to fix a lot, and i think it is much better. it defnitely shows why i want to go into medicine much more than my previous PS

the letter of interest sounds like an excellent idea, especially since i'm not sure if most of the schools i will be reapplying to will even notice that i am a reapplicant to their school! thanks again for your advice!

 

[rup47]

Hey CP, surprised you havent gotten in anywhere yet. You def. got a shot still with those waiting lists. I just dropped Drexel last week, and I know some other ppl have too. I think they are behind still (still getting back to ppl who interviewed in april) so it may be a while before the waiting list starts moving but I've heard they get a lot of movement.

Good luck man, when you get in I think you'll do great and make an excellent doctor with all of your determination.

 

[C.P. Jones]

just open your own school.....i got into strawberryfield school of medicine!!!!!!!!! 😀

ok, gotta get back to work, i'll check out everyone elses comments later tonight.....thanks so much everyone!

I definitely admire your perseverance in going after your dream... and I know I'd be doing the same thing (applying again) if I were in your position. 😳

*sighs* if only I were on the adcom, you'd be in in a heartbeat! 😛

 

[strawberryfield]

just open your own school.....i got into strawberryfield school of medicine!!!!!!!!! 😀

ok, gotta get back to work, i'll check out everyone elses comments later tonight.....thanks so much everyone!

I like that idea! now, I just need a couple mil to get it going!

 

[C.P. Jones]

Hey CP, surprised you havent gotten in anywhere yet. You def. got a shot still with those waiting lists. I just dropped Drexel last week, and I know some other ppl have too. I think they are behind still (still getting back to ppl who interviewed in april) so it may be a while before the waiting list starts moving but I've heard they get a lot of movement.

Good luck man, when you get in I think you'll do great and make an excellent doctor with all of your determination.

thanks a lot...especially for dropping that drexel spot 🙂 👍
they are really behind, especially since interview people are still waiting on their decisions! by the time they get to my app, i probably will be done with all my secondaries 🙄

for NJ schools, i have a lot of family there, so it would be good for me to apply there...and i mean A LOT of family

a big thanks to all, you have all been very helpful (hence my donation 🙂 )

 

[C.P. Jones]

I like that idea! now, I just need a couple mil to get it going!

may i borrow a few thousand for my apps? 😳

 

[strawberryfield]

a big thanks to all, you have all been very helpful (hence my donation 🙂 )

awwww... now you are an angel like me! 😛

errr, about the cash, sorry dude, but I'm scraping my pockets as it is! 😳 If I had a few mil, I'd for sure dish you a couple thou

 

[C.P. Jones]

awwww... now you are an angel like me! 😛

errr, about the cash, sorry dude, but I'm scraping my pockets as it is! 😳 If I had a few mil, I'd for sure dish you a couple thou

but you didn't have to pay to be an angel! 😉

 

[C.P. Jones]

is this your list? if so, i'm assuming you are from georgia....and if so, do you happen to live by savannah?

Drexel
EVMS
GW
NYMC
Penn State
SUNY Upstate
Albany
Chicago Med School
Loma Linda
Loyola
Temple
Virg. Commonwealth
Wayne State
Jefferson
Med College of Ohio
Ohio State U
Saint Louis
Tulane
MCG
Mercer

 

[strawberryfield]

but you didn't have to pay to be an angel! 😉

awwww... you are definitely my favorite now! 😳 😍