School list: 3.7/519/URM/CA Resident

[DrogonTheDragon]

Hi everyone,

I’m concerned my GPA and research are sub-par for “top” schools and MCAT is too high for “mid/low” tiers. Any help on my list/chances would be much appreciated

CA resident from a public state university
3.7 cGPA, 3.67 sGPA
URM Status: Half Hispanic half white but white name
519 MCAT (128/129/130/132)

Employment history:
- EMT working in large city’s 911 system (2500 hrs)
- EMT on a Children’s Hospital Emergency Transport team (200 hrs)
- ER Tech at two Academic ER’s (Assoc. w/ same med school but on dramatically diff sides of city) (2000 hrs)

Research (no pubs)
- 1000 hrs bench work in virus lab
- 100 hrs interviewing ER patients for ongoing studies
- 100 hrs chart review/data extraction investigating ER cardiac arrest outcomes
- Currently working on a case report
- Initiated research project at primary care student clinics in Mexico (listed below)


Clinical Volunteering
-EMT at monthly clinics triaging patients in Mexico (leadership position, started research project) (400 hrs)
- Spanish Interpreter (actually never graduated from training but plan to put a positive spin on it) (120 hrs)
- Volunteer at local med school’s Free Clinic (250 hrs)
- Ride alongs on ambulance in Mexico (25 hrs)

Non-clinical volunteering:
- Project Manager for pre-health conference/school fair (30 hrs)
- Crisis Counselor via online messaging/texting forum (150 hrs)
- Conducted science experiments at Special Ed Elementary/Middle school (100 hrs)
- Volunteer staff at conference for Emergency Physicians (60 hrs)

Physician shadowing
Primary Care (80 hrs), ER (24 hours), Ortho (6), OB (8), Anesthesia (8)

Awards:
Received a cardiac arrest save award while working on the ambulance for a successful CPR

Reaches

1. U Penn
2. Vanderbilt
3. Cornell
4. UCSF
5. UCLA
6. U Pitt
7. Boston Univ
8. U Michigan
9. Northwestern
10. U Chicago
11. Baylor

Mid Tier/good fit

1. UC San Diego
2. UC Irvine
3. USC Keck
4. Case Western
5. U Colorado
6. Ohio State
7. Einstein
8. Emory
9. SUNY Downstate
10. Tufts
11. Temple
12. U of Cincinatti
13. U of South Florida
14. Western Michigan
15. Virginia Commonwealth
16. Miami
17. Stony Brook
18. U of Vermont
19. Thomas Jefferson
20. U of Maryland
21. Dartmouth

“Safety”/low tier

1. Kaiser
2. U of A Tuscon
3. U of A Phoenix
4. Drexel
5. Tulane

I know it’s a long list but I do not want to apply again. I have the money and have already drafted 10 secondaries. Thank you!

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[LongLiveThanos]

You're going to have a good cycle. You could remove a lot of the mid and low-tier schools if you want to save money.

 

[Faha]

You have a good list and should receive several interviews. Add California University.

 

[DrogonTheDragon]

You're going to have a good cycle. You could remove a lot of the mid and low-tier schools if you want to save money.

Thank you for the encouragement. I'm optimistic as well but just really don't want to cut schools and then end up having a top-heavy list and not get in anywhere. Maybe I'll cut Stony brook, VCW, and/or Drexel

 

[DrogonTheDragon]

You have a good list and should receive several interviews. Add California University.

Thank you for the reply. Why California University? It's my understanding they're brand new and it would be less than ideal to go to in terms of matching.

 

[Faha]

Thank you for the reply. Why California University? It's my understanding they're brand new and it would be less than ideal to go to in terms of matching.

Kaiser is also brand new. California University is another "safety"

 

[Goro]

I suggest:
NYU
Vanderbilt
WashU
Yale
JHU
U Chicago
U Penn
Northwestern
Columbia
Harvard
Stanford
Mayo
Cornell
Sinai
BU
U VA
Duke
Baylor
Case
ALL UCs, but UCR (IF you’re from the Inland Empire)
U MI
Albert Einstein
Hofstra
Ohio State
Pitt
U Cincy
USF Morsani
Dartmouth
Rochester
USC/Keck
Western MI
Emory
Jefferson
Miami
SLU
Tufts
U IA
U VM

 

[DrogonTheDragon]

I suggest:
NYU
Vanderbilt
WashU
Yale
JHU
U Chicago
U Penn
Northwestern
Columbia
Harvard
Stanford
Mayo
Cornell
Sinai
BU
U VA
Duke
Baylor
Case
ALL UCs, but UCR (IF you’re from the Inland Empire)
U MI
Albert Einstein
Hofstra
Ohio State
Pitt
U Cincy
USF Morsani
Dartmouth
Rochester
USC/Keck
Western MI
Emory
Jefferson
Miami
SLU
Tufts
U IA
U VM

Thank you for your response. I know you have a lot of credibility on this forum but I'm reluctant to think I have a shot at Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Stanford, Yale, and JHU. Maybe it's a bit of imposter syndrome, but I feel that my research and GPA put me out of contention despite my above average EC's and half URM status. If you could share your thinking process I would greatly appreciate it. Otherwise I still feel reluctant spending the $500+ to apply to these schools. Thanks again, Goro

 

[DrogonTheDragon]

Kaiser is also brand new. California University is another "safety"

Ah, I see. Touché!