School List: 31P/cGPA: 3.93/sGPA: 3.89 but weak EC's

[chevchelios]

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Hey guys, I recently received my MCAT scores and got a 31P (10 PS, 11 VR, 10 BS) and have started thinking about what schools to apply to/how I could improve my application. I don't have any research yet, but by the time I apply I should have at least 1 semester. I have 100+ hours of volunteering at a local hospital. I'm the treasurer of the pre-medical honorary at my school and I'm a member in four other clubs. I have about ~50 hours of shadowing two internal medicine doctors and I worked at a doctor's office for 3 summers. I'm a Biology major and a WV resident. I wouldn't be applying till next cycle (2012-2013) but I was wondering if my lack of research/extra curricular activity would keep me out of schools whose stats are around my averages such as GW? Any help would be appreciated 🙂.

 

[sector9]

Hey guys, I recently received my MCAT scores and got a 31P (10 PS, 11 VR, 10 BS) and have started thinking about what schools to apply to/how I could improve my application. I don't have any research yet, but by the time I apply I should have at least 1 semester. I have 100+ hours of volunteering at a local hospital. I'm the treasurer of the pre-medical honorary at my school and I'm a member in four other clubs. I have about ~50 hours of shadowing two internal medicine doctors and I worked at a doctor's office for 3 summers. I'm a Biology major and a WV resident. I wouldn't be applying till next cycle (2012-2013) but I was wondering if my lack of research/extra curricular activity would keep me out of schools whose stats are around my averages such as GW? Any help would be appreciated 🙂.

Well I feel like anything can keep you out of GW. They get 10k+ apps per year so if you reviewer wakes up and decides he doesn't like applicants with a 10 on PS, then you get rejected. A slight exaggeration but you should understand what I mean😀 Don't pin your hopes on GW or any other particular school

Your low level of research will keep you out of the top research schools, but your 31 might be too low for them anyway.

It would be nice to see non-medical community service since you don't have plans to get very much research, but it sounds like you don't have that either. Your stats are fine but you do need to beef up the EC's to increase your chance of being accepted during your first cycle

 

[Catalystik]

Hey guys, I recently received my MCAT scores and got a 31P (10 PS, 11 VR, 10 BS) and have started thinking about what schools to apply to/how I could improve my application. I don't have any research yet, but by the time I apply I should have at least 1 semester. I have 100+ hours of volunteering at a local hospital. I'm the treasurer of the pre-medical honorary at my school and I'm a member in four other clubs. I have about ~50 hours of shadowing two internal medicine doctors and I worked at a doctor's office for 3 summers. I'm a Biology major and a WV resident. I wouldn't be applying till next cycle (2012-2013) but I was wondering if my lack of research/extra curricular activity would keep me out of schools whose stats are around my averages such as GW? Any help would be appreciated 🙂.

If your 3 summers of employment at a physician office + hospital volunteering provided a lot of patient contact, then your clinical experience will be strong enough to help adcomms overlook a weakness in your application. But the stronger every category is, the better your shot at the more selective schools. So try to get at least that semester of research, some regular nonmedical community service, and maybe teaching and/or leadership (treasurers usually don't do much leading). Don't forget to include hobbies, sports, and Arts involvemnt to help you stand out. The shadowing you have looks fine, BTW.

 

[chevchelios]

The employment at the physician's office did provide a lot of patient interactions as I was a patient screener, same goes with the hospital volunteering since I was at the ER. I can def get some more non-medical volunteering hours. I forgot to mention that I've been a Biology tutor for 2 semesters and am going to serve on a committee for choosing speakers for the biology seminar series at my school (only undergrad on it).

Here's my school list:

Penn State
West Virginia University
Virginia Commonwealth
Rush
George Washington
Rosalind Franklin
Tulane
Georgetown

I know it's not much, but how would my chances be at those/what others should I think about adding?

 

[Catalystik]

Why not Marshall? Penn State requires a research thesis. Georgetown and maybe GWU seem to find find substantive nonmedical community service appealing.

Other schools to consider for "fit" with your stats, if you can beef up your ECs:

UCentral Florida,
MCW, Miami, SUNY Downstate, UMaryland, UConn, Stony Brook,
UKentucky, UWisc, Cincinnati, Jefferson, FIU, Temple, Albany,
Toledo, Wake, NYMC, Vermont,
Wright, Drexel, Oakland (newer in MI), Commonwealth in Pa (seeks to train rural NE PA docs),
Louisville, Buffalo, ETennessee
EVMS