School List Advice - Reapplicant

[cavesnakess]

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Looking for some feedback on my school list! (Primary has already been verified)
Stats: GPA - 3.76, MCAT - 518, research throughout undergrad and 2 years after graduating, 1 pub (not first-author), a few posters
Last cycle: interviewed at 4 schools and waitlisted at all of them (Mt. Sinai, UCI, Case, UTSW)
Research interests: neurodegeneration, aging
School list:
UCSF
WashU
UPitt
UChicago
Vanderbilt
UMich
Mt. Sinai
UCSD
Baylor
UNC
Emory
Case Western
UTSW
UVA
University of Wisconsin
OHSU
University of Colorado
University of Rochester
University of Iowa
Einstein
UCI
Indiana
Tufts
UT-San Antonio

I'm considering adding the University of Miami and the University of Arizona and removing UChicago and another top tier school (not sure which).

It's a pretty long list so I'm hoping to get some advice on which schools I should cut. I'm also concerned that it's still way too top heavy (trying not to repeat last year's mistakes)!

 

[ValentinNarcisse]

I do not understand why you wouldn’t apply to every single mstp possible. You did not get in last year, why would you limit your chances from the outset.

 

[ClimbsRox]

It would be insane to apply to all MSTPs possible (thats ~50 schools). 25 seems to be around the upper limit people reasonably handle. Maybe get rid of some top tiers and add some funded non-mstps. USC, Arizona, Utah, etc. Then again I know people who were rejected all around the first time and had 5+ offers the second. Its more important how you have improved this time, than exactly where you apply. Most of your schools seem reasonable to me.

 

[kepler16b]

Its more important how you have improved this time, than exactly where you apply.

Second. Do you have an idea of what went wrong?

 

[MSTPadvocate]

Because you got 4 interviews at pretty high tier schools, there's likely nothing wrong with your application on paper. The 4 wait lists likely reflect an interviewing issue - things we see are i) not a convincing drive for science, ii) not a scientific leader in your project (can't explain very well), iii) poor social skills/emotional intelligence. The cutoff is pretty tight at the upper tier and if you are getting interviews, you are competitive on paper.

 

[inode]

I would think it wise to apply to as many MSTPs as is feasible for you to handle. More places you apply = more interviews = higher chance of getting an acceptance. Even once you get interviews, it's still hard to get into a program (you have to distinguish yourself among the top 70-100 applicants, most of whom are beyond qualified and likely can impress their interviewers at least as well as you can). The odds are still stacked against you.

I received an interview invitation at every place I applied to (11 places total; all top schools) and almost every place either waitlisted me or rejected me in the end. Fortunately, I am matriculating into a program that was tied for being my top choice -- but, to this day, I think luck was what played the biggest role in me getting accepted.

 

[cavesnakess]

Thank you all! I will be definitely adding more lower tier schools and and reconsidering the top tier schools. I also agree with the several people mentioning interviews. I am a mediocre interviewer at best and looking back I didn't properly explain my research and was overall unimpressive. That's something I will definitely be working on with practice interviews. I think I also put myself at a big disadvantage from the start by being complete last year in October for half of my schools.

As disappointing as it was to not be accepted last year, I hope I can learn from my mistakes and appreciate the guidance from everyone on this forum.

 

[Seihai]

Being complete in October definitely hurt you, especially since the MD-PhD cycle trends earlier with interviews being filled up earlier than the MD cycle. It adds a new dimension to why you may not have received more interviews or why you may not have been accepted.

Apply early and bolster your application, and I think you'll be able to get into at least a few programs.

 

[ClimbsRox]

Thank you all! I will be definitely adding more lower tier schools and and reconsidering the top tier schools. I also agree with the several people mentioning interviews. I am a mediocre interviewer at best and looking back I didn't properly explain my research and was overall unimpressive. That's something I will definitely be working on with practice interviews. I think I also put myself at a big disadvantage from the start by being complete last year in October for half of my schools.

As disappointing as it was to not be accepted last year, I hope I can learn from my mistakes and appreciate the guidance from everyone on this forum.

Don't get discouraged. You were complete in October and still got interviews. That says something. As for explaining your research. Try some writing exercises. How would I explain my research to a non-scientist? to someone outside my field? to someone in my field? Try to do each in less than a page. Give them to people and see if they understand you. Do the same for the non-science parts of your application you think are important.

Also, a good idea is to have someone knowledgeable review all of your stuff in detail before you submit and submit ASAP. There is no reason not to submit your primary on day one and submit all secondaries within a week or two. Pre-write all of them.

Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.