School List Help: 517, 3.7.

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milkshaikh

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  1. Pre-Medical
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Asked earlier this year, at which point I was worried about bland ECs. I feel I've made some significant improvements to my CV with some very meaningful ECs and a new leadership position, so wanted to get some new opinions. Note: all the time periods/hours I mention below for ECs are by the time I apply to med school this cycle.

1. cGPA of 3.7 with strong upward trajectory; MCAT of 517 (127/128/131/131)
2. Michigan resident, but with strong ties to Ohio (went to school there from 4th grade to 12th)
3. Ethnicity: South Asian
4. dual U.S.-Canada citizen, went to uni in Canada (UofT)
5. Clinical experience: Worked as a scribe for general surgeons; around 700 hours over a period of one year by application time. Also, recently became chief scribe at the site, managing about 10 scribes total. Prior to this, I spent 150 hours volunteering in a psychology clinic over a summer in undergrad.
7. Research experience: Around 300 hours over a year as a research assistant at a hospital with focus on mental health. Might have a publication, but this is a bit dicey as I would be related to the first author.
8. 40 hours shadowing some family doctors, and an ophthalmologist
9. Non-clinical: About 50 hours over the last year at a local non-profit's food bank; 70 hours over the last year tutoring kids K-12 virtually; About 80 hours over the last 6 months working as a Crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line.
10. I am in my second gap year, and this is my first application.

I now feel a lot more confident about my ECs and have gotten a lot of meaningful experience out of my recent additions of tutoring, volunteering a crisis counselor, and becoming Chief scribe. However, I'm worried that a lot of ECs are from the last year and don't show long-term service.
 
Also, forgot to ask if having gone to UofT makes any difference in applications to U.S. schools? It has a reputation for being tough in Canada, but it isn't particularly difficult to get into UofT and obviously it's not a school in America so unsure if this reputation is well-known.
 
No need for any more clinical exposure. Bulk up on service to others less fortunate than yourself. Are the kids to be tutored underprivileged? If not, do something better.
Yes, sorry forgot to mention that the tutoring is volunteering for a non-profit that is trying to bridge gaps in education for Detroit public school kids. Would this contribute to service to others less fortunate than myself? The foodbank is kind of hard to gather more hours at so I was hoping my other activities could supplement this.
 
Also, forgot to ask if having gone to UofT makes any difference in applications to U.S. schools? It has a reputation for being tough in Canada, but it isn't particularly difficult to get into UofT and obviously it's not a school in America so unsure if this reputation is well-known.
Academia is a small world. Those who know about U of T know.

We also often blind the institutions to our reviewers so your concern about bias could be mitigated.
 
Yes, sorry forgot to mention that the tutoring is volunteering for a non-profit that is trying to bridge gaps in education for Detroit public school kids. Would this contribute to service to others less fortunate than myself? The foodbank is kind of hard to gather more hours at so I was hoping my other activities could supplement this.



Absolutely !!!
 
@Goro Great! I know it's impossible to say definitively but with the numbers I listed above then, do I look good for the Michigan MD schools?
 
Academia is a small world. Those who know about U of T know.

We also often blind the institutions to our reviewers so your concern about bias could be mitigated.
Haha, I was hoping if there was a bias it would be in my favor, along the lines of UofT being a tough school to get a good GPA at. I know that's probably not a very big consideration if any though. I do have a pretty big upward trend to my gpa, with about a 3.0 in my first year and a 3.8, 3.95, and a 4 in the years remaining, and I gather that looks good to adcoms?
 
I don't know on the Canadian pool front, but with the many schools in Michigan, you probably have a good shot.

Do your homework on the schools and try to find other Canadians.

Wayne State has some student chats...
 
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Hi all,

I've posted a couple times before and gotten some great advice about my chances, but wanted to post again looking for school list advice. I am a Michigan resident with strong ties to Ohio (went to junior high and high school there) and the following activities:

3.7 GPA with strong upward trend; 517 on the MCAT
Clinical volunteering: 150 hours over a summer in a pediatric clinic.
Clinical work: Working as a scribe for the past year (I am on my second gap year)
Research: About 200 hours over a year for a hospital with focus on mental health; no paper or presentation unfortunately
Non-clinical volunteering: Around 200 hours split across three activities in the past year: food bank, tutoring economically disadvantaged kids, and crisis counselling.
Shadowing: About 40 hours shadowing a primary care physician.
Leadership: Since the new year, I have been the chief scribe at my site.

I have a list of schools, including all schools in Michigan and public schools in Ohio, but I'm struggling to put together the others.
 
Here is a link to your former thread so people can see. This will be your first time applying, right?
 
Hi all,

I've posted a couple times before and gotten some great advice about my chances, but wanted to post again looking for school list advice. I am a Michigan resident with strong ties to Ohio (went to junior high and high school there) and the following activities:

3.7 GPA with strong upward trend; 517 on the MCAT
Clinical volunteering: 150 hours over a summer in a pediatric clinic.
Clinical work: Working as a scribe for the past year (I am on my second gap year)
Research: About 200 hours over a year for a hospital with focus on mental health; no paper or presentation unfortunately
Non-clinical volunteering: Around 200 hours split across three activities in the past year: food bank, tutoring economically disadvantaged kids, and crisis counselling.
Shadowing: About 40 hours shadowing a primary care physician.
Leadership: Since the new year, I have been the chief scribe at my site.

I have a list of schools, including all schools in Michigan and public schools in Ohio, but I'm struggling to put together the others.
I have merged your post with the previous thread that wysdoc pointed out.

Outside of the OH and MI schools (you can try Case too btw), I suggest:

Iowa
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Miami
USF
Dartmouth
Mayo
UVA
Pitt
Jefferson
Tufts
Emory
MCW
Hackensack
Vermont

Add any relevant Canadians schools since you are a dual citizen and attended undergrad there.
 
Here is a link to your former thread so people can see. This will be your first time applying, right?
Yes, first time applying, thank you!
 
I have merged your post with the previous thread that wysdoc pointed out.

Outside of the OH and MI schools (you can try Case too btw), I suggest:

Iowa
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Miami
USF
Dartmouth
Mayo
UVA
Pitt
Jefferson
Tufts
Emory
MCW
Hackensack
Vermont

Add any relevant Canadians schools since you are a dual citizen and attended undergrad there.
Awesome, thank you so much!
 
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