School List Help (Reapplicant, GPA 3.93, MCAT: 515)

[drel125]

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Hi, I am a reapplicant (from last cycle) who graduated in December looking for critique on my previous school list. I would like some help adding or removing schools to my list so that I can have a list of around 30-35 schools for this upcoming cycle. I am not sure if there are higher or lower chances for certain schools when it comes to reapplying. During my gap year, I continued my volunteer/leadership in the Flying Samaritans and worked full-time in research. Last cycle I got two interviews UCI: Waitlisted Georgetown: Denied. Thank you for all your help!

cGPA: 3.93 sGPA: 3.93

MCAT (1 attempt): 515 Chem: 132 CARS: 126 Bio: 128 Soci/Pysch: 129

State: CA Race: Asian Undergraduate: UCSD

Clinical experience:

• Flying Samaritans: student-run organization that provides free clinics in Ensenada Mexico for underserved community
  • Professional Recruiter: 400 hrs
  • Clinical Coordinator (leadership): 220 hrs
• EMT (paid): 950 hrs

Research:

• Research Assistant: 970 hrs
• Participated and presented in journal clubs
• Led independent project on rheumatoid arthritis (no papers published)
• Mentor for new undergraduate research assistants

Shadowing:

• Orthopedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, and neurosurgeon: 85 hrs total

Non-clinical volunteering:

• UCSD Strive: student-run organization volunteering with special needs adults
  • Coach (leadership): 300 hrs
• Flying Samaritans regular volunteering: 110 hrs
• Phi Gamma Delta Community Service Chair: 125 hrs

Extracurriculars:

• Wrestling: 2200 hrs

Awards:

• Persistence Scholarship from Phi Gamma Delta: prestigious award given to 20 Phi Gamma Delta members in the United States, recognizing my dedication to academics, leadership, and contributions to my chapter and community.

School list (From Last Cycle):

• Albany
• Albert Einstein
• CA University of Science and Medicine
• UCLA
• UCSD
• UCR
• UCSF
• UCD
• UCI
• Drexel
• New York Medical College
• Penn state
• Rush MC
• Tufts
• Georgetown
• University of Miami
• George Washington
• Templte
• University of Hawaii
• Rutgers
• Hackensack
• Indiana
• University of Colorado
• Chicago Franklin
• Kaiser
• TCU

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Last cycle I got two interviews UCI: Waitlisted Georgetown: Denied.

Just so I don't have to ask... you had mentioned it.

Where do you think you needed to improve your application? What feedback have you gotten?

 

[YodaPineapple]

Given that you’ve shadowed perhaps 3 of the highest paying specialties, I would recommend shadowing something in primary care, just so you don’t rub anyone the wrong way.

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Albany
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Hackensack
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Georgetown
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Belmont
NOVA MD
USF Morsani
Tulane
TCU
Creighton
St. Louis
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Ponce (St. Louis)
Arizona (Phoenix)
California University
Kaiser
The UCs (except Riverside unless you are from that region)
USC Keck
Alice Walton (when it opens)
Roseman (when it opens)

 

[drel125]

Just so I don't have to ask... you had mentioned it.

Where do you think you needed to improve your application? What feedback have you gotten?

I think my application was good but I believe my primary application (personal statement and activities) needed to be written better. I think its also good that my hours of research increased from around 200 to 1000. Overall though my application did not change much over that 1 year.