School list w/o physics

[whichbreath]

Hi all, I'm applying next cycle to schools that don't require a full year of physics. It's my first cycle. Is 30 schools too few? I couldn't find any more that don't require that 3rd quarter of physics. Just looking for some general comments on (1) how does my school list look? (2) any red flags? plz be kind for the PhD situation (3) do I need much more volunteering hours? I think more nonclinical hours and continue with the clinical and shadowing? I'm not sure it will be possible to shadow other specialties. And yes, I am working on finishing my PhD. What can I do? Should I exaggerate my hours a little?

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS 3.8
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts. 510 July 2023
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US) CA
4. Ethnicity and/or race East Asian
5. Undergraduate institution or category T1 private for undergrad and T1 public for DIY postbacc/grad school
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer) Children's Play Area Leader (52:15), Healthcare Navigator (120.93 hr), Transforming Bedside Care (26:25 so far), Clinic Assistant (0 so far, starting in Apr)
7. Research experience and productivity 1 first author pub, 1 conference pub, 1 older pub, 1 hobby pub, likely 2 more first author pubs (one is under review, another is hypothetical) by the time I finish my PhD hoping to matriculate fall 2026 with a defense right before
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented infectious disease (20 hr so far)
9. Non-clinical volunteering free food market 84.02 so far, food bank-48 hours
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc) Teaching Assistant for 3 years, Grader for 2 years, Clubs include dragonboat, orchestra, and Christianity
11. Relevant honors or awards Outstanding Author Award
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important I am 30. Letters from Math professor, physician co-author, physician shadowing

MD:

1. TCU-Burnett School of Medicine
2. Drexel University College of Medicine
3. George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences
4. Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
5. Wake Forest University School of Medicine
6. Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
7. Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine
8. Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
9. Tufts University School of Medicine
10. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
11. California University of Science and Medicine-School of Medicine
12. Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
13. UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
14. Alice L. Walton School of Medicine
15. UC San Diego School of Medicine
16. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
17. University of Arizona Tucson (public)
18. Oregon Health Sciences University (public)
19. University of Minnesota (public)
20. Creighton (requires much service)
21. Rush (requires much service)
22. Baylor (not in MCAT range)

adding schools previously suggested...
23. Rosalind Franklin
24. Medical College Wisconsin
25. Belmont
26. Virginia Commonwealth
27. Penn State
28. Hackensack
29. Albany
30. Vermont
31. Roseman (when it opens)
32. Loma Linda (if you fit their mission)
33. UC Riverside (maybe)
34. UC Davis (maybe)

Adding private schools:
35. Geisinger Commonwealth
36. St. Louis University


DO:

37. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine - MSUCOM
38. NYITCOM
39. Western University of Health Sciences
40. Arizona Midwestern
41. Des Moines
42. Burrell
43. Rowan-Virtua School
44. Lake Eerie

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously

W

Thread 'WAMC Non-Trad 3.78/510'

Aug 2, 2024

Hi everyone,

Trying to make the switch from phd to medicine.
Italicized=planned for this year.
Do I have any chance next cycle for MD if I do all this, i.e. how strong is the app assuming this is what it will look like?

1. 3.78 (both cGPA and sGPA)
2. 510 (128/128/126/128)
3. CA
4. Asian male
5. Top tier
6. (i) Just starting full-time work as a CNA, will work for a year by the time of next cycle
7. Doing research about machine learning applied to endocrinology. 1 published paper (1st author) and (ii) 2 more expected during my phd...

• whichbreath
• Replies: 3
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

W

Thread 'WAMC 510/3.7x'

Apr 19, 2024

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS: cGPA is 3.7x and will update after May 1
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts. 510 (128/128/126/128) July 2023
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US) CA
4. Ethnicity and/or race Asian
5. Undergraduate institution or category Stanford (undergrad), UCLA (grad)
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer) 200 hours for helping people create and use their online accounts in the waiting room area, serving vegetables, and teaching literacy to...

• whichbreath
• wamc
• Replies: 4
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

W

Thread 'WAMC 3.75/510 Non-Trad Californian'

Dec 25, 2023

GPA: 3.75, MCAT: 510 (128/128/126/128)
Extracurriculars: PhD student, teaching assistant/grading, cellist, swimming (casual), reading novels
Research: 2 publications (about cello and biology, respectively), have worked on statistical research, also journal articles in progress
Clinical/volunteer: healthcare navigator (about 250 hours by next July), hospice volunteer (just starting)
Clubs: Christian club
Background: LGBT, mathematical science undergrad/stats grad nontrad
Familiar with mental health due to going to the gym and managing depression
California, age:29, ORM (Asian)

Would I...

• whichbreath
• Replies: 1
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

 

[wysdoc]

Baylor doesn't require physics at all but requires all its other prereqs to be in college and not AP credits

 

[Mr.Smile12]

OP: How many times have you applied? We have several WAMC profiles (see above) where we consistently suggest you boost your non-clinical volunteering. You have been in your Ph.D. program through this time, asking us about whether you should drop out; you apparently are going to finish up as you are close to a thesis.

EDIT: Oops... just once. Making sure. Disregard strikethrough text. 🙂
Now you are applying for the 4th/5th time, with arguably low non-clinical volunteering hours (I may consider your health navigator work as non-clinical volunteering depending on your responsibilities; add that with the food bank/market, and you are probably okay but keep going), asking us if you have enough shadowing (20 hours after 4-5 application cycles), and now an MCAT that may need to be retaken for a maximum shot at schools (you may just be at the cusp of the score not counting towards the 2026 cycle, but check).

Please read over our collective past advice. I think we threw some lists for you. What other feedback are you looking for?

Be aware that some schools will ding your application if you have applied to them more than three times. Incremental improvement is not a trait all schools want; we prefer direct action after a suggestion is made, with results coming soon thereafter. Networking has been essential, and you have had at least a year to seek them out and be successful in prior cycles. It feels like you haven't done this.

 

[wysdoc]

OP says it’s their first cycle, maybe they did finish their PhD first

 

[Faha]

Schools including Rush, Loyola, Creighton and Tulane are looking for applicants with far more clinical and non clinical volunteering hours than you have. Carle Illinois is looking for applicants with an engineering background. South Carolina, Minnesota, West Virginia, Missouri, UNLV, Oregon, Arizona and Central Michigan admit very few non residents with a MCAT of 510 and no connection to the state.

 

[whichbreath]

OP: How many times have you applied? We have several WAMC profiles (see above) where we consistently suggest you boost your non-clinical volunteering. You have been in your Ph.D. program through this time, asking us about whether you should drop out; you apparently are going to finish up as you are close to a thesis.

Now you are applying for the 4th/5th time, with arguably low non-clinical volunteering hours (I may consider your health navigator work as non-clinical volunteering depending on your responsibilities; add that with the food bank/market, and you are probably okay but keep going), asking us if you have enough shadowing (20 hours after 4-5 application cycles), and now an MCAT that may need to be retaken for a maximum shot at schools (you may just be at the cusp of the score not counting towards the 2026 cycle, but check).

Please read over our collective past advice. I think we threw some lists for you. What other feedback are you looking for?

Be aware that some schools will ding your application if you have applied to them more than three times. Incremental improvement is not a trait all schools want; we prefer direct action after a suggestion is made, with results coming soon thereafter. Networking has been essential, and you have had at least a year to seek them out and be successful in prior cycles. It feels like you haven't done this.

Yes, this will be my first round! I'll definitely update you guys on what happens. I didn't have enough letters of recommendation for previous cycles but now I have 3, enabling me to apply! I guess I was specifically looking for pointing out where my hours are short, but I guess it remains the same advice -- nonclinical and shadowing -- and specifically looking for feedback on my school list.

OP says it’s their first cycle, maybe they did finish their PhD first

Embarrassingly, I'm not done yet, but I'm trying. I'm close enough that there's an almost certain chance that I will finish EVENTUALLY and very good chance by time for matriculation. I mean I can always ask if the medical school has a deferment option if things get ****ed up.

Baylor is outside my stat range for now, unfortunately.

 

[whichbreath]

Schools including Rush, Loyola, Creighton and Tulane are looking for applicants with far more clinical and non clinical volunteering hours than you have. Carle Illinois is looking for applicants with an engineering background. South Carolina, Minnesota, West Virginia, Missouri, UNLV, Oregon, Arizona and Central Michigan admit very few non residents with a MCAT of 510 and no connection to the state.

Thanks! It couldn't hurt to apply to maybe one or two of these schools that require a lot of hours or public schools that admit few nonresidents? I also found the previous school list you threw at me, so I have reupdated my list.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Do you think any of the schools you listed would value the work you are completing with your PhD? I just want to be sure you are expecting to walk away from what you are doing or you want to continue.

 

[whichbreath]

I'm pretty sure I'm ready to go for it. I won't be devastated if I don't get in [the first time], but I'm ready to at least have a shot at the life I envisioned.

As for research, I expect that it will be as much a part of my life as I want it to be [after I graduate]. If I choose to work in a hospital it could be very little, if I am affiliated with a university I might be involved in clinical trials or bio research. Doubt I will continue to do statistical modeling and analysis of restricted-access and/or open-access electronic health records (EHR) datasets. Taking upper div science classes to make the transition. I expect to not focus too much on research during med school, but possibly as a secondary focus to learning the material.

Schools should value AI applied to medicine to some degree. At least, I know the coauthor I'm working with is interested in it, and other places like University of Minnesota have a center devoted to it and physicians specializing in it [secondary to clinical duties].

 

[Faha]

Thanks! It couldn't hurt to apply to maybe one or two of these schools that require a lot of hours or public schools that admit few nonresidents? I also found the previous school list you threw at me, so I have reupdated my list.

No. Those service oriented schools expect the hours. The state public school applications would be donations to the school.

 

[LunaOri]

Please tell me you were joking when you asked if you should “exaggerate your hours a little”. Starting off by being dishonest is a terrible idea.

 

[ijustwannasaveppl]

I made a C- in phys 2. I applied to many schools, including some that said a C grade or better was required, and the school I ended up attending ultimately waived the physics requirement for me. If you have a strong application otherwise you may be able to make it work. I would take your Texas schools off the list as they have an enormous in state bias and are extremely competitive. My roommate, with a 4.0 from that school and a history of working at said Texas med school's hospital, was not accepted. You have to be both in state and the best of the best to play at a Texas med school unfortunately. The South Carolina, Oregon and West Virginia and Minnesota schools are the same way. You would be a shoe-in for any DO school, I would apply to the big 5 of those if you are ok going DO and don't want to reapply, I would also apply to your in state and OOS friendly MD schools and think your gpa and mcat should help.

 

[whichbreath]

I’m gonna drop my physics class then and apply OOS friendly schools. I have ties to California but they’re the wrong kinds of ties, my family has only been a hindrance (i tried explaining what a cell was and they barely understand. they cant name an organelle. unsupportive and low income etc) So that I can grow/develop, i don’t think there’s any way I can stay in my home state. I’ll steer clear of Texas though.