School List

[Nevadanteater]

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I feel like I've been on SDN long enough to post one of these annoying "Help Me Pick my Schools" posts, but the AMCAS is open, so thanks in advance!

Where i'll definitely be applying:
UCSF
UC Davis
OHSU
John Hopkins
NYU
Einstein
Columbia

Where I'm thinking of applying:
Boston Schools
Chicago Schools
Pennsylvania Schools
Other NYC Schools

I feel as though I will get a good education wherever I go, so it is more important to me to be HAPPY wherever I am at. What does this mean?

I'd like to go somewhere where the public transport + bikes are enough to get around.
I like to surf/snowboard/ski, waves/snow must be nearish.
I like to hold my boyfriend's hand in public (me = dude)
I am 95% sure I won't be applying to any schools in Southern California.

Below is my MDApps info:

California Resident
GPA 3.71
BCPM 3.80(ish)
MCAT 35S (11-10-14)

Major: Chemistry
Minor: Education

While an undergraduate:
Dean's Honor List - 10 Quarters
Campus Tour Guide - 4 Years
Chemistry Tutor - 3 Years
Pfizer Summer Research Internship (HIV Drug Development)
Undergraduate BioInorganic Chemistry Research - 1 Quarter

Post-Graduation:
Tutoring Program Manager - 1 Year

Post-Existential Crisis:
Lived/Worked/Traveled in Europe - 2.5 Years

Post-Hippie/Traveller Burnout:
Tutor Manager - 1 Year
Americorps/Healthcorps Volunteer at Homeless Medical Clinic - 1 Year

I just accepted a new job tutoring and will probably be working at a needle exchange as well through my application year.

My interests medicine-wise:
-Public Health/Policy
-Emergency Medicine
-Homeless Care
-Family Medicine
-Addiction Medicine

Any schools that ought to be there?
Anywhere I ought to leave out?

 

[drimpossible]

I would def. add Mt. Sinai in NYC. My friend goes there and loves it, they have a history of being non-trad friendly, and offer a well ranked program that's consistent with the level of programs you're already applying to, plus you're in NYC. Why not a SUNY Downstate for kicks as well? The mountains aren't too far away, but you'll need a car and cars and NYC don't mix very well. Surfing is nonexistent unless you go down to the Jersey shore, and it still won't compare to anything you get on the west coast.

You seem to be aiming high, so what about Stanford? Plenty of surfing around there.

I'm from Boston originally and it's not the most gay-friendly place I've ever been, but it's beautiful and you'd probably have a good time at their schools. I live literally 8 minutes from NYC now, and I'm sure you already know that there are no shortages of gays and homeless there! 🙂

 

[finaaqua]

Pittsburgh! Its near the Allegheny mountains and my student host who was from Utah says the slopes are sweet- and UPMC is a BEAST, it has absolutely ever possible medical specialty your heart would desire and they have a boat load of research funding money and the class is 1/3 non-trad.👍

 

[Kate6058]

I'm from Boston originally and it's not the most gay-friendly place I've ever been

Gotta disagree with you on that. If you're living right in the city, which you would be if you attended any of the three schools here, you'd have no problems with anything on your list (maybe the surfing, but I think people do attempt to surf around here, at least on the Cape).

 

[drimpossible]

Don't get me wrong. I love Boston, but Boston proper isn't exactly P-Town. I was speaking in relation to the other cities on his list. If the OP wants to walk around Harvard Sq. holding his BFs hand, I think he could feel comfortable doing so...while if he were to do the same thing during a weekend night out in Fanueil Hall, I think the feeling would be different. Boston is very academic and youth-oriented city, but outside of that world it can be pretty prejudiced too. Not that prejudice is limited to Boston by any means, but that coupled with there being more gay-oriented bars/activities in the other cities on his list, IMHO in terms of gay friendliness, Bay Area/NYC>Boston.

That being said, GO CELTICS! 😀

 

[neurologist]

Great stats & background. You should have your pick of schools. Of course, throw in a couple "safeties" just to be sure, though . . .

I'd say NYC or Boston would be best bets. Gay-friendly, near beaches (Long Island, Jersey Shore, Cape Cod) and skiiing (VT, NH, upstate NY). Lots of public transit.

While Philadelphia is officially the "city of brotherly love" 😉 I don't know enough about the place to tell you if it's gay-friendly or not. Plus, its farther from good skiing and beaches than NY or Boston.

The UC schools are wicked hard to get into, even for high-achieving Cali residents, so good luck with that . . .

Chicago, well, great city, if you consider Lake Michigan to be a real "beach." And there's not much real skiing in the flat-a$$ midwest . . .

If you think you could crack a non-Cali state school, think about Univ Washington or Oregon . . . Seattle and Portland are pretty liberal. Water's a little cold but definitely not far from good skiing (Mt Hood, Whistler, etc).

Best of luck!

 

[DrMidlife]

If you think you could crack a non-Cali state school, think about Univ Washington or Oregon . . . Seattle and Portland are pretty liberal. Water's a little cold but definitely not far from good skiing (Mt Hood, Whistler, etc).

HUGE difference in OHSU & UWash for OOS acceptances. As in, don't bother applying to UWash unless you're MSTP, URM, or grew up in the rural NW. But OHSU matriculates 30% OOS.

 

[MeowMix]

If your happiness has anything to do with financial situation and $$$ in loans, I would apply to more CA schools. OHSU, for example, will charge you OOS tuition every year; you can never become a resident for tuition purposes.

Your stats are very nice, but I would still apply to a range of schools. Much easier to turn down interviews than add more schools late in the game.

 

[nu2004]

being able to maintain your lifestyle is an important consideration; it's good that you recognize that. i would simply suggest applying a little more broadly.

 

[Nevadanteater]

I'm from Boston originally and it's not the most gay-friendly place I've ever been, but it's beautiful and you'd probably have a good time at their schools.

Well, most places aren't really gay friendly...

Maybe i should move to somewhere notoriously stodgy to shake things up.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[QofQuimica]

Well, most places aren't really gay friendly...

Maybe i should move to somewhere notoriously stodgy to shake things up.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I think you're really artificially cutting your options here. I mainly applied in the South and Midwest, and there are active GLBT groups at just about every (if not every) med school that I visited. (I visited a total of 17 schools, so I doubt that I happened to pick a couple of odd ones!) Also, your time to snowboard or surf while in school will be limited, and you can travel anywhere you like during your school breaks, when you'll actually have time to enjoy yourself. Of course you are free to pick any list of schools based on any criteria that you want. Just some things to consider.

 

[Law2Doc]

Of course, throw in a couple "safeties" just to be sure, though . . .

This was my feeling reading the OP's list of schools as well. I know of more than a few superstars that didn't get the nod from many of the top schools OP listed. Best to squeeze in some more average ranked schools as well, to bolster your odds. All these schools (as well as those in NY, Boston) get close to 10,000 applications for 150 spots, so competition is fierce. It pays to have one or two schools where your stats exceed their average.