School Selection Help

[clifftacopter]

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Hey all!
Long time viewer, first time poster.

So I was wondering if I could get some advice on making a selection of schools that would optimize my chances.

Basic stats:
•GPA - 3.96
•"Top 3" University according to USNews
•Haven't taken the MCAT quite yet, but I am scoring between 36-40 on my practice tests.
•Competitive ballroom dancer
•2 years research experience
•8 months experience volunteering and shadowing at a hospital
•Summer internships and misc. volunteer work
•Texas Resident
•Political Science major

Baylor
Harvard
Stanford
Columbia
UT Southwestern
University of Chicago
Northwestern
University of Michigan
Cornell
Vanderbilt
Boston University
New York University
UT Houston
Mount Sinai
UT Galveston
UT San Antonio
Texas A&M
Texas Tech

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[virusgirl]

I would add more safeties, not because I think there's anything wrong with your overall applicant "package" but just because this is a highly competitive and somewhat random process. Like you, I constructed a list of reaches, mids, and safeties, and was very surprised to (a) get interviews at some of my reaches and (b) not get interviews at places that I thought were pretty safe.

Since you say your safety schools are places you'd rather not go to, I'd also pick better safeties (places that you would be happy if you ended up at). I hope you will have multiple acceptances, and I believe you probably will. But, we all know that one perplexing person with awesome grades and scores who got into... one school. So I would bulk up on safeties some more and make sure that you're choosing places that you'll be happy to attend if you have no other options.

 

[clifftacopter]

Thanks virusgirl.

That's what I figured. I guess I'm also having trouble finding other safeties to look into. Other than your state schools, what are some "safeties" that might be worth looking into?

 

[virusgirl]

Here are some "safety" schools to consider... EVMS and VCU both show preference to VA residents, but do admit a fair number of OOS. While UVM is a state school, there are only about 3 people who live in VT, so they take a LOT of OOS (or so I hear). If you like Philly, Jefferson, Drexel, and Temple might all be places to consider. For NY, NYMC and Albany would both be good. I would add Tulane... I'm sure I'm blanking on some. Your best bet would be to go through the MSAR and look for places that are either private or take a decent number of non-residents and have median GPAs/MCATs that are below yours.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Assuming your a texas resident, I think your list looks fine. Otherwise, you're leaning too heavily on Texas. I think you should come up with two lists (which is what I did). Come up with one that you would apply to if you got a 34 or less, and one that you would apply to if you got a 35 or higher. They can have a lot of the same schools, but you might want to alter the overall top or bottom heavy of each depending on your MCAT. I wish you well, but my friend was scoring all 40's and got a 34. As for me, I scored above a 35 with similar practice tests to you. You can never be sure, though I'd be shocked if you wound up with a 30.