Schools for an unballanced applicant?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

amakhosidlo

Accepted
15+ Year Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
948
Reaction score
10
Taking my first crack at the whole getting in thing this year, and I need a bit of feedback on my school selection.

Stats:
cGPA:3.45 (Upward trend, from 3.00 end of soph. year)
sGPA: 3.2...ish
MCAT: 33T (11, 10, 12)

Research
Inconsequential research for one year, found I hated bench research
Assisted with 2 clinical projects, got thanked in the 'script on one, got second/third author on the other (obscure nursing journal, random I know)

Volunteer:
Trauma Surg. Recovery for 1 year
Tutor at transitional housing center 1 year
Bunch of philanthropy stuff with my fraternity, including a bit of group training/leadership

Clinical:
Medical internship in South Africa with rural docs (triage/histories/vitals/a few minor procedures) for 3 months
Shadowing, FM doc in free clinic ~70 hrs, for 5 months
Diabetes/HTN screening outreach with local homeless population, more vitals, minor counseling ~2 months, continued from shadowing
Health Care Alternative Spring Break: Out in the boonies of Wa

Work:
Part-time jobs all through college, helped pay for it


Albany
Buffalo
NYMC
SUNYs (not sure which, if any)
Vermont
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Cincinnati
Toledo
EVMS
GW
Meharry
Miami (Reach)
Alabama/Arkansas (No ties, worth it?)
Illinois
Rush
Loyola
Rosalind-Franklin
UW (Dream school, IS)
USC
OHSU

DO's
Western
NOVA
LECOM

Am I missing anything? Completely mad for thinking I have a shot?
 
Last edited:
We have similar stats, and ECs. I got 3 acceptances thus far, so keep your head up (actually I think your application is stronger 👍). Are you an NY resident? If not, applying to the SUNY schools might be a waste of time and money.

Also, I would add VCU and take out OHSU, Alabama/Arkansas
 
I think that is a good list for you. Well chosen.

Second the SUNYs comment...maybe a couple are OOS friendly but I don't know which.
 
I think that is a good list for you. Well chosen.

Second the SUNYs comment...maybe a couple are OOS friendly but I don't know which.

The 2 SUNYs which have historically been OOS-friendly are Upstate and Buffalo (which is already on the OP's list). However, when I interviewed at Upstate this year, they said that they may be taking fewer OOS students going forward (not sure why, maybe budget cuts). I'd still apply, but keep that in mind.

Other than that, I think your list is good. But if you're going DO, you might as well add PCOM, which is regarded as a very good school. You might also want to think about DMU and UNECOM.
 
Well, I threw them in to cover what I thought was the "Low-end public school" category.
Anybody I could replace them with?

Oh, and does Tulane exhibit any sort of geographical bias? (IS v. OOS)
 
Last edited:
Top