Schools that favor first gen/disadvantaged applicants?

[Zhlv]

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So I have a fee waiver and just realized I only applied to 19 schools. 3.8+/509 (123 CARS 131 P/S). I have a lot of service hours (500-600) and even more clinical paid (1500). Unique hobby or two. I want to add a “reach” school as I’ve already been lucky enough to receive 3 interviews after applying in early October. It’s become apparent schools screen for first gen/disadvantaged, I just don’t know what schools do. I’ve applied to: Temple, Jefferson, Pitt, Drexel, penn state, geisinger, Wayne, TCU, Oakland Beaumont, WVU, Vermont, Creighton(not submitting this one, don’t fit the mission at all), Kentucky, MCW, FAU+FIU(ties to florida), Albany, NYMC, seton hall. Any help is appreciated!!

 

[Goro]

So I have a fee waiver and just realized I only applied to 19 schools. 3.8+/509 (123 CARS 131 P/S). I have a lot of service hours (500-600) and even more clinical paid (1500). Unique hobby or two. I want to add a “reach” school as I’ve already been lucky enough to receive 3 interviews after applying in early October. It’s become apparent schools screen for first gen/disadvantaged, I just don’t know what schools do. I’ve applied to: Temple, Jefferson, Pitt, Drexel, penn state, geisinger, Wayne, TCU, Oakland Beaumont, WVU, Vermont, Creighton(not submitting this one, don’t fit the mission at all), Kentucky, MCW, FAU+FIU(ties to florida), Albany, NYMC, seton hall. Any help is appreciated!!

Delete U KY if you're not a KY resident.
Unless you grew up in FL or went to college there, it's likely your ties don't count for much.


ADD Rush, and put Crieghton back. They're a service loving schools. Also add Netter, Loyola, Gtown, Tufts, Tulane, These are all service loving schools. Consider SLU.

And congrats on the IIs!!!
Now read these, if you haven't gone on the interviews yet

• Goro's Guide to Interviews
• Goro's Guide to Interviews: The View from Behind the Curtain
• Goro's Guide to YOUR Interview Questions (2018 edition)

 

[KnightDoc]

So I have a fee waiver and just realized I only applied to 19 schools. 3.8+/509 (123 CARS 131 P/S). I have a lot of service hours (500-600) and even more clinical paid (1500). Unique hobby or two. I want to add a “reach” school as I’ve already been lucky enough to receive 3 interviews after applying in early October. It’s become apparent schools screen for first gen/disadvantaged, I just don’t know what schools do. I’ve applied to: Temple, Jefferson, Pitt, Drexel, penn state, geisinger, Wayne, TCU, Oakland Beaumont, WVU, Vermont, Creighton(not submitting this one, don’t fit the mission at all), Kentucky, MCW, FAU+FIU(ties to florida), Albany, NYMC, seton hall. Any help is appreciated!!

ALL schools perform that screen. The real question is where you would be viable with your stats. 3.8 is great everywhere. 509, not so much. Just look at MSAR and pick school you'd like to take a shot at where the 10%-ile is at or below 509/123.

 

[dindjarin87]

So I have a fee waiver and just realized I only applied to 19 schools. 3.8+/509 (123 CARS 131 P/S). I have a lot of service hours (500-600) and even more clinical paid (1500). Unique hobby or two. I want to add a “reach” school as I’ve already been lucky enough to receive 3 interviews after applying in early October. It’s become apparent schools screen for first gen/disadvantaged, I just don’t know what schools do. I’ve applied to: Temple, Jefferson, Pitt, Drexel, penn state, geisinger, Wayne, TCU, Oakland Beaumont, WVU, Vermont, Creighton(not submitting this one, don’t fit the mission at all), Kentucky, MCW, FAU+FIU(ties to florida), Albany, NYMC, seton hall. Any help is appreciated!!

Can you add designations after the initial submission? I may have misread that but I was under the impression that we had to submit all 20 at once.

 

[Zhlv]

Delete U KY if you're not a KY resident.
Unless you grew up in FL or went to college there, it's likely your ties don't count for much.


ADD Rush, and put Crieghton back. They're a service loving schools. Also add Netter, Loyola, Gtown, Tufts, Tulane, These are all service loving schools. Consider SLU.

And congrats on the IIs!!!
Now read these, if you haven't gone on the interviews yet

• Goro's Guide to Interviews
• Goro's Guide to Interviews: The View from Behind the Curtain
• Goro's Guide to YOUR Interview Questions (2018 edition)

Thanks Goro, helpful as ever. You’re right as Kentucky was the only school that did not send me a secondary. My florida ties are that a majority of my family moved to Florida when I was younger. My immediate family always wanted to move there with them, but we just never had the money. I talked about how I saw Florida as a paradise compared to the small rural town I grew up in when visiting. Doubt it’ll count for much though. I’ll suck it up and submit the Creighton secondary tomorrow, I just didn’t vibe with their catholic emphasis as an agnostic. I’ll take your considerations and add a few you listed. When do you think it would be too late to add some DOs? I have a ton of respect for DO schools. The only physician I knew growing up was a DO (phenomenal doctor here) and the only close premed friend I had went DO with a 4.0/518. I’ve learned a lot about the programs through them. I’ve went on one interview already but will study your guides for the other two 🙂

 

[Zhlv]

Can you add designations after the initial submission? I may have misread that but I was under the impression that we had to submit all 20 at once.

You can add them whenever you like!

 

[KnightDoc]

Can you add designations after the initial submission? I may have misread that but I was under the impression that we had to submit all 20 at once.

It's confusing because they say one submission, but what they really mean is one cycle. Adding schools is still considered part of the same submission.

 

[Zhlv]

ALL schools perform that screen. The real question is where you would be viable with your stats. 3.8 is great everywhere. 509, not so much. Just look at MSAR and pick school you'd like to take a shot at where the 10%-ile is at or below 509/123.

Pretty bummed about the mcat, but it is what it is. No idea what happened with CARS as I never scored that low. My sGPA is actually closer to a 3.9 which I think is what is helping me out. I wanted to try and play to my strengths (first gen/rural area/disadvantaged/service+clinical heavy) for my last school. Instead of just relying on MSAR I wanted to see what the knowledgeable people on SDN suggest!

 

[dindjarin87]

It's confusing because they say one submission, but what they really mean is one cycle. Adding schools is still considered part of the same submission.

Interesting. I don't think it would have changed how I applied since my primaries were submitted in May, but I wonder why they aren't more explicit with stating that it applies across the cycle.

 

[KnightDoc]

Interesting. I don't think it would have changed how I applied since my primaries were submitted in May, but I wonder why they aren't more explicit with stating that it applies across the cycle.

???? other than they expect everyone to be OCD like I am and to study everything they put out ad nauseam. 😎

I don't know what else to say, since it's not my language. You are like most people, since most people apply to more than 20 schools at the outset, other than those submitting throwaways before they have an MCAT score, so it doesn't really impact too many people.

The key is the following: "You may add medical school choices or designations to your submitted application. Medical school additions or program changes can be made at any time, as long as the deadline for the school you wish to add has not passed. A fee will apply for medical school additions."

I.e., we are expected to know that there is only one "submission" per cycle, so when they say one submission, they mean one cycle. In other words, unused schools couldn't be used in a subsequent cycle, even if your FAP hasn't expired, since THAT would be a new submission, but adding schools in the same cycle is not considered a separate submission, and therefore is fine.

 

[dindjarin87]

Pretty bummed about the mcat, but it is what it is. No idea what happened with CARS as I never scored that low. My sGPA is actually closer to a 3.9 which I think is what is helping me out. I wanted to try and play to my strengths (first gen/rural area/disadvantaged/service+clinical heavy) for my last school. Instead of just relying on MSAR I wanted to see what the knowledgeable people on SDN suggest!

@Zhlv Not sure this counts for much, but during the interview, it seems as if every person in the admissions team at OUWB is a first-gen graduate. They all made a point to say that in their introductions. It stood out to me because I'm a first-gen, too. It may not mean anything, but I know they're big on holistic review. In the past, they made t-shirts for their M2's prepping for step 1 that said, "I am more than a number". Hope you get to interview there!

Also, EVMS is a service-oriented school. If you look on the school-specific thread or the tracker, there are some low stat folks that are landing interviews. That one may a school to add, also. Their entire interview, website, youtube channel, everything is about their dedication to service-learning and community engagement.

and @KnightDoc, I appreciate your thorough read of everything in life haha.

 

[Goro]

Thanks Goro, helpful as ever. You’re right as Kentucky was the only school that did not send me a secondary. My florida ties are that a majority of my family moved to Florida when I was younger. My immediate family always wanted to move there with them, but we just never had the money. I talked about how I saw Florida as a paradise compared to the small rural town I grew up in when visiting. Doubt it’ll count for much though. I’ll suck it up and submit the Creighton secondary tomorrow, I just didn’t vibe with their catholic emphasis as an agnostic. I’ll take your considerations and add a few you listed. When do you think it would be too late to add some DOs? I have a ton of respect for DO schools. The only physician I knew growing up was a DO (phenomenal doctor here) and the only close premed friend I had went DO with a 4.0/518. I’ve learned a lot about the programs through them. I’ve went on one interview already but will study your guides for the other two 🙂

Definitely not too late to add DO schools!

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

is there a limit number of schools you can apply under fees waiver?

 

[RickyRic]

Delete U KY if you're not a KY resident.

I'm curious about why non-KY residents should not apply to U KY? I'm OOS with no ties and got an interview

 

[KnightDoc]

is there a limit number of schools you can apply under fees waiver?

20 for the primary. Most schools will waive secondary fees for people with FAP, so there is no limit there (i.e., they don't exclude you if weren't eligible for the primary fee waiver at their school because you exceeded the limit. In fact, they have no way to know whether or not you exceeded the limit!).

 

[dindjarin87]

I'm curious about why non-KY residents should not apply to U KY? I'm OOS with no ties and got an interview

Their MSAR says, "A limited number of non-Kentucky residents with very strong ties to the state may be considered" pertaining to OOS acceptance. ~10% of each class is OOS. Public and land grant schools are funded by the state and therefore have a motivation to matriculate in-state students.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Their MSAR says, "A limited number of non-Kentucky residents with very strong ties to the state may be considered" pertaining to OOS acceptance. ~10% of each class is OOS. Public and land grant schools are funded by the state and therefore have a motivation to matriculate in-state students.

Is eating KFC everyday qualifies as very strong ties to the state? 🙂

 

[Goro]

I'm curious about why non-KY residents should not apply to U KY? I'm OOS with no ties and got an interview

Invest in MSAR Online and look at the OOS/IS rations for those you get IIs. State schools favor the home team.

 

[dindjarin87]

Is eating KFC everyday qualifies as very strong ties to the state? 🙂

I think that daily KFC intake qualifies as a pre-secondary acceptance.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Invest in MSAR Online and look at the OOS/IS rations for those you get IIs. State schools favor the home team.

But if they are taking few OOS isn't it worth applying if you have ties to the state or their mission appeals to you?

 

[dindjarin87]

But if they are taking few OOS isn't it worth applying if you have ties to the state or their mission appeals to you?

It sounds like OP is from PA (considering the schools listed first) and has ties to FL. I worry about what folks consider ties (and how they're evaluated).

Washington State University actually outlines the criteria (below) necessary to receive a secondary and I think that is a good gauge of established ties. 3/4 or more being strong ties, 2/4 or fewer constitutes some ties. Having a second cousin or ex-girlfriend in the area doesn't seem like a tie that links the applicant to an area, IMO (just an applicant, though).

• Born in Washington
• Childhood address in Washington as indicated on AMCAS
• Graduated from a Washington high school
• Parent/guardian currently lives in Washington