Solid MCAT/cGPA/ECs, mediocre sGPA: chances for top schools?

[MoreMilrinone]

---

Members do not see this ad.

*PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE THIS POST*
Most unique aspects of app bolded for expedited reading.

3.81 cGPA, 3.65 sGPA, 518 MCAT (127/129/131/131)
ORM, PA resident, entering 3rd gap year

Background: Born with congenital heart disease, I had open-heart surgery in middle school and another valve replacement last year, with more inevitably coming (ties together ECs/PS/my overall “story”).

Research: 2 first-author publications, 5 national conference posters (6000+ hours) related to cardiovascular bioengineering; I have 5 more manuscripts in preparation, with two more first authors very likely accepted during app cycle. Wrote 3 grants awarded 100k total (I wasn't listed co-PI on them due to degree status, but I was the primary author and my rec will say so). Became lab manager following college graduation. Served as advisor to 5 graduate students as they worked on a commercialization plan for the technology I developed.

Clinical work: 5000+ hours as an artificial heart clinical biomedical engineer (not research – this was purely clinical patient care). Independently manage the mechanical circulatory support of adult and pediatric heart failure and cardiogenic shock patients in OR/ICU/stepdown/ER. Assist in surgical implantation, patient medical management/clinical decision-making, and patient and clinician education for 8 devices. Participating in the human trials (implantation and critical care management) of a new pediatric ventricular assist device. I’m also on-call 24/7 every 4th week for emergency device implantation and for emergent inter-hospital air transport (where I help keep patients stable in the helicopter). Current main job.

Non-clinical volunteering: 700+ hours (over 9 years) as a senior counselor at a summer camp for children with congenital heart disease. Became assistant director of the camp this year. 500+ hours of other heart-related philanthropy.

Awards: Volunteering award given to top 0.5% (~6 of 1,100) hospital volunteers for recognition of excellent patient-centered care (second ever recipient). Research award for best poster when the other 40 posters in my category were from post-docs/grad students. Undergrad research and teaching fellowships. Academic award by unanimous faculty nomination for my Japanese degree.

Clinical volunteering: 500+ hours of clinical volunteering (half on cardiac unit) of children’s hospital. Also served as an interpreter for a Japanese artificial heart patient

Teaching/Leadership: 3 semesters as Biology 1 TA (“lead TA” my final year). Philanthropy chair of my pre-med fraternity.

Shadowing: 75 hours across primary care/specialties.

Concerns: While I feel my ECs, overall MCAT, and cGPA are probably ok for most places, I have particular concerns about my sGPA (3.65) and MCAT P/C subsection score (127), both of which fall around or below the 10th percentile for a lot of the top schools. Is it still advisable to apply to such schools, or should I lean less top-heavy for this reason? Will be submitting AMCAS in the next 10 days.

School list (very roughly split into three “tiers”):

Pitt
Cleveland Clinic
Duke
Stanford
Mayo
UCSF
UPenn
WashU
Yale
Case Western
Northwestern
UChicago
UCLA
Baylor
Michigan
BU
Columbia


USC
Miami
Emory
Jefferson
Temple
Penn State
OSU
Dartmouth
Tufts
Cincinnati
Georgetown
George Washington


Commonwealth
Drexel
MCW
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Tulane
Seton Hall


*PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE THIS POST*

 

[Faha]

You should receive multiple interviews from your list, including some top 20 schools.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

You are a rock star, my man. @Goro would tell you to work on the self-esteem and apply to some top 20s, as your ECs are nothing short of stellar. And: put Harvard on your list, if you're interested in going. Your stats are good and your ECs are spectacular.

 

[Goro]

I can understanhd wanting to stay close ot home, but I have a feeling some of the Drexel/Albany class schools will resource protect and not show you any love because you'll more likely go elsewhere. suggest deleting the red schools and replacing with the ones in green:


Baylor and UCLA (maybe-keep in mind that only 0.5% of applicant from OOS get accepted.)



Temple
Penn State
Georgetown
George Washington
Commonwealth (keep only if you from the Scranton area)
Drexel
MCW
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Seton Hall

Harvard
JHU
Vandy
U VM
USF
U VA
UCSD
Einstein
Hofstra
NYU
Cornell
Sinai

 

[MoreMilrinone]

@Goro @Faha I unfortunately still have not submitted my primary, but will be able to in the next couple of days (before Aug 1). I'm worried I have significantly affected my chances by being this late. 1) Is it still advisable to apply this cycle and 2) does this change the types of schools you think I should apply to (largely top-20s from you initial recommendations)?

 

[Faha]

You are not too late but submit all your secondaries in August.