Strong GPA and MCAT, no research yet

[Gegegegerry]

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White, Male, Nebraska Resident
26 years old
Planning on applying 2018

4.0 GPA
521 MCAT (130, 130, 131, 130) I took the MCAT in 2015

Clinical volunteering - 250 hours
Shadowing - 40 hours (primary care and ortho.)
Non-clinical volunteering - 100 hours
Teacher with an Americorps program for 1 year - 2000 hours
Club rugby player throughout college

I have no research experience. This is my biggest concern. I'm trying to find something before I apply, but I'm not sure how meaningful the research will be.

I spent the past year circumnavigating the globe by bicycle.

Aside from my state school, I just have no idea where to start with a school list. Top 20 schools seem very research heavy, so I'm not sure I have a chance there, although obviously I'd like to aim high.

 

[gyngyn]

You'll be fine.

 

[bananadonut]

White, Male, Nebraska Resident
26 years old
Planning on applying 2018

4.0 GPA
521 MCAT (130, 130, 131, 130) I took the MCAT in 2015

Clinical volunteering - 250 hours
Shadowing - 40 hours (primary care and ortho.)
Non-clinical volunteering - 100 hours
Teacher with an Americorps program for 1 year - 2000 hours
Club rugby player throughout college

I have no research experience. This is my biggest concern. I'm trying to find something before I apply, but I'm not sure how meaningful the research will be.

I spent the past year circumnavigating the globe by bicycle.

Aside from my state school, I just have no idea where to start with a school list. Top 20 schools seem very research heavy, so I'm not sure I have a chance there, although obviously I'd like to aim high.

If you're really set for top 20, you'd definitely need research, and probably an extra year to get publications. Most top tiers really want applicants with a strong research background.

Anything less than top tier you'll be fine. Check the table in the wisdom sticky post and you'll see research is kinda middle ground in importance.

 

[Gegegegerry]

Okay, thanks for the advice! I'm not really set on a top 20, so if it seems my stats are good enough for some lower tier schools I'm happy with that. I don't want to spend 2+ more years just getting publications to make my application look better, especially since my MCAT score at that point would probably be too old for most schools.

 

[chemdoctor]

You have really good stats. As mentioned above, if you want Top 20 schools I think you would need to get some research. But if not, then you should be good to go!

 

[Gegegegerry]

Thanks everyone! So the consensus seems to be that even if I'm able to get six months of research in before I apply, that won't be enough time to show the kind of research productivity needed for a top tier school.

Also, should I gloss over my experience cycling around the world in an app? I did it because it was a lifelong dream, but now I'm thinking it will reflect poorly on me since I could have spent that time in school or researching.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Thanks everyone! So the consensus seems to be that even if I'm able to get six months of research in before I apply, that won't be enough time to show the kind of research productivity needed for a top tier school.

Also, should I gloss over my experience cycling around the world in an app? I did it because it was a lifelong dream, but now I'm thinking it will reflect poorly on me since I could have spent that time in school or researching.

The cycling won't hurt and may make you stand out a little. Your stats are golden for top 20s, and less than 25 percent of matriculants at top 20s have publications; most have things like posters or conference presentations. The Americorps teaching is a pretty strong EC. @Goro may have more to say about your competitiveness for top 20s with the lack of research. Any school outside the top 20 is potentially yours.

 

[Goro]

White, Male, Nebraska Resident
26 years old
Planning on applying 2018

4.0 GPA
521 MCAT (130, 130, 131, 130) I took the MCAT in 2015

Clinical volunteering - 250 hours
Shadowing - 40 hours (primary care and ortho.)
Non-clinical volunteering - 100 hours
Teacher with an Americorps program for 1 year - 2000 hours
Club rugby player throughout college

I have no research experience. This is my biggest concern. I'm trying to find something before I apply, but I'm not sure how meaningful the research will be.

I spent the past year circumnavigating the globe by bicycle.

Aside from my state school, I just have no idea where to start with a school list. Top 20 schools seem very research heavy, so I'm not sure I have a chance there, although obviously I'd like to aim high.

The cycling is a rarely unusual EC. Definitely mention it.

Despite the lack of research, you're a rock star, so I think that you should aim high.

So, I suggest:

Wash U
U Chicago
NYU
U Penn
Vanderbilt
Columbia
Sinai
Cornell
Northwestern
Case
Harvard
Yale
Stanford
JHU
U VA
U MI
U VM
U WI
U Cincy
Ohio State
U IA
U ILL
UCSF
UCLA,
Miami
Tulane
Albert Einstein
Emory
BU
USC/Keck
Mayo
Rochester
Dartmouth
Duke
Pitt
Hofstra
U NE

 

[Gegegegerry]

@Goro Wow that's a better list than I imagined! Thanks for increasing my confidence, and I'll be working on research and other ECs so that I'm a stronger applicant for those schools by next year.

 

[878956]

Okay, thanks for the advice! I'm not really set on a top 20, so if it seems my stats are good enough for some lower tier schools I'm happy with that. I don't want to spend 2+ more years just getting publications to make my application look better, especially since my MCAT score at that point would probably be too old for most schools.

If that is the case. You are ready to apply and I would imagine scholarships from some schools.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

If that is the case. You are ready to apply and I would imagine scholarships from some schools.

Yeah, unless you really love research and want to take a couple gap years, two years and publications is way overkill. Spend six months doing research if you want and are gunning hard for top 20s, but spending a couple years on it solely for medical school admissions is gilding the lily. Goro's given you some good advice. Six months doing research might net you a poster and a decent story, which is enough for top 20s given your stats. The fact that you spent a year teaching with Americorps is a pretty powerful EC, for example, and top 20s will love your altruism.