MD Suggested list of schools

[KnightDoc2015]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey everyone!

I will be applying this cycle and just wanted to get some input on what schools I should apply to?
- Florida Resident/ UCF
- 3.89 cumulative GPA
- 3.79 science GPA (majoring in Micro/Molecular Biology)
- Took MCAT twice: First time I got a 27 (11/8/8), Second time I got a 28 (10/10/8)
- About 60 hours medical volunteering on the pediatric oncology floor at the children's hospital
- Over 100 hours of shadowing between surgery and office rounds at Mayo Clinic
- Over 100 hours of community service (non-medical involvement)
- Over 1,000 hours of work in the research lab (have my own project -- working towards publication) - neuroscience myelination lab
- Over 500 hours of leadership as Director of Academics, then Chief of Staff, and now Treasurer of the Pre-Med AMSA chapter at UCF
- GREAT letters of recommendation

What are my chances and what schools would you apply to if you were me?

Thanks guys!

P.s. location and tuition don't really have a huge impact on me...I just want to apply wisely

 

[alpinism]

Apply to all the FL med schools (your best shot). I'd also look into places like VCU, EVMS, GW, Penn St., Temple, Jefferson, NYMC, Albany, Vermont, Toledo, and RFU.

Overall you have a decent shot if apply early with a good personal statement. I'd also try to get a little more clinical experience (>100 hrs) and look into things like CNA, EMT, Scribing.

 

[Catalystik]

Hey everyone!

I will be applying this cycle and just wanted to get some input on what schools I should apply to?
- Florida Resident/ UCF
- 3.89 cumulative GPA
- 3.79 science GPA (majoring in Micro/Molecular Biology)
- Took MCAT twice: First time I got a 27 (11/8/8), Second time I got a 28 (10/10/8)
- About 60 hours medical volunteering on the pediatric oncology floor at the children's hospital
- Over 100 hours of shadowing between surgery and office rounds at Mayo Clinic
- Over 100 hours of community service (non-medical involvement)
- Over 1,000 hours of work in the research lab (have my own project -- working towards publication) - neuroscience myelination lab
- Over 500 hours of leadership as Director of Academics, then Chief of Staff, and now Treasurer of the Pre-Med AMSA chapter at UCF
- GREAT letters of recommendation

What are my chances and what schools would you apply to if you were me?

Thanks guys!

P.s. location and tuition don't really have a huge impact on me...I just want to apply wisely

From my point of view, your active clinical experience is weak from what you've presented here. When did you start the Peds Onc volunteering? Did your shadowing include any one (conscious) patient/one doc observations? Where any of the docs in primary care?

Do you feel you've hit your ceiling on the MCAT, or were both scores a fluke?

 

[KnightDoc2015]

From my point of view, your active clinical experience is weak from what you've presented here. When did you start the Peds Onc volunteering? Did your shadowing include any one (conscious) patient/one doc observations? Where any of the docs in primary care?

Do you feel you've hit your ceiling on the MCAT, or were both scores a fluke?

I shadowed the Orthopedic Surgeon in both the operating room and in his private practice; at the beginning he brought me in there to watch him do his preliminary physical tests on the hip or knee and then we would look at their MRIs. After a few days, he actually let me go in their on my own with the patient (with patient's consent) and I would do some of those tests that he taught me and look at their MRI's (this was about 5 min of time per patient)...I would come out of the room, talk with the Dr. and tell him what I think is wrong, etc. then we would both go back in and see what's going on.

With the MCAT, I was getting 30 and 31's on my practice test, so I actually expected a little higher on this second one, but the Bio section was RIDICULOUSLY hard. I usually get 12's on the bio, and I got a 10...so I think I could have gotten a 30, but IDK if it's worth trying again at this point?

I am also looking to get some more clinical volunteering in in the next month and a half. My clinical volunteering at the Children's hospital was over the entire summer between my freshman and sophomore year. I work 18-20 hours in my research lab, plus I dedicate about 5-7 hours per week for AMSA and then 14 credit hours of classes, so I couldn't fit anything else in my schedule 🙁 But i'm going to try and improve my clinical hours.

 

[KnightDoc2015]

Apply to all the FL med schools (your best shot). I'd also look into places like VCU, EVMS, GW, Penn St., Temple, Jefferson, NYMC, Albany, Vermont, Toledo, and RFU.

Overall you have a decent shot if apply early with a good personal statement. I'd also try to get a little more clinical experience (>100 hrs) and look into things like CNA, EMT, Scribing.

I looked on MSAR at schoosl ike Penn St, Jefferson, and temple, and a lot of their averages are sitting around 30. Was there a reason you still suggested those schools to me even if my mcat is around 28? Thanks for your help!

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Hey everyone!

I will be applying this cycle and just wanted to get some input on what schools I should apply to?
- Florida Resident/ UCF
- 3.89 cumulative GPA
- 3.79 science GPA (majoring in Micro/Molecular Biology)
- Took MCAT twice: First time I got a 27 (11/8/8), Second time I got a 28 (10/10/8)
- About 60 hours medical volunteering on the pediatric oncology floor at the children's hospital
- Over 100 hours of shadowing between surgery and office rounds at Mayo Clinic
- Over 100 hours of community service (non-medical involvement)
- Over 1,000 hours of work in the research lab (have my own project -- working towards publication) - neuroscience myelination lab
- Over 500 hours of leadership as Director of Academics, then Chief of Staff, and now Treasurer of the Pre-Med AMSA chapter at UCF
- GREAT letters of recommendation

What are my chances and what schools would you apply to if you were me?

Thanks guys!

P.s. location and tuition don't really have a huge impact on me...I just want to apply wisely

You should add some DO as back up... The MD world is getting crazy these days and 28 MCAT might not cut it...

 

[Catalystik]

I looked on MSAR at schoosl ike Penn St, Jefferson, and temple, and a lot of their averages are sitting around 30. Was there a reason you still suggested those schools to me even if my mcat is around 28?

Maybe because your excellent cGPA helps compensate for the less-than-50th-percentile MCAT score?

 

[Catalystik]

1) I shadowed the Orthopedic Surgeon in both the operating room and in his private practice; at the beginning he brought me in there to watch him do his preliminary physical tests on the hip or knee and then we would look at their MRIs. After a few days, he actually let me go in their on my own with the patient (with patient's consent) and I would do some of those tests that he taught me and look at their MRI's (this was about 5 min of time per patient)...I would come out of the room, talk with the Dr. and tell him what I think is wrong, etc. then we would both go back in and see what's going on.

2) With the MCAT, I was getting 30 and 31's on my practice test, so I actually expected a little higher on this second one, but the Bio section was RIDICULOUSLY hard. I usually get 12's on the bio, and I got a 10...so I think I could have gotten a 30, but IDK if it's worth trying again at this point?

3) I am also looking to get some more clinical volunteering in in the next month and a half. My clinical volunteering at the Children's hospital was over the entire summer between my freshman and sophomore year. I work 18-20 hours in my research lab, plus I dedicate about 5-7 hours per week for AMSA and then 14 credit hours of classes, so I couldn't fit anything else in my schedule 🙁 But i'm going to try and improve my clinical hours.

1) Sounds like an awesome experience.

2) Maybe you could save the thought of retaking for next year if you don't get any love in the coming cycle.

3) Improving your clinical hours before you apply is a good plan, as would be continuing to gain clinical hours and nonmedical volunteer time (which is one of your strengths, BTW, along with research and leadership) throughout the coming cycle, for the sake of Secondary essays, update letters (where permitted), and interview conversations. And just in case you need to reapply next year.

 

[Goro]

Agree, but delete VT and replace with Loma Linda (maybe) and MCW. MSAR Online is your friend. Apply to the two DO programs in FL, since they're in your backyard.

Do not bother retaking MCAT...it appears that you've reached your ceiling.

Apply to all the FL med schools (your best shot). I'd also look into places like VCU, EVMS, GW, Penn St., Temple, Jefferson, NYMC, Albany, Vermont, Toledo, and RFU.

Overall you have a decent shot if apply early with a good personal statement. I'd also try to get a little more clinical experience (>100 hrs) and look into things like CNA, EMT, Scribing.

 

[KnightDoc2015]

Thank you to all of you who helped me shape my application school list! I have since been accepted to LECOM and I am on the wait-list at Drexel and WVU. But those are the only 3 interviews I have received to date. No love from the in state schools yet, but we still have a little bit of a time. Here to hoping!