MD Too Top Heavy? cGPA 3.78 sGPA 3.68 MCAT 517

[timothyiv]

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[Banco]

Your numbers are great, your activities are excellent, and your list is pretty well balanced. I think you're fine with this. Your concerns about your clinical experience are unfounded, you are more than fine - and yes you can double count shadowing and volunteering, but try to split the hours up.

I'd probably remove GTown (too many apps), GWU (too many apps), UCF (in state bias), Brown (interview very few people). If you're looking to cut more then you could probably remove Stanford + the UCs.

I'd replace with SUNY Buffalo (must apply), SUNY Upstate (must apply), Albany, Miami, BU.

 

[md-2020]

This is indeed top heavy. You are ORM. Your ECs are solid, but not special enough to merit this many reaches (or, if you want to keep the reaches, add more target/undershoots). Banco's suggestions, in my opinion, are all absolutely necessary. You have a solid app, and will get into a solid school, but get too set on HMS tier privates.

 

[Banco]

This is indeed top heavy. You are ORM. Your ECs are solid, but not special enough to merit this many reaches (or, if you want to keep the reaches, add more target/undershoots). Banco's suggestions, in my opinion, are all absolutely necessary. You have a solid app, and will get into a solid school, but get too set on HMS tier privates.

The thing is that it is "top heavy", but he also has like 10-15 schools where he has a realistic shot. So past that, he can honestly add whatever reaches if he has the time and money. For his application it makes more sense to apply to a wide range of reaches and and hope for a few bites.

You do wanna add ALL your state schools though OP.

 

[md-2020]

The thing is that it is "top heavy", but he also has like 10-15 schools where he has a realistic shot. So past that, he can honestly add whatever reaches if he has the time and money. For his application it makes more sense to apply to a wide range of reaches and and hope for a few bites.

You do wanna add ALL your state schools though OP.

On his original list, if we factor in state of residence, limiting factors (Brown home field, Dartmouth non-trad, GW + G'town + Drexels 10-15k apps etc), there are only 5-7 "realistic" shots where the OP can expect an interview. For a list this size, that's a low number.

If OP added/subtracted all of your edits (including cutting Stanford+UCs) though, it'd be a good list.

 

[Banco]

On his original list, if we factor in state of residence, limiting factors (Brown home field, Dartmouth non-trad, GW + G'town + Drexels 10-15k apps etc), there are only 5-7 "realistic" shots where the OP can expect an interview. For a list this size, that's a low number.

If OP added/subtracted all of your edits (including cutting Stanford+UCs) though, it'd be a good list.

You're lowballing his application imo.

But yeah some strategic replacements can def be made.

 

[GrapesofRath]

On his original list, if we factor in state of residence, limiting factors (Brown home field, Dartmouth non-trad, GW + G'town + Drexels 10-15k apps etc), there are only 5-7 "realistic" shots where the OP can expect an interview. For a list this size, that's a low number.

If OP added/subtracted all of your edits (including cutting Stanford+UCs) though, it'd be a good list.

In terms of realistic schools on the list worth an application here is what I count:

SUNY's
NYMC
Georgetown
Drexel
Einstein
Emory
GW
Tulane
Rochester
Franklin
Hofstra
USC

These I don't think there is much debate for. I count 13 here.

Then for the ones where I think it is worth the application to apply to but are serious reaches(as they are for anyone)
Pitt
NYU
Columbia
Cornell
Mayo(maybe)

List seems fine. Only ones I might hesitate to openly recommend are the UC's Penn and Stanford(and I would hesitate to recommend them to alot of people). UCF and Brown aren't a smart use of an application and I don't think the OP fits Dartmouth either.

Overall the list is fine. Better than one's most people put on for themselves. Sure the OP can put in a few more lower tiers to cover their bases that I can agree with. But by and large it's looking good(and keep in mind the SUNYs are very solid backups for NY residents with strong stats).

 

[md-2020]

I assumed OP was applying late for this cycle in my previous comments, and downgraded for that factor.

My bad.

 

[Goro]

I suggest:

Albert Einstein
Drexel
Mount Sinai OR NYU
Georgetown
ALL SUNYs
NYMC
Pittburgh OR Northwestern
Weill Cornell OR Columbia
Emory
GW
Tulane
URoch
Tufts
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Case OR Duke
Hofstra
USC
U Miami
BU
Netter
The Philly Triplets
Albany
NYMC
SLU
MCW
U VM

 

[timothyiv]

Thanks for the help everyone! I like this new much better.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Here are my thoughts in addition to the help you've already been given.

You should definitely apply to every school in New York (including Rochester, Einstein, and Hofstra) outside of the Manhattan 4 (we'll talk about those later).

You should apply to some other lower tier schools that are in the area. Some of these include Quinnipiac, Jefferson, Temple, Penn State, Rosalind Franklin, and Tufts.

You will most likely have a lot of success at mid-tier schools. Rochester, Einstein, Boston U, Emory, Dartmouth, USC-Keck, and Miami come to mind.

In terms of reaches, pick and choose from the following list. You have a great set of experiences and solid stats to back them up with, but a lot of these schools have medians a few points above your MCAT and GPA.

Pittsburgh
Northwestern
Sinai
Cornell
Case Western
Michigan
Columbia
Duke
NYU

I think Pitt, Sinai, and Case Western are the most realistic on this list, but you're within range for any of the other ones.

I would NOT recommend applying to Brown because they interview only 3% of their applicants. I would caution against applying to GW or Georgetown because they receive an extremely high volume of apps and there's nothing on your app that suggests you really want to be in DC or take advantage of their unique programs that come with their location.

I would NOT recommend applying to Stanford or Penn. Your stats are low for them and while your ECs are solid, they won't make up for the stat deficit (If you had a 3.85+/520+, I would then say perhaps add them).

Mayo isn't likely to turn out well due to their very small class, but they also don't have a formal secondary, so it's up to you whether to add it on as a "why not" school.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Here are my thoughts in addition to the help you've already been given.

You should definitely apply to every school in New York (including Rochester, Einstein, and Hofstra) outside of the Manhattan 4 (we'll talk about those later).

You should apply to some other lower tier schools that are in the area. Some of these include Quinnipiac, Jefferson, Temple, Penn State, Rosalind Franklin, and Tufts.

You will most likely have a lot of success at mid-tier schools. Rochester, Einstein, Boston U, Emory, Dartmouth, USC-Keck, and Miami come to mind.

In terms of reaches, pick and choose from the following list. You have a great set of experiences and solid stats to back them up with, but a lot of these schools have medians a few points above your MCAT and GPA.

Pittsburgh
Northwestern
Sinai
Cornell
Case Western
Michigan
Columbia
Duke
NYU

I think Pitt, Sinai, and Case Western are the most realistic on this list, but you're within range for any of the other ones.

I would NOT recommend applying to Brown because they interview only 3% of their applicants. I would caution against applying to GW or Georgetown because they receive an extremely high volume of apps and there's nothing on your app that suggests you really want to be in DC or take advantage of their unique programs that come with their location.

I would NOT recommend applying to Stanford or Penn. Your stats are low for them and while your ECs are solid, they won't make up for the stat deficit (If you had a 3.85+/520+, I would then say perhaps add them).

Mayo isn't likely to turn out well due to their very small class, but they also don't have a formal secondary, so it's up to you whether to add it on as a "why not" school.

Spot on my man