Trial Run Application Cycle?

[pfieldston]

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I just graduated from a top 20 undergrad, and absolutely want to remain in the SF/Sacramento area for med school if at all possible because entire family and girlfriend of 4 years are there (planning to apply this cycle). However, with 34 mcat and 3.6 gpa (science and overall), I'm not super competitive at Stanford, UCSF, and Berkeley (but in range for Davis), so I thought maybe I could delay application to retake MCAT and get more relevant experience (will be doing neuro research at Stanford starting late summer) to become competitive for target schools. But I would hate to take extra year "off" if unnecessary. What are peoples' thoughts on applying only to SF/Sacramento area schools this cycle (Stanford, UCSF, Davis, Berkeley) and seeing if I hit the jackpot, and if not, re-applying more broadly (including of course those schools again) next year? (Ultimately, I would of course be willing to leave NorCal to pursue dream of becoming a physician but would rather not!)

 

[Ost3oclast]

First and foremost, I wouldnt retake the MCAT. If you are looking to beef up your app more, do that research. Unfortunately, having a restricted location when applying to med school has kept many people (friends included) from getting in somewhere. It may come to the point where you have to decide if it is worth living in a different state away from loved ones to attain your goal. If you can do that, great, if you can't (and dont get into med school close) then find another career, where you are guaranteed to stay close to home. Personally, I would apply broadly and get ready for school because with those stats you should be able to matriculate somewhere in the US.

 

[supermintyfresh]

First and foremost, I wouldnt retake the MCAT. If you are looking to beef up your app more, do that research. Unfortunately, having a restricted location when applying to med school has kept many people (friends included) from getting in somewhere. It may come to the point where you have to decide if it is worth living in a different state away from loved ones to attain your goal. If you can do that, great, if you can't (and dont get into med school close) then find another career, where you are guaranteed to stay close to home. Personally, I would apply broadly and get ready for school because with those stats you should be able to matriculate somewhere in the US.

I agree. You definitely have a chance at the Top 30's, if you don't limit yourself by geography. Most people apply to 20 or more medical schools (with many of them having 5% or less acceptance rate), and your list is only 5 if you limit yourself to SF.

 

[BamaNicole]

no offense....but what medical school are you applying to that is at Berkeley?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Unless that research is going to end up with a few 1st/2nd author papers, you aren't going to really change the dynamics of planning on the Bay Area or bust. Davis is definitely more possible, but regardless of their stats they tend to look for applicants with the right "fit". If that sounds vague, it should. Planning on staying anywhere in CA as a CA applicant is a crapshoot, and your stats are middle of the road. If you're that dead set on the Bay Area, have you considered TUCOM? If you really, really want to stay in the Bay Area, you should.

 

[sector9]

no offense....but what medical school are you applying to that is at Berkeley?

I think Berkeley's med school uses the same application service as Princeton's...

Anyway, I would not retake that 34. I would apply broadly this cycle and hope for the best

 

[Josh7]

I think Berkeley's med school uses the same application service as Princeton's...

Anyway, I would not retake that 34. I would apply broadly this cycle and hope for the best

Interesting, I will have to check the Berkeley box as well when I am applying to Princeton.

To OP: Don't waste your time only applying to the two schools in the SF area. If being close to family is more important than attending medical school then you should probably going into something else.

 

[BamaNicole]

I think Berkeley's med school uses the same application service as Princeton's...

Anyway, I would not retake that 34. I would apply broadly this cycle and hope for the best

haha Winner!

Sorry OP but Berkeley does not have a medical school. I'm a Berkeley grad so I can attest to that.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

... I'm a Berkeley grad...

Been waiting all day to drop that into casual conversation, haven't you.

 

[JBruin]

As much fun as it is to ridicule the OP, while Cal may not have a medical school they do have a medical program with UCSF.

http://jmp.berkeley.edu/

OP, you only want to apply once. I wouldn't limit yourself to the Bay as all of the schools you're looking at are a crapshoot with your stats (they may or may not be interested, the choice would come down to things beyond your grades and scores).

 

[pfieldston]

Apologies for the mistake on the Berkeley front (subconscious wishful thinking), and I'm impressed I wasn't completely torn to pieces as seems to be common on SDN.

Re: MCAT though, I know the odds are way against me, but I also know I didn't try my hardest the first time around (studied only 3 weeks) and so will give it a stronger effort this time around. Looks like retaking this fall, hoping to get a publication the first year (seems likely based on experience of 2 previous RAs in this lab) then applying next cycle might be the way to go. I'll be more competitive for the Bay Area + Davis, and of course apply more broadly as well.

 

[kautionwirez]

I wouldn't retake the MCAT, won't help very much and might hurt you. Unless you are certain of getting a 40 or something.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Apologies for the mistake on the Berkeley front (subconscious wishful thinking), and I'm impressed I wasn't completely torn to pieces as seems to be common on SDN.

Re: MCAT though, I know the odds are way against me, but I also know I didn't try my hardest the first time around (studied only 3 weeks) and so will give it a stronger effort this time around. Looks like retaking this fall, hoping to get a publication the first year (seems likely based on experience of 2 previous RAs in this lab) then applying next cycle might be the way to go. I'll be more competitive for the Bay Area + Davis, and of course apply more broadly as well.

When you put all that together, I think you have a great plan. I'll be an outlier and say go forth and retake the MCAT if, and only if, you know you can bring it up two point or so. I think it's on you to actually look into your heart and know whether you really didn't try your hardest or whether that's what you tell yourself because you thought you would have done better. Study like your steady access to sex depends on it, get a few extra MCAT points, pick up the research experience Stanford values, maybe spend some time with underserved/primary care that UCSF likes in the mix. Apply broadly and you'll have a couple of options. Best of luck.