WAMC, 3.5 GPA, 513 MCAT, CO resident

[want2bdok]

As the title states! I'm applying 2023-2024 and I'm looking to parse down my MD school list (will also be applying to 5-6 DO schools). I've already looked through MSAR. Just hoping my freshman and sophomore year GPA don't hold me down too much!

• 3.5 cGPA, (3.1/2.9/3.75/3.9). sGPA around 3.4 (similar trend). - HUGE upward trend, due to family difficulties that distracted me from studying. Will discuss in secondaries, when appropriate. Graduated 2021!
• MCAT score: 513 (128/12/7/128/130)
• State of residence: CO
• Ethnicity and/or race: White (I am Middle Eastern, hence the interest in CA schools- I do wish to serve that population and will discuss this when appropriate)
• Undergraduate institution or category: State school
• Clinical experience : 6000 hours, derm MA (most meaningful). Planning on starting hospice volunteering and wellness education in Jan 2023.
• Research experience and productivity: 2000 hours, 1 poster presentation at my undergrad, honors thesis
• Shadowing experience and specialties represented: surgery, pediatrics, geriatrics, family med, dermatology. 30hours
• Non-clinical volunteering: ~250hrs on campus, ~250 hours working with special olympics, ~200 working with the elderly at a nursing home, ~15 at my local VA
• Other extracurricular activities: Bio LA for 3 semesters (~500ish hours), club president for a hobby (~150 hours, running club), summer camp counselor working with the disabled (~1600, been doing it since HS and continued through my sophomore year). Served as a research mentor to underclassmen at my undergrad and helped pair them with PIs my senior year (50 hours). Also I've done a half iron man and several spartan races, and I'm trilingual (working on learning Spanish in my free time).
• Relevant honors or awards: dean's list, scholarship as an undergrad, graduated cum laude
• Anything else not listed you think might be important: I really, really like working with the elderly and actually see myself being a geriatrician!! I'm also very interested in primary care, though I am hesitant to commit to any specialty.

Preliminary list:
UCLA Drew
UCSD (grandparents live in SD and I feel like I'd have good family support. Definite reach lol.)
Pitt (they have a geriatrics concentration I'm interested in. Also reach.)
Kaiser
Boston U
USC
Einstein
Hofstra
Dartmouth
Virginia Tech
VCU
Oakland Beaumont
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Maryland
MCW
Geisinger
Wake Forest
EVMS
NYMC
Colorado (State school)
Georgetown
GW
Tufts
Loyola Chi
Rosalind Franklin
Tulane
Rush
Thomas Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
+ 5-6 DO schools (undecided which ones)

TYIA!
@Goro @Faha @gyngyn @LizzyM @gonnif

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[gyngyn]

I can't recommend that you apply to any of the CA schools or Maryland (unless there is something substantive you haven't shared).

 

[want2bdok]

I can't recommend that you apply to any of the CA schools (unless there is something substantive you haven't shared).

Thank you for the advice!! Do the other schools look ok/do you have any other feedback?

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you for the advice!! Do the other schools look ok/do you have any other feedback?

I added MD and you already know that Pit is a Hail Mary!
Sadly, CO is as tough as it gets for premeds...

 

[want2bdok]

I added MD and you already know that Pit is a Hail Mary!
Sadly, CO is as tough as it gets for premeds...

Thank you so much! I should add that I'm middle eastern and that's why I looked at the CA schools- I want to serve that specific population and will discuss as necessary. Not sure if this changes your recommendation 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you so much! I should add that I'm middle eastern and that's why I looked at the CA schools- I want to serve that specific population and will discuss as necessary. Not sure if this changes your recommendation 🙂

People of Middle Eastern origin are very well represented in CA schools. That won't move the needle, I'm afraid.

 

[Goro]

Hofstra
Dartmouth
VCU,
Oakland Beaumont
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
MCW
Wake Forest
EVMS
NYMC
Colorado (State school)
Georgetown
GW
Tufts
Loyola Chi
Rosalind Franklin
Tulane
Rush
Temple (maybe), Jefferson
Drexel, Creighton, SLU, NovaMD, Seton Hall, TCU/UNT, Wake, Wayne State

+ 5-6 DO schools (undecided which ones) You'll need more
Suggest: RUCOM, DMU, both Westerns, all Touros except Montana, CUSOM, NYITCOM, CCOM and AZCOM (but watch tuition!!), KCU, MUCOM, LECOM-E and B, PCOM

Above is a more realistic list.

Also, get in more service to others less fortunate than yourself, and more importantly, get off campus and out of your comfort zone

 

[Goro]

Thank you so much! I should add that I'm middle eastern and that's why I looked at the CA schools- I want to serve that specific population and will discuss as necessary. Not sure if this changes your recommendation 🙂

BTW, talking the talk is easy, walking the walk is harder. Med schools don't want to hear "I want to serve..." they want to see evidence that you've already done so.

 

[want2bdok]

BTW, talking the talk is easy, walking the walk is harder. Med schools don't want to hear "I want to serve..." they want to see evidence that you've already done so.

I actually have experience doing cultural activities that I was going to omit from my application (sporadic and a bit spread out, and only about 100hrs worth) but this was the push I needed to include those. Thanks!!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If serving other MENA communities is important for you, look at the chapter list for the American Muslim Medical Student Association. There are many Michigan and midwestern schools you could connect with to see what you may need to make yourself a desirable applicant to their programs.

 

[LizzyM]

Concur with the recommendation to scratch California schools off of your list and add schools in Michigan.

 

[chilly_md]

I actually have experience doing cultural activities that I was going to omit from my application (sporadic and a bit spread out, and only about 100hrs worth) but this was the push I needed to include those. Thanks!!

It could be something of interest to an interviewer but would not help you in applying to the competitive CA schools. Western and Touro CA are options if you’d like to be in CA, and as mentioned, there are other schools you are a better match for in large cities where you can work with Middle Eastern populations.