WAMC, 3.85 GPA, 523 MCAT, CA ORM

[themagictaco]

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Hello! Thanks for stopping by. I would appreciate some help cutting down my school list and if the school list is too top heavy, as my GPA lies at the low end for a lot of the T20s.

• cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS: 3.85 cGPA, 3.83 sGPA (strong upward trend)
• MCAT score(s) and breakdown: 523 (131/130/132/130)
• State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): CA
• Ethnicity and/or race: ORM (White)
• Other Demographics: FAP recipient, Disadvantaged
• Undergraduate institution or category: Low Tier UC
• Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
  • Volunteer Medical Assistant in Rheumatology Clinic (worked in infusion room caring for patients and helped scribe for physician) (350 hours)
  • COVID-19 Tester (worked Primarily with Hispanic patients during the height of the pandemic) (400 hours)
  • Intern at a Neurosurgery Institute, scribed and did basic literature research on minimally invasive surgery, published article on institute website (60 hours)
• Research experience and productivity
  • Undergrad Research Studying Autoimmunity in mice (3000 hours)
  • The lab had little funding, so only undergraduates and PI, during my last year I was the head Undergrad and led all aspects of research.
  • 2 Credited Presentations and Abstracts (3/4th listed author)
  • NIH IRTA gap year studying psoriasis and autoimmunity (2000 hours so far, will continue during gap year)
  • 1 Accepted first author publication in top 5 ranked journal in the field, 1 second author review in a decent journal, Two 5th author papers in good journals, one accepted one under review. Going to have 4-6 papers submitted (2nd-5th on author block) over the next 3 months. 3-4 accepted abstracts at time of application
• Shadowing experience and specialties represented.
  • Rheumatology and Immunology (60 hours)
  • Cardiology (30 hours)
  • Neurosurgery (50 hours)
  • Internal Med (50 Hours)
• Non-clinical volunteering
  • Volunteer with unsheltered advocacy group during college, helped refer unsheltered folks towards medical services and provided food and clothing (350 hours)
  • During Gap year currently volunteering in street outreach (going out in the early mornings to connect with unsheltered folks and help them achieve housing and provide survival supplies. I work with many unsheltered Spanish-speaking folks and other immigrant populations). (200 hours currently, 600 total projected)
  • About to take on a leadership role in street outreach as coordinator, will be in charge of managing 20+ NIH volunteers in street outreach and leading outreach missions/trainings. Aiming to secure some grants to help prevent drug overdoses in the Area. (5 hours training currently, 150 projected) *am not putting this on my activities list and saving for secondaries, is that a good idea???
• Stanford
• UCSF
• UCLA
• UCSD
• UCI
• UPenn
• Davis
• Columbia
• Duke
• Harvard
• Mount Sinai
• Case and Lerner
• Yale
• Wash U
• U Pitt
• Mayo
• Ohio State
• Geisel
• Boston U
• USC
• U of Colorado
• Northwestern
• Chicago
• Kaiser
• Albert Einstein
• U Mich
• Emory
• Cornell
• Brown (considering taking off as they seem to prefer ivy grads)
• Rochester
• Carle Illinois
• Johns Hopkins
• NYU
• Chapel Hill

Very interested in research career in rheumatology and advocating for equitable research, as well as continuing my work advocating for unsheltered populations, both which form the essence of my PS and App overall.

 

[Faha]

You have a good list and should receive several interviews.

 

[chilly_md]

If you would like to remove a few, UNC takes few OOS students and Carle has an engineering focus.

 

[themagictaco]

Thank you! Will take out UNC

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Good chances anywhere except maybe top 5 but apply anyway and see what happens

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Making sure you do your homework: which programs have a department/program for homeless/street medicine that you can be involved with to help you further with your advocacy interests with homeless/unsheltered populations? Have you reached out to students about their involvement?

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

No it’s not the gpa. For top schools, most people who are accepted have stats + a hook (Ivy League grad, startup founder, ncaa athlete etc.)

Since the OP didn’t get into UW or MCW as a WI resident, I would advise he/she check to make sure LORs and essays have no red flags

 

[chilly_md]

wha? I thought OP is a CA resident

You are correct. The other user had mixed them up with a different poster who was reapplying. The CA applicant here has not applied before and has good chances at many of their schools.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

My bad, confused it with another high stat poster that I replied to earlier

 

[ujsc]

No it’s not the gpa. For top schools, most people who are accepted have stats + a hook (Ivy League grad, startup founder, ncaa athlete etc.)

Since the OP didn’t get into UW or MCW as a WI resident, I would advise he/she check to make sure LORs and essays have no red flags

Are you implying these schools are a tape measure of things to come? Clearly, the OP needs to get an expert appraisal of the app and interview skills

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Are you implying these schools are a tape measure of things to come? Clearly, the OP needs to get an expert appraisal of the app and interview skills

I thought this was a different thread. Op in that case was from WI and WI schools favor WI residents

 

[ujsc]

I thought this was a different thread. Op in that case was from WI and WI schools favor WI residents

Dear Voice of light,

I don't mean to give pointers but best to be on the right thread. 😉

 

[themagictaco]

Making sure you do your homework: which programs have a department/program for homeless/street medicine that you can be involved with to help you further with your advocacy interests with homeless/unsheltered populations? Have you reached out to students about their involvement?

Yes definitely! Have spoken to a few students and it seems most urban schools have strong dedicated street medicine teams/clinics.

That GPA makes OP less competitive for top schools?? That gives me depression your app looks amazing 😵 I hope your cycle goes really well!

Thanks!! Hoping the GPA won't be too limiting besides at places like NYU haha.