WAMC?? 3.9, 526, no IIs :((

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

wherearemyiisss

Full Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2024
Messages
11
Reaction score
6
PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE THIS MESSAGE
  1. cGPA is 3.9, sGPA is 3.82
  2. MCAT 526 (-2 on CARS)
  3. CA
  4. ORM
  5. T5 undergrad, computer science/biology major
  6. Clinical experience: Prob on the low end
    1. 125 hours hospital volunteer
    2. 50 hours shadow
    3. 10 hours in hospital for clinical research.
  7. Research experience:
    1. 750 hours in lab at home university and contributing author on upcoming paper
    2. 250 hours each in 2 summer research internships at international universities
  8. Shadowing: 50 hours total, neurosurgery/anesthesiology/physical therapy
  9. Non-clinical volunteering:
    1. 200 hours in club mentoring local HS students (also leadership position in the club)
    2. 100 hours ESL tutoring
    3. 120 hours teaching STEM classes at a rural international high school + stayed with a local host family (a cool experience I wrote a lot of essays about)
  10. Other extracurricular activities:
    1. 1000+ hours learning a foreign language
    2. Also took medical interpreting class for a different language
  11. Awards: Won several awards for being good at that foreign language lol
  12. Anything else: I can speak 4 languages and have lots of international experiences (including in medical contexts), kinda my thing and maybe what makes me more interesting. Focused app around like cross cultural competence and diverse patients?
  13. LORs: 2 really good ones from foreign language prof and PI, 2 probably mid ones from other profs
  14. Essays: Had friends and school's career advising check some of them and received good feedback
Schools: Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Albert Einstein, UChicago, UPenn, Icahn Mt. Sinai, Yale, NYU, UCLA, USCD, UCI, Vanderbilt, Stanford, USC, Johns Hopkins, UCSF

I applied this cycle (submitted secondaries by end of July) and 0 IIs so I'm really stressed. No rejections either yet though.
Thinking I was too confident going in and my school list is probably horrible. Am I cooked??? Don't know what I did wrong -- potentially low clinical experience and maybe some essays weren't that good? Would really appreciate feedback and what y'all predict will happen

Members don't see this ad.
 
Welcome to the forums. What support and feedback have you received from your prehealth advisors? Casper/PREview? Where in California did you grow up?

You have a ton of tutoring mentioned in your profile, which won't help you stand out or demonstrate service orientation. Your other preprofessional competencies may need to be better clarified above.

Your clinical hours are on the low end as you perceive, so your prehealth team should have been able to warn you before applying. Maybe you'll get some bites after offers go out in October.

You didn't include Washington University St. Louis which tends to like high-stats applicants. You also seem to have an unbalanced list.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Welcome to the forums. What support and feedback have you received from your prehealth advisors? Casper/PREview? Where in California did you grow up?

You have a ton of tutoring mentioned in your profile, which won't help you stand out or demonstrate service orientation. Your other preprofessional competencies may need to be better clarified above.

Your clinical hours are on the low end as you perceive, so your prehealth team should have been able to warn you before applying. Maybe you'll get some bites after offers go out in October.

You didn't include Washington University St. Louis which tends to like high-stats applicants. You also seem to have an unbalanced list.
Thanks for the response!! I got a 6 on PREview lol... didn't take Casper cause I don't think it's required for my schools? Is this gonna tank my app??

I'm from Socal near LA. In the case I need to reapply (god I hope not) what sort of service orientation activities are recommended?

Yeah I didn't apply WashU because I didn't want to go to Missouri but kind of kicking myself for that now.

I met with my prehealth advisors a few times and they gave me some pointers and helped me edit my personal statement but not a huge amount of guidance there I guess. They told me I'd probably get into multiple med schools though. I didn't really know I was gonna be premed until like sophomore year so I feel like I was a bit behind in this whole process esp. with clinical things but seems like there aren't any glaring deficiencies in my app.

I'm gonna get at least one interview..right guys??????
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Members don't see this ad :)
You have way too little clinical experience. The soft minimum is 350, but it is preferred to be over 400. Ditto for underserved volunteering, soft minimum 250. They are really looking for things like food pantry, working with veterans, etc.

Everything else looks good, but your clinical numbers are a problem for any MD school, let alone the top-heavy list you have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
I'm gonna get at least one interview..right guys??????
Honestly, to the ultra top-heavy list you applied to, not likely.
It's still not too late to add some more mid tier schools. You might have some luck there, but your clinical and service is going to hold you back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Your low clinical volunteering hours (less than 150) will limit your chances for interviews (some schools screen out at 150 hours). Also, your non clinical volunteering hours are teaching and tutoring. Schools are looking for activities such as homeless shelter, food bank, etc and again may screen at 150 hours. The schools you applied to are very competitive and many applicants have hundreds or thousands of hours in each of clinical and non clinical hours. I suggest adding these schools this week:
Washington University
USF Morsani
Miami
U Virginia
Pittsburgh
Jefferson
Cincinnati
Ohio State
U Michigan
Iowa
Colorado
Hofstra
Rochester
New York Medical College
Tufts
UMass
Kaiser
Arizona (Phoenix)
Let us know how your cycle works out.
 
Your low clinical volunteering hours (less than 150) will limit your chances for interviews (some schools screen out at 150 hours). Also, your non clinical volunteering hours are teaching and tutoring. Schools are looking for activities such as homeless shelter, food bank, etc and again may screen at 150 hours. The schools you applied to are very competitive and many applicants have hundreds or thousands of hours in each of clinical and non clinical hours. I suggest adding these schools this week:
Washington University
USF Morsani
Miami
U Virginia
Pittsburgh
Jefferson
Cincinnati
Ohio State
U Michigan
Iowa
Colorado
Hofstra
Rochester
New York Medical College
Tufts
UMass
Kaiser
Arizona (Phoenix)
Let us know how your cycle works out.
Thanks again for the responses! I go to a school with few premeds (guess which lol) so I didn't know about these things. Guess I should have joined SDN sooner.

Man idk. Would my chances for highly competitive schools be lower as a reapplicant? I'm wondering if I'd rather just take a gap and reapply next cycle than go to a mid-tier school since I could just obtain more clinical/non-clinical volunteering in the coming year.
 
  • Hmm
  • Okay...
Reactions: 1 users
Honestly, to the ultra top-heavy list you applied to, not likely.
It's still not too late to add some more mid tier schools. You might have some luck there, but your clinical and service is going to hold you back.
Rippp is 125 clinical really that killer??? I projected like 75 more if that helps lol
 
Thanks again for the responses! I go to a school with few premeds (guess which lol) so I didn't know about these things. Guess I should have joined SDN sooner.

Man idk. Would my chances for highly competitive schools be lower as a reapplicant? I'm wondering if I'd rather just take a gap and reapply next cycle than go to a mid-tier school since I could just obtain more clinical/non-clinical volunteering in the coming year.
There is no guarantee that you will receive an acceptance at a "top tier" school. I have never understood why some premeds are concerned about which "tier" of school they will attend. When you eventually apply to obtain a license to practice medicine where you attended a MD school is irrelevant. Also, insurance companies will not compensate you more based on where you attended medical school. For example, if you were a general surgeon and performed an appendectomy, you will receive the same fee whether you attended Harvard or the lowest tier DO school.
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
There is no guarantee that you will receive an acceptance at a "top tier" school. I have never understood why some premeds are concerned about which "tier" of school they will attend. When you eventually apply to obtain a license to practice medicine where you attended a MD school is irrelevant. Also, insurance companies will not compensate you more based on where you attended medical school. For example, if you were a general surgeon and performed an appendectomy, you will receive the same fee whether you attended Harvard or the lowest tier DO school.
Sorry if I came off sounding like an dingus. You have a good point
 
First of all, relax, it's still September. I didn't get my first II until late November, scheduled it for April, and that was my only A. It's one of the schools on your list. And yeah, your list is really top-heavy.
I'm wondering if I'd rather just take a gap and reapply next cycle than go to a mid-tier school
No, that would be foolish. The factors that correlate with success in Step 1, Step 2, and research are not really determined by school tier. For the most part they are intrinsic to you and your resources.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I have interviews with two " mid-tiers," and I would be absolutely stoked to attend one of their schools. Each MD school has something unique to offer that makes it stand out. Apply broadly, become a doctor, and be happy.

Also, as a reapplicant, the feeling of going a whole year and not having anything to show for it hurts. Save yourself some pain and add more schools. Research more schools, you'll find a fit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
First of all, relax, it's still September. I didn't get my first II until late November, scheduled it for April, and that was my only A. It's one of the schools on your list. And yeah, your list is really top-heavy.

No, that would be foolish. The factors that correlate with success in Step 1, Step 2, and research are not really determined by school tier. For the most part they are intrinsic to you and your resources.
Whew ok. Thanks for the reassurance and keeping my fingers crossed
 
Members don't see this ad :)
I have interviews with two " mid-tiers," and I would be absolutely stoked to attend one of their schools. Each MD school has something unique to offer that makes it stand out. Apply broadly, become a doctor, and be happy.

Also, as a reapplicant, the feeling of going a whole year and not having anything to show for it hurts. Save yourself some pain and add more schools. Research more schools, you'll find a fit.
Maybe I need to rethink my entire mindset lol. Do I literally just go on AMCAS and add schools now? Do I need to do anything except add them and then do their secondary (like re-send letters of rec or something)
 
While pushing some secondaries in October may be a little "late," your metrics will still grab someone's attention. It just depends on the screening rubrics for mission fit. You COULD snag an interview if you avoid true yield-protecting schools where you don't have much in common.

Would your chances at higher-tier schools be lower as a reapplicant? Only if you don't improve significantly in the areas where you are likely deficient. But as pointed out, the selection process to medical school winds up being more like a lottery at the top brand schools.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
While pushing some secondaries in October may be a little "late," your metrics will still grab someone's attention. It just depends on the screening rubrics for mission fit. You COULD snag an interview if you avoid true yield-protecting schools where you don't have much in common.

Would your chances at higher-tier schools be lower as a reapplicant? Only if you don't improve significantly in the areas where you are likely deficient. But as pointed out, the selection process to medical school winds up being more like a lottery at the top brand schools.
Got it. Thanks again for the advice! This forum is super helpful actually lol. Will update yall with (hopefully good) news.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Your low clinical volunteering hours (less than 150) will limit your chances for interviews (some schools screen out at 150 hours). Also, your non clinical volunteering hours are teaching and tutoring. Schools are looking for activities such as homeless shelter, food bank, etc and again may screen at 150 hours. The schools you applied to are very competitive and many applicants have hundreds or thousands of hours in each of clinical and non clinical hours. I suggest adding these schools this week:
Washington University
USF Morsani
Miami
U Virginia
Pittsburgh
Jefferson
Cincinnati
Ohio State
U Michigan
Iowa
Colorado
Hofstra
Rochester
New York Medical College
Tufts
UMass
Kaiser
Arizona (Phoenix)
Let us know how your cycle works out.
Just one more question, by "screen out: do you mean at some schools I might literally get filtered out, like they don't even look at my application? That would suck :grumpy:
 
Just one more question, by "screen out: do you mean at some schools I might literally get filtered out, like they don't even look at my application? That would suck :grumpy:
Usually it means you won't move to the next phase regardless of whether your essays are read. We have hundreds to sort through using our screening criteria.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
wanted to add my 2 cents as a CA ORM to the general sentiment that's already been shared about expanding your list, but most of my friends who are also CA ORM applied to a lot more schools than just 18 due to the nature of CA being a large exporter of premeds

i'm also getting the vibe that you don't want to study in non-urban places (speaking as someone who did not apply to anywhere rural 💀) but there are plenty of "mid-tier" schools in cool cities if you research the schools that Faha gave you

also totally anecdotal, but I had a 52x, high GPA friend who submitted primary early but did not turn in any secondaries until right before their deadlines, and ended up getting 5+ IIs to very decent schools, so I wouldn't lose all hope yet! good luck this cycle <3
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
wanted to add my 2 cents as a CA ORM to the general sentiment that's already been shared about expanding your list, but most of my friends who are also CA ORM applied to a lot more schools than just 18 due to the nature of CA being a large exporter of premeds

i'm also getting the vibe that you don't want to study in non-urban places (speaking as someone who did not apply to anywhere rural 💀) but there are plenty of "mid-tier" schools in cool cities if you research the schools that Faha gave you

also totally anecdotal, but I had a 52x, high GPA friend who submitted primary early but did not turn in any secondaries until right before their deadlines, and ended up getting 5+ IIs to very decent schools, so I wouldn't lose all hope yet! good luck this cycle <3
Woah can't believe Dom dolla himself is replying to me. Thanks for the info!!
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Concerning your LOR’s-“two probable mid ones”. A lukewarm LOR can sink a ship. Never ask for a LOR unless you know it will be glowing (unless you have no option.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
You've got great stats but a tiny amount of clinical exposure. Quadruple that and you'd be OK. Get more exposure next time around and this cycle think about why you don't want a PhD instead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Would my chances for highly competitive schools be lower as a reapplicant? I'm wondering if I'd rather just take a gap and reapply next cycle than go to a mid-tier school since I could just obtain more clinical/non-clinical volunteering in the coming year.
Why do you want to go to a top-20 school? Prestige? Opportunities? Wanting to do something like being a physician-scientist or a neurosurgeon? There are lots of reasons for wanting to go to Harvard Med, some better than others. Saw a guy on SDN for who a top-20-or-bust mentality actually made sense, but he was quite unique. A rock star that had had cancer and beat it and wanted to be in healthcare reform, either as a doctor or a lawyer.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
and a neurosurgeon sure as heck does NOT have to go to Harvard!
 
Last edited:
  • Hmm
Reactions: 1 user
Top