WAMC 3.95/515

[wembanyamafan]

Hi, I am applying to the 2025/2026 cycle and I am completely lost in what I should do in terms of strengthening my application/school list. I am a first gen student and never had a mentor in the process and I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you so much 😊

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS: 3.95
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts : 515 (129/127/129/130)
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): CA
4. Biracial Latino/Asian (URM/ORM)
5. Undergraduate institution or category: T30 public school
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer): 250 hours hospital volunteering, 1700 hrs MA at private practice, 200+ hrs scribing at a low income clinic
7. Research experience and productivity: 1900 hrs basic science neurobiology research. 1 2nd author CNS pub and 1 poster presentation
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented: 20 hrs Internal medicine 30 hrs ophthalmology 12 hrs orthopedics
9. Non-clinical volunteering 300 hrs at a food bank, 150 hrs homeless shelter
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc), 750 hrs orientation leader, 150 hrs Bio TA, 300 hrs on campus job. Language learning (5 languages). Basketball played since I was 8
11. Relevant honors or awards. Deans list every year, Magna Cum Laude, PBK
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important: Low SES FAP recipient, single parent household. Any chances for T30/CA med schools?

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[Faha]

Your ECs look good. I suggest these schools with your stats:
The UCs (except Riverside unless you are from that region)
California University
Kaiser
Loma Linda (if you fit their mission)
Arizona (Phoenix)
Mayo
TCU
Creighton
St. Louis
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
USF Morsani
Tulane
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Georgetown
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Hofstra
Einstein (free tuition)
Hackensack
Rochester
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Dartmouth
Tufts
Boston University
UMass

 

[wembanyamafan]

Your ECs look good. I suggest these schools with your stats:
The UCs (except Riverside unless you are from that region)
California University
Kaiser
Loma Linda (if you fit their mission)
Arizona (Phoenix)
Mayo
TCU
Creighton
St. Louis
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
USF Morsani
Tulane
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Georgetown
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Hofstra
Einstein (free tuition)
Hackensack
Rochester
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Dartmouth
Tufts
Boston University
UMass

Thank you for the input Faha! @Goro @Mr.Smile12 @LizzyM do y’all have any advice? I just want to get as many opinions before I apply . Also, I was wondering if there was any other resources for getting advice/having someone look over essays and personal statement. My school does not have the best advising committee and I found them rather confusing than helpful. Thank you!

 

[Goro]

Thank you for the input Faha! @Goro @Mr.Smile12 @LizzyM do y’all have any advice? I just want to get as many opinions before I apply . Also, I was wondering if there was any other resources for getting advice/having someone look over essays and personal statement. My school does not have the best advising committee and I found them rather confusing than helpful. Thank you!

Application looks great. I agree with the wise Faha on the list

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for the input Faha! @Goro @Mr.Smile12 @LizzyM do y’all have any advice? I just want to get as many opinions before I apply . Also, I was wondering if there was any other resources for getting advice/having someone look over essays and personal statement. My school does not have the best advising committee and I found them rather confusing than helpful. Thank you!

We offer advice. Close to the application cycle we have volunteer members who can give advice on personal statements.

Also you can enroll in Becoming a Student Doctor (see signature) to get more personalized advising on your essays and interviews.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your journey of your upbringing in California, especially as a low-SES single-parent household, will be helpful if it shaped your perspective why you want to be a health professional. Check out the PRIME programs if any of them appeal to you. Many UC programs will favor those who grew up in the region their campus serves. You'll have to write essays and be invited to interviews specifically for those tracks after you are granted an interview in general.

 

[wembanyamafan]

Your journey of your upbringing in California, especially as a low-SES single-parent household, will be helpful if it shaped your perspective why you want to be a health professional. Check out the PRIME programs if any of them appeal to you. Many UC programs will favor those who grew up in the region their campus serves. You'll have to write essays and be invited to interviews specifically for those tracks after you are granted an interview in general.

Thank you for the encouraging words! I have actually been looking into a couple of PRIME programs since I started preparing for my application last month. Would you say it is wise to reach out to the PRIME admissions programs and see if it is a good fit for me? Also I will definitely be utilizing SDN advising once I start writing out my personal statement

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for the encouraging words! I have actually been looking into a couple of PRIME programs since I started preparing for my application last month. Would you say it is wise to reach out to the PRIME admissions programs and see if it is a good fit for me? Also I will definitely be utilizing SDN advising once I start writing out my personal statement

Since you aren't applying yet, you should research the PRIME programs. I don't think PRIME has "admissions staff," but you can talk with faculty members who run the programs and current students.

 

[LizzyM]

The schools that reward high MCATs won't give you the time of day. Get yourself access to MSAR and cross of the list any school with a median MCAT above 518.

 

[wembanyamafan]

The schools that reward high MCATs won't give you the time of day. Get yourself access to MSAR and cross of the list any school with a median MCAT above 518.

Will do!