WAMC: 4.00 GPA, 517 MCAT, 19 YO, URM OR

[lancy]

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Members don't see this ad.

PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE

cGPA: 4.0, sGPA: 4.0
MCAT: 517 (128, 129, 130, 130), only time taken
Major: Psych, Minor: Chem, Business
Native Am, F, both parents immigrants, tribal affiliation in Canada, dad died yrs ago, mom has cancer
19 yo at application, 20 at matriculation. Skipped a grade, finish college in 3 yrs thanks to full IB in HS. State School
Shadowing: 61 hrs (24 hrs Psychiatry, 7 hrs Radiology, 22 hrs Surgery, 8 hrs Optometrist)
Research: 250 hrs 2 Psych studies on bias in healthcare resulting in 2 posters presented at 2 conferences and 1 st author article under review; Electrophysiology wet lab 300 hrs
Non-medical: 250 hrs social media manager for girls expeditions.
Advocacy: 300 hrs lobbying legislature for funds for mental health centers in school. Bill failed twice before, passed this year and got $7M.
Medical: 140 hrs Alzheimer's Buddy, 800 hrs EMT.

Albert Einstein
Boston U
Case Western
Chicago Rosalind Franklin
Columbia
George Washington
Harvard
Kaiser Permanente
Loyola Strich
Mayo Alix
NYU
OHSU
Warren Alpert
Tufts
UC Irvine
UCSD
UCLA
UCSD
Chicago Pritzker
U Colorado
U Mich
U Rochester
U Washington
Weill Cornell
Yale

Strong interest in Psych, Neuro, and advocacy. Low interest in rural medicine. Strong interest in academic medicine and research but body of research too small yet for MD/PhD. Low interest in taking gap years unless no admit this year. School list developed based on mission and likelihood of fin aid. Should I modify my school list, I know many on there are high reach. I'll be happy if I get in at OHSU.

 

[lancy]

Strong LoR from 2 Science professors, 1 from advocacy activity, 1 from shadowed psychiatrist, 1 from Speech and Debate coach of 2 yrs.
Most meaningful: EMT, Advocacy, Speech and Debate.

 

[jffyx _net]

you have a very good chance, native americans are highly underrepresented in medicine and if you can tie your interests in mental health and advocacy into your identity and serving the native community you will be highly competitive for every med school in the country, especially with your high stats.

 

[lancy]

you have a very good chance, native americans are highly underrepresented in medicine and if you can tie your interests in mental health and advocacy into your identity and serving the native community you will be highly competitive for every med school in the country, especially with your high stats.

I am worried that they'll look at my age and reject me off hand

 

[wysdoc]

Look especially at the UCSD prime-tide track

U of Oklahoma has a Native American focus at one of their campuses and U Minnesota also has one.

 

[lancy]

you have a very good chance, native americans are highly underrepresented in medicine and if you can tie your interests in mental health and advocacy into your identity and serving the native community you will be highly competitive for every med school in the country, especially with your high stats.

Thank you!

 

[lancy]

Look especially at the UCSD prime-tide track

U of Oklahoma has a Native American focus at one of their campuses and U Minnesota also has one.

Thank you for the suggestions. Any ideas how to approach the age topic, if at all? I am considering writing about it in my Anything Else secondaries but wonder if it would be detrimental.

 

[Faha]

Where is your state of residence?

 

[lancy]

Where is your state of residence?

Oregon

 

[Faha]

Oregon

I suggest these schools with your stats:
OHSU
UCSF
UCLA
UCSD
USC Keck
Kaiser
Colorado
Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson)
Oklahoma
Dartmouth
Harvard
Yale
Brown
Tufts
Boston University
Einstein (free tuition)
Mount Sinai
Columbia
Cornell
NYU (free tuition)
Rochester
Georgetown
Johns Hopkins (free tuition)
Emory
Vanderbilt
Washington University (in St. Louis)
Northwestern
U Chicago
Mayo

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Let's throw some enrollment stats for Native Americans, which comprise about 1-2% overall in US medical schools.

Table 8. U.S. Medical Schools With 20 or More American Indian or Alaska Native Graduates (Alone or In Combination), 2009-2010 Through 2018-2019

U.S. Medical Schools With 20 or More American Indian or Alaska Native Graduates (Alone or In Combination), 2009-2010 Through 2018-2019

www.aamc.org

That said, you should look for supportive schools, mentors, and programs/tracks if serving your heritage community is a primary purpose as a physician. You have many options, and you should be in demand at every medical school who thinks they can provide you the support you are looking for. Oregon should interview you as they have a lot of programming for Native American health.

Helping more Native Americans become physicians to improve health care for all

OHSU Northwest Native American Center of Excellence catalyzes increase in students, faculty who are American Indian, Alaska Native.

news.ohsu.edu

Going a little off Faha's list are the following considerations if the fit is right for you.
Sanford (not Stanford) School of Medicine at University of South Dakota, specifically

Native American Healthcare Scholars Program

What We Do The Native American Healthcare Scholars Program (NAHSP) provides mentoring and assistance to students working toward and through medical education. The Native American Healthcare Scholars Program is a collaboration between the University of South Dakota and the Great Plains Tr...

www.greatplainstribalhealth.org

Mayo Clinic (pathway program, run as a pipeline program for MD program)

Native American Pathway Program - Programs - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

Mayo Clinic's virtual Native American Pathway Program addresses Native American health disparities by increasing Native Americans in health careers.

college.mayo.edu

Floyd Washington State University

https://medicine.wsu.edu/news/2025/05/05/2025-blanketing-ceremony/

https://medicine.wsu.edu/health-equity-office/pathway-programs/inmed-summer-academy/

 

[lancy]

Let's throw some enrollment stats for Native Americans, which comprise about 1-2% overall in US medical schools.

Table 8. U.S. Medical Schools With 20 or More American Indian or Alaska Native Graduates (Alone or In Combination), 2009-2010 Through 2018-2019

U.S. Medical Schools With 20 or More American Indian or Alaska Native Graduates (Alone or In Combination), 2009-2010 Through 2018-2019

www.aamc.org

That said, you should look for supportive schools, mentors, and programs/tracks if serving your heritage community is a primary purpose as a physician. You have many options, and you should be in demand at every medical school who thinks they can provide you the support you are looking for. Oregon should interview you as they have a lot of programming for Native American health.

Helping more Native Americans become physicians to improve health care for all

OHSU Northwest Native American Center of Excellence catalyzes increase in students, faculty who are American Indian, Alaska Native.

news.ohsu.edu

Going a little off Faha's list are the following considerations if the fit is right for you.
Sanford (not Stanford) School of Medicine at University of South Dakota, specifically

Native American Healthcare Scholars Program

What We Do The Native American Healthcare Scholars Program (NAHSP) provides mentoring and assistance to students working toward and through medical education. The Native American Healthcare Scholars Program is a collaboration between the University of South Dakota and the Great Plains Tr...

www.greatplainstribalhealth.org

Mayo Clinic (pathway program, run as a pipeline program for MD program)

Native American Pathway Program - Programs - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

Mayo Clinic's virtual Native American Pathway Program addresses Native American health disparities by increasing Native Americans in health careers.

college.mayo.edu

Floyd Washington State University

https://medicine.wsu.edu/news/2025/05/05/2025-blanketing-ceremony/

https://medicine.wsu.edu/health-equity-office/pathway-programs/inmed-summer-academy/

Thank you for replying to me. I am not so connected to NA culture. My grandma survived an Indian residential school, but she was traumatized for life, struggled with addiction and died early. My dad ran away from home and didn't speak about her much, refused to speak Ojibway, and also struggled with addiction and died early. I am on a path to rediscover my heritage but I feel it would be disingenuous for me to say that I am going to work on a reservation because at the moment I am not sure. I think you're right that I should apply to a track that prioritizes NA health, though. My other concern is that I am so young compared to the majority of applicants and I worry that they'll say that I am young and should apply again. I didn't address that in my personal statement, do you think I should address it in the Anything Else secondaries?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for replying to me. I am not so connected to NA culture. My grandma survived an Indian residential school, but she was traumatized for life, struggled with addiction and died early. My dad ran away from home and didn't speak about her much, refused to speak Ojibway, and also struggled with addiction and died early. I am on a path to rediscover my heritage but I feel it would be disingenuous for me to say that I am going to work on a reservation because at the moment I am not sure. I think you're right that I should apply to a track that prioritizes NA health, though. My other concern is that I am so young compared to the majority of applicants and I worry that they'll say that I am young and should apply again. I didn't address that in my personal statement, do you think I should address it in the Anything Else secondaries?

I can't speak for you or your family's experiences, but you should consider how those family experiences have shaped you or how you perceive yourself. Not every Native American has a complete immersion in their culture, partly because for many years, the dominant culture considered it not " "acceptable" culture (see residential schools). If you haven't seen the PBS series "Finding Your Roots," it's interesting how many of us lose connection with our ancestral history which surprisingly reveals much about oneself. You can still be searching; many on that program are well into their 50/60/70s...

As for your age, I think age is only a problem if you think it is a problem. It may have limited you from opportunities before. But if you understand and comport yourself professionally, I don't think there will be issues for being 20/21 at matriculation. If your references say you are "wise beyond your years,"...

 

[lancy]

I can't speak for you or your family's experiences, but you should consider how those family experiences have shaped you or how you perceive yourself. Not every Native American has a complete immersion in their culture, partly because for many years, the dominant culture considered it not " "acceptable" culture (see residential schools). If you haven't seen the PBS series "Finding Your Roots," it's interesting how many of us lose connection with our ancestral history which surprisingly reveals much about oneself. You can still be searching; many on that program are well into their 50/60/70s...

As for your age, I think age is only a problem if you think it is a problem. It may have limited you from opportunities before. But if you understand and comport yourself professionally, I don't think there will be issues for being 20/21 at matriculation. If your references say you are "wise beyond your years,"...

I think I will not address the age factor; I have done a lot in my life and am not a lightweight. If adcoms are concerned about it, they can ask me 🙂. Thank you for your thoughtful responses.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I think I will not address the age factor; I have done a lot in my life and am not a lightweight. If adcoms are concerned about it, they can ask me 🙂. Thank you for your thoughtful responses.

No problem. I also forgot to mention: often admissions committees will ask that identifiable, biasing information be redacted from interviewers' files. This will generally include birth date, so you would have to tell people your age voluntarily. You can understand sometimes age bias can be a concern with older applicants (lot of people think being 26 is too old for medical school [what!!???]).

 

[lancy]

No problem. I also forgot to mention: often admissions committees will ask that identifiable, biasing information be redacted from interviewers' files. This will generally include birth date, so you would have to tell people your age voluntarily. You can understand sometimes age bias can be a concern with older applicants (lot of people think being 26 is too old for medical school [what!!???]).

That's good to know, I had no idea.

 

[lancy]

No problem. I also forgot to mention: often admissions committees will ask that identifiable, biasing information be redacted from interviewers' files. This will generally include birth date, so you would have to tell people your age voluntarily. You can understand sometimes age bias can be a concern with older applicants (lot of people think being 26 is too old for medical school [what!!???]).

If I may bend your ear a little more, I am looking for advice on how to approach the Covid 19 questions. I was a HS freshman when it started and while in the beginning it was frustrating, I grew a lot and cemented my medical career path during that time. I developed new-found empathy for my teachers who like everyone else were thrown into this new world of teaching online with all its challenges and drawbacks, I found my individual study style that has helped me conquer HS, college, and MCAT. I was a competitive swimmer at the time and having to swim in an outdoor pool at 5:30 am in the dead of winter was a tremendous test of determination. I used a lot of my free time to explore my city and surrounding areas and take Neuroscience open courses from Harvard. I came out of Covid stronger than I went in and it did not impact my grades negatively. Should I talk about this in the Covid essays that don't specifically ask to discuss the negative experiences?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If I may bend your ear a little more, I am looking for advice on how to approach the Covid 19 questions. I was a HS freshman when it started and while in the beginning it was frustrating, I grew a lot and cemented my medical career path during that time. I developed new-found empathy for my teachers who like everyone else were thrown into this new world of teaching online with all its challenges and drawbacks, I found my individual study style that has helped me conquer HS, college, and MCAT. I was a competitive swimmer at the time and having to swim in an outdoor pool at 5:30 am in the dead of winter was a tremendous test of determination. I used a lot of my free time to explore my city and surrounding areas and take Neuroscience open courses from Harvard. I came out of Covid stronger than I went in and it did not impact my grades negatively. Should I talk about this in the Covid essays that don't specifically ask to discuss the negative experiences?

Answer the prompt. Are these questions mandatory?

 

[lancy]

Answer the prompt. Are these questions mandatory?

Take UCLA"s 3rd prompt which seems mandatory: Describe how the covid pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial, or professional barriers, as well as other relevant information. The barrier part makes me think that they're looking for how covid adversely impacted me but the part about other relevant information makes me think that I could talk about the positive impact. Then there's Cornell's optional question: if applicable, tell us about any special circumstances related to Covid that could help us understand you better.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Take UCLA"s 3rd prompt which seems mandatory: Describe how the covid pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial, or professional barriers, as well as other relevant information. The barrier part makes me think that they're looking for how covid adversely impacted me but the part about other relevant information makes me think that I could talk about the positive impact. Then there's Cornell's optional question: if applicable, tell us about any special circumstances related to Covid that could help us understand you better.

You can talk about positives for UCLA, and the Cornell prompt is open and neutral.

 

[lancy]

Thank you for the feedback, much appreciated.

 

[mike-sheree]

I am worried that they'll look at my age and reject me off hand

? Why? More than a few folks in my class were 20 when they started and, like me, didn’t turn 21 until after classes had begun in September.
There are, after all, lots of kids in med school who have skipped a grade in the past. I don’t think they measure maturity by a number. That is why there is an application/interview process.

 

[lancy]

? Why? More than a few folks in my class were 20 when they started and, like me, didn’t turn 21 until after classes had begun in September.
There are, after all, lots of kids in med school who have skipped a grade in the past. I don’t think they measure maturity by a number. That is why there is an application/interview process.

I was looking at the fact that the average matriculant age is almost 25 and it's been on an upward trend for a while. I was somewhat concerned that some schools would screen me out.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

We published this last week. Maybe this is relevant to your concerns.

Getting to Know You with the Big Five Personality Traits | SDN

Have you ever been asked, "How would you describe yourself?" or, "What unique personality traits will you bring to the profession that will help you to be

www.studentdoctor.net

Emote Control: “Inside Out” for Prehealth and Professional Development | SDN

The 2024 summer blockbuster film Inside Out 2 explores the complex emotions that first hit teenagers during puberty. Briefly, the five original emotions

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[lancy]

We published this last week. Maybe this is relevant to your concerns.

Getting to Know You with the Big Five Personality Traits | SDN

Have you ever been asked, "How would you describe yourself?" or, "What unique personality traits will you bring to the profession that will help you to be

www.studentdoctor.net

https://www.studentdoctor.net/2024/...lopment/[/URLThank you, very insightful reads

http://

We published this last week. Maybe this is relevant to your concerns.

Getting to Know You with the Big Five Personality Traits | SDN

Have you ever been asked, "How would you describe yourself?" or, "What unique personality traits will you bring to the profession that will help you to be

www.studentdoctor.net

Emote Control: “Inside Out” for Prehealth and Professional Development | SDN

The 2024 summer blockbuster film Inside Out 2 explores the complex emotions that first hit teenagers during puberty. Briefly, the five original emotions

www.studentdoctor.net

Thank you, these are very insightful reads; now I'm off down the rabbit hole of the footnoted articles 🤭