WAMC and school list help, 4.0/508, NY resident

[DanPreMed]

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is doing well and getting some rest (or as much as we can).
I wanted to share my stats and activities and do hope whoever is interested can help guide me in picking med schools, or if I have a chance in the MD application pool. I have added a TLDR but am mainly worried about the most meaningful activities (Which I have wrote out in the link provided).
Thank you so much!!

TLDR :
State : NY
508 MCAT / 4.0 GPA (I'm completing undergrad in 3 years so I had to teach myself OChem, Biochem, and AnP 2 before taking the test to stay traditional ).

Clinical Experience​

• Medical Imaging Care Associate (Most Meaningful) Hours: 800 | Anticipated: 1300 Emergency department-based role involving direct patient interaction, x-ray support, transport, and EPIC documentation.
• Volunteer at X Center Hours: 60 Volunteer in multiple wings (Oncology, Emergency, etc.); focused on improving patient comfort.
• Personal Assistant (Great-Grandfather) Hours: 700 Caregiving involving stoma care, catheter issues, household help, emotional support, and end-of-life care.
• Clinical Shadowing Hours: 70 Specialties: Ophthalmology, Neurology (Epilepsy), Pediatrics, and Dentistry.
• Volunteer at Aphasia Center (Most Meaningful) Hours: 90 | Anticipated: 90 Speech therapy group volunteer and lead volunteer recruiter. Helped patients with TBI regain communication skills.

Community Service (Non-Clinical)​

• Volunteer at Wildwood Hours: 66 Education and social interaction with adults with learning/social disabilities; health education and online safety.
• Translation of In Her Shoes Hours: 105 Russian translation of a YOPD-related book; improved accessibility for non-English-speaking communities.

Research​

• Poster Presentation about Young Onset Parkinsons Disease (Most Meaningful) Hours: 35 Gender disparities in YOPD diagnosis and support; included interviews and presentations at two conferences.
• (Am not sure if this will be added in, read end section) Research with Dr. X's Lab Hours: 50 (Ongoing; shadowing phase) Early-stage lab involvement, shadowing researchers, planning full engagement over summer.

Leadership​

• President of the Pre-Health Club Hours: 105 | Anticipated: 120 Revitalized a defunct club; increased volunteerism, organized events, and facilitated community outreach.

Teaching / Tutoring / Mentoring​

• Piano Teacher Hours: 115 | Anticipated: 230 Taught 7 students; led 3 students past NYSSMA Level 3; emphasized discipline and passion for music.
• Peer Tutor (First-Year Students) Hours: 20 Mentored students in foundational college coursework and presentation skills; TA-style support.

Honors / Awards / Recognition​

• Nancy G. Slack Award (Spring 2025)
• Scrimshaw/Stern Travel Award (Spring 2024)
• Dean’s List: Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
• Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
• X Honor Society (2023–present)

Should I add these :

Poster Presentation : Tennessee Williams Writing, Using Surplus learning with Graphic Novels

• Two posters, First one I had many discussions about schizophrenia, gender roles, and mental illness in the 20th century.
• Second poster had a large conversation focused on if medical schools using graphic novels could be effective. But mainly non medical in the actual presentation of the poster.

Future Involvement

• TA for AnP, tutor for OChem, tutor for BioChem

Research at Dr. X's Laboratory

• Have started (Have 50 hours so far), but have mainly shadowed as it is only the start and will spend a lot of time over the summer in this experience

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[DanPreMed]

Hello! I am currently overwhelmed and don't know how to build a good school list (of 20 schools), I am not even sure that with my stats I am able to get in, please give advice. BTW I'm completing undergrad in 3 years so I had to teach myself OChem, Biochem, and AnP 2 before taking the MCAT which affected my score.

cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS: 4.0 cGPA / 4.0 sGPA
MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts: 508 (127/125/128/128)
State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): NY
Ethnicity and/or race: White, first-generation immigrant
Undergraduate institution or category: Small private liberal arts college

Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer):

• Medical Imaging Care Associate (Paid): 800 hrs (Anticipated: 1300) – ED radiology support, patient transport, EPIC documentation (Most Meaningful)
• Volunteer at Hospital: 60 hrs – Oncology, Emergency, Cardiology, Infectious Disease
• Personal Assistant (Family Caregiver): 700 hrs – Stoma care, end-of-life support Research experience and productivity:
  
  
• Poster Presentation (YOPD and Gender Disparities): 35 hrs – Presented at two conferences (Most Meaningful)
• Translation of "In Her Shoes" (Russian medical translation): 105 hrs
• Research in Dr. X’s lab (neurology): 50 hrs so far – early stage, full-time summer research planned
  Shadowing experience and specialties represented:
  
  
• 70 hrs total: Ophthalmology, Neurology (Epilepsy), Pediatrics, Dentistry
  Non-clinical volunteering:
  
  
• Aphasia Center Volunteer: 90 hrs (Anticipated: 90) – TBI/stroke patient communication support (Most Meaningful)
• Wildwood Program (Disability Education): 66 hrs – Health and safety education for adults with developmental disabilities
  Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc):
• Pre-Health Club President: 105 hrs (Anticipated: 120) – Restarted defunct club, organized volunteering
• Piano Teacher: 115 hrs (Anticipated: 230) – Taught 7 students, 3 completed state exams
• Peer Tutor (First-Year Seminar): 20 hrs – Provided academic and public speaking support
  Relevant honors or awards:
• Nancy G. Slack Award (Biology/pre-med distinction)
• Scrimshaw/Stern Travel Award (conference support)
• Dean’s List (4 semesters)
• Phi Kappa Phi
• Beta Beta Beta (Biology Honor Society)
• RSC Institutional Honor Society
  Anything else not listed you think might be important:
• Fluent in Russian
• Future plans: TA for Anatomy & Physiology, tutor for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, full-time summer lab research

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hello! I am currently overwhelmed and don't know how to build a good school list (of 20 schools), I am not even sure that with my stats I am able to get in, please give advice. BTW I'm completing undergrad in 3 years so I had to teach myself OChem, Biochem, and AnP 2 before taking the MCAT which affected my score.

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/need-advice-on-where-i-stand.1509883/

Thank you for the additional information.

First, I don't know why you are rushing to graduate in three years. If it's money, then that's foolish given the cost for medical education. I would tell you to take your time and complete organic and biochem properly, even if it takes you a 4th year. Shortcuts can cost you, and you took one that I would say is a red flag. If you have taken these courses since you took your MCAT, retake the MCAT before submitting your application.

Secondly, A&P is not on the MCAT. I don't understand why you would do that. Please explain. Most A&P courses are not science-rigorous as they are more appropriate for nursing and allied health programs. So maybe if you are applying for PA schools as a backup... but you would still need to take the class to fulfill those prerequisites.

Do you not have a prehealth advisor at your school? This could have been averted if you took advantage and followed the suggested course sequence. You could have used their help if you still intended on a three-year undergrad journey.

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
All 4 SUNYs
Albany
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Easter Virginia
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
NOVA MD
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Ponce (St. Louis)
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State

 

[Mr.Smile12]

One additional note: you do not list any service orientation non-clinical activities. The ones you list are clinic-adjacent, so I want more information about your work with the Aphasia Center and the WIldwood Program (developmental disabilities). Do you have any opportunities to work with marginalized populations that are not similar to you or your background? As it stands, your application may be at risk of getting screened out at most schools. You need 150 hours minimum before applying: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Also posted WAMC

 

[DanPreMed]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
All 4 SUNYs
Albany
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Easter Virginia
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
NOVA MD
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Ponce (St. Louis)
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State

Thank you for the advice. Do you think that my application may be able to stand out applying to these schools? Are these all MD or are some DO as well?

 

[Faha]

Thank you for the advice. Do you think that my application may be able to stand out applying to these schools? Are these all MD or are some DO as well?

Those are all MD schools. If you want to add DO schools I suggest these:
Touro-NY
NYITCOM
UNECOM
PCOM
LECOM
CUSOM
DMU-COM
MU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM
AZCOM
CCOM

 

[DanPreMed]

One additional note: you do not list any service orientation non-clinical activities. The ones you list are clinic-adjacent, so I want more information about your work with the Aphasia Center and the WIldwood Program (developmental disabilities). Do you have any opportunities to work with marginalized populations that are not similar to you or your background? As it stands, your application may be at risk of getting screened out at most schools. You need 150 hours minimum before applying: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation.

Hi! Thank you for the reply and advice. Let me answer the questions in order :
1. Im only graduating in 3 years because of the 43 credits I brough from HS (I am only 20), Realistically I was on track to graduate even earlier but my premed advisor was strongly opposed as it would mess up my application. My course list was actually on the correct path, it's more that I scheduled the test for January (So I did complete Ochem 1 before taking it, but my test was much more heavy on 2 which I taught myself).
2. I have taken the classes since but do want to apply in this cycle... would this be a mistake? I did not think that I got that many points off for not knowing Ochem, honestly it was mainly Caars, as english is my second language I definitely struggle a bit more with english focused passages and have all my life.
3. You are correct my work with developmental disabilities is not necessarily serving of undeserved communities. Wildwood for me is non-clinical as it was mainly focused on those with educational disabilities and adults without prior accessibility to education, while aphasia center I am noting as clinical as the people in session are considered patients and protected under HIPPA.
4. I do have work at a soup kitchen - but it is only probably around 30/40 hours, something I found too weak to put in my application as it was a few month commitment before I had to dedicate time to other opportunities.

Please give any advice! I am still heavily invested in applying this year so any help on how to format my list, creating a school list, or helping me sound well rounded even with my applications weakness would be a blessing
- Thank you again