WAMC and school list help - Traditional(4.0/523)

[revthepotato]

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Hey guys! I am planning on applying to medical school for the first time this upcoming cycle and was hoping you guys could give me some suggestions and feedback on my tentative school list. Please let me know if there are any schools I should add or remove, and if the list seems too top heavy. I don’t have any major geographic preferences, but would prefer a more relaxed and supportive environment (P/F curriculum is a priority). I would like to apply to at max 35-40 schools to avoid burnout, so I would appreciate if you could help me remove some schools that don't fit my profile. Also, if you have any suggestions for stat-loving mid tier schools that would be greatly appreciated because I am a traditional student and likely don't have the extracurriculars or x-factor for T20s.

Background and academics:
Home state: Illinois

Undergrad School: small-ish private university in Florida (ranked about 250-300)

Demographics: Asian (Indian) male

Degree: biology major, business minor. Graduating in May and taking a pseudo-gap year while I apply

GPA: 4.0

MCAT: 523 (131/130/130/132)

Work/Activities:
Research/lab:

Head lab assistant for genetics classes: 490 hours

REU with focus on translational kidney/urinary tract research: 425 hours - 2 posters (international conference, institutional conference), mid-author publication

Undergraduate researcher at cancer laboratory: 480 hours - 1 poster (local conference)

Clinical work:

Medical assistant at urology clinic: 420 hours

Medical assistant at urgent care: 150 hours

CNA at nursing home: 150 hours

Shadowing: 110 hours - urology, pediatric urology, family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatric nephrology, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery

Volunteering:

Crisis text line: 50 hours

Hospice volunteer: 75 hours

On-campus food pantry volunteer: 60 hours

Americorps: 1700 projected hours during gap year (starting in September after applications)

Leadership:

President of anime club: 320 hours

Senator for student government: 300 hours

Indian Student Association executive board: 80 hours

Social media team for UTI research organization: Just started

School List (no particular order):

Northwestern University

University of Chicago

University of Illinois

University of Virginia

University of South Florida

Rosalind Franklin University

NYU Grossman

WashU St. Louis

Johns Hopkins University

University of Pennsylvania

The Ohio State University

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Loyola University

Case Western Reserve University

Boston University

Stony Brook University

Hofstra University

University of Cincinnati

Nova Southeastern University MD

University of Rochester

Yale University

Vanderbilt University

University of Iowa

University of Arizona Phoenix

Brown University

Cornell University

University of Southern California

Icahn Mount Sinai

Columbia University

Virginia Tech

University of Pittsburgh

Harvard University

University of Miami

Emory University

Duke University

Stanford University

University of California San Francisco

Indiana University

University of Michigan

Dartmouth College

Thomas Jefferson University

Johns Hopkins University

Rosalind Franklin University

Mayo Clinic

Let me know if there's any other useful information I can add and if you have any suggestions. Thanks for your help!

 

[veil_ca]

Congratulations on your wonderful stats! I am just a fellow applicant, but wanted to chime in to say that that list does appear very top-heavy to me. I think you are definitely competitive for top schools, but I would add in mid-level or even lower level schools just to be sure.

 

[Blueflower2024]

We are in a very similar situation as I am also planning on taking a pseudo gap year! I think you could benefit from getting some non clinical volunteering experience serving the underserved community. From what I have read projected hours carry little weight.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would wait until the Americorps hours are no longer projected. You have very light non-clinical community service orientation that would exclude you from most schools: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation preferred. As a high stats applicant trying to shoot for the brand names, you need 250 hours minimum by submission to be on par with most applicants in those pools.

I can't tell what your mission fit or purpose are.

 

[revthepotato]

Congratulations on your wonderful stats! I am just a fellow applicant, but wanted to chime in to say that that list does appear very top-heavy to me. I think you are definitely competitive for top schools, but I would add in mid-level or even lower level schools just to be sure.

Thanks for your response! I was looking through the list again and decided to remove some of the top schools. Do you have any suggestions for mid and low tier schools that I can add to the list that are out of state friendly and don't have a history of yield protection?

 

[revthepotato]

We are in a very similar situation as I am also planning on taking a pseudo gap year! I think you could benefit from getting some non clinical volunteering experience serving the underserved community. From what I have read projected hours carry little weight.

Will definitely keep this in mind and try to focus on that these upcoming months. Thanks!

 

[revthepotato]

I would wait until the Americorps hours are no longer projected. You have very light non-clinical community service orientation that would exclude you from most schools: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation preferred. As a high stats applicant trying to shoot for the brand names, you need 250 hours minimum by submission to be on par with most applicants in those pools.

I can't tell what your mission fit or purpose are.

Thank you for your input. Considering that I am planning on applying this cycle, I will start looking for opportunities to get involved with more volunteering asap. My anime club runs a fundraiser event with special olympics every year and I put many hours into helping organize this, could that possibly help with making me more competitive from the community service perspective?

 

[LunaOri]

Thanks for your response! I was looking through the list again and decided to remove some of the top schools. Do you have any suggestions for mid and low tier schools that I can add to the list that are out of state friendly and don't have a history of yield protection?

UMass, UVM, Tufts

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for your input. Considering that I am planning on applying this cycle, I will start looking for opportunities to get involved with more volunteering asap. My anime club runs a fundraiser event with special olympics every year and I put many hours into helping organize this, could that possibly help with making me more competitive from the community service perspective?

As described, no. Fundraising does not fulfill service orientation expectations, though your fundraising success would make you popular in the alumni/development office... but not adcoms.

Bump your food pantry hours to 150 to avoid getting screened out. That's another 100 hours over the next 3 months which can be done if you focus. Your Americorps work should get you the rest of the way if you should apply again in 2026-2027.

Extra: on your anime interests, read

Q&A with Physician-Comic Author: Dr. Omar Mirza | SDN

Dr. Omar Mirza is a consultation-liaison psychiatrist based in New York City. He also co-creates the comic series Zindan: The Last Ansaars with his friend

www.studentdoctor.net

Comics, Forensic Psych, and Dr. Pozios | SDN

Dr. Vasilis K. Pozios is a board-certified physician in forensic and general psychiatry, mental health advocate, entertainment consultant, and author. He

www.studentdoctor.net

ShirlyWhirl, MD: The Life of a Med Student in Comic Form | SDN

Shirlene Obuobi draws the life of a medical student in her comic ShirlyWhirl, MD. See more comics on the ShirlyWhirl, MD Facebook and Instagram. Tell us

www.studentdoctor.net

Q&A with Physician-Comic Authors: Drs. Mehtabdin and Mirza | SDN

Dr. Khurram Mehtabdin and Dr. Omar Mirza are doctors by day, comic book creators by night. Their series, Zindan: The Last Ansaars, is the bestselling

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[revthepotato]

As described, no. Fundraising does not fulfill service orientation expectations, though your fundraising success would make you popular in the alumni/development office... but not adcoms.

Bump your food pantry hours to 150 to avoid getting screened out. That's another 100 hours over the next 3 months which can be done if you focus. Your Americorps work should get you the rest of the way if you should apply again in 2026-2027.

Extra: on your anime interests, read

Q&A with Physician-Comic Author: Dr. Omar Mirza | SDN

Dr. Omar Mirza is a consultation-liaison psychiatrist based in New York City. He also co-creates the comic series Zindan: The Last Ansaars with his friend

www.studentdoctor.net

Comics, Forensic Psych, and Dr. Pozios | SDN

Dr. Vasilis K. Pozios is a board-certified physician in forensic and general psychiatry, mental health advocate, entertainment consultant, and author. He

www.studentdoctor.net

ShirlyWhirl, MD: The Life of a Med Student in Comic Form | SDN

Shirlene Obuobi draws the life of a medical student in her comic ShirlyWhirl, MD. See more comics on the ShirlyWhirl, MD Facebook and Instagram. Tell us

www.studentdoctor.net

Q&A with Physician-Comic Authors: Drs. Mehtabdin and Mirza | SDN

Dr. Khurram Mehtabdin and Dr. Omar Mirza are doctors by day, comic book creators by night. Their series, Zindan: The Last Ansaars, is the bestselling

www.studentdoctor.net

Thank you for taking the time to respond and linking some articles that may be of interest!

 

[candbgirl]

You have a great application but you have very little, if any, nonclinical volunteering. It would just be sad to apply and get screened out because of this issue. You have to get outside of your comfort zone and learn to deal with people very unlike you. If you are going to apply without this area save some money and leave Loyola and UChicago off your list. They want service to the less fortunate.

 

[revthepotato]

As described, no. Fundraising does not fulfill service orientation expectations, though your fundraising success would make you popular in the alumni/development office... but not adcoms.

Bump your food pantry hours to 150 to avoid getting screened out. That's another 100 hours over the next 3 months which can be done if you focus. Your Americorps work should get you the rest of the way if you should apply again in 2026-2027.

Extra: on your anime interests, read

Q&A with Physician-Comic Author: Dr. Omar Mirza | SDN

Dr. Omar Mirza is a consultation-liaison psychiatrist based in New York City. He also co-creates the comic series Zindan: The Last Ansaars with his friend

www.studentdoctor.net

Comics, Forensic Psych, and Dr. Pozios | SDN

Dr. Vasilis K. Pozios is a board-certified physician in forensic and general psychiatry, mental health advocate, entertainment consultant, and author. He

www.studentdoctor.net

ShirlyWhirl, MD: The Life of a Med Student in Comic Form | SDN

Shirlene Obuobi draws the life of a medical student in her comic ShirlyWhirl, MD. See more comics on the ShirlyWhirl, MD Facebook and Instagram. Tell us

www.studentdoctor.net

Q&A with Physician-Comic Authors: Drs. Mehtabdin and Mirza | SDN

Dr. Khurram Mehtabdin and Dr. Omar Mirza are doctors by day, comic book creators by night. Their series, Zindan: The Last Ansaars, is the bestselling

www.studentdoctor.net

Thanks again for all of your help thus far. I have the opportunity to start the americorps position in late June for additional hours. Would this be beneficial or is it too late into the application process to make any substantial difference if I were to submit my primary applications as soon as AMCAS opens?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks again for all of your help thus far. I have the opportunity to start the americorps position in late June for additional hours. Would this be beneficial or is it too late into the application process to make any substantial difference if I were to submit my primary applications as soon as AMCAS opens?

Analogy: It's like starting an SMP in June at the start of an application process when you submit your primary application. It's more of a reason for us to hold your file for review until after we know you have been successful by December.

How do we know you won't drop out or have some trouble with completing the Americorps project due to things like... I don't know ... a sudden withdrawal of federal funding?