MD WAMC and what I should work on before applying? (515, cGPA 3.86)

[orangescone]

Hi everyone! I just need some recommendations for my school list and seeing what I should work on before I apply next cycle (in June 2021).

1. 3.86 cGPA and 3.77 sGPA
2. 515 MCAT (129/130/128/128)
3. State of residence-- Colorado
4. White woman
5. Santa Clara University--- jesuit undergrad might help with jesuit med schools
6. 220 hours of clinical volunteering in emergency room
7. 640 research hours (two different labs over two different summers) with one big presentation
8. 56 hours shadowing (8 family medicine, 24 hours underserved primary care at the same location that I volunteer at, 8 emergency medicine, 8 pediatrics, 8 oncology)
9. 100 hours non-clinical volunteering in a clinic that serves an underserved Spanish-speaking community in Denver. 500 hours working at a long-term care facility (work directly with the residents, but not in their medical care)
10. 190 hours as a general chemistry tutor, study abroad experience, member of Spanish conversation group
11. Graduated magna cum laude, Deans List awards and Top 10 in my class my freshman year (distinguished first year award-- not sure if that matters)
12. A large part of my application is revolving around my interest in serving under-served Spanish-speaking patients. I was a double Spanish/Bio major and was a public health minor. I love the public health side of medicine and would love to incorporate serving Spanish-speaking patients into my medical career. I also have my Wilderness First Responder certification but don't actively do anything with it (mostly got it because I am a big skier and sailor)
13. Interested in primary care mostly (community health, global health)

Are there any parts of my stats that I should beef up before applying?? I originally wanted to do a global health and medical shadowing program in a Spanish-speaking country, but COVID threw a wrench in that plan.

Here is my list, based on my WARS score of 81 and MSAR data:

University of Colorado
Oregon Health Science
Medical College Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin
University of Washington
University of Vermont
Creighton University
St. Louis University
Georgetown
George Washington
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
Tufts
Boston University
Dartmouth
University of Michigan
USC
Kaiser
UCSD
UCLA
UCSF
Duke
Emory
Northwestern
maaaaybe U chicago

Based on WARS, it says I should apply to more top schools, but I think that is a little unreasonable. I don't know... Any advice or recommendations for my school list or experiential would be great. Thanks!

 

[m1redsox]

Remove:
Oregon
U Wash
U Wisconsin

Each for IS bias.

You are not competitive at NW or Uchicago either.

Your app is fine, but you should add more schools like: Quinnipiac, Hackensack, Wake Forest, VCU, Temple, Drexel, Jefferson, maybe Miami.

Kaiser is a different ball game, but if you look at their matriculant list on their website, it’s clear that they are giving preference to UC and ivy grads (along with URM applicants). With such a small class size, I would say it’s not worth your time if you can replace that school with a more realistic one.

Sincerely,
A 515/3.82 CA ORM M1 who moved across the country for med school because schools like UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, USC, and Kaiser are some of the most competitive out there.

 

[orangescone]

Remove:
Oregon
U Wash
U Wisconsin

Each for IS bias.

You are not competitive at NW or Uchicago either.

Your app is fine, but you should add more schools like: Quinnipiac, Hackensack, Wake Forest, VCU, Temple, Drexel, Jefferson, maybe Miami.

Kaiser is a different ball game, but if you look at their matriculant list on their website, it’s clear that they are giving preference to UC and ivy grads (along with URM applicants). With such a small class size, I would say it’s not worth your time if you can replace that school with a more realistic one.

Sincerely,
A 515/3.82 CA ORM M1 who moved across the country for med school because schools like UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, USC, and Kaiser are some of the most competitive out there.

Yeah I figured all the California ones will be unlikely, but I have a strong preference for the West Coast lol. My family is actually from Wisconsin so I figured that might help at U Wisconsin. I will look into the schools that you suggested and trim some of the more competitive schools. Thank you!

 

[m1redsox]

Yeah I figured all the California ones will be unlikely, but I have a strong preference for the West Coast lol. My family is actually from Wisconsin so I figured that might help at U Wisconsin. I will look into the schools that you suggested and trim some of the more competitive schools. Thank you!

Oh, then U Wisco is a great idea. I’d still remove Oregon, U Wash, NW, and UChicago. I don’t see the CA schools as very realistic either, but shoot your shot I guess haha.

But same about the west haha, unfortunately there are a tonnn of applicants like us who are even more diverse and competitive, and there are relatively very few OOS friendly schools when compared with the east coast. Hopefully places like your alma mater (Santa Clara, right?), UCSB, and Pepperdine open med schools soon so we can have more opportunities to study on the beach

On a side note, I’m not sure if next cycle will be as competitive as the current one, but if it resembles this one at all, it will be even more competitive than in the past and I would recommend compiling a list of 30+ schools. 25 might not cut it—especially with west coast preference.

 

[orangescone]

Oh, then U Wisco is a great idea. I’d still remove Oregon, U Wash, NW, and UChicago. I don’t see the CA schools as very realistic either, but shoot your shot I guess haha.

But same about the west haha, unfortunately there are a tonnn of applicants like us who are even more diverse and competitive, and there are relatively very few OOS friendly schools when compared with the east coast. Hopefully places like your alma mater (Santa Clara, right?), UCSB, and Pepperdine open med schools soon so we can have more opportunities to study on the beach

On a side note, I’m not sure if next cycle will be as competitive as the current one, but if it resembles this one at all, it will be even more competitive than in the past and I would recommend compiling a list of 30+ schools. 25 might not cut it—especially with west coast preference.

I know, right? California needs even more medical schools so that I can have a chance haha. I'll probably cut the ones you said. Maybe keep a couple California ones just to be hopeful. I am nervous about if the next cycle will be more competitive because so many people delayed due to covid, so I am looking to add to my list so that I can cover more bases. Thanks for your help!

 

[m1redsox]

I know, right? California needs even more medical schools so that I can have a chance haha. I'll probably cut the ones you said. Maybe keep a couple California ones just to be hopeful. I am nervous about if the next cycle will be more competitive because so many people delayed due to covid, so I am looking to add to my list so that I can cover more bases. Thanks for your help!

Good idea. An easy way is to just look for private schools in the 510-515 range. Then filter based on where sounds cool to you! Haha