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Thanks!
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You 100% should not take a year off because as far as your stats go -- in combination with your URM status -- you will probably receive many II, and acceptances; your MCAT is great, and your GPA is as well. Your EC's are pretty good, but won't make or break you. I think your list is nice and balanced as well.
Your chances are great; shine in your interviews.
Apply wisely (early and broadly) and you should be fine!
Which Hispanic community do you represent? Language skills?
It might be helpful to show that, not only are you fluent, but that you are committed to serving your people as well. I'm assuming that's what this "personally traveled to this country" is, on your volunteering?Thank you very much for your advice! I'd like to follow up on your comment about me not taking a gap year. Do you believe I have a strong enough application to be considered at top 15 schools? My original thought process was to take the gap year to strengthen my app and to possible raise my GPA a little more.
Again thank you for your help so far!
Some schools consider Central Americans UiM. We all appreciate language skills (some more than others!) and commitment to service, though.My family is Central American. Fluent in spanish. I also speak french very well (8yrs of experience). I was going to start taking Italian classes at my uni for senior year. I love learning languages.
It might be helpful to show that, not only are you fluent, but that you are committed to serving your people as well. I'm assuming that's what this "personally traveled to this country" is, on your volunteering?
I don't believe you need to take a gap year because (1) your GPA is excellent -- thus not needing repair -- (2) so is your MCAT, and (3) your EC's are not going to hold you back, I don't think. While not extraordinary (don't worry about it, because that's almost impossible to be in a pool of tens of thousands of applicants!), they will be okay -- maybe even for "top 15's" like you ask. I would not count on it, as I don't think anyone should, even the gunniest of the gunners, but I think it would be wise to apply to a couple, as you have a chance given your stats + URM status.
You do not need to raise your GPA, and your EC's are solid enough to warrant applying this cycle.
@Goro might be able to add something more, and @gyngyn will give you solid advice as well.
Some schools consider Central Americans UiM. We all appreciate language skills (some more than others!) and commitment to service, though.
URM is an old descriptor (under-represented minority).Sorry if this is a silly question but what is the difference between URM and UiM? And would this difference affect my application - I know it wouldn't be a drastically affect it, but I'm still curious.
URM is an old descriptor (under-represented minority).
The newer one, UiM (under-represented in medicine) puts the emphasis on the reason for the designation: the community served. The purpose is to improve healthcare, not to benefit the applicant.
Thank you for the replyI suggest:
U VM
U Toledo (maybe)
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush (note: very service/experience oriented with a 150hr service requirement. Avg student has 800 hours of community service, and >1800 hours of health care exposure.)
Rosy Franklin
NYMC
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Drexel
Creighton
Tulane
USC/Keck
Dartmouth
MCW
Loyola
USF Morsani
UCF
Emory
BU
Mayo
Duke
Case
JHU
Pitt
Northwestern
NYU
Mt Sinai
Vanderbilt
Columbia
Hofstra.
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
All SUNYs