Hi, I am an IL resident applying next cycle. I need some advice on cutting down my list and making sure I don't have too many low-yield and top-heavy apps. But I've also heard that some lower tier schools don't give much love to splitter applicants like me, so I'm worried all around and I know that my cycle will be unpredictable.
3.35sGPA and 3.55cGPA at time of application. I have a strong upward trend from a T20 undergrad, 3.90 maintained during junior and senior year, but I got a couple Cs and B-s as an underclassman in math-heavy classes like physics and calc. A's in all my upper level bio classes, which I have loaded up on to compensate for my early years.
519 MCAT: 129/132/129/129
2 years research, 1 poster and abstract, second author on a recently submitted manuscript but TBD if it will be published before app cycle begins. strong LOR from my PI.
close to 500 hours of clinical experience, mostly volunteering
250ish nonclinical volunteering including a leadership position for a club i'm very passionate about
I am interested in working with underserved populations and possibly going into primary care.
Planning on doing research or scribing/medical assistant in gap year.
Aiming for 25-30 schools with 5 DO and 5 more reach schools)
Definitely want to apply:
T20 alma mater (only super reach im allowing myself)
UIC (IS)
Loyola (IS + Jesuit service orientation)
Rosalind Franklin (IS)
Rush (IS and love the service orientation and the location)
SLU (love the service orientation of the Jesuits)
Tulane (holistic and service oriented)
UMiami Miller (holistic and service oriented)
USF Morsani (^^^^)
Cinci (seems like a solid mid tier school that's not too low yield)
Einstein (reach but interview a lot)
Hofstra (everyone keeps telling me to apply here bc they like high mcat)
Iowa( seem very OOS friendly and actually just very friendly in general + solid reputation)
Case (reach but they interview 20% of apps)
MCW (close to home)
Gtown (i know low yield but same reasoning as other Jesuits)
Kaiser (bc its new)
Seton Hall (bc its new)
NYU-LI (free? 3 years? primary care? dream come true)
Wayne State (service oriented)
Netter (keeps coming up in recommendations)
Western Michigan (new, they like high MCAT)
Beaumont (safe recommendation?)
Dartmouth (great program, might have mercy on split stats?)
Maybe/probable
NYMC (low gpa friendly but also low yield)
Vermont (I really like it and its OOS friendly but I need to cut down list)
EVMS (indifferent about this school but I need more lower tier?)
Drexel, Jefferson, Albany, SUNY Downstate ( don't have any particular reasons for adding these schools except if I need to add more lower tier schools to balance my app. Worried low yield)
Tufts (low yield but my MCAT is decently above avg?)
DO:
CCOM
PCOM
LECOM Bradenton
Univ New England
KCU
Marian
Schools I am on the fence about:
Brown (low yield, take 1/3 of there own peeps, but accept almost everyone they interview)
BU (low yield)
USC(want to apply bc SO is from Cali but might be too much of a reach)
Emory (my MCAT is comfortable here but GPA is not)
Rochester(^^^)
Louisville (OOS friendly but only for 25ish seats?)
Maryland (seem OOS friendly but worried about stats)
UChicago (could be a reach school since in state but my just be a waste of money)
Creighton (3.8 avg GPA)
Wake Forest (nobody from my UG has ever matriculated here according to data and they get lots of apps?)
DMU
AT STILL just because I don't have a strong desire for these locations but might add if i need more DO
Ok, sorry that was long, but I wanted to give my rational for each choice so that anyone can support my reasoning or correct me if my reasoning is wrong.
Any and all feedback is helpful!! Thank you all so much in advance 🙂
3.35sGPA and 3.55cGPA at time of application. I have a strong upward trend from a T20 undergrad, 3.90 maintained during junior and senior year, but I got a couple Cs and B-s as an underclassman in math-heavy classes like physics and calc. A's in all my upper level bio classes, which I have loaded up on to compensate for my early years.
519 MCAT: 129/132/129/129
2 years research, 1 poster and abstract, second author on a recently submitted manuscript but TBD if it will be published before app cycle begins. strong LOR from my PI.
close to 500 hours of clinical experience, mostly volunteering
250ish nonclinical volunteering including a leadership position for a club i'm very passionate about
I am interested in working with underserved populations and possibly going into primary care.
Planning on doing research or scribing/medical assistant in gap year.
Aiming for 25-30 schools with 5 DO and 5 more reach schools)
Definitely want to apply:
T20 alma mater (only super reach im allowing myself)
UIC (IS)
Loyola (IS + Jesuit service orientation)
Rosalind Franklin (IS)
Rush (IS and love the service orientation and the location)
SLU (love the service orientation of the Jesuits)
Tulane (holistic and service oriented)
UMiami Miller (holistic and service oriented)
USF Morsani (^^^^)
Cinci (seems like a solid mid tier school that's not too low yield)
Einstein (reach but interview a lot)
Hofstra (everyone keeps telling me to apply here bc they like high mcat)
Iowa( seem very OOS friendly and actually just very friendly in general + solid reputation)
Case (reach but they interview 20% of apps)
MCW (close to home)
Gtown (i know low yield but same reasoning as other Jesuits)
Kaiser (bc its new)
Seton Hall (bc its new)
NYU-LI (free? 3 years? primary care? dream come true)
Wayne State (service oriented)
Netter (keeps coming up in recommendations)
Western Michigan (new, they like high MCAT)
Beaumont (safe recommendation?)
Dartmouth (great program, might have mercy on split stats?)
Maybe/probable
NYMC (low gpa friendly but also low yield)
Vermont (I really like it and its OOS friendly but I need to cut down list)
EVMS (indifferent about this school but I need more lower tier?)
Drexel, Jefferson, Albany, SUNY Downstate ( don't have any particular reasons for adding these schools except if I need to add more lower tier schools to balance my app. Worried low yield)
Tufts (low yield but my MCAT is decently above avg?)
DO:
CCOM
PCOM
LECOM Bradenton
Univ New England
KCU
Marian
Schools I am on the fence about:
Brown (low yield, take 1/3 of there own peeps, but accept almost everyone they interview)
BU (low yield)
USC(want to apply bc SO is from Cali but might be too much of a reach)
Emory (my MCAT is comfortable here but GPA is not)
Rochester(^^^)
Louisville (OOS friendly but only for 25ish seats?)
Maryland (seem OOS friendly but worried about stats)
UChicago (could be a reach school since in state but my just be a waste of money)
Creighton (3.8 avg GPA)
Wake Forest (nobody from my UG has ever matriculated here according to data and they get lots of apps?)
DMU
AT STILL just because I don't have a strong desire for these locations but might add if i need more DO
Ok, sorry that was long, but I wanted to give my rational for each choice so that anyone can support my reasoning or correct me if my reasoning is wrong.
Any and all feedback is helpful!! Thank you all so much in advance 🙂
