WAMC for upcomming cycle

[damonmontoya]

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cGPA: 3.67, sGPA: 3.52
MCAT: 527 (132/131/132/132)
State of residence: CA
Ethinicity and/or race: Hispanic male
Undergraduate: UCI pure mathematics major
important to note: from a impoverished background first to go to college in general, first in medicine, as well as i had a really bad sophomore year where i got 3 F's in math classes and few C's (How significant would the impact be on my career, and would it be worthwhile for me to pursue graduate school?)

Clinical experience:

• 700 hours at an EMT, exposed to various departments and plenty of patient interaction.
• 100 hours as Medical Scribe in Emergency Department
• 50 hours volunteering at vaccination clinics
• Free clinic volunteer (30 hours)
  • Intake coordinator
  • Translation services
  • Basic vitals and patient care

Research Experience:

• Neuroscience Research (1000+ hours)
  • Specialized in epilepsy research focusing on interictal spikes and Brief Ictal Rhythmic Discharges (BIRDs)
  • Analyzed EEG data to identify biomarkers for seizure prediction
  • Collaborated with neurologists to validate findings
  • Did multiple surgeries on mice
  • Participated in weekly lab meetings and research presentations
• Clinical Pediatric Research at UCI Hospital (300 hours)
  • Conducted data collection and management for pediatric clinical trials
  • Assisted in patient recruitment and screening
  • Maintained research databases and organized patient records
  • Coordinated with medical staff for study procedures
  • Helped prepare research documentation for IRB submissions
  • Participated in research team meetings and progress updates
• Research fellowship
• 4 publications
• 2 conferences presentations

Shadowing experience: 200 hours

• Neurosurgeon (60 hours)
• Neurology (50 hours)
• Emergency Medicine (70 hours)

Non-clinical volunteering:

• Volunteer at senior center (150 hrs)
• Learning assistant for multiple math/bio classes on campus (50 hrs)
• Peer tutor at my school tutor center (100 hrs)
• Mentoring middle school student at a low-income schools (100 hours)
• Volunteering Experience (100+ hours):
  
  • Assisted with meal preparation and distribution
  • Helped organize donation storage and inventory
  • Supported check-in procedures for shelter residents
  • Food Bank Service
    • Sorted and packaged food donations
    • Participated in food distribution events
    • Helped maintain organization of warehouse supplies

Leadership/Misc:

• Leader of the middle school mentoring program (100 hours)
• Student Coordinator for the middle School Mentoring (30 hours)
• Created a club focus on finding volunteering for undergraduates (150 hours)
• Programming Experience (2000+ hours)
  • Multiple Programming Certifications:
    • Python Advanced Developer
    • Java Developer Certification
    • Full Stack Web Development
  • Programming Instructor/Tutor
    • Lead weekly coding classes for children ages 8-14 at local library
    • Develop age-appropriate curriculum covering basic programming concepts
• Other hobbies: reading, surfing, lifting, making music, hanging out with family

LORs:

• Neuroscience PI
• Neuroscience Advisor
• Chem Lab Prof
• Middle school tutor coordinator professor
• Mathematics professor
• Clinical PI
• Shadowing doctor
• History Professor
• Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator

Any criticism/ advice would also help

School List:
Reach:
UCSF
Stanford
UCLA
UCSD
Johns Hopkins

Target:
UCI
UC Davis
USC Keck
Einstein
Mount Sinai
University of Michigan
Case Western
Mayo
Boston University
California Northstate
California University of Science and Medicine
UC Riverside
Kaiser Permanente
Oakland University William Beaumont

 

[Faha]

Are you fluent in Spanish ?

 

[tyke on a bike]

Given your high MCAT and URM status I wouldn't be surprised if you get multiple As. While your Fs and Cs may raise questions, do you have an upward trend i.e., better grades in junior and senior year? That may make up for it especially with your 100th percentile MCAT. In my eyes, you check the boxes for clinical/research/non-clinical/shadowing/LORs so I wouldn't be concerned there.

Your school list is pretty top heavy and you are a CA resident so I would definitely add more schools. Are you opposed to East Coast schools? According to admit.org these schools may be valuable to add but of course you may want to trim. How many schools are you willing to apply to?

Reach:
Harvard
UPenn
Columbia
Duke
Vanderbilt
WUSTL
Cornell
NYU
Yale
UChicago
Northwestern

Target:
UPitt
Emory
Dartmouth
Brown
Virginia

Baseline:
Miami
Colorado
Rochester
Iowa
Morsani
Hofstra
Cincinnati
Creighton
Georgetown
Tufts

Honestly, if I were in your position, I would even shoot my shot for TX schools. Note that OUWB may yield protect and California Northstate is facing LCME accreditation issues. All that said, I'm interested to hear what others think.

 

[damonmontoya]

Are you fluent in Spanish ?

yes, i know a few Portuguese and italian just because how similar it is to spanish

 

[damonmontoya]

Given your high MCAT and URM status I wouldn't be surprised if you get multiple As. While your Fs and Cs may raise questions, do you have an upward trend i.e., better grades in junior and senior year? That may make up for it especially with your 100th percentile MCAT. In my eyes, you check the boxes for clinical/research/non-clinical/shadowing/LORs so I wouldn't be concerned there.

Your school list is pretty top heavy and you are a CA resident so I would definitely add more schools. Are you opposed to East Coast schools? According to admit.org these schools may be valuable to add but of course you may want to trim. How many schools are you willing to apply to?

Reach:
Harvard
UPenn
Columbia
Duke
Vanderbilt
WUSTL
Cornell
NYU
Yale
UChicago
Northwestern

Target:
UPitt
Emory
Dartmouth
Brown
Virginia

Baseline:
Miami
Colorado
Rochester
Iowa
Morsani
Hofstra
Cincinnati
Creighton
Georgetown
Tufts

Honestly, if I were in your position, I would even shoot my shot for TX schools. Note that OUWB may yield protect and California Northstate is facing LCME accreditation issues. All that said, I'm interested to hear what others think.

yeah huge upward trend I just got to work my junior year I got a 4.0 and right now im looking at that same trend this year. I am opposed to east coast schools just because I do not want to leave California, as well as I was hoping my URM status could help me scrape by into a top school. What texas schools would you recommend.

 

[tyke on a bike]

Great to hear that you have an upward trend. I wouldn't be too concerned about your GPA then but be prepared to explain it if it comes up in interviews.

This is something I ask applicants who have regional preferences: Would you rather be at an MD school out of your preferred region or take a gap year & reapply? I ask this because, in the unfortunate circumstance that you don't get any love from California, not adding other schools means you would need to take a gap year and reapply. I completely understand why you would want to be close to home, so your stats definitely give you the liberty to pick and choose what schools to apply for.

For TX, I want to point out that ~10% of seats are allocated for out-of-state applicants so it's definitely difficult to get in but not impossible and your stats are on par with those who matriculate there. Also TX schools use a different application service (TMDSAS) and I believe it's a $220 flat fee regardless of the number of schools so might as well apply to them all.

 

[Faha]

yes, i know a few Portuguese and italian just because how similar it is to spanish

I suggest these schools with your stats:
The UCs (except Riverside unless you are from that region)
Stanford
USC Keck
Kaiser
Northwestern
U Chicago
U Michigan
Washington University (in St. Louis)
Vanderbilt
Emory
Duke
U Virginia
Georgetown
Johns Hopkins (free tuition)
Pittsburgh
Hofstra
Einstein (free tuition)
NYU (free tuition)
Mount Sinai
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Brown
Harvard
Boston University
Tufts