WAMC: Help me decide where to apply!

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Hi everyone, I am looking for honest feedback on my MD school list.

Date of submission: early in the 2026-2027 cycle
Overall GPA: 3.9
Science GPA / BCPM GPA: 3.9
MCAT: 508
MCAT section breakdown: 126 / 123 / 128 / 131
State of residence: Illinois
Undergrad: Kentucky college
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Minor: None
URM/disadvantaged: Southeast Asian, not URM. Working-class immigrant background.
Reapplicant: No
Nontraditional: No

Clinical experience:

• Patient Care Technician, medical-surgical floor: 960 hours

Physician shadowing: 240 hours total

• Bariatric surgery
• General surgery
• Hematology/oncology
• Surgical oncology

Nonclinical volunteering / community service:

• After-school program tutor: 80 hours
• Children’s Arts Program volunteer/coordinator: 200 hours
• Emergency Department volunteer: 512 hours
• Sunshine Cart hospital volunteer: 104 hours

Research: 1020 hours total

• NIH-funded cancer research: 480 hours
• Chemistry research: 540 hours
• Presentations: 3 poster presentations and 1 oral presentation
• Publications: None

Leadership / extracurriculars:

• President / leadership role, Vietnamese Student Association: 332 hours
• International Student Orientation Captain: 252 hours
• Badminton Club: 480 hours

Other employment / family responsibilities:

• Nail salon receptionist / family supporter

Honors / awards:

• Phi beta kappa

Letters of recommendation:

• Committee letter
• PI letter
• Physician letter

Mission fit / purpose in medicine:
My main purpose in medicine is service-oriented patient care, especially for patients and families who may feel overlooked by the healthcare system. My experiences shaped my interest in patient dignity, immigrant and working-class communities, health literacy, and community-centered care. I am also interested in oncology because of both personal family experience with cancer and my research experiences in cancer-related work.

Miscellaneous / red flags:

• MCAT 508 with a 123 CARS subsection
• No publications

Current MD school list:
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Albany Medical College
Quinnipiac Netter
Rush Medical College
ETSU Quillen
University of Toledo
Wayne State
Virginia Commonwealth
West Virginia University
FAU Charles E. Schmidt
New York Medical College
Eastern Virginia Medical School / ODU
University at Buffalo Jacobs
University of Vermont Larner
Stony Brook
SUNY Upstate
Loyola Stritch
Creighton
Georgetown
Drexel
Sidney Kimmel / Jefferson
Penn State
Temple / Lewis Katz
Medical College of Wisconsin
Wake Forest
Virginia Tech Carilion
Western Michigan Stryker
TCU Burnett
University of Connecticut
University of Miami Miller
Tulane
Boston University
Roseman
Methodist University Cape Fear Valley

Possible add-ons if budget allows:
University of Cincinnati
FIU Wertheim
University of Illinois Chicago
Indiana University
UCF
University of Arizona Tucson
Carle Illinois
Tufts
Wright State Boonshoft
Albert Einstein

Question:
Which schools should I add or delete? I am mainly applying MD because I am concerned about future residency competitiveness, but I am open to adding DO schools if my MD list is too risky. I would appreciate feedback on which schools are realistic for an Illinois resident with a 508 MCAT, 3.9 GPA, strong clinical experience, service background, and oncology/community health interests.

 

[Faha]

You have many state public schools on your list that admit very few non residents with a MCAT of 508 and no connection to the state.
I suggest these schools with your stats:
U Illinois
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Loyola
Ponce (St. Louis)
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
U Kentucky
Louisville
Indiana
Roseman
Alice Walton
TCU
Creighton
Belmont
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Methodist
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
George Washington
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your non-clinical volunteering does not seem to include service orientation activities: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. If you don't have 150 hours when you submit your application, your profile may be screened out at many schools on your list.