WAMC ORM 525/3.97 + Yield Protection Concerns + Gap Year Advice

[pingpongisfun]

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Hey everyone, I’m looking for some honest feedback on my chances for medical school. I'd also like some feedback on school list, and if there's more schools that I should add at this point (if there is any point in adding something now?). I submitted primary on June 20, submitted secondaries ranging from Early August and completed all by late August. No II yet.

I'm very worried about not getting into medical school in general, but also considering yield protection. I've heard I could be yield-protected from some schools and rejected from the top schools bc they are top schools ofc and also due to no research productivity. How serious are these concerns?

I would also like some advice on what to focus my time on during this gap year for potential reapplication next cycle. I've graduated from college and moved back home for my gap year. I worry about my lack of productive research, and would love some advice on how to volunteer at a lab as a non-undergrad/get into productive research?

I am thinking of applying to DO schools as well, as I’m facing a lot of financial and family pressure to get into a medical school this cycle. I initially did not add DO schools due to yield-protection concerns with my MCAT (is this a serious concern?). I'd be genuinely thrilled going to a DO or MD school, I did shadow and have a LOR from a DO. Any advice on if/what DO schools to add?

1. cGPA - 3.96 and sGPA - 3.97
2. 525 MCAT
3. CA resident
4. ORM
5. Public University in California
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
   1. Non-Volunteer - 800 hours paid MA
   2. Volunteer - 300hrs total; 200hrs free clinic taking vitals and scribing, 100hrs basic hospital volunteering
7. Research experience and productivity
   1. 450 hours dry lab - 1 undergrad conference
   2. 50 hours free clinic community research - 3 conferences
8. Shadowing experience- 80 hours (3 specialties)
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   1. Free Clinic Manager - 510 hours
      1. Unsure if this is clinical or nonclinical, my responsibilities here include creating workshops and kits, contacting volunteer physicians etc
   2. Food Distribution Org Founder - 290 hours
   3. Mentoring students with disabilities - 110 hours
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
    1. Peer Tutor - 460 hours
    2. TA - 60 hours
    3. Resident Assistant - 450 hours
    4. Dance team member - 145 hours
11. Relevant honors or awards
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important
    1. Caretaker for family member with serious illness - Took 5 years to complete undergrad due to being part-time last two years/taking time off to balance caretaking and school
    2. PS mainly focused on community service, as that’s what I’d be interested in as a doctor

Here is my current list below:

1. UCSF
2. Washington University (WashU)
3. NYU
4. Mayo
5. Cornell
6. Vanderbilt
7. Northwestern
8. University of Pittsburgh (UPitt)
9. UCLA
10. Case Western
11. UCSD
12. USC
13. University of Virginia
14. Brown
15. Boston University
16. USF Morsani
17. University of Colorado
18. University of Rochester
19. Hofstra
20. UC Irvine
21. UC Davis
22. UMass
23. Tufts
24. Georgetown
25. Cincinnati
26. Iowa
27. Sidney Kimmel (SKMC)
28. Indiana
29. Creighton
30. University of Illinois
31. Virginia Commonwealth
32. Wayne State
33. New York Medical College (NYMC)
34. Rosalind Franklin
35. Temple
36. Saint Louis University (SLU)
37. Drexel
38. Loyola
39. California Northstate
40. California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM)
41. Kaiser
42. University of Arizona – Phoenix
43. Texas Christian University (TCU)
44. Oakland

Thank you for reading this long post and for any advice on gap year, schools etc!

 

[karaya]

You have a solid app and should receive a few interviews from that list. Wait 2 months before you start to panic. I wouldn't apply DO.

Gap year: I don't have much advice re. research, except that if you're unable to publish a paper, you should try to obtain a glowing recommendation from your PI, as this is one of the criteria we use to bump applicants up a tier in research evaluation. I don't really see any weaknesses in your app, except that it looks plain. If you really want to stand out, I wouldn't do more of the typical activities. I would do a service year with Americorps or the like. But that's all moot if you get in this cycle, which is pretty likely.

 

[LunaOri]

Everything looks good to me. Hang in there for a few more weeks; interview invites may be coming!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

You shouldn't need to apply DO. It's up to your mission fit and having the hours back your narrative (which I think you can always use more non-clinical community service).

 

[pingpongisfun]

You have a solid app and should receive a few interviews from that list. Wait 2 months before you start to panic. I wouldn't apply DO.

Gap year: I don't have much advice re. research, except that if you're unable to publish a paper, you should try to obtain a glowing recommendation from your PI, as this is one of the criteria we use to bump applicants up a tier in research evaluation. I don't really see any weaknesses in your app, except that it looks plain. If you really want to stand out, I wouldn't do more of the typical activities. I would do a service year with Americorps or the like. But that's all moot if you get in this cycle, which is pretty likely.

thank you for the advice!

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

You look like pack fodder or a strong contender at top 20 schools.