WAMC/School List 4.0/518

[chebboija]

Hello, I was hoping to get some advice on my application. I am looking to tweak/shorten (if recommended) my school list. Possibly add in some more safety schools considering my ECs.

Stats:
4.0/518/have not taken Casper yet

ECs:
Clinical Experience: 300 hrs with patient interaction in clinical research
Clinical Volunteering: 100 hours volunteering at a hospital
Non-clinical Volunteering: 500 hours distributing food to underserved populations
Shadowing: 100 hours across specialties
Leadership: 200 hours E-board positions, 100 hours as undergraduate research coordinator, 100+ hours as TA
Research: 1000+ hours in lab, 2 accepted abstracts, 2 manuscripts submitted, 1 manuscript in progress, a couple of undergraduate research posters (first author/middle author/coordinator)
Other: Volunteered to help professor establish online lab

Demo: FL, Male, not URM

School List:
Baseline: Florida State University, Florida International University, NOVA MD, NOVA DO (Clearwater), Temple, Drexel, Western Michigan, Rosalind Franklin, University of Vermont, George Washington, Easter Virginia, Albany, Dartmouth, Quinnipac University, LECOM-Bradenton, OCOM, BCOM-Melbourne, VCOM-Auburn

Target: University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, FAU, University of Miami, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, Case Western, Colorado, Tufts, University of Rochester, University of Iowa, Hofstra, University of Arizona, University of Michigan, Tulane

Reach: Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Stanford, UCSF, WashU St. Louis, Weill Cornell, NYU Grossman, UPenn, Yale, MayoClinic

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[Mr.Smile12]

What is your purpose as a physician? The lack of details makes it difficult to sense your mission fit.

 

[Faha]

With only 100 hours of clinical volunteering all your reach schools and Dartmouth, Case Western, Boston University are unrealistic.
You could add any of these MD schools:
Wake Forest
TCU
Jefferson
Virginia Commonwealth
Hackensack
Medical College Wisconsin

 

[LunaOri]

I think if the applicant took a gap year or two to increase their clinical and volunteer hours, they would have a much better chance, and could add a couple “reach” schools to their list.

 

[chebboija]

What is your purpose as a physician? The lack of details makes it difficult to sense your mission fit.

My research focuses on a disease with limited treatment options. Most of the patients I recruit eventually have to get a lung transplant if they can. I want to bridge science and clinical care by applying research developments in ways that directly help patients. As a physician, I hope to bring clarity and reassurance to those facing uncertainty and lead initiatives to improve their care.

 

[chebboija]

With only 100 hours of clinical volunteering all your reach schools and Dartmouth, Case Western, Boston University are unrealistic.
You could add any of these MD schools:
Wake Forest
TCU
Jefferson
Virginia Commonwealth
Hackensack
Medical College Wisconsin

I think if the applicant took a gap year or two to increase their clinical and volunteer hours, they would have a much better chance, and could add a couple “reach” schools to their list.

Thank you both! Do you think I would be competitive for my baseline and target schools. Particularly, the FL schools?

 

[chebboija]

Also, is there any merit to shortening this list? I want to apply broadly and maximize my chances of getting in, but this will be a lot of secondaries...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

My research focuses on a disease with limited treatment options. Most of the patients I recruit eventually have to get a lung transplant if they can. I want to bridge science and clinical care by applying research developments in ways that directly help patients. As a physician, I hope to bring clarity and reassurance to those facing uncertainty and lead initiatives to improve their care.

How is this research related to your 500 hours of food bank service? How is the food bank service germane to your purpose to bring clarity and reassurance to those facing uncertainty as a physician?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Also, is there any merit to shortening this list? I want to apply broadly and maximize my chances of getting in, but this will be a lot of secondaries...

You are including all of your Florida in-state options (MD and DO). If you can't get their attention, you have bigger problems with mission fit and purpose given your solid metrics.

 

[chebboija]

How is this research related to your 500 hours of food bank service? How is the food bank service germane to your purpose to bring clarity and reassurance to those facing uncertainty as a physician?

I hope to help uplift and make a difference to people at their most vulnerable moments, whether that means to help shedding light on terminal diseases and developing better treatments through research and patient recruitment or delivering food to the unhoused.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I hope to help uplift and make a difference to people at their most vulnerable moments, whether that means to help shedding light on terminal diseases and developing better treatments through research and patient recruitment or delivering food to the unhoused.

With all due respect, you can also become a chaplain. There are a couple of doctors at my church who are also ordained preachers (and have had a solid research record).

 

[chebboija]

Thank you, I appreciate the insight. However, I feel that becoming a physician is the most direct and meaningful way to serve others through both evidence-based medicine and personal connection. While I hope to continue my research, my primary focus is on the clinical aspect of medicine. I want to be the person that patients trust to treat and care for their health.

 

[chebboija]

You are including all of your Florida in-state options (MD and DO). If you can't get their attention, you have bigger problems with mission fit and purpose given your solid metrics.

Alright thank you! I will focus on my secondaries for FL schools and reevaluate which OOS schools to apply to.
I was just worried that I was not competitive enough for schools with my stat profile and might get overlooked by schools with different stat profiles.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you, I appreciate the insight. However, I feel that becoming a physician is the most direct and meaningful way to serve others through both evidence-based medicine and personal connection. While I hope to continue my research, my primary focus is on the clinical aspect of medicine. I want to be the person that patients trust to treat and care for their health.

The good news is that every medical school can teach clinical medicine. The bad news is that your statement says nothing about mission fit so schools have no reason to stop and send you an interview invitation. Mission fit is very important, and until you can state this, you are cannon fodder unable to stand out behind just numbers. Otherwise you could go to the Caribbean (please don't).

If you desire to continue your research, do a masters or PhD. Don't go into medicine expecting to continue what you are doing.

You can also use evidence-based medicine and be compassionate as a dentist, podiatrist, veterinary doctor, or optometrist. Give me more.

And I'm missing your connection to food bank service. You'd be amazed how many housed individuals are accessing food pantries. Even current students.