WAMC + school list for upcoming cycle (3.96/525)?

[LightningMaximus11]

Hello everyone- I am looking to build a school list and was wondering if anyone might be able to advise me/ suggest other possible places to apply and just generally let me know what my chances might be. TIA!

1. cGPA 3.96/ sGPA 4.0
2. MCAT: 525 (132/130/131/132)
3. State of residence: Iowa
4. Ethnicity and/or race: ORM
5. Undergraduate institution: Public in Florida
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer):
   1. 500 hours clinical research assistant (only counting hours working with patients) - will continue full time in gap year
   2. 150 hours hospital volunteer
7. Research experience and productivity:
   1. 300 hours clinical research and associated senior thesis- One 1st author pub, one mid-author pub, 1 poster presentation at international conference - will continue full time in gap year
   2. 200 hours literature reviews not associated with any lab - 1 poster presentation at national conference, 2 at local conferences
   3. 250 hours basic science lab - no productivity
8. Shadowing experience:
   1. 120 hours: 80 in-person (25 primary care), 40 virtual
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   1. 150 hours: English tutoring to refugees/immigrants - will continue in gap year
   2. 60 hours at on-campus student clinic
10. Leadership
    1. President and founder of global healthcare organization at university - hold virtual panels with experts on global health
11. Other extracurricular activities
    1. Study abroad summer
    2. Chem TA for 1 semester
    3. Club sport
12. Relevant honors or awards:
    1. Department-wide chemistry award
    2. Global engagement award
13. Anything else not listed you think might be important:
    1. Bilingual and partially fluent in Spanish
    2. Narrative focuses on global and social determinants of health
14. LOR (5 total - are these enough?)
    1. clinical research PI
    2. physician shadowed
    3. 2 science, 1 non-science profs

All hours are expected at time of application for the 25/26 cycle. I will be graduating in May 2025 and will take a gap year during the application cycle, doing full time clinical research. Mainly looking for advice on my school list, such as any schools to add/drop, as well as any weaknesses in my application. Thank you!

Current School List:
Harvard
UCSF
Johns Hopkins
Columbia
Duke
UPenn
NYU
Stanford
WashU
Yale
Mayo Clinic
UCLA - unsure
Vanderbilt
Weill Cornell
USC (Keck)
University of Florida - unsure
University of Michigan
Northwestern
University of Pittsburgh
Icahn at Mount Sinai
UChicago
Emory
Ohio State
University of Virginia
Case Western
USF (Morsani)
Dartmouth (Geisel)
University of Miami
Brown
Colorado
University of Rochester
Boston University
Albert Einstein
Hofstra
University of Iowa
Cincinnati
Tufts University
University of Arizona (Phoenix)

Thank you again!
@Goro @Mr.Smile12 @Faha @wysdoc @LizzyM @chilly_md

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[Goro]

Delete U of F and A of AZ

ADD: U MI
Rock stars should aim high!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Tell me more about your global engagement summer. Why aren't you doing something like Peace Corps during your gap year? Do you wish to not attend your in-state options?

I think you could have a subpar community service orientation record, and teaching English may not have as much impact for the top brand schools you want to attend.

 

[LightningMaximus11]

Tell me more about your global engagement summer. Why aren't you doing something like Peace Corps during your gap year? Do you wish to not attend your in-state options?

I think you could have a subpar community service orientation record, and teaching English may not have as much impact for the top brand schools you want to attend.

Thanks for the feedback!

My study abroad summer was not medicine-related; I was only taking a couple of classes and got to do lots of traveling. It was definitely an impactful experience being immersed in a brand-new culture and society.

Peace Corps is an interesting option, but I truly enjoy the clinical research I am doing now. If it's any consolation, the findings of the study will be used to develop software that has important global implications (hence why I joined the project).

I have nothing against my in-state option, may I ask why you think I do not wish to attend? It is a great school and it is on my list; I simply figured I should shoot my shot with higher-tier schools based on my stats.

Could you elaborate on why I may have a subpar community service orientation record?

 

[LightningMaximus11]

Delete U of F and A of AZ

ADD: U MI
Rock stars should aim high!

Thank you!

If U MI is the University of Michigan, it is already on my school list. I included U of F because I did my undergrad in Florida, but I am not sure if that constitutes a strong tie for a school with such a strong in-state bias. I was also curious about UCLA, as I know they are relatively OOS-friendly but seem to be more holistic based on their 514 MCAT average (according to MSAR).

 

[LunaOri]

Your stats and accomplishments are good enough that you can put any school you would like to attend on your list, with the exception of those state schools that are unfriendly to OOS applicants. Consider what your purpose is in becoming a physician, and look at schools whose mission and opportunities will help you to fulfill that purpose.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Could you elaborate on why I may have a subpar community service orientation record?

Non-clinical volunteering

1. 150 hours: English tutoring to refugees/immigrants - will continue in gap year
2. 60 hours at on-campus student clinic

Tutoring doesn't fulfill "service orientation". You are teaching, which is an academic competency. Sure, the community you help is in need, but you serve from a position of expertise, not as someone who helps them with critical needs like housing, transportation, or food security. Yes, there is a need, but too many applicants tutor whether it's in science/math or English/ESL to help you stand out.

60 hours at a student clinic is still health-adjacent and isn't helping you stand out.

The total is also lower for applicant pools for top-tier brand schools IMO. You'll be up against people with at least 250-300 hours of bona fide service orientation. Peace Corps is a bonafide X-factor (Finding Your Greatest Common Factors with Successful Students - SDN). I'm unsure what other elements of your profile point to a strong global health profile (Benefits of Global Health Education for Future Doctors - SDN and Application Tips: Showing a Global Health Focus - SDN ).

I'm just making sure your portfolio is on par with other candidates for the top-tier schools on your list. Your metrics should get your file read, but these other elements better secure your chances for an interview IMO. I agree you need to do your homework on any other public schools that would likely think you'd just go to a top-tier brand program and thus yield protect against you.

I also ask about your in-state program because... you should be.

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[LeaveNoTrace]

I'm hearing rock music.

You're a platinum grade rock star and pack fodder at worst for ANY school in the country. Harvard, Stanford, Hopkins included. LizzyM might be interviewing you at her stratospheric West Coast school, and you should apply. Start the list with at least a dozen top 20 schools, add half a dozen midtiers and state schools as insurance, and add any other top school that suits your fancy. Can't promise acceptance but you should get interviews.