WAMC/School List Help (3.97, 521, low ECs)

[migs888]

Hi! Looking for some help balancing my school list. I don’t have the extraordinary ECs for T20 so looking for some more mid to lower tier schools. I really do not want to take casper or preview but will if its necessary.

• 3.97 GPA, 521 MCAT, ORM from MD
• Clinical:
  • 250 hours hospital volunteering
  • 2000 projected for gap year (CRC)
  • 100 shadowing
• Nonclinical volunteering about 175 hours
• Research: total 1300 split between two labs, one with a poster and other with a mid author publication
• 3000 hours athletics

1. Harvard Medical School
2. UPenn (Perelman)
3. Columbia University
4. Duke University
5. Stanford University
6. WashU St. Louis
7. Weill Cornell Medicine
8. NYU Grossman
9. Mayo Clinic
10. Northwestern University
11. University of Pittsburgh
12. UChicago (Pritzker)
13. Emory University
14. Case Western Reserve
15. Ohio State University
16. University of Virginia
17. University of Maryland
18. University of Rochester
19. Brown University
20. University of Cincinnati
21. Albert Einstein
22. Dartmouth (Geisel)
23. Tufts University
24. Jefferson (Kimmel)
25. Virginia Tech
26. Tulane University
27. Penn State University
28. University of Arizona (Phoenix)
29. Rosalind Franklin
30. Western Michigan

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[Faha]

What is the nature of your 175 hours of non clinical volunteering ?

 

[migs888]

What is the nature of your 175 hours of non clinical volunteering ?

65 food distribution and 130 mentoring a disadvantaged high school student

 

[Mr.Smile12]

65 food distribution and 130 mentoring a disadvantaged high school student

Your food distribution constitutes 65/150 hours minimum to avoid getting screened out at most schools. Mentoring/teaching falls into a different category which most premed applicants have, so it won't help you stand out.

You have listed lots of projected hours. If you apply next year with your banked hours as a CRC and more food distribution hours (150 minimum, 250 desirable if you want a brand school), you would better match with some of the schools on your list. Show us that your application doesn't just rely on your involvement in athletics to carry you to medical school.

 

[Faha]

Rosalind Franklin and Penn State may "yield protect" with your stats. You could add these schools:
UMass
Hofstra
Mount Sinai
USF Morsani
Miami
Vanderbilt
Colorado
Iowa
Kaiser

 

[migs888]

Your food distribution constitutes 65/150 hours minimum to avoid getting screened out at most schools. Mentoring/teaching falls into a different category which most premed applicants have, so it won't help you stand out.

You have listed lots of projected hours. If you apply next year with your banked hours as a CRC and more food distribution hours (150 minimum, 250 desirable if you want a brand school), you would better match with some of the schools on your list. Show us that your application doesn't just rely on your involvement in athletics to carry you to medical school.

I probably would have applied next cycle with a stronger app, but I took my MCAT in 2022 so it will become too old for a lot of schools and I really don't want to take it again

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I probably would have applied next cycle with a stronger app, but I took my MCAT in 2022 so it will become too old for a lot of schools and I really don't want to take it again

If you don't get in after this cycle with your metrics, you will have to retake your MCAT again, plus show significant improvement as a reapplicant. Your metrics should warrant getting some II's but the question is whether you have enough to get you an A or into a HPWL. The few hours you have are a vulnerability, and that's just what probabilities say. Sure, there is always a chance some school might take you if you have a strong enough mission fit argument, but those same schools also have their stories about students with fewer than desired hours and how they fit or didn't fit into the student culture or mission afterwards.

There's still Casper or PREview.

 

[migs888]

.

 

[migs888]

If you don't get in after this cycle with your metrics, you will have to retake your MCAT again, plus show significant improvement as a reapplicant. Your metrics should warrant getting some II's but the question is whether you have enough to get you an A or into a HPWL. The few hours you have are a vulnerability, and that's just what probabilities say. Sure, there is always a chance some school might take you if you have a strong enough mission fit argument, but those same schools also have their stories about students with fewer than desired hours and how they fit or didn't fit into the student culture or mission afterwards.

There's still Casper or PREview.

Wanted to clarify in regards to your last comment are you saying taking Casper or preview will change my chances? Ex. increase or decrease based on my score. Or are you saying not taking it would decrease my chances just because I can’t include those schools?

Also, with your other comment would you say my exact application but more hours to the activities I already have would change my fit at schools? Just not sure how adding hours changes how I would fit into a culture at a school.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Wanted to clarify in regards to your last comment are you saying taking Casper or preview will change my chances? Ex. increase or decrease based on my score. Or are you saying not taking it would decrease my chances just because I can’t include those schools?

Also, with your other comment would you say my exact application but more hours to the activities I already have would change my fit at schools? Just not sure how adding hours changes how I would fit into a culture at a school.

I don't know which schools on your list require either test, but if you have to take them, factor in the time to prepare and report your results. You may also encounter recorded video interviews like Kira Talent or SparkHire platforms, such as with WashU.

Read

Beyond MSAR: Additional Resources for Building Your School List - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

Finding Your Purpose as a Health Professional - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

Preparing for Recorded Interviews: RVI Survey Insights - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[migs888]

I don't know which schools on your list require either test, but if you have to take them, factor in the time to prepare and report your results. You may also encounter recorded video interviews like Kira Talent or SparkHire platforms, such as with WashU.

Read

Beyond MSAR: Additional Resources for Building Your School List - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

Finding Your Purpose as a Health Professional - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

Preparing for Recorded Interviews: RVI Survey Insights - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

Thanks!