WAMC+ School List Help: 510, 3.9, ORM

[nunya070]

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Hi everyone,
I am trying to build my school list and would greatly appreciate any help. Additionally, I am considering retaking the MCAT on August 16th to increase it. Is this a good idea or will this set me back significantly? For context, I have submitted my primary application (6/28) and it has not been verified yet.

1. cGPA: 3.9, sGPA: 3.85
2. MCAT: 510 (129/127/128/126)
3. State of Residence: Connecticut
4. Asian
5. Attending State School Undergrad
6. Clinical Volunteering: Hospital 1 (225 hrs), Hospital 2 (104 hrs), Hospital 3 (240 hrs), Hospital 4 (84 hrs), Free Clinic (24 hrs); Three of the hospitals, I am still volunteering at.
7. Research: 1740 hours (700 hours projected), 4 posters, 1 low-author, low impact publication
8. Shadowing: 60 hrs, Internal Medicine, ED, Neurosurgery
9. Non-clinical volunteering: Board of Directors of STEM Non-profit: 720 hours, 480 hours projected
10. Leadership: 300 hours over two clubs
11. 360 hours TA/tutor
12. Honors: STEM awards, School-wide research awards/grants

 

[Faha]

Your main weakness is not your MCAT of 510. Some schools screen at 150 hours of non clinical volunteering for activities such as food bank, homeless shelter, etc. I suggest these schools with your stats:
UConn
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Methodist (When it opens)
NOVA MD
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Ponce (St. Louis)
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State

 

[nunya070]

I listed the non-profit work at non-clinical volunteering and have several hundred hours serving as a a lead mentor for a STEM related activity in an underserved area. I also have a letter of recommendation for this and this is one of my MMEs. Additionally, some of the hospital volunteering was at a long-term care facility and some of it was in relation to addressing health disparities. Would this not meet requirements for non-clinical volunteering? Would I be able to apply
for service-heavy schools?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I listed the non-profit work at non-clinical volunteering and have several hundred hours serving as a a lead mentor for a STEM related activity in an underserved area. I also have a letter of recommendation for this and this is one of my MMEs. Additionally, some of the hospital volunteering was at a long-term care facility and some of it was in relation to addressing health disparities. Would this not meet requirements for non-clinical volunteering? Would I be able to apply
for service-heavy schools?

You need 150 hours of food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation or you could get screened out at schools where you don't have a strong mission fit. Being a STEM mentor is an academic activity showing your competency in science. Hospital volunteering at a long-term facility sounds clinical. If you aren't describing these activities with enough detail to show non-clinical service orientation, you put yourself at risk.

Service-focused schools usually require 250+ hours of the aforementioned activities. Some expect hundreds to thousands of hours. Think a Peace Corps year.