duckyt
MD Applicant 26-27 Cycle
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Hello everyone! I just got my MCAT score on Tuesday and submitted my primary this morning. I am looking to build my school list so I can pre-write and submit secondaries as soon as my application gets verified in early August.
Cycle: 2026-2027, for 2027 entering class (applying MD)
cGPA / sGPA: cGPA ~3.97 / sGPA ~3.96 (self calculated; mostly straight As in college with one B in upper-level math, & one B+ from HS dual enrollment, also math)
MCAT: 527 (132/131/132/132), only attempt
State of residence: OH (attended college here as well)
Ethnicity/race: South Asian, ORM; non-disadvantaged; child of physicians
Undergrad: Private university (T50-ish), dual degree: B.A. Mathematics + B.S. Neuroscience
Clinical experience:
Research & productivity:
79 hours physician shadowing - primary care (major hospital & free clinic settings), pediatrics, internal medicine, stroke neurology, pediatric epilepsy.
14 hours clinical shadowing PhDs, pediatric neuropsychology testing
Non-clinical volunteering:
Other ECs / leadership / teaching:
Honors/awards: Summa Cum Laude (top 10%); summer research internship ($6K stipend); cancer research program ($4.5K); selected as 1 of 2 university reps to AAAS science-advocacy workshop (DC); Outstanding Student Org of the Year at college leadership awards for university's Remote Area Medical chapter (president); some other awards associated with other ECs
Letters: Composite letter packet; expect most letters to be good as my teachers knew me pretty well
Writing: I think my writing was good--- could have been better, but I think the care and effort put into the application is clear.
School list: Right now, I've added all the Ohio medical schools, except NEOMED, which I was advised to leave out due to possible yield protection (if anyone could confirm, that would be helpful!). I am going to add free-tuition schools, some dream schools, and other suggestions from @Mr.Smile12, like JHU, NYU, Einstein, WashU, USF, UVA, Yale, and Harvard. However, I need guidance on more mid-tier schools that would fit my profile.
Concerns/Questions: I am looking for school suggestions based on my profile. I know my clinical experience could be better and I do not have pubs, so I do not want to apply too top-heavy. I am looking for more mid-tier schools that would like my 3.9/527 stat combo and my work with underserved populations through RAM and organizing the first RAM clinic in my city. Schools with a strong focus on urban community health & established student-run clinics would be the places I would want to attend. I am planning to apply to 25-35 schools.
Thank you so much for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you! Tagging @Faha @Goro @Mr.Smile12 @LizzyM ; any time you may have is greatly appreciated :^)
Cycle: 2026-2027, for 2027 entering class (applying MD)
cGPA / sGPA: cGPA ~3.97 / sGPA ~3.96 (self calculated; mostly straight As in college with one B in upper-level math, & one B+ from HS dual enrollment, also math)
MCAT: 527 (132/131/132/132), only attempt
State of residence: OH (attended college here as well)
Ethnicity/race: South Asian, ORM; non-disadvantaged; child of physicians
Undergrad: Private university (T50-ish), dual degree: B.A. Mathematics + B.S. Neuroscience
Clinical experience:
- Hospice volunteer — 300 hrs (mostly eating/walking/companionship)
- Dental X-ray station lead at free pop-up clinics (Remote Area Medical) — 330 hrs across 11 clinics/5 states; patient-facing
Research & productivity:
- AI medical-imaging lab (segmentation models for MRI; pediatric tumor capstone) — 650 hrs, continuing full-time during gap year (~1,600 hrs anticipated); senior capstone, undergraduate symposium poster at my college, continuing work for gap year
- Cancer immunotherapy lab - 475 hrs; abstract + symposium poster
- Independent redlining/health-equity research - 100 hrs; Presented as conference oral presentation + workshop
- No pubs/national conferences
- Selected for research programs with stipends for my first two summers in college, listed under Honors section on AMCAS
79 hours physician shadowing - primary care (major hospital & free clinic settings), pediatrics, internal medicine, stroke neurology, pediatric epilepsy.
14 hours clinical shadowing PhDs, pediatric neuropsychology testing
Non-clinical volunteering:
- President, university Remote Area Medical chapter — 1,075 hrs; organized city's first RAM clinic (517 patients, ~$297K free care, $34K raised, 200+ volunteers; 200+ tooth extractions provided, 300+ prescription glasses, 100+ medical exams, etc.) [Listed under Leadership on AMCAS, not Nonclinical volunteering]
- Student leader of program assisting & mentoring children at an under-resourced elementary school - 200 hrs / 7 semesters
- Homeless shelter admin volunteer — 70 hrs
Other ECs / leadership / teaching:
- Science instructor, nonprofit summer program — 300 hrs / 5 summers
- VP on board of umbrella organization (think student government, but for cultural/diversity focused clubs); student advocate in faculty decisions & with university administration - 100 hr / 2 years
- Art (lifelong hobby)
Honors/awards: Summa Cum Laude (top 10%); summer research internship ($6K stipend); cancer research program ($4.5K); selected as 1 of 2 university reps to AAAS science-advocacy workshop (DC); Outstanding Student Org of the Year at college leadership awards for university's Remote Area Medical chapter (president); some other awards associated with other ECs
Letters: Composite letter packet; expect most letters to be good as my teachers knew me pretty well
Writing: I think my writing was good--- could have been better, but I think the care and effort put into the application is clear.
School list: Right now, I've added all the Ohio medical schools, except NEOMED, which I was advised to leave out due to possible yield protection (if anyone could confirm, that would be helpful!). I am going to add free-tuition schools, some dream schools, and other suggestions from @Mr.Smile12, like JHU, NYU, Einstein, WashU, USF, UVA, Yale, and Harvard. However, I need guidance on more mid-tier schools that would fit my profile.
Concerns/Questions: I am looking for school suggestions based on my profile. I know my clinical experience could be better and I do not have pubs, so I do not want to apply too top-heavy. I am looking for more mid-tier schools that would like my 3.9/527 stat combo and my work with underserved populations through RAM and organizing the first RAM clinic in my city. Schools with a strong focus on urban community health & established student-run clinics would be the places I would want to attend. I am planning to apply to 25-35 schools.
Thank you so much for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you! Tagging @Faha @Goro @Mr.Smile12 @LizzyM ; any time you may have is greatly appreciated :^)
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