WAMC/School List Help: CA ORM, 3.956 cGPA/ 3.94 sGPA, 516 MCAT

[doctadocta28]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello! I am a recent college graduate looking for some advice on creating a medical school list and filling gaps in my application thus far. I am planning to apply in the 2026-2027 cycle. Any advice is appreciated!

Gender: Female
Race: Asian
State: CA (norcal)
Undergrad School: UCLA

cGPA: 3.956
sGPA: 3.940
MCAT: 516 (128/128/130/130)

Clinical Volunteering:

• 150 hours, rotated in 3 hospital departments (med-surgical, liver transplant ICU, medical ICU)

Employment:

• 900 hours library archival work throughout 4 years of undergrad

Research:

• Will be completing a year (expected 500-600 hours) as a part-time research assistant in cancer virology wet lab during gap year, PI has stated interest in helping me with publications, posters, etc.

Teaching/Tutoring:

• 250 hours, undergrad learning assistant for upper-division genetics course, helped facilitate 6 discussion sections

Honors/Awards:

• Cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean’s Honors

ECs/ Other:

• 2 years in ACM studios club, co-designed 4 games
• Freelance artist: traditional paintings, digital concept art, and henna art commissions
• Summer study abroad program [spanish in madrid]

Weaknesses: no shadowing, nonclinical volunteering, or paid medical employment hours yet. While I will be working part time in the lab, I have also been currently looking for a part-time medical assistant position, with no luck yet. I am also looking into service-oriented volunteer opportunities. Any suggestions?

School list:

IS:
Cal Northstate
Cal Science
Kaiser
UCD
UCI
USC
UCSD
UCLA
UCSF

OOS:
Albany
Penn State
Chicago Franklin
Wake Forest
Wayne State
Oakland Beaumont
Illinois
Tulane
Quinnipiac
Drexel
Arizona Phoenix
Loyola
George Washington
UCF
Ohio State
Georgetown
Emory
Saint Louis
NYU Long Island
Tufts
Hackensack
Dartmouth
Einstein
Rochester
Hofstra
Case Western
Pittsburgh
Brown
Boston
Baylor
Cornell
U Mich (ties)

High Reach:
Mount Sinai
U Penn
Yale
Stanford
Harvard
Hopkins
Northwestern
Pritzker
Wash U St Louis
Duke

 

[Faha]

You should accumulate 50 hours of in person physician shadowing (including primary care)
You should accumulate 250+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank, homeless shelter, etc.
Also another 100+ hours of clinical volunteering/employment.
If you have those hours a year from now I suggest these schools:
IS:
Cal Northstate
Cal Science
Kaiser
UCD
UCI
USC
UCSD
UCLA
UCSF

OOS:
Albany
Penn State
Chicago Franklin
Wake Forest
Wayne State
Oakland Beaumont
Tulane
Quinnipiac
Drexel
Arizona Phoenix
George Washington
Ohio State
Georgetown
Emory
Saint Louis
NYU Long Island
Tufts
Hackensack
Dartmouth
Einstein
Rochester
Hofstra
Case Western
Pittsburgh
Brown
Boston
Cornell
U Mich (ties)

High Reach:
Mount Sinai
Northwestern

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Could you describe your community service? Having zero hours is lethal as most schools will likely pass over your application.