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Hi everyone. I’m trying to finalize my school list for the upcoming cycle. I am applying for MD only. I’d appreciate feedback on whether this list is well-calibrated, too top-heavy, or if I am missing any obvious targets. I also had some additional questions. Thank you so much in advance.
cGPA: 3.98
MCAT: 522 (132/128/130/132), 1 attempt, 9/13/2025
NJ resident (lived in CA from middle school through high school)
ORM
Current junior at a high-ranked PUI / liberal arts college
Research
~1400 hrs Organometallic chemistry research: I'm a founding member of a new lab. Our school doesn't have grad students/postdocs, so I work directly with the PI and have my own project.
I will be presenting at ACS National this August (first author abstract/poster), and I presented multiple school/local posters. I have also trained a new student to join me in my project.
Possible first/second author paper if I take a gap year
Will be interning at NIH NCATS doing translational research the summer after I apply.
Clinical
~240 hrs campus EMS
~120 hrs internal medicine clinic intern (Basically did MA work)
~110 hrs hospital clinical volunteer
~100 hrs hospitality aide
~60 hrs Direct Support Professional (temporary position)
~120 hrs shadowing: cardiology + surgical oncology
Non-Clinical Volunteering / Leadership:
~520 hrs Advocacy Data Research Intern (Unpaid; Habitat for Humanity). One of my MMEs. I did data research to create targeted surveys and voter-guide handouts and also did research to provide data for their grants for the organization's county expansion
~120 hrs Vice President, Hunger Action Club (Soup Kitchen). Lots of Collab with other Student/Local Orgs
~170 hrs Associate Director of Services in student government
I also won a school social justice award related to my community work.
Other ECs
~150 hrs scientific editor for undergraduate neuroscience journal
~700 hrs (conservative estimate) piano/chamber/solo performance in college. I played in many recitals and ensembles, and I won an annual Soloist Competition and performed with orchestra at the end of year concert.
~250 hrs game design / coding projects
Letters
PI, 3 professors, Habitat for Humanity COO, and a nurse. All know me personally and have agreed to write strong letters.
Current school list (31)
Harvard
Johns Hopkins
Stanford
UPenn
Duke
UCSF
Columbia
Yale
WashU
NYU
Mayo
Michigan
UCLA
Vanderbilt
Weill Cornell
Northwestern
Pitt
Emory
Mount Sinai
UChicago
Boston University
Albert Einstein
USF Morsani
Hofstra
Case Western
Dartmouth
Rochester
Rutgers NJMS
Rutgers RWJMS
Cooper
Hackensack Meridian
Thank you so much again.
- Is this list reasonable for my stats/narrative, or am I being too aggressive with the Reaches?
- I'm worried about my clinicals looking like I lacked grit or responsibility due to them being multiple 1 year jobs (I had to commute by Uber to my initial experiences, and I switched to pragmatic options nearby)
- Would taking a gap year (to secure an organometallic paper and finish the NIH internship) materially improve my chances?
cGPA: 3.98
MCAT: 522 (132/128/130/132), 1 attempt, 9/13/2025
NJ resident (lived in CA from middle school through high school)
ORM
Current junior at a high-ranked PUI / liberal arts college
Research
~1400 hrs Organometallic chemistry research: I'm a founding member of a new lab. Our school doesn't have grad students/postdocs, so I work directly with the PI and have my own project.
I will be presenting at ACS National this August (first author abstract/poster), and I presented multiple school/local posters. I have also trained a new student to join me in my project.
Possible first/second author paper if I take a gap year
Will be interning at NIH NCATS doing translational research the summer after I apply.
Clinical
~240 hrs campus EMS
~120 hrs internal medicine clinic intern (Basically did MA work)
~110 hrs hospital clinical volunteer
~100 hrs hospitality aide
~60 hrs Direct Support Professional (temporary position)
~120 hrs shadowing: cardiology + surgical oncology
Non-Clinical Volunteering / Leadership:
~520 hrs Advocacy Data Research Intern (Unpaid; Habitat for Humanity). One of my MMEs. I did data research to create targeted surveys and voter-guide handouts and also did research to provide data for their grants for the organization's county expansion
~120 hrs Vice President, Hunger Action Club (Soup Kitchen). Lots of Collab with other Student/Local Orgs
~170 hrs Associate Director of Services in student government
I also won a school social justice award related to my community work.
Other ECs
~150 hrs scientific editor for undergraduate neuroscience journal
~700 hrs (conservative estimate) piano/chamber/solo performance in college. I played in many recitals and ensembles, and I won an annual Soloist Competition and performed with orchestra at the end of year concert.
~250 hrs game design / coding projects
Letters
PI, 3 professors, Habitat for Humanity COO, and a nurse. All know me personally and have agreed to write strong letters.
Current school list (31)
Harvard
Johns Hopkins
Stanford
UPenn
Duke
UCSF
Columbia
Yale
WashU
NYU
Mayo
Michigan
UCLA
Vanderbilt
Weill Cornell
Northwestern
Pitt
Emory
Mount Sinai
UChicago
Boston University
Albert Einstein
USF Morsani
Hofstra
Case Western
Dartmouth
Rochester
Rutgers NJMS
Rutgers RWJMS
Cooper
Hackensack Meridian
Thank you so much again.
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