WAMC + Updated School List: CA ORM, 3.85/512

[amber43325]

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Hello: I updated my school list to make sure it is not too top heavy and thought of some DO schools to add. Any feedback on how to improve my application for the 2025-2026 application cycle would be appreciated!

CA ORM, 3.85 cGPA, 512 MCAT (128/128/127/129) --> thought of retaking in April or May?

Clinical:
1. 300 caregiver for dementia patients part time for 3 summers
2. 360 medical assistant
Total: 660 hours

Nonclinical volunteering:
1. 200 as a companion for elderly patients in the hospital and helped train new volunteers
2. 200 crisis text line
3.150 as an English adult literacy volunteer to help with GED, citizenship, reading tax forms, job applications, etc.
Total: 550 hours

Research:
1. 300 in wet lab
2. 100 in clinical research lab, helped administer experiment trials to participants studying memory
3. 250 in translational research lab, collect data for pathology AI clinical trial for a summer
Total: 650 hours

Misc. Employment
1. 300 hours for a school year in COVID-19 public health job, worked in team and trained new employees
2. 250 hours for a summer as a lead at a summer camp
Total: 550

Shadowing:
1. 30 hours pediatrics
2. 15 hours EM
Total: 45 hours

Misc
1. scientific journalism group for 3 years, held leadership position
~ 250 hours
2. study abroad for a semester

My personal statement is not yet written but it will likely be focused around an interest in primary care.

School List:

1. UCLA
2. UCSD
3. UCSF
4. UCI
5. USC
6. UC Riverside
7. UC Davis
8. Cal University of Science
9. Georgetown
10. Tulane
11. Tufts
12. Ohio State
13. Cincinnati
14. Loyola
15. University of Indiana
16. Kaiser
17. George Washington
18. Colorado
19. St. Louis
20. Wake Forest
21. Creighton
22. Sidney Kimmel
23. Geisinger
24. Drexel
25. Temple
26. Miami
27. U Illinois
28. VCU
29. Cooper
30. Wayne State
31. Medical College Wisconsin
32. TCU
33. New York Medical College
34. Albany Medical College
35. UVM
36. Penn State
37. Dartmouth
38. EVMS
39. Rosalind Franklin
40. Western Michigan
41. Nova Southeastern
42. Quinnipiac
43. Oakland University William Beaumont
44. University of Maryland
45. University of Wisconsin
46. SUNY Downstate
47. Pitt
48. Hackensack
49. Stanford

DO Schools:

1. Western Pomona
2. Touro California

Any schools to add/remove is helpful! Thank you

 

[Mr.Smile12]

How did you do for the 2025 cycle?

Previously

A

Thread 'WAMC + MCAT Retake (3.86, 512)'

Oct 1, 2024

Hello: I got my MCAT score today and I am a little disappointed. Trying to check my school list for 2025 cycle and decide whether to just send in my app for the upcoming cycle, take a 2nd gap year to increase ec's or just retake the MCAT.

CA ORM
cGPA: 3.86, MCAT: 512

Clinical: 500 total

Nonclinical: 450 total

Research: 650 currently working on independent project with mentor so not sure how many hours that will be

Employment: 550 total

Misc: 400 total over 3 years

Shadowing: 30 hours pediatrics, 12 hours EM

Hobbies: medieval studies (have been running a blog for the last 5...

• amber43325
• wamc
• Replies: 26
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

 

[AJS59]

Hello: I updated my school list to make sure it is not too top heavy and thought of some DO schools to add. Any feedback on how to improve my application for the 2025-2026 application cycle would be appreciated!

CA ORM, 3.85 cGPA, 512 MCAT (128/128/127/129) --> thought of retaking in April or May?

Clinical:
1. 300 caregiver for dementia patients part time for 3 summers
2. 360 medical assistant
Total: 660 hours

Nonclinical volunteering:
1. 200 as a companion for elderly patients in the hospital and helped train new volunteers
2. 200 crisis text line
3.150 as an English adult literacy volunteer to help with GED, citizenship, reading tax forms, job applications, etc.
Total: 550 hours

Research:
1. 300 in wet lab
2. 100 in clinical research lab, helped administer experiment trials to participants studying memory
3. 250 in translational research lab, collect data for pathology AI clinical trial for a summer
Total: 650 hours

Misc. Employment
1. 300 hours for a school year in COVID-19 public health job, worked in team and trained new employees
2. 250 hours for a summer as a lead at a summer camp
Total: 550

Shadowing:
1. 30 hours pediatrics
2. 15 hours EM
Total: 45 hours

Misc
1. scientific journalism group for 3 years, held leadership position
~ 250 hours
2. study abroad for a semester

My personal statement is not yet written but it will likely be focused around an interest in primary care.

School List:

1. UCLA
2. UCSD
3. UCSF
4. UCI
5. USC
6. UC Riverside
7. UC Davis
8. Cal University of Science
9. Georgetown
10. Tulane
11. Tufts
12. Ohio State
13. Cincinnati
14. Loyola
15. University of Indiana
16. Kaiser
17. George Washington
18. Colorado
19. St. Louis
20. Wake Forest
21. Creighton
22. Sidney Kimmel
23. Geisinger
24. Drexel
25. Temple
26. Miami
27. U Illinois
28. VCU
29. Cooper
30. Wayne State
31. Medical College Wisconsin
32. TCU
33. New York Medical College
34. Albany Medical College
35. UVM
36. Penn State
37. Dartmouth
38. EVMS
39. Rosalind Franklin
40. Western Michigan
41. Nova Southeastern
42. Quinnipiac
43. Oakland University William Beaumont
44. University of Maryland
45. University of Wisconsin
46. SUNY Downstate
47. Pitt
48. Hackensack
49. Stanford

DO Schools:

1. Western Pomona
2. Touro California

Any schools to add/remove is helpful! Thank you

So a few thoughts:
1. Do you have reason to expect that your MCAT would go up significantly (in your case, we're probably talking to a 518, minimum)? If you can't answer this with certainty I would not risk a retake, because it could be equally likely that your score stays the same or goes down
2. Your profile in general is good, although I would caution you that companion position in the hospital should be considered clinical, not non-clinical. Thankfully, you still have enough non-clinical service work with the English adult literacy volunteer group to avoid screens.
3. Given #2, I would probably eliminate Georgetown, Loyola and St. Louis from your list, as these are catholic institutes where priority is on several hundred-thousands of hours of non-clinical service work.
4. Unless you have demonstrable ties to the region, I would also consider striking the rest of the midwestern public (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Oakland, and both Wisconsin schools in particular)
5. Finally, you mention an interest in primary care. Love to see that BUT would encourage you to look for what Mr. Smile 12 refers to as "mission fit" - some of these schools serve very different populations and you should pick out the ones that most meet your mission. This will also help narrow your list down a bit, as I'd recommend in general you should probably limit yourself to close to 30 schools total to maximize energy and writing and minimize burnout and time.

 

[amber43325]

So a few thoughts:
1. Do you have reason to expect that your MCAT would go up significantly (in your case, we're probably talking to a 518, minimum)? If you can't answer this with certainty I would not risk a retake, because it could be equally likely that your score stays the same or goes down
2. Your profile in general is good, although I would caution you that companion position in the hospital should be considered clinical, not non-clinical. Thankfully, you still have enough non-clinical service work with the English adult literacy volunteer group to avoid screens.
3. Given #2, I would probably eliminate Georgetown, Loyola and St. Louis from your list, as these are catholic institutes where priority is on several hundred-thousands of hours of non-clinical service work.
4. Unless you have demonstrable ties to the region, I would also consider striking the rest of the midwestern public (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Oakland, and both Wisconsin schools in particular)
5. Finally, you mention an interest in primary care. Love to see that BUT would encourage you to look for what Mr. Smile 12 refers to as "mission fit" - some of these schools serve very different populations and you should pick out the ones that most meet your mission. This will also help narrow your list down a bit, as I'd recommend in general you should probably limit yourself to close to 30 schools total to maximize energy and writing and minimize burnout and time.

Ok thanks! I listed companion as nonclinical because it's kind of borderline as although it is in the hospital and patient facing we don't provide any physical care besides assisting in feeding sometimes, it's usually just company and conversation.

 

[amber43325]

How did you do for the 2025 cycle?

Previously

A

Thread 'WAMC + MCAT Retake (3.86, 512)'

Oct 1, 2024

Hello: I got my MCAT score today and I am a little disappointed. Trying to check my school list for 2025 cycle and decide whether to just send in my app for the upcoming cycle, take a 2nd gap year to increase ec's or just retake the MCAT.

CA ORM
cGPA: 3.86, MCAT: 512

Clinical: 500 total

Nonclinical: 450 total

Research: 650 currently working on independent project with mentor so not sure how many hours that will be

Employment: 550 total

Misc: 400 total over 3 years

Shadowing: 30 hours pediatrics, 12 hours EM

Hobbies: medieval studies (have been running a blog for the last 5...

• amber43325
• wamc
• Replies: 26
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

I haven't applied yet! Sorry the wording was a little confusing now that I reread it. The 2025-2026 cycle will be my first

 

[gyngyn]

This thread can be followed here: WAMC + MCAT Retake (3.86, 512)