WAMC URM 3.5, Low CARS

[Ellopoppet]

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Hey there,

I recently got my MCAT score: 509(127/122/129/131).
cGPA 3.51
sGPA 3.45
AA Male

State of residence is West Virginia

No research
Did some tutoring for a year
Had a part-time job for a year
25H shadowing
200 hours volunteering in ER

What schools should I apply to with this resume and CARS score?

UCLA, Geffen
Columbia
Cornell
NYU
GW
Georgetown (do they screen CARS at 125?)
Ohio State
Northwestern
U of Chicago
Johns Hopkins
USC
U Pitt
U Penn
Temple
U Miami
HBCUs

Thanks ya!

 

[Faha]

Apply to West Virginia also. You have some reaches but as long as you apply to West Virginia and the HBCUs it is OK to have reaches. You could add schools such as:
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Einstein
Drexel
Jefferson
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Tulane

 

[Ellopoppet]

Apply to West Virginia also. You have some reaches but as long as you apply to West Virginia and the HBCUs it is OK to have reaches. You could add schools such as:
New York Medical College
Hofstra
Einstein
Drexel
Jefferson
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Tulane

Should I consider retaking with my poor CARS score?

 

[Ellopoppet]

@gyngyn @Goro What are your brutal, honest opinions on my 122 CARS score?

 

[gyngyn]

@gyngyn @Goro What are your brutal, honest opinions on my 122 CARS score?

There are plenty of places that will overlook it (with a 509 total).

 

[Ellopoppet]

There are plenty of places that will overlook it (with a 509 total).

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Ellopoppet]

There are plenty of places that will overlook it (with a 509 total).

Even top 20 schools like the ones on my list?

 

[gyngyn]

Even top 20 schools like the ones on my list?

Depending on the strength of the rest of your application, it is possible.

 

[Ellopoppet]

Depending on the strength of the rest of your application, it is possible.

What should I work on in particular? I'm applying next summer, and I'm working as a lab technician now.

 

[gyngyn]

What should I work on in particular? I'm applying next summer, and I'm working as a lab technician now.

Evidence of a commitment to service to those in need would be good.
You are a member of at least two of those communities from what you have indicated.

 

[Ellopoppet]

.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Evidence of a commitment to service to those in need would be good.
You are a member of at least two of those communities from what you have indicated.

Top 20s are still a little bit dicey IMO, even with the URM boost that he will get. He is probably in the fifth percentile or so for GPA and MCAT at those top-20 schools. His chances at other MD schools outside the top 20 are good, but from what we see here on this application, it may not be top-20 grade. Apply to a few if you want, but this is - in my opinion - not a top 20 app, it's a state school or mid-tier app.

 

[Ellopoppet]

Top 20s are still a little bit dicey IMO, even with the URM boost that he will get. He is probably in the fifth percentile or so for GPA and MCAT at those top-20 schools. His chances at other MD schools outside the top 20 are good, but from what we see here on this application, it may not be top-20 grade. Apply to a few if you want, but this is - in my opinion - not a top 20 app, it's a state school or mid-tier app.

Thanks for the .02. How do you like this list? Please calibrate it if it is inaccurate

Reach:
UCLA, Geffen
UCLA, Drew
Columbia
Cornell
NYU
U of Chicago
U of Pitt

Target:
Dartmouth
Georgetown
GW
Baylor
Ohio State
USC
Temple
Wake Forrest
Drexel
U of Miami
U of Florida
U of Texas SW
Howard
Meharry
Mercer

 

[Faha]

Mercer matriculated zero non residents 2 years ago. Add Morehouse instead. You should receive several interviews from the other schools on your list.

 

[Ellopoppet]

Mercer matriculated zero non residents 2 years ago. Add Morehouse instead. You should receive several interviews from the other schools on your list.

Is it worth throwing HYS as reaches, or would those be donations?

 

[Faha]

Those are far reaches, especially with no research history.

 

[Ellopoppet]

Those are far reaches, especially with no research history.

So being a full-time lab technician at a biomedical research institute doesn't count towards research at all?

 

[Faha]

So being a full-time lab technician at a biomedical research institute doesn't count towards research at all?

Have you been involved in any research where your name is on a published article in a journal?

 

[Ellopoppet]

Have you been involved in any research where your name is on a published article in a journal?

Nope. I see your point..

 

[Willy38]

Is it worth throwing HYS as reaches, or would those be donations?

I think its worth an app, especially if you have demonstrated service or research experience (if not at least one of those its much less likely). All I can speak for is Yale, but we routinely interview applicants that fit your profile.

 

[Butterfingers-87]

I like your app. and I think it depends... I'm Canadian, and I know for a fact that they have crazy weight on CARS... I got 511, but I won't get into some of them since they require a 128 on CARS... which is nuts...

 

[Butterfingers-87]

I think its worth an app, especially if you have demonstrated service or research experience (if not at least one of those its much less likely). All I can speak for is Yale, but we routinely interview applicants that fit your profile.

Hey Can you check out my post on "what are my chances?" Yale is my favourite school and I like their diversity message.

MD - My chances for top schools

 

[Ellopoppet]

I think its worth an app, especially if you have demonstrated service or research experience (if not at least one of those its much less likely). All I can speak for is Yale, but we routinely interview applicants that fit your profile.

I'll work on finding good research opportunities. Thanks

 

[Ellopoppet]

I think its worth an app, especially if you have demonstrated service or research experience (if not at least one of those its much less likely). All I can speak for is Yale, but we routinely interview applicants that fit your profile.

So how does volunteering alternating weekends (one in the transport department of a hospital and one at a homeless shelter) sound in terms of demonstrating service?

 

[Willy38]

So how does volunteering alternating weekends (one in the transport department of a hospital and one at a homeless shelter) sound in terms of demonstrating service?

If its something you are passionate about and has meaning for you then that sounds great. Just be sure you can speak about it without sounding like its box you checked for an application. Best of luck!

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Thanks for the .02. How do you like this list? Please calibrate it if it is inaccurate

Reach:
UCLA, Geffen
UCLA, Drew
Columbia
Cornell
NYU
U of Chicago
U of Pitt

Target:
Dartmouth
Georgetown
GW
Baylor
Ohio State
USC
Temple
Wake Forrest
Drexel
U of Miami
U of Florida
U of Texas SW
Howard
Meharry
Mercer

Your targets are OK. Figure your URM status boosts you to where a White dude would be with a 3.6/513 or so and ECs that are a little bit stronger, but not much. It's not the stuff of top 20s, although the HBCUs and state schools are probably willing to bite. Your reaches are big reaches.

 

[Ellopoppet]

Are you all sure that I shouldn't retake?

I spoke to a pre-med advisor last week, and he kinda cringed when I mentioned the 122 CARS and suggested that I retake.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Are you all sure that I shouldn't retake?

I spoke to a pre-med advisor last week, and he kinda cringed when I mentioned the 122 CARS and suggested that I retake.

If you want to retake - and you're not so high that a retake would be seen as arrogant and perfectionistic - I'd say to take a few more practice tests, review them carefully, study what you got wrong and use them to pinpoint your weaknesses. When you're clocking up significant improvement on those tests, at least 513+, go for a retake. As you sit, you can probably get into your state schools, especially with that sweet URM status. For Harvard and Yale? You'd need a 515+ to be competitive.

 

[Ellopoppet]

If you want to retake - and you're not so high that a retake would be seen as arrogant and perfectionistic - I'd say to take a few more practice tests, review them carefully, study what you got wrong and use them to pinpoint your weaknesses. When you're clocking up significant improvement on those tests, at least 513+, go for a retake. As you sit, you can probably get into your state schools, especially with that sweet URM status. For Harvard and Yale? You'd need a 515+ to be competitive.

Thanks for the reply