What do YOU look like on paper?

[windsor4216]

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So I started wondering about my selection of schools as I saw the dollar amount rise in my amcas app. I wonder if I've chosen the right ones, if I'm a good match, if they'll offer me interviews etc. But the biggest thing I wish I knew was at least one person that has been accepted to every school I'm thinking about to tell me what they think made them stand out/got them that coveted acceptance.

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, but if you've been accepted to "top" schools (define that as you wish), can you tell us what you think it was that made you stand out?

Part of my desire to know stems from my dad who really wants me to apply to Harvard (he knows nothing about the med school process and I laugh when he mentions it). I'm not applying to Harvard. BUT I would like to know what a typical Harvard/UChicago/Stanford/UMich student's resume looks like.

Any thoughts out there? (please don't reply with the usual parody answers aka "I cured cancer." I'm genuinely curious about this).

 

[Tapepsi]

Well I did not get into a top school but...

Generally you will need a GPA/MCAT combo of 3.9+/36+. A lot of shadowing experience. Great research (preferrably published). Activities that show clear leadership skills (president of club, organize food drives for homeless shelters, etc...). Volunteering to show that you're dedicated to the community and others. Unique extracurriculars such as scuba diving or champion chess player.

Basically show them that your achievements go beyond academics and that you are a dynamic person. The problem is, there is no precise formula that can help an applicant get into a top school. But having the above factors definitely boost your chances.

 

[BushidoBrown]

 

[Tapepsi]

BushidoBrown: I would like to personally thank you for the milk that I just sprayed all over my computer.

 

[BushidoBrown]

BushidoBrown: I would like to personally thank you for the milk that I just sprayed all over my computer.

Thanks, I try 👍

 

[BlackNOrange]

My husband got an interview at Harvard with a 36 MCAT and 3.75 GPA. He had extensive research but other than that, his ECs were pretty average. It's hard to say what gets you an interview at top schools...

 

[235009]

Generally you will need a GPA/MCAT combo of 3.9+/36+.

simply incorrect ....especially the GPA part of it. some schools look at GPA more closely than others but generally GPA isn't as solid of an indicator as MCAT so saying you need a 3.9+ is absurd for many reasons with the main one being that the median for all of those schools is below a 3.9.

IMO the best way to choose schools is by comparing your MCAT scores to their medians. If you got a 35+ then you should definitely be aiming for competitive schools. If you got 32-34 then throw in a few you really want to go to but realize they're going to be reaches. If you got 31 or less and are not a URM you basically have no business applying to those schools but you should throw one or two in there in case you happen to hit the lottery. All this is assuming that your GPA is acceptable (meaning ~3.6+) ...if your GPA is < 3.5 and you have a high MCAT you should think of applying more broadly

Finally, you usually have to have a fairly strong research background but it isn't required. The rest of the stuff is the usual shadowing, clinical experience, etc. While I'm sure that there are a few people at those schools who amazing ECs the majority just had good numbers and the basic run of the mill ECs but many will have stronger than average research.

 

[Narmerguy]

Well I did not get into a top school but...

Generally you will need a GPA/MCAT combo of 3.9+/36+. A lot of shadowing experience. Great research (preferrably published). Activities that show clear leadership skills (president of club, organize food drives for homeless shelters, etc...). Volunteering to show that you're dedicated to the community and others. Unique extracurriculars such as scuba diving or champion chess player.

Basically show them that your achievements go beyond academics and that you are a dynamic person. The problem is, there is no precise formula that can help an applicant get into a top school. But having the above factors definitely boost your chances.

Median GPA for most of the top 10 is 3.8 so don't be discouraged if you can't hit the 3.9 mark (though tons of their applicants do).

Also, why not just check MDapps? I know the majority of them "anonymize" and basically provide nothing useful on their applications but there's a few out there that will give you a good idea of what they were rockin'.

 

[Naijaba]

lol! it's a picture of batman.

Edit: I interviewed at Yale, Harvard and Stanford over the course of two admission cycles. Understand that roughly ~20% of graduates from these schools take on academic positions. IMO here's the magic formula:

1. Good grades / MCAT
2. Great life story OR great research

I just made that up, but it seemed to fit the students I met. PM me if you want my specifics.

 

[BushidoBrown]

lol! it's a picture of batman.

Yale SOM Class of 2015, eh?

 

[orthomyxo]

Yale SOM Class of 2015, eh?

lol

Personally, I look very flat.

 

[Naijaba]

Yale SOM Class of 2015, eh?

Yes...?

 

[Lil Mick]

I had interviews at several of those schools and have friends attending them. Basically, they're people with good gpas/MCAT scores (3.7+, 33+) who were extensively involved in (a) major extracurricular activity(ies). One had started a non-profit during college. Another was a D1 athlete from the inner city who was a motivational speaker. There was another athlete who had published research... They were all passionate about something outside of medicine (service, research, athletics) and had pursued it as far as they could (lobbying for policy change in DC, starting non-profits, competing in national track meets...). I think this is emphasized more at these top schools, as they can pick the people with other passions for their class out of the 5,000 applicants with stellar scores and a checklist of the basic pre-med activities.

By the way, I know people who were admitted with less than a 30. It's a holistic evaluation at these schools (and probably others).

 

[lpmarcus010]

This is what they thought I looked like on paper:

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