What is the best way to make use of the MSAR?

[PopeKnope23]

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Hi all, I recently purchased the MSAR (I'm planning on applying 2018-19 cycle this summer) and I'm wondering if I'm even able to use it without having taken my MCAT yet.

Soon-to-be Chemistry major (switching from biology--realized I enjoy chem way more)
GPA: 3.987
Clinical Hours:
~40 hours shadowing
~40 hours ER and free clinic volunteering
Nonclinical:
~60 hours in homeless shelter
~80 hours of tutoring general chem and spanish
~15 hours tutoring various subjects for a middle schooler (family friend)
~20 hours of giving violin lessons to a family friend's child
Work:
~Pharmacy tech since Oct 2016
~Business office assistant at retina specialists office since May 2015
~Student assistant in dean's office of my school's college of letters and sciences since Sept 17

Sadly, zero research. I will have an honors thesis next year, but that's next year after I apply.
Based on these current stats, what schools should I begin to explore on the MSAR even though I have no clue what my MCAT will be?

 

[candbgirl]

You might want to consider holding off applying for a year. When are you planning to take the MCAT? It is really impossible to develop a good list of schools without the MCAT score. But start with your state schools. With your lack of ECs I wouldn’t bother with schools that have very specific missions towards serving the underserved(Jesuit schools, Rush, etc.). Your ECs are really, really weak. Forty hours of shadowing is okay if you have included a primary care doctor. Although fifty hours is the norm. Forty hours of clinical experience is not enough(shadowing and clinical
Experience are different.) Your nonclinical hours seem to be a little of this a little of that. For clinical and nonclinical you need to show long term commitment. It’s easier if you are doing something you like to do. I’m not sure where your tutoring of a middle schooler family friend and the violin instructor for a family friend’s child would fit. But what do you do with your violin skills? Maybe you can include that in hobbies.

If you wait to apply until
June 2019, you’ll have a good 18 months to study for the MCAT and plug the big holes in your ECs.

 

[PopeKnope23]

You might want to consider holding off applying for a year. When are you planning to take the MCAT? It is really impossible to develop a good list of schools without the MCAT score. But start with your state schools. With your lack of ECs I wouldn’t bother with schools that have very specific missions towards serving the underserved(Jesuit schools, Rush, etc.). Your ECs are really, really weak. Forty hours of shadowing is okay if you have included a primary care doctor. Although fifty hours is the norm. Forty hours of clinical experience is not enough(shadowing and clinical
Experience are different.) Your nonclinical hours seem to be a little of this a little of that. For clinical and nonclinical you need to show long term commitment. It’s easier if you are doing something you like to do. I’m not sure where your tutoring of a middle schooler family friend and the violin instructor for a family friend’s child would fit. But what do you do with your violin skills? Maybe you can include that in hobbies.

If you wait to apply until
June 2019, you’ll have a good 18 months to study for the MCAT and plug the big holes in your ECs.

Man, I wasn't aware that a year and a half (by the time June rolls around) of volunteering in a homeless shelter and a free clinic isn't good enough. Which, for the record, I highly enjoy doing both. What else should I pick up in terms of serving the underserved? I'm not applying now, as we speak. I have six months until I apply, during which my hours in all realms will increase. In fact, just today I spent 6 hours shadowing an internal medicine doc. You seem to be acting like my 40 hours of shadowing won't go up in 6 months. I get that people have 1000s of hours, but I'm not looking for top 20 admission. What other EC's should I add?

 

[candbgirl]

Man, I wasn't aware that a year and a half (by the time June rolls around) of volunteering in a homeless shelter and a free clinic isn't good enough. Which, for the record, I highly enjoy doing both. What else should I pick up in terms of serving the underserved? I'm not applying now, as we speak. I have six months until I apply, during which my hours in all realms will increase. In fact, just today I spent 6 hours shadowing an internal medicine doc. You seem to be acting like my 40 hours of shadowing won't go up in 6 months. I get that people have 1000s of hours, but I'm not looking for top 20 admission. What other EC's should I add?

Sorry you are insulted. Usually people put the hours they’ll have by the time they apply.

But You clearly stated that you had 40 hours in ER and free clinic. Now you say by June you’ll have 18 months. So you currently have a year and only have 40 hours?
Whatever...

Glad you had a good time shadowing IM today. It’s an interesting field with lots of possibilities.

 

[Goro]

Hi all, I recently purchased the MSAR (I'm planning on applying 2018-19 cycle this summer) and I'm wondering if I'm even able to use it without having taken my MCAT yet.

Soon-to-be Chemistry major (switching from biology--realized I enjoy chem way more)
GPA: 3.987
Clinical Hours:
~40 hours shadowing
~40 hours ER and free clinic volunteering
Nonclinical:
~60 hours in homeless shelter
~80 hours of tutoring general chem and spanish
~15 hours tutoring various subjects for a middle schooler (family friend)
~20 hours of giving violin lessons to a family friend's child
Work:
~Pharmacy tech since Oct 2016
~Business office assistant at retina specialists office since May 2015
~Student assistant in dean's office of my school's college of letters and sciences since Sept 17

Sadly, zero research. I will have an honors thesis next year, but that's next year after I apply.
Based on these current stats, what schools should I begin to explore on the MSAR even though I have no clue what my MCAT will be?

For starters, pay very careful attention to the 10-90th %iles.

And even more importantly, look at IS/OOS ratios in invites and matriculants. This will save you time from applying to OOS schools that heavily favor the home team.

 

[greatplainsmed]

At this point, it seems as though MSAR may be most helpful in eliminating schools for you. I made an Excel document with a list of all the US MD programs, and my first pass through MSAR was simply crossing out any schools that had unfavorable OOS% as Goro mentioned. I don't remember what my magic number was, but I gave a little leeway for locations where I had ties, and less Leeway for places I had no connection to or wouldn't be fond of spending four years. Next, you could eliminate locations you can't possibly see yourself living. Beyond that, it's a little tough with no MCAR, but you can read mission statements and start to eliminate schools where you don't match up with the mission, and highlight schools that sound like a good fit if your stats end up in the right range. Beyond that, just focus on kicking butt on the MCAT and then dive deep into MSAR to build your list. Best of luck!

 

[PopeKnope23]

Thank you all for your input!