Where do I aim? (3.81cGPA, 3.75sGPA, 40P MCAT)

[cyxy]

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If possible, I would like some input on what programs I should apply to.

I am a rising senior chemistry major and a PA resident. I have a 3.81 cGPA with 3.75 sGPA, and a 14/11/15 P MCAT. For the last two terms, my semester GPA has been a 4.0.

ECs:
-1700 hours clinical research in trauma and critical care medicine (in ED, OR, and ICU), since beginning of sophomore year. No posters, presentations, publications, but significant clinical exposure, and patient contact.
-75 hours spent on research project in honors organic chemistry lab course. (we did background research, made a hypothesis, designed an experiment, etc.)
-400 hours as a teaching assistant in organic chemistry (1 and 2, honors lab 2). (since end of sophomore year).
-Will be teaching assistant in biochemistry course next academic year, and have received a teaching fellowship for that.
-30 hours tutoring organic chemistry. (volunteer basis)
-30 hours speaking to pre-health students at my high school. (over two years, volunteer basis)
-40 hours (currently) of hospital volunteering with patient contact. Hope to get to 100 by the end of summer.
-30 hours of other clinical volunteering. Hope to get to 80 by the end of summer.
-25 hours volunteering at science outreach events for regional high schoolers
-28 hours volunteering during the move-in process at my university (over two years).
-60 hours in leadership role in student organization. (since beginning of junior year)

Other:
-Have received a departmental award in chemistry (end of junior year).
-Dean's list (first 3 semesters of school)
-4.0 GPA last 2 semesters of school
-Letters should be good, and I received a "strong" rating from my university's pre-professional committee.

Based purely on LizzyM score, I would have a chance at getting an interview at top schools, but I'm questioning whether my ECs would actually get me *into* those schools. I don't want to apply in too top-heavy a fashion if it's not going to work out.

Currently my list of schools (in no order) is:
Pitt
Penn
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Case Western
UMD
Hopkins
Northwestern
Wash U.
Boston
UNC
UCSF
UVA
Vanderbilt
UMich

I'm open to any advice you can offer. Thank you in advance!

 

[njameyers]

Your a bit shy on leadership but everything else is so fantastic it shouldnt make a damn bit of difference. I believe this to be especially true given that most people lose steam when about to graduate and you picked up the pace with your GPA. It shows alot about your motivation and character. I say go big or go home and add Harvard to the list!

Best of luck (not looking like you'll need it) 🙂

 

[flodhi1]

Dude you're definitely set excellent GPA, more than excellent MCAT score and strong ECs. I'd be surprised if Harvard doesn't take you seriously 👍

 

[Narmerguy]

Dude you're definitely set excellent GPA, more than excellent MCAT score and strong ECs. I'd be surprised if Harvard doesn't take you seriously 👍

Don't be so sure. Excellent GPA, research, and MCAT are standard at these schools and the OP does not have any publications or presentations. Outstanding MCAT but GPA is at their median so that doesn't 'wow' them either.

You should consider looking through NickNaylor's mdapps as he has a similarly strong MCAT, a better GPA, and similar EC's to yours and did well but I don't think he got into some of those other schools like harvard and jhu. He did get a scholarship to Uchicago though.

Anyway, you are light on leadership and my impression has always been that these top schools look for great leadership or something strongly unique about their applicants. Your many years of research and GPA/MCAT combo will certainly give you a chance and you've got some good volunteering as well so you'll certainly get chances at a lot of these schools, but understand that they want to train future leaders in medicine so they want applicants that show lots of leadership or have something else unique that indicates that they can stand out from others.

Outside of the very very top though I think you'll do very well though. Put plenty of top schools and a moderate amount of more sure things (you may be in the running for some scholarship money so don't count these schools out).

 

[LizzyM]

The clinical research is sweet, particularly if you had any responsibility for developing hypothesis, writing protocols, etc. Even if you were just consenting patients and facilitating the collection of data, that would be pretty good. I can see you getting interviewed at at least a few of those schools and what you do with the interview is independent of anything on paper (although your application will be taken into account along with the interview when it comes time to make a decision).

 

[Eastern Blot]

Where do you aim you ask? At the top!

 

[Tapepsi]

You can, and should, apply to every school that you are interested in. As far as how "competitive" your ECs are, that's always a topic that is constantly discussed and debated on SDN. Some schools may be impressed whereas others may not so you never know. Your best bet is to apply to wherever you're interested in b/c there really isn't anything in your application that is holding you back.

Good luck! 👍

 

[Ride Big Sky]

Apply any place you'd like, just don't get wrapped up into applying to all elite schools. You want to be happy where you end up even if it's not a big name.