Where should I apply to?

[sepaul]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello SDN!

I am trying to widdle down schools to apply to. Here is my deal:
Aug MCAT: 27-33 (hopeful)
Science GPA: 3.2
Overall GPA: 3.5

Work: 2 years Scripps Research Institute (glycobiology)
Volunteer: travel to Tijuana bimonthly for one year to medical clinic
Postbacc: GPA 3.6 (UCSD and local JC)
Letters: 4 very strong (2 UCSD phd's, phd from work, MD from tijuana)
Pretty good essay so far...
UC Graduate

I have a list of about 30 schools that accept CA residents.

Should I pear them down or just slam them out? Do I have a shot this late in the game?

THANKS...

 

[YzIa]

Aug MCAT: 27-33 (hopeful)

Thats a pretty big range there, if you could estimate your score within one point I can provide you a list of schools where you will get accepted.

 

[Senor.Frog]

I have a list of about 30 schools that accept CA residents.

It would help to know which schools you applied to....

 

[jennie 21]

You are applying pretty late...unless your AMCAS essay is ready to go, you might do better waiting another year. If you do decide to go ahead and apply get those secondaries in STAT! I don't really have any suggestions about where to apply. 27-33 MCAT is a pretty wide range. Considering that your science GPA is kind of low, you'll have a lot more options with a 33 MCAT than with a 27. Honestly, this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I'd recommend waiting till next year to apply--unless you're willing to deal with the possiblity that you'll get waitlisted everywhere. For people who are marginal in one area--MCAT or GPA--applying early (i.e. get the AMCAS in during June or early July) can make the difference between getting in and getting waitlisted or rejected. Applying early means you're much more likely to get interviews, and once you get to the interview stage the chances of acceptance are much better. Getting waitlisted isn't the end of the world--I got into my top-choice school off of a waitlist, with a science GPA similar to yours, and lots of people do get in off waitlists. But, it's emotionally stressful to deal with, and by applying this late you really increase your chances of getting waitlisted rather than accepted outright. You gotta decide if you're willing to chance a discouraging application cycle and getting waitlisted, or if you'd rather wait till next year. Sorry if this comes off as harsh--I speak from experience. I was in a similar situation--applied mid-August with a sci GPA similar to yours--and ended up with a lot of waitlists. It worked out for me, but I wish I would have avoided the mental anguish and applied earlier.

 

[mmali2]

Sepaul,
I had very similar stats as yours. I was priority waitlisted at two schools, one of which was my top choice, but was not accepted in the end. Being waitlisted and then rejected is very very painful. I would recommend that you take the year off and really go nuts on the April MCAT (if you do not break 31 for this last test). Do a MILLION practice problems and several practice exams. Also, you will save a lot of money. The med school appliction process is expensive. I would recommend that only people with top notch numbers who are anxious to get started with med school apply this late in the game. Are you an underrepresented minority by any chance (Latino, Native American, African American)? I would say go ahead and apply if you are.
best of luck.

 

[sepaul]

Thats a pretty big range there, if you could estimate your score within one point I can provide you a list of schools where you will get accepted.

Albany
A. Einstein
Boston U.
Case Western
Creighton
Drexel
e. Virginia U
GW U
Jefferson
USC
Loma Linda
Loyloa
Med Coll of Wisconsin
Meharry
Michigan State
NY medical college
NYU
Penn State
Ponce
Rush
SLU
Temple
Vermont
Tulane
Uniformed Health Sciences
UCSF
UCD
University of Michigan
U of Pittsburgh
Wake Forest

 

[sepaul]

Thats a pretty big range there, if you could estimate your score within one point I can provide you a list of schools where you will get accepted.

More likely a 28-29

 

[All-Star14]

It's interesting that you mentioned Ponce as a possibility. Unless you're willing to go to Puerto Rico to study, you might want to scratch that (especially if you've got your heart set on studying medicine in the US).

I'd choose 3 out of the following 5 schools: Case, NYU, UCSF, UMich, Pitt

From some of the responses on this forum, it seems like Wake is conducting some sort of random screen (based on an undefined combination of stats and intent to attend their school). You might want to scratch them off, too.

It looks like you're from Cali...it's tough getting into those schools even as an in-stater. Make a decision on whether or not you really want to remain in CA. Scratch the Cali schools that you couldn't see yourself attending (e.g. NorCal schools if you're from SoCal).

Are you Latino (like maybe Puerto Rican)? Then you'll probably prefer Latin-friendly cities like NY, Chicago, LA. I'm sure adcoms look favorably upon those who can speak Spanish (assuming you can do so).

Anyway, good luck with this whole admissions process! 😀

 

[mig26x]

all star why do you say that about Ponce? i study in Ponce and year after year 80-85% of our graduates end up in residency programs in the continental USA. 🙂

 

[All-Star14]

all star why do you say that about Ponce? i study in Ponce and year after year 80-85% of our graduates end up in residency programs in the continental USA. 🙂

That's impressive! But oh no...I didn't mean what I said in a bad way. I didn't know if the OP was Latino/a or could even speak Spanish. I don't know much about the school, but the sole determinant on whether or not I would go would be the language barrier (I don't speak Spanish, can understand some).

 

[YzIa]

More likely a 28-29

Honestly my post was 100% sarcasm. But if you are set on attending med school this next year you should cover your bases by applying DO as well as MD. A 28 /29 coming in a little late might be a tough sell with your Undergrad GPA.

 

[doc05]

what sepaul forgot to mention was race/ethnicity/gender. your chances depend on this,, whether you like it or not....

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Even gender?