Where should I be applying? (MD-PhD school list)

[seine]

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Hi all! Was hoping to hear some advice as to where roughly I should be aiming to apply (MD/PhD only) given application profile. My main concern is that I won't be submitting my primary until ~6/15, which may delay my secondary submissions after the verification period (though I plan to submit those all as soon as I receive; end of July latest). My profile is as follows:

• 20M Asian (ORM) MN resident
• Graduated this spring (2025) from T10 undergrad, majored in Neuroscience and Mathematics
• 3.91 cGPA, 3.90 sGPA, 522 (130/129/132/131) MCAT
• LORs:
  • 2 science professors
  • 1 non-science professor
  • 1 from PI
  • 1 from shadowing physician (neurologist)
• Community service:
  • 100 hr clinical volunteering
  • 150 hr non-clinical volunteering through campus organization
• Shadowing: 60 hr total (roughly 20 hr neurosurgery, 20 hr neurology, 20 hr EM)
• Research:
  • ~2,000 hr from lab I worked at throughout undergrad (computational neuroscience)
  • Two publications:
    • 4th author in Nature subjournal (IF ~13, published)
    • 4th author in Cell main journal (accepted in principle)
  • Undergraduate thesis
  • Two poster presentations @ university
  • Starting 1-year NIH IRTA this July - clinical-oriented neuroscience
• Other info and ECs:
  • Leadership role in debate organization
  • 1 semester TA for lab course and CS course each

Aside from my submission time, I have two other concerns: I feel like one of my science LORs will be rather run-of-the-mill, though the rest should be pretty strong. Additionally, I had a rough last semester w/ GPA 3.67 as I was putting together my senior thesis; all previous semesters were between 3.8-4. Not sure if this would be of significant concern to adcoms (downward trend).

In my mind, I'm planning to apply to most T20s, including those with larger class sizes e.g. Penn, WashU, Cornell. Outside of those, I will also be applying to UCLA (basically a T20), CWRU, UCSD, UW, Einstein, BU, and UW Madison. My main question is where and how broadly I should be aiming? I have seen warnings here about lists that are too top-heavy; I'm concerned that I'm probably in that position right now. Would be grateful for feedback on this or anything else!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

My opinion is that you should aim broadly. T20's are probably clearer once you are done with your NIH IRTA, but I would want details beyond just your metrics and pub record. I defer to others here about school list strategy.

 

[trilobites10294814]

It's also worth aiming broadly because you may be a strong applicant for "match" programs and receive an early acceptance in the fall, which for me was stress relieving. You also don't know how it will pan out so best to apply across the board to programs you think fit your interests well, regardless of rank

 

[mdphdqacc]

It's also worth aiming broadly because you may be a strong applicant for "match" programs and receive an early acceptance in the fall, which for me was stress relieving. You also don't know how it will pan out so best to apply across the board to programs you think fit your interests well, regardless of rank

What are "match" programs?