WAMC 3.95/518

[needsomehappinessinlife]

GPA 3.95 (Biology Major) graduating this May and applying this cycle
MCAT 518 - 124 CARS
ORM, MA resident, FAP/Pell grant recipient
Clinical = 1200+ hours as a Medical Assistant
Volunteering = 400 hours with underserved populations - food pantry, homeless shelter, hospice
Shadowing = 100 hours across 5 specialties
Research = 600 hours across 2 labs (one 2nd-author publication in the manuscript stage but nothing productive besides that)
Leadership = 300 hours (traditional club leadership)
Narrative - Grew up poor so I have a strong interest in working with underserved low SES populations

School LIST - Any other schools I should add/remove?

Harvard

Stanford

Cornell

Northwestern

UChicago

UCSF

Upitt

Mt. Sinai

Mayo

Umich

Emory

Case Western

Colorado

Boston U

USF

Rochester

Brown

Cincinnati

Wisconsin

Indiana

Iowa

Einstein

UMass

OSU

Wake Forest

Tufts

Jefferson

VCU

U of Illinois

Temple

Rush

Hofstra

Dartmouth

Vermont

NYMC

Wayne State

Drexel

Saint Louis

MCW

Stony Brook

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[AJS59]

Rock star application with a great narrative...good for you! I see no obvious holes.

I would maybe remove Wisconsin and Indiana as OOS publics, but the rest seem fine, to my eyes.

I think most schools (with the exception of maybe the Harvards of the world) will be able to look past the CARS score.

What are you planning to do with your gap year?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Solid though without details, I can't confer any "rock star" label, nor can I justify going for top brand schools like Harvard/Stanford or out-of-region locations like California or the public schools on your list (Illinois? Indiana? Iowa?). 400 hours of volunteering is solid but won't help you with heavy service-oriented schools like Rush or the Jesuit schools. So as such, the bones are solid, but I'm missing the whole story and mission fit. Sure, I think you are likely to get some attention (I am not worried about the 124), but the details matter in getting you into a school that fits you.

 

[needsomehappinessinlife]

Going to start clinical research in a vaccine clinic that is also involved with underserved/vulnerable populations. My goal is to tie most of my activities to my narrative. Even though my research is not directly involved with underserved communities, I pursued it because of my story. My leadership experience is also primarily associated with volunteering with low SES communities.

While I dream of going to the T20s, the only thing I am afraid of is that my stats are not uber-stellar and I don't have any major impactful activities. I read about people opening non-profits, having multiple publications and awards, and making big changes in the world but I don't have any of those (did not have the resources/time). I just have my story and the effort I put into my activities. I know that the main goal shouldn't be to only go to a T20 but I wish to make a big impact in this world and the top schools would allow me to do so.

How would you go about writing the primaries/secondaries to have the best chances of acceptance/interview invites?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Going to start clinical research in a vaccine clinic that is also involved with underserved/vulnerable populations. My goal is to tie most of my activities to my narrative. Even though my research is not directly involved with underserved communities, I pursued it because of my story. My leadership experience is also primarily associated with volunteering with low SES communities.

While I dream of going to the T20s, the only thing I am afraid of is that my stats are not uber-stellar and I don't have any major impactful activities. I read about people opening non-profits, having multiple publications and awards, and making big changes in the world but I don't have any of those (did not have the resources/time). I just have my story and the effort I put into my activities. I know that the main goal shouldn't be to only go to a T20 but I wish to make a big impact in this world and the top schools would allow me to do so.

How would you go about writing the primaries/secondaries to have the best chances of acceptance/interview invites?

I get the impression that individuals who have MADE impacts after running NGOs or demonstrating leadership within a community are appealing to T20s, as they would schools with specific mission fits for entrepreneurship. You need to do some networking with the schools before you submit to get a better idea and hone your school list. They are coming off of Peace Corps, Rhodes Scholarships, etc. You haven't shown your cards on that front, and just getting started with such experiences is fine, but you need to show commitment and advocacy beyond just your interest in a healthcare career. (If you haven't, know you will be around people who have.)

You should also clear the Casper/PREview hurdle if schools require it of you.

There are many SDN articles to read/webinars that have been posted over the decades that you can review. Many of our admissions consultants also have blogs and webinars as well.

 

[chilly_md]

I suggest:

Cornell
Northwestern
UChicago
UCSF
Keck
Upitt
Mt. Sinai
Mayo
Umich
Emory
Case Western
Colorado
Boston U
USF
Miami
Rochester
Brown
Cincinnati
Wisconsin
Iowa
Einstein
UMass
OSU
Wake Forest
Tufts
Jefferson
VCU
EVMS
UVA
Hofstra
Dartmouth
Vermont
Saint Louis
Stony Brook