**2017-2018 URM Medical School Application Thread**

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Have you been preparing to take the MCAT in July?
not exactly, this semester was my hardest in terms of difficulty and then with finals, graduation and starting my job I haven't had a chance to sit down and start studying. So if I were to take it this summer, I would be starting studying/taking lots of practice exams ASAP

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Background: Hispanic from South America (Bolivia). Lived most of my life in Spain/US. Got accepted to the Fee Assistance Program. Non-traditional (took 3 gap years prior to starting undergraduate, aka I’m 24); URM; just graduated (yay) from Boston University Cum Laude with 6/8 semesters on Dean’s List, on a gap year, applying to MD schools this cycle
GPA: 3.54
Major: Neuroscience, minor in French
MCAT: 501 (blah), thinking of retaking it in July (too late? would that hurt my chances?)
EC: -paid job at my university’s orientation office (part academic year + summer)
-Neuroscience elective course Undergraduate Assistant (a semester)
-Was a volunteer, then staff leader and now hold a paid job as program manager of a big community service program at my university (freshman-senior year)
-member and then VP of acapella group (2 years)
-member and fundraising chair of health-related club (1 year)
-member of neuroscience honor society
-member and then treasurer of club that represents my college at my university (2 years)
-studied abroad in France (semester)
Clinical: since 2012 I have had ~400 hours shadowing doctors, nurses, speech pathologists in Florida and Bolivia
Volunteer in Florida in ER, Pediatrics department (2012, pre-undergrad) and transporting lab results (2015) in Boston + my school’s community service program
Research worked 5 months at a biomedical engineering lab
Other speak English, Spanish, French, Portuguese (basic); have a strong, comprehensive letter from my university + I believe strong LORs

I know I am not the most competitive of applicants but I hope to think I have a shot, so I want to play my cards right :)
Med schools I'm currently thinking of...
BU, Rosalind Franklin, George Washington, Georgetown, Albany, Howard University, Hofstra, Loyola, New York Medical College, Rush, Rutgers, Tufts, Brown/Columbia (super duper duper reaches), UC Davis
PS. I was thinking of retaking the MCAT but I don’t want to again hurt my chances by taking it late in the summer, thoughts? should I retake it?

if u take it in July would would have 7 weeks starting from June 1st. is that enough time for you?? (this answer is different for everyone)
you can start doing cars every single day. go over psychology in 1week, and spend the rest of you time going over the natural sciences.
 
can someone help me with my school list?

please :)
 
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If I have 15 hours of 1 clinical experience, is it worth putting on my app?

During sophomore year, I volunteered at a clinic, 2 twice a week for two weeks (15hours, I left because the language barrier was interfering with me learning).
During this time I took vital signs, learned how to draw blood and preparing for testing.
I had the chance to work with this population of people: limited fluency in english, getting medically cleared for their immigration forms.
I did learn something, but I feel it may be unnecessary to put this on the application.
Please let me know what you think!
Thank you
 
If I have 15 hours of 1 clinical experience, is it worth putting on my app?

During sophomore year, I volunteered at a clinic, 2 twice a week for two weeks (15hours, I left because the language barrier was interfering with me learning).
During this time I took vital signs, learned how to draw blood and preparing for testing.
I had the chance to work with this population of people: limited fluency in english, getting medically cleared for their immigration forms.
I did learn something, but I feel it may be unnecessary to put this on the application.
Please let me know what you think!
Thank you
I think that if Impacted you in any way, you can put it. You may have a lot of hours at a particular experience, but it doesn't mean anything if you didn't learn anything from it, or if it didn't help you pave the way to become a physician
 
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Background: Hispanic from South America (Bolivia). Lived most of my life in Spain/US. Got accepted to the Fee Assistance Program. Non-traditional (took 3 gap years prior to starting undergraduate, aka I’m 24); URM; just graduated (yay) from Boston University Cum Laude with 6/8 semesters on Dean’s List, on a gap year, applying to MD schools this cycle
GPA: 3.54
Major: Neuroscience, minor in French
MCAT: 501 (blah), thinking of retaking it in July (too late? would that hurt my chances?)
EC: -paid job at my university’s orientation office (part academic year + summer)
-Neuroscience elective course Undergraduate Assistant (a semester)
-Was a volunteer, then staff leader and now hold a paid job as program manager of a big community service program at my university (freshman-senior year)
-member and then VP of acapella group (2 years)
-member and fundraising chair of health-related club (1 year)
-member of neuroscience honor society
-member and then treasurer of club that represents my college at my university (2 years)
-studied abroad in France (semester)
Clinical: since 2012 I have had ~400 hours shadowing doctors, nurses, speech pathologists in Florida and Bolivia
Volunteer in Florida in ER, Pediatrics department (2012, pre-undergrad) and transporting lab results (2015) in Boston + my school’s community service program
Research worked 5 months at a biomedical engineering lab
Other speak English, Spanish, French, Portuguese (basic); have a strong, comprehensive letter from my university + I believe strong LORs

I know I am not the most competitive of applicants but I hope to think I have a shot, so I want to play my cards right :)
Med schools I'm currently thinking of...
BU, Rosalind Franklin, George Washington, Georgetown, Albany, Howard University, Hofstra, Loyola, New York Medical College, Rush, Rutgers, Tufts, Brown/Columbia (super duper duper reaches), UC Davis
PS. I was thinking of retaking the MCAT but I don’t want to again hurt my chances by taking it late in the summer, thoughts? should I retake it?
Don't think Bolivians are considered URM for admission purposes but I'm sure speaking Spanish is beneficial (if you are indeed fluent in the language).

Good luck!
 
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can someone help me with my school list?

please :)
TBH, its hard to help you with a school list without an MCAT score. If you want to get verified, use a throwaway school such as a reach or a school you wouldn't mind being a reapplicant at just in case.
 
TBH, its hard to help you with a school list without an MCAT score. If you want to get verified, use a throwaway school such as a reach or a school you wouldn't mind being a reapplicant at just in case.

my worst case would be an MCAT of 503.
 
Don't think Bolivians are considered URM for admission purposes but I'm sure speaking Spanish is beneficial (if you are indeed fluent in the language).

Good luck!
I could be completely wrong but I thought Hispanics were considered URM? I've been trying to find out if Bolivians are considered URM but no luck yet, do you know where I can get this information?
And yes! Spanish is my first language :)
Also, do you think I should retake the MCAT? I'm thinking of applying on June 1st noting on my app that I'm retaking it (most probably in July) so that I am still applying "early" with an MCAT score?
 
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I could be completely wrong but I thought Hispanics were considered URM? I've been trying to find out if Bolivians are considered URM but no luck yet, do you know where I can get this information?
And yes! Spanish is my first language :)
Also, do you think I should retake the MCAT? I'm thinking of applying on June 1st noting on my app that I'm retaking it (most probably in July) so that I am still applying "early" with an MCAT score?
AAMC used to define URMs as consisting of African Americans, Native Americans, mainland Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans. They have since changed this wording, replacing it with a more inclusive definition.

URMs have a disproportionately high ratio of numbers in total population to number of practicing physicians for their respective race/ethnicity. I'm not too sure about Bolivians specifically but I know that other South American nationalities like Colombians and Peruvians tend to be well-represented in medicine.

Spanish speaking abilities help as well as a confirmed commitment to underserved Spanish-speaking populations, as they can be seen as assets. Your disadvantaged status may also help slightly.

Applications considered "early" as you mention include those who complete including having an MCAT score on file. If you plan to retake and mention it on your app, then the schools will wait until you have the updates score before considering you for an interview.
 
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I could be completely wrong but I thought Hispanics were considered URM? I've been trying to find out if Bolivians are considered URM but no luck yet, do you know where I can get this information?
And yes! Spanish is my first language :)

Mexicans and Puertoricans are URMs, not Hispanics in general.

I see LizzyM and Goro say all the time that language skills are a plus. Do your ECs show commitment to Spanish speaking populations? (Have you done community service in Spanish speaking areas?)
 
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Mexicans and Puertoricans are URMs, not Hispanics in general.

I see LizzyM and Goro say all the time that language skills are a plus. Do your ECs show commitment to Spanish speaking populations? (Have you done community service in Spanish speaking areas?)
Oh I see... I do wonder now what the ratio of physicians is for Bolivia now...
And in regards to Spanish speaking populations, I was the fundraising chair for a club that fundraised money throughout the academic year for a clinic in the Dominican Republic. The club also would go on a 2 week service trip to volunteer at the clinic but I wasn't able to afford it so I held Spanish lessons for the people going on the trip. I also now work as a program manager (since senior year and now post-grad) for my university's biggest community service program that involves about 700-800 students coordinators, staff and volunteers (all university students). Myself, alongside 3 other program managers, reframed the program completely this year. My goal has been to create a more inclusive community service program that attracts a more diverse student pool (including Spanish student leaders) and expanding the program's vision to encompass more community partners that are located in underserved neighborhoods that happen to have big Spanish speaking communities
 
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Oh I see... I do wonder now what the ratio of physicians is for Bolivia now...
And in regards to Spanish speaking populations, I was the fundraising chair for a club that fundraised money throughout the academic year for a clinic in the Dominican Republic. The club also would go on a 2 week service trip to volunteer at the clinic but I wasn't able to afford it so I held Spanish lessons for the people going on the trip. I also now work as a program manager (since senior year and now post-grad) for my university's biggest community service program that involves about 700-800 students coordinators, staff and volunteers (all university students). Myself, alongside 3 other program managers, reframed the program completely this year. My goal has been to create a more inclusive community service program that attracts a more diverse student pool (including Spanish student leaders) and expanding the program's vision to encompass more community partners that are located in underserved neighborhoods with big Spanish speaking communities

It would be the ratio of Bolivians in the US vs the Bolivian doctors in the US. I think you'd have more luck being classified as URM if you apply to a school that served an area with a high population of Bolivians. (I've heard that each school can classify URM as they choose)

If you can make your EC sound like you are serving the Spanish speaking population, I think that's a plus. I'm not the best to critique your explanation, but the program manager doesn't come across as well as you could frame it.
 
I am a long-time lurker here, but I just really wanted some advice. I graduated with a low uGPA (2.7-2.9, with an upward trend and in my final two years sitting at a 3.3-3.4) from a notorious grade deflation school and went on to get a Master's degree from a top 20 school--leaving with a 3.9 GPA. I took the MCAT once in 2015 and got a 503 and then again during my Master's Program and scored a 514. Should I bank on the new score and the new GPA? My school list is top heavy, I have an interesting personal story with my father falling ill during my freshman and sophomore years, I just need some secondary opinions. I am not applying to my in-state schools, they're pretty limited. I just really want a secondary opinion on the level of reaches.

School List
Harvard
Johns Hopkins
Columbia
Weill Cornell
Duke
Northwestern
Yale
Georgetown
Emory
UCLA
Baylor
UVA
UF
Medical College of Wisconsin
 
I am a long-time lurker here, but I just really wanted some advice. I graduated with a low uGPA (2.7-2.9, with an upward trend and in my final two years sitting at a 3.3-3.4) from a notorious grade deflation school and went on to get a Master's degree from a top 20 school--leaving with a 3.9 GPA. I took the MCAT once in 2015 and got a 503 and then again during my Master's Program and scored a 514. Should I bank on the new score and the new GPA? My school list is top heavy, I have an interesting personal story with my father falling ill during my freshman and sophomore years, I just need some secondary opinions. I am not applying to my in-state schools, they're pretty limited. I just really want a secondary opinion on the level of reaches.

Your master's GPA will be calculated separately. What is your Undergrad cGPS/sGPA? (3.4?)

514 is about 100 percentile for some URMs groups. Depending on the sGPA I think @Goro would tell you to apply anywhere, but lets hear him say it.
 
Your master's GPA will be calculated separately. What is your Undergrad cGPS/sGPA? (3.4?)

514 is about 100 percentile for some URMs groups. Depending on the sGPA I think @Goro would tell you to apply anywhere, but lets hear him say it.

I am an African-American male and my undergrad cGPA was a 2.9 with a 2.5 sGPA, I believe. I wish there was a better explanation for what happened, but I graduated from high school early (16) and may have been a bit too immature for my first two years of college.
 
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To this list add your state school(s), the HBCs if you're African-American (including UCLA/Drew), Hofstra, IU, Miami, U WV, Vandy, Stanford, Pitt, BU, Rochester, Dartmouth

I am a long-time lurker here, but I just really wanted some advice. I graduated with a low uGPA (2.7-2.9, with an upward trend and in my final two years sitting at a 3.3-3.4) from a notorious grade deflation school and went on to get a Master's degree from a top 20 school--leaving with a 3.9 GPA. I took the MCAT once in 2015 and got a 503 and then again during my Master's Program and scored a 514. Should I bank on the new score and the new GPA? My school list is top heavy, I have an interesting personal story with my father falling ill during my freshman and sophomore years, I just need some secondary opinions. I am not applying to my in-state schools, they're pretty limited. I just really want a secondary opinion on the level of reaches.

School List
Harvard
Johns Hopkins
Columbia
Weill Cornell
Duke
Northwestern
Yale
Georgetown
Emory
UCLA
Baylor
UVA
UF
Medical College of Wisconsin
 
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I wanted to ask for help regarding my school list before AMCAS opens.

GPA/MCAT
3.7cGPA 3.6sGPA 509 Mcat (129,123,127,130)

Experiences
Division I Basketball Player- 4 years
Trauma Internship

Employment

--->Currently
Child Care Worker - At risk youth
Scribe
Transport Special Needs adults
Tutor

---->Past
Professional Basketball Player
Camp Counselor
Note taker (lol)

Volunteer
Crisis Line advocate
STEM Academy - Mentor
Ministry Program Coordinator
SAAC - 4 years volunteering through athlete committee for disadvantaged children

Research
Basic Chemistry research
Senior Research project - Psychology

Shadowing
General Surgery
Orthopedics
Ophthalmology- Convinced team physician in Europe to watch surgeries
Internal Medicine
Bariatric - Always interesting

Honors
Defensive Player of the Year
NCAA Statistical Champion
Departmental Honors for Psych
Dean's List - All 4 years
Varsity Captain

Group 1
1. UCLA
2. Drew
3. Mayo (nice experience during AAMC online fair with admissions ppl)
4. Washington University in Saint Louis
5. Emory

Group 2
6. USC
7. UC Irvine
8. UC San Diego
9. UC Davis
10. UC Riverside (from the I.E)
11. George Washington
12. Georgetown University
13. Loyola University Chicago Stritch
14. Temple University
15. Rush Medical College
16. Jefferson University
17. University of Miami
18. Wake Forest
19. Tulane
20. Warren Alpert Medical School
21. Tufts University School of Medicine

Group 3
22. Drexel University
23. Oakland William Beaumont
24. Netter (Quinnipiac University)
25. St. Louis University
26. Medical College of Wisconsin
27. New York Medical College
28. Rosalind Franklin (question about residency programs?)
29. Howard University
30. University of Vermont
31. Univ. of Missouri- Columbus
32. Loma Linda (idk lol)

DO
31. Touro
32. Western
33. AZCOM/Midwestern
34. Des Moines

I think you will have a good app cycle!! You have some interesting EC's and good stats! @Goro would be able to help, and you should also post in the WAMC forum if you want more opinions!
 
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I am a long-time lurker here, but I just really wanted some advice. I graduated with a low uGPA (2.7-2.9, with an upward trend and in my final two years sitting at a 3.3-3.4) from a notorious grade deflation school and went on to get a Master's degree from a top 20 school--leaving with a 3.9 GPA. I took the MCAT once in 2015 and got a 503 and then again during my Master's Program and scored a 514. Should I bank on the new score and the new GPA? My school list is top heavy, I have an interesting personal story with my father falling ill during my freshman and sophomore years, I just need some secondary opinions. I am not applying to my in-state schools, they're pretty limited. I just really want a secondary opinion on the level of reaches.

School List
Harvard
Johns Hopkins
Columbia
Weill Cornell
Duke
Northwestern
Yale
Georgetown
Emory
UCLA
Baylor
UVA
UF
Medical College of Wisconsin
Not sure what you mean by your state schools being "limiting"

This list is a little too top heavy in my opinion.
 
Hey guys, joining the party. Just got my MCAT scores back today need help formulating a list.

Ethnicity: African American

Resident State: GA

Sex: Male

Major: Biomedical Engineering from top 5 program

cGPA: 3.42 , sGPA: 3.47 (huge upward trend)

MCAT: 508 127/126/127/128

Research: 400 hours in vascular mechanics lab, 400 hours in Gene and Drug Delivery lab (REU), 700 hours in Hematology lab ( currently working as a Research specialist during gap year)


Clinical Volunteering: 300 clinical hours, 80 non clinical

Shadowing: 110 hours (neurosurgeon and General surgeon)
 
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Not sure what you mean by your state schools being "limiting"

This list is a little too top heavy in my opinion.

I just meant there are only 2 and they profess a serious commitment to rural medicine and I'd hate to be one of the people/ think it is unfair if I just "say the right things" to get in.
 
How many schools are you guys applying to? I have 24 on my list but I am starting to think that it is too many.
Yea I'm around 24. It's a tough line because you want to save time/$$ but also dont want to hinder your chances by not applying broadly.
 
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How many schools are you guys applying to? I have 24 on my list but I am starting to think that it is too many.

18 schools [3.7/511 with publication + unique ECs]. Still not sure if this is too few tho...
 
Good afternoon all,

I am so excited to be apart of this upcoming application cycle! I cannot believe its here.

This has been a long time coming for us all--we have worked hard and we have overcome so much. We will have so much to offer when we use our training to serve the communities who need us the most.

I'm ready for my blessings :nod: I'm rooting for each and every one of you!!!
 
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Here is more information about me, in continuation of the tradition

Non-traditional applicant


  1. My AMCAS GPAs:

Post-bacc GPA: 4.0 ( 1 year- 10 upper division science)
Overall GPA including post-bacc: 3.0
Overall BCPM including post-bacc: 3.2

2. MCAT: 514 (128/129/128/129) 2016
Previous MCAT (28) in 2013

3. State of residence: California

4. Ethnicity: AA Male

5. Clinical experience:

Over >10K hours
Medical Assistant full-time- 1.5 years
Emergency Room Scribe 6 years
Triage assistant director part-time- 1 year
Worked average 30 hours a week throughout school to help finance tuition.

6. Research Experience:

No publications. No presentations. No Abstracts.


Research assistant -Rattle Snake neuroplasticity-35 hours

Senior Project research- Cadaver dissection – 90 hours



7. Undergraduate institution or category: UC
Major- Biological Sciences
Minor- Anthropolgy

8. Misc:
Spanish Speaking- moderate proficiency
8 month study Abroad with >80hr volunteering

>250 hours volunteering in both health and non-health related events

>60 hours shadowing various health specialties (primary care, orthopedic surgery, cardiology etc)

Personal interest: Community based medicine with emphasis on being an academic clinician in a mentorship/advisory position.


Tentative School list:


UCSF

Stanford

UCD

UCLA

UCLA-Drew

USC

UCR

UCI

UCSD

Howard

Meharry

Morehouse

Harvard

Yale

UW

U AZ-Tuscon

University of Michigan

Michigan St

OHSU

UNLV

Mayo-MN

Mayo-AZ

Case Western
 
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Just a few tips I thought I'd share:

First, try not to overestimate or underestimate your competitiveness (i.e apply broadly). Additionally, grade trends matter.

Second, as a general rule of thumb, apply to all of your state schools (if applicable), schools that you are within the 10th-90th percentile according to MSAR, and your dream schools (can be a couple of schools or it can be a lot of schools depending on your budget).

Third, it is important to apply early especially if you overestimate/underestimate your competitiveness. For example, I was verified at the end of June and completed most of my secondaries between early and late July. I got my first interview at a top 20 (i.e Pitt) at the beginning of August and thus I had a good sense of how competitive my application was regardless of whether I was rejected from schools that were less competitive or more competitive than Pitt. You can always add more schools if you are verified early and still be "on time." I added Brown in mid August because a friend recommended I apply and I wound up getting an interview/acceptance.

Being "complete" at schools at the end of September is generally considered late. There are always exceptions of course.

Not receiving an interview invitation before Thanksgiving is usually not a good sign, although there are people who receive their first interview invitation as late as early March (school dependent) and are ultimately accepted (this happened to a friend of mine).

Not receiving an acceptance offer by mid-Feb is generally not a good sign. There are exceptions to this of course (e.g acceptance off of the waitlist, etc.).

Lastly, this process can be unpredictable/stressful at times and so try to find things that occupy your time (school work, job, working out, hobbies, etc.). Reach out to those who support you and talk to them. Don't go through this process alone. FYI, some schools do practice yield protection. So just because you get rejected from a school you were statistically competitive for doesn't mean there is something wrong with your app.

Relax, make your app the best it can be, practice for interviews, believe in your application and most importantly, trust yourself. It'll work out!

EDIT: A lot of this advice is based on SDN wisdom from some of the AdCom's on this site and my own/friends experiences.

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
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Just a few tips I thought I'd share:

First, try not to overestimate or underestimate your competitiveness (i.e apply broadly). Additionally, grade trends matter.

Second, as a general rule of thumb, apply to all of your state schools (if applicable), schools that you are within the 10th-90th percentile according to MSAR, and your dream schools (can be a couple of schools or it can be a lot of schools depending on your budget).

Third, it is important to apply early especially if you overestimate/underestimate your competitiveness. For example, I was verified at the end of June and completed most of my secondaries between early and late July. I got my first interview at a top 20 (i.e Pitt) at the beginning of August and thus I had a good sense of how competitive my application was regardless of whether I was rejected from schools that were less competitive or more competitive than Pitt. You can always add more schools if you are verified early and still be "on time." I added Brown in mid August because a friend recommended I apply and I wound up getting an interview/acceptance.

Being "complete" at schools after Labor Day is generally considered late. There are always exceptions of course.

Not receiving an interview Invitation before thanksgiving is usually not a good sign, although there are people who receive their first interview invitation as late as early March (school dependent) and are ultimately accepted (this happened to a friend of mine).

Not receiving an acceptance offer by mid-Feb is generally not a good sign. There are exceptions to this of course (e.g acceptance off of the waitlist, etc.).

Lastly, this process can be unpredictable/stressful at times and so try to find things that occupy your time. Reach out to those who support you and talk to them. Don't go through this process alone. FYI, some schools do practice yield protection. So just because you get rejected from a school you were statistically competitive for doesn't mean there is something wrong with your app.

Relax, make your app the best it can be, practice for interviews, believe in your application and most importantly, trust yourself. It'll work out!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
first of all thank you so much for the information! :) second of all, I am retaking my MCAT in either late june or late july (there's no MCAT testing date in between). What I'm thinking of doing is submitting an app this Thursday to a school not on my top list so that I can get verified early, then update my app in August with my new MCAT score and then add the remaining 20 schools (give or take a few). Does that sound like a suicide mission or a good plan you think? I am concerned that this first deadline (June 1st) is coming up and I might miss it or be at a disadvantage if I don't submit anything yet.
Or is there another date after the June 1st deadline that I could shoot for?
A MILLION THANKS!
 
@br2pi5

Ideally you want to have taken the MCAT and received your score prior to applying. However, my pre-health advisor has recommended that strategy of applying to a throwaway school to some of her students. I think that's probably the best course of action right now unless you have other ideas. Don't rush to submit your app on June 1st or whenever the app submission start date is. You still want to have a quality app. Do not rush your app. You don't want to have typos or anything because once you submit you can't go back.

After you take the MCAT, I would take like a few days off to celebrate (you earned it!) and then I would recommend you start working on secondaries since there is about a month between your test date and when you receive your scores. This is also risky because the schools that you have a realistic shot at will depend, to a large degree, on your MCAT. Make sure you keep an eye on how you are scoring on your practice tests leading up to test day. This will give you a good estimate of the kind of score you may get on test day. Ultimately, you may end up altering your school list after you receive your scores, but if your secondaries are complete (give or take a few schools) that will take some of the stress off and reduce secondary burnout. I hope this helps.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
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Does anyone know if we have to have all our Letters of Rec in before getting verified? I want to submit for Verification 06-1 but I'm still waiting two of my letters and I do not know If I should wait.
 
Does anyone know if we have to have all our Letters of Rec in before getting verified? I want to submit for Verification 06-1 but I'm still waiting two of my letters and I do not know If I should wait.
No, you can go through verification without letters submitted.
 
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I just meant there are only 2 and they profess a serious commitment to rural medicine and I'd hate to be one of the people/ think it is unfair if I just "say the right things" to get in.
Got ya. I would add those schools goro mentioned and any that reward reinvention.

Good luck! :)
 
Hi everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself and wish everyone the best of luck in the upcoming cycle! I've been dreaming of being able to apply to medical school since middle school, and I can't believe it's finally happening!

Here are my stats:

Background: Black immigrant at a top 30 college
GPA: 3.5 cGPA/ 3.3 sGPA, with an upward trend
Major: Biology & Anthropology
MCAT: Took the MCAT May 13th, hoping for nothing below a 505 (IJN)
EC:
-
1 year of biomedical research on diabetes and adipose tissue inflammation
- SEVERAL part time jobs throughout college to make some money/pay for tuition
- several RA type positions to cover housing and food expenses
- 2 years of hospital volunteering, mainly in children's hospitals
- 4 weeks in East Africa on a cultural engagement trip to learn about health and disability and another 4 weeks as a student fellow/leader on a similar program
- Participated and led service learning trips with a health and disability focus.
- Course instructor at my college for a freshman minicourse
- 2 years volunteering at a shelter for families facing domestic abuse issues + 200 more service hours
- clinical research in West Africa for 3 months
- African cultural org
- 40 hours of shadowing

School List:

Rutgers NJMS
Robert Wood Johnson
Cooper Rowan
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Commonwealth
SUNY- Downstate
NYMC
Albany
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Georgetown
George Washington
Howard
UMich
Wayne State
Rush
Loyola
Chicago
Medical College of Wisconsin
Creighton
EVMS
Miami
Tulane
Meharry
Morehouse
Wake Forest
VCU
UCLA

Hoping to add a few more reaches, depending on how this MCAT turns out!
 
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@br2pi5

Ideally you want to have taken the MCAT and received your score prior to applying. However, my pre-health advisor has recommended that strategy of applying to a throwaway school to some of her students. I think that's probably the best course of action right now unless you have other ideas. Don't rush to submit your app on June 1st or whenever the app submission start date is. You still want to have a quality app. Do not rush your app. You don't want to have typos or anything because once you submit you can't go back.

After you take the MCAT, I would take like a few days off to celebrate (you earned it!) and then I would recommend you start working on secondaries since there is about a month between your test date and when you receive your scores. This is also risky because the schools that you have a realistic shot at will depend, to a large degree, on your MCAT. Make sure you keep an eye on how you are scoring on your practice tests leading up to test day. This will give you a good estimate of the kind of score you may get on test day. Ultimately, you may end up altering your school list after you receive your scores, but if your secondaries are complete (give or take a few schools) that will take some of the stress off and reduce secondary burnout. I hope this helps.


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Just wondering, maybe I understood wrong, but if I apply to a throwaway school just to get verified, shouldn't I do that ASAP? like the june 1st deadline obv keeping in mind no typos/errors in my app? and if not, do you happen to know when's the next submission date for AMCAS?
sorry for bothering with so many questions! maybe I should direct message you?
 
Just wondering, maybe I understood wrong, but if I apply to a throwaway school just to get verified, shouldn't I do that ASAP? like the june 1st deadline obv keeping in mind no typos/errors in my app? and if not, do you happen to know when's the next submission date for AMCAS?
sorry for bothering with so many questions! maybe I should direct message you?

@Goro @all things possible is it better to do this, take the MCAT and have an application complete in August, based on my stats posted below? (I believe I have a chance of getting some interviews if I do get a 510+ based on my other experiences, but I'm worried that I would be applying/having a complete app "too late"/August, is that fair to say?) or is it better to not do this in case I end up not doing great on practice tests or end up canceling my MCAT thus making myself a re-applicant for next cycle?

Background: Hispanic from South America (Bolivia). Lived most of my life in Spain/US. Got accepted to the Fee Assistance Program. Non-traditional (took 3 gap years prior to starting undergraduate, aka I’m 24); just graduated from BU Cum Laude with 6/8 semesters on Dean’s List, on a gap year, applying to MD schools this cycle
GPA: 3.54
Major: Neuroscience, minor in French
MCAT: 501 (blah), retaking in June/July, hoping for 510+
EC: -paid job at my university’s orientation office (part academic year + summer)
-Neuroscience elective course Undergraduate Assistant (a semester)
-Was a volunteer, then staff leader and now hold a paid job as program manager of a big community service program at my university (freshman-senior year)
-member and then VP of acapella group (2 years)
-member and fundraising chair of health-related club (1 year)
-member of neuroscience honor society
-member and then treasurer of club that represents my college at my university (2 years)
-studied abroad in France (semester)
Clinical: since 2012 I have had ~400 hours shadowing doctors, nurses, speech pathologists in Florida and Bolivia
Volunteer in Florida in ER, Pediatrics department (2012, pre-undergrad) and transporting lab results (2015) in Boston + my school’s community service program
Research worked 5 months at a biomedical engineering lab
Other speak English, Spanish, French, Portuguese (basic); have a strong, comprehensive letter from my university + I believe strong LORs
 
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@Goro @gyngyn (or anyone else who can provide insight) Where can I find information on the schools that reward reinvention? Thank you for your time in advance

(Im still getting the hang of these thread functions haha Sorry to double post y'all.)
 
Just wondering, maybe I understood wrong, but if I apply to a throwaway school just to get verified, shouldn't I do that ASAP? like the june 1st deadline obv keeping in mind no typos/errors in my app? and if not, do you happen to know when's the next submission date for AMCAS?
sorry for bothering with so many questions! maybe I should direct message you?

You should submit as early as possible, but not at the cost of a lackluster/error-ridden primary application. You can submit anytime on or after June 1st. June 1st is not a deadline.
 
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@Goro @gyngyn (or anyone else who can provide insight) Where can I find information on the schools that reward reinvention? Thank you for your time in advance
(Im still getting the hang of these thread functions haha Sorry to double post y'all.)
Most of the info I have on reinvention is from SDNers who have reinvented themselves. But there are other hints in MSAR. For example, look for # of matriculants who took post-bac coursework, or already have a graduate degree.

My list:

Your state schools
Drexel
Rosy Franklin
U Miami
Tulane
Gtown
Any DO school
GWU
NYMC
Albany
Tufts
BU
Pitt
Mayo
Columbia
Vandy
UCSF
Wayne State
 
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