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- Apr 10, 2016
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Hey all, first time user here. Looking for any advice in narrowing down/tackling my school list with the following general information. I've always read other posts and am trying my hand at asking based on my own situation... so any insight is appreciated!
3.36 c and sGPA (I believe my sGPA is actually slightly higher but not by much)
520 MCAT (C/P = 130, CARS = 129, B/B = 130, P/S = 131)
Minnesota resident
White
Went to a very average state school
~4400 hours (2 years at full time) clinical paid work. Direct patient care in ICU and OR. Work closely in teams with doctors on a daily basis. My job also entails rounding on patients and taking call. Run heart assist devices during open heart surgery and cath lab.
~45 hours clinical volunteering at a children's hospital
~400 hours volunteering non-clinically (Was a camp counselor for disabled camper i was paired with, years ago. Currently in a year-long mentorship program with a disadvantaged youth from my area I got matched with, where we meet and do life learning activities together 2-3 hours per week. I also organized a unique service event for a women's shelter that doubled as a meet and greet between med students and premeds, all of whom volunteered)
~0 hours actual research. Did do a pathophys class that required my reading and synthesizing information from about 100 journal articles, so hopefully this (along with my MCAT) show research literacy at the least.
~50 hours shadowed, all MD (internal medicine, pediatrics, anesthesiology, and orthopedic surgery)
~leadership = 1) my mentor program, 2) group leader at a completely student-organized and run volunteer organization that takes service trips over winter break in college, 3) alumni relations chairman at my college fraternity
~ Other stuff: final two years with upper level science courses at a 4.0, so I have the trend. Luckily, I have strong letter writers to vouch for me as well.
**I plan on applying across the board. But, with my service/volunteer experience, my current plan is to focus more on mid-to-low tier, service-oriented MD and perhaps some DO as well. Looking for anyone with insights regarding tackling MSAR, school list, etc. Also, could I get screened out of more "safety" schools because of my MCAT even though my GPA is so low? Do I even have a chance for top-20 without research and with my GPA?**
School List:
Minnesota Twin Cities
Creighton
TCU
Loyola Chicago
Boston University
Rosalind Franklin
Quinnipiac
NOVA MD
NOVA DO
Rocky Vista (DO)
Temple
Drexel
Georgetown
MCW
UVM
NYMC
U of Colorado
U of Washington
I don't know what to think about my GPA being at or below 10th percentile while my MCAT is at or above 90th... this is true for most schools I'm applying to. How do I formulate a school list when 1) my stats are so mismatched and 2) so many schools value undergraduate research? Or am I overthinking my lack of research? Really just hoping my MCAT catches some eyes, after that I just need to make sure my statement and secondaries are on point! Thank you all for your input!!
3.36 c and sGPA (I believe my sGPA is actually slightly higher but not by much)
520 MCAT (C/P = 130, CARS = 129, B/B = 130, P/S = 131)
Minnesota resident
White
Went to a very average state school
~4400 hours (2 years at full time) clinical paid work. Direct patient care in ICU and OR. Work closely in teams with doctors on a daily basis. My job also entails rounding on patients and taking call. Run heart assist devices during open heart surgery and cath lab.
~45 hours clinical volunteering at a children's hospital
~400 hours volunteering non-clinically (Was a camp counselor for disabled camper i was paired with, years ago. Currently in a year-long mentorship program with a disadvantaged youth from my area I got matched with, where we meet and do life learning activities together 2-3 hours per week. I also organized a unique service event for a women's shelter that doubled as a meet and greet between med students and premeds, all of whom volunteered)
~0 hours actual research. Did do a pathophys class that required my reading and synthesizing information from about 100 journal articles, so hopefully this (along with my MCAT) show research literacy at the least.
~50 hours shadowed, all MD (internal medicine, pediatrics, anesthesiology, and orthopedic surgery)
~leadership = 1) my mentor program, 2) group leader at a completely student-organized and run volunteer organization that takes service trips over winter break in college, 3) alumni relations chairman at my college fraternity
~ Other stuff: final two years with upper level science courses at a 4.0, so I have the trend. Luckily, I have strong letter writers to vouch for me as well.
**I plan on applying across the board. But, with my service/volunteer experience, my current plan is to focus more on mid-to-low tier, service-oriented MD and perhaps some DO as well. Looking for anyone with insights regarding tackling MSAR, school list, etc. Also, could I get screened out of more "safety" schools because of my MCAT even though my GPA is so low? Do I even have a chance for top-20 without research and with my GPA?**
School List:
Minnesota Twin Cities
Creighton
TCU
Loyola Chicago
Boston University
Rosalind Franklin
Quinnipiac
NOVA MD
NOVA DO
Rocky Vista (DO)
Temple
Drexel
Georgetown
MCW
UVM
NYMC
U of Colorado
U of Washington
I don't know what to think about my GPA being at or below 10th percentile while my MCAT is at or above 90th... this is true for most schools I'm applying to. How do I formulate a school list when 1) my stats are so mismatched and 2) so many schools value undergraduate research? Or am I overthinking my lack of research? Really just hoping my MCAT catches some eyes, after that I just need to make sure my statement and secondaries are on point! Thank you all for your input!!
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