WAMC + School List - 3.93 GPA, 513 MCAT, MI ORM

[MoreSerotonin]

Currently, I am in my first of two gap years. I am planning to apply in this upcoming 2024M cycle and am looking for advice on how I can spruce up my application before submitting my primary app. I would also appreciate any help on my tentative school list. I am interested in more research-oriented schools and have contemplated a dual degree a bit (MD/MPH).

1. cGPA: 3.93, sGPA: 3.93
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown: 513 (129/125/128/131)
3. State of residence: MI
4. Ethnicity and/or race: White male (SES disadvantaged)
5. Undergraduate institution or category: Jesuit university (graduated May 22’)
6. Majors: Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience, Biology
7. Minors: Spanish, Psychology
8. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer):
   1. 3100 hrs live-in caregiver for family member (~4 years)
   2. 1145 hrs patient care technician in hospital
9. Research experience and productivity:
   1. 445 hrs in neurobiology lab as an undergrad
   2. 240 hrs expected when applying in neuro-oncology lab, 2000+ additional hrs during cycle with strong chance of one or more pubs
10. Shadowing experience and specialties represented:
    1. 101 hrs (40 hrs radiology, 25 hrs FM/sports medicine, 10 hrs peds anesthesiologist, 10 hrs peds urologist, 6 hrs anesthesiologist)
    2. Will be trying to shadow a cardiologist and/or neurologist before applying
11. Non-clinical volunteering:
    1. 234 hrs at present
       1. 118 hrs (~152 hrs total expected when applying/~208 additional hrs during cycle) volunteering at a food pantry, bagging and distributing food to those in need
       2. 100 hrs Wellness Center volunteer at university providing weekly pandemic research updates (mitigation measures, contact tracing, vaccinations, overall wellness)
       3. 16 hrs (~62 hrs total expected when applying/180 additional hrs during cycle) peer grief counselor for adults coping with loss of loved one
12. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc):
    1. 77 hrs (~267 hrs total expected when applying/375 additional hrs during cycle) tutoring with two organizations, ESL tutoring for adult immigrant and basic literacy tutoring for members of the community returning from county jail
    2. 190 hrs desk receptionist at university dorms
    3. 105 hrs executive board member handling media in our GlobeMed university chapter for 1 year (leadership)
    4. 60 hrs executive board member in a Spanish intercollegiate club as a project leader discussing US-Spain interrelations for 1 year (leadership)
    5. 350 hrs study abroad in Spain
    6. Hobby: Latin music
    7. Hobby: Ceramics
13. Relevant honors or awards:
    1. Dean’s list each semester
    2. Nu Rho Psi member
    3. Summa Cum Laude
14. Immediate family members in medicine? (Y/N): N
15. Specialty of Interest (if applicable): Cardiology or neurology at present but who really knows at this stage?
16. Interest in Primary Care (Y/N): Y
17. Interest in Rural Health (Y/N): N, city boy my whole life

I would really appreciate any advice on my school list (@Faha and @Goro and @chilly_md) and would appreciate any insight on my general chances/areas to improve on, for my upcoming application cycle (@LizzyM, @gyngyn, and @Mr.Smile12).
(Borrowing this from @BrokenLlamas thx)

Tentative School List: (seeking ~35 schools)
Michigan (dream school)
Wayne State
Oakland
Western Mich
Michigan State
Central Mich
UCSF (dream school)
Duke
Mayo Alix
Icahn Mt. Sinai
Case Western
UCLA
U Pitt
Emory
Dartmouth
Keck
Rochester
Ohio State
Hofstra
Einstein
SLU
VCU
U Cincinnati
U Iowa
Med Co Wisconsin
Vermont
U Miami
Tufts
Georgetown
Boston University
GWU
Temple
Rush
Brown
Kaiser (free tuition)
U Wisconsin
Colorado
Wake Forest

Have also considered: UNC, Northwestern (long shot but maybe I could use being a PCT at their hospital as a connection?), Stanford (long shot), Pritzker (long shot), Cornell (fleetingly), UVA (fleetingly), USF Morsani (fleetingly), Sidney Kimmel, U Mass, U A - Phoenix, Stritch and Creighton (recognize Jesuit but mission statements bored me)

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[Faha]

UCLA and UCSF are reaches with your MCAT of 513 and you are not a CA resident. you should receive several interviews from the other schools on your list.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Live-in caregiving for a family member is a good part of your story, but it shouldn't be included as an EC as clinical experience. It is family after all. Your PCT should be fine.

I would like insight on your motivation and purpose to become a doctor. Communicating your mission fit is critical.

 

[chilly_md]

Agree with the above, you can discuss the caregiving in parts of your personal statement and secondaries.

I suggest:

Michigan (dream school)
Wayne State
Oakland
Western Mich
Michigan State
Central Mich
Emory
Dartmouth
Rochester
Hofstra
Einstein
SLU
VCU
EVMS
Med Co Wisconsin
Vermont
U Miami
Tufts
Georgetown
Boston University
GWU
Temple
Drexel
Jefferson
Colorado
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
Creighton
Wake Forest

 

[deleted1017183]

UCLA and UCSF are reaches with your MCAT of 513 and you are not a CA resident. you should receive several interviews from the other schools on your list.

Would you say so despite UCLA's matriculating MCAT median being 513?

 

[Faha]

Would you say so despite UCLA's matriculating MCAT median being 513?

Yes, the MCAT for non residents who are not URM would be higher.