WAMC/School List Trim - 524/3.99 (2024)

Hi everyone, submitting my app tomorrow (!) and having last-minute second thoughts about my school list. It was generated with the help of a counselor but I feel like it might be too long and could become overwhelming during secondaries. Any advice would be appreciated. I think I've erred on the side of a long list because I'm worried about being in the 'sweet' spot where I'm not exceptional enough for T20s but am at risk of being yield-protected based on stats by lower-tier schools.

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS:
   1. 3.99 cGPA, 3.98 sGPA
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown:
   1. 524 (131/130/131/132)
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US):
   1. California
4. Undergraduate institution or category:
   1. T20 public school
5. Major/Degrees
   1. B.S. Physiology
   2. M.S. in Physiological Science (pending)
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer):
   1. 700+ hours as a paid EMT
   2. 170 hours as a Care Extender (clinical volunteer in hospital setting)
   3. 500 hours as a paid intern in dermatology clinic (high school)
7. Research experience and productivity (posters, publications):
   1. 800+ hours research, 1 paper in the pipeline and 1 will be published after I matriculate. Expect to have 1 poster/conference by matriculation
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented:
   1. 50+ hours neurology, nephrology, family medicine
9. Non-clinical volunteering:
   1. 250+ hours as a pilot/copilot for Angel Flight West volunteer medical transport (have been advised this is borderline clinical, but I'm listing it as non-clinical since my role wasn't care-related)
   2. 100+ hours running fraternity philanthropy program
10. Other extracurricular activities:
    1. Private/Instrument Rated pilot
    2. Learning Assistant (undergraduate TA) for multiple classes
    3. Founder/exec board of fraternity
    4. Property manager of my building
11. Relevant honors or awards:
    1. Dean’s honors list
12. Employment:
    1. Science education teacher (300+ hours)
    2. Tutor (500+ hours)
    3. Teaching Assistant (1000+ hours)
13. Anything else not listed you think might be important:
    1. I’m applying to med school with the intention of becoming a flight surgeon with the USAF/Navy, and am applying for HPSP in conjunction with medical school. Based on my stats they said I will be accepted and given the scholarship if I pass the physical (and get into at least 1 school of course).

Current school list:
Harvard
Hopkins
UPenn
UCSF
Stanford
Columbia
WUSTL
NYU
Vanderbilt
Mayo-MN
Cornell
UPitt
UCLA
Yale
Northwestern
UChicago
Emory
Mt Sinai
UCSD
CWRU
Colorado
USC
Ohio State
BU
UC Davis
Dartmouth
Einstein
Miami
UCI
Tufts
UofA-Tucson
Kaiser
Hofstra
NYMC
Wright State
Mayo-AZ
UofA-Phoenix

Faha said:

Remove Wright State since they will "yield protect" with your stats. You should receive several interviews from the other schools on your list.

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It's on there because of the aerospace/aviation connection. I'm unclear exactly how yield protection works- do you think they won't even take a look at my app? I'm genuinely interested in going there and I think my secondaries will convey that.

aspiringFS said:

It's on there because of the aerospace/aviation connection. I'm unclear exactly how yield protection works- do you think they won't even take a look at my app? I'm genuinely interested in going there and I think my secondaries will convey that.

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You could try it with your interests.

aspiringFS said:

I think I've erred on the side of a long list because I'm worried about being in the 'sweet' spot where I'm not exceptional enough for T20s but am at risk of being yield-protected based on stats by lower-tier schools.

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aspiringFS said:

pilot/copilot for Angel Flight West volunteer medical transport

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aspiringFS said:

I’m applying to med school with the intention of becoming a flight surgeon with the USAF/Navy, and am applying for HPSP

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Make sure USUHS is added.

When did you teach science?

Dude, you aren't a milquetoast cannon fodder applicant.

Mr.Smile12 said:

Make sure USUHS is added.

When did you teach science?

Dude, you aren't a milquetoast cannon fodder applicant.

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I guess I'm hard on myself, although I suppose I'd rather have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised than get my hopes up. I've taught science as a tutor going back 10 years but that particular experience was throughout undergrad, I went to elementary schools around the county and did fun science lessons/experiments with them.

Good call on USUHS

aspiringFS said:

I guess I'm hard on myself, although I suppose I'd rather have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised than get my hopes up. I've taught science as a tutor going back 10 years but that particular experience was throughout undergrad, I went to elementary schools around the county and did fun science lessons/experiments with them.

Good call on USUHS

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From your profile, you got this. If you also come in with a HPSP scholarship, you're super golden.

Be picky and make the schools recruit you. Get a feel for the type of support you need to meet your expectations from medical school.