Hi, I am graduating in the spring and am currently trying to figure out whether I have any chance at getting into the medical schools I am applying to this spring (Ill be taking a gap year). I have listed out my resume and two dream schools, but would love some input on where else would be a good idea to apply:
DREAM SCHOOLS: NYU and University of Hawaii (I have family there, but I know its as stretch as I’m out of state)
Majors: Neurobiology(w/ Honors) and Gender and Women’s Studies
Undergraduate: UC (California Resident); First Gen/ Single Parent family
Cumulative GPA: 3.6
Science GPA: 3.4 (I struggled a bit in my first few semesters with chem and physics, I’m actually a TA for chemistry now because I finally learned how to study through teaching)
MCAT: 517
LOC’s: 3 really strong, 2 medium letters (Probably)
Research Experience: I went heavy on research
-2.5 years same lab (neuro)
-summer research fellowship
-honors thesis and self designed project (for neurodegenerative disease)
Work:
-Resident Assistant 3 years
ECs;
-Member/Leader of campus science organization (all 4 years)
-TA for chemistry 2 years
- Student gov (1st two years): working on gender equity and inclusion programs for students
-LGBTQ health/wellness intern
Volunteer:
-Youth camp for women in science
-Tutor at a Women’s Shelter
-Will be starting as a volunteer in a women’s clinic soon
Shadowing:
-Neurosurgeon ( a family member suffered a spinal cord injury and I became close with their physician who has let me sit in on surgeries and shadow him)
-Pediatrician: 3 weeks
-General Pract: 2 weeks
As a California resident you have almost no chance for admission at UHawaii -which strongly favors in-state applicants or applicants who are Pacific Islanders/Native Alaskan/Native American. (BTW, OOS tuition at JABSOM is over $$72,000/year. That does not include mandatory health insurance, fees, books, travel or living expenses. JABSOM is among the most expensive state medical schools for OOSers. Burns does not allow OOS students to gain state residency while attending school.)
Likewise, your chances at NYU are poor. In 2016, the median GPA for accepted students at NYU was 3.93 and median MCAT score was 521.
https://med.nyu.edu/education/md-degree/md-admissions/admissions-requirements.
While your MCAT score is above average, your GPA is below average. (National average for accepted students last years was MCAT 513 and GPA 3.8.) Your sGPA is problematic and could screen you out at some schools.
Does your sGPA show a strong upward trend? What is your year by year sGPA breakdown?
You are also entirely lacking any clinical experience. That right there is an app killer. (I do see you say you’re going to start volunteering in the near future. Make sure you do. Med school adcomms rank clinical experience as being “very important” for applicants. Research is only of “medium importance”.)
You are further disadvantaged by being a California resident. California is probably the worst place to live if you want to go to med school. Too many highly qualified applicants; too few seats. Even the California DO programs are extremely competitive admits. Some of the UC SOM are extremely mission driven and mission fit is critical for getting an interview. Make sure you carefully read the mission statements of all UC SOMs.
Some ideas & suggestions to help you achieve your goal of medical school–
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consider applying to osteopathic medical schools. Many DO programs will require a LOR from a DO physician so makes sure to shadow or volunteer with an osteopathic physician during your gap year.
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consider moving to another state–particularly one that has highly protected in-state admissions. (If you want to try to go to Burns, move to Hawaii and live there for at least 1 full year (365 days) before applying. You will need to be fully self-supporting, file/pay state incomes taxes, register to vote, and “demonstrate intent to make Hawaii your permanent residence”.)
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buy a subscription to MSAR for $30–MSAR has information about every US MD program, including stats broken down by deciles and admission requirements. This will help you determine where you should apply. Do not apply to any program where your GPA is below the 10th percentile–you essentially have no chance for admission to those programs.
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download and read the the College Information Book (DO equivalent of MSAR)
https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/cib/aacom-cib-2018-front-schools.pdf?sfvrsn=0
BTW, there really isn't any such thing as general practice physician anymore. Most insurance companies will not offer coverage unless a physician is board certified or board eligible--which means they need to complete a approved residency program in a specialty. Perhaps you meant a family medicine physician?
As WOWM, I don’t think you have a chance at NYU or Hawaii.
You can apply to any mid/lower tier MD schools as a reach and DO schools as match. But make sure you included the followings:
Touro CA and Western, two DO schools that are admitting mostly CA residents.
Vermont, they are very open to OOS students and even their average GPA is 3.7 your MCAT may help
Loma Linda, if you do not care too much of their religious affiliation, at least, they have a preference to CA residents.
HBCU schools, Howard, Maherry, Morehouse and Drew if you are African American
Other than that, you should use the bottom up strategy for schools like Commonwealth, Rose, Rush, UoWisc… etc.
There is no safety schools in Med School application.
Don’t apply to U Wisconsin–which is a public state medical school and as such strongly favors Wisconsin residents.
I think @artloversplus means Medical College of Wisconsin–which is a private school.
Again, please check the MSAR to see where your GPA/sGPA falls for various schools.
Please be aware that Loma Linda is a religious school affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. There is a very strict code of behavior that all students are required to comply with. Among the provisions are no alcohol use, no drug use, no tobacco use, no premarital or extramarital sex, no homosexual relationships–both on and off campus. Additionally there is mandatory chapel attendance. Apply to LLUSOM only if you are Ok with those lifestyle restrictions.
^^I stand corrected, yes, MCof Wisc, not UWisc… 
Try a D.O. program. The curriculum is identical to M.D. with the same residency opportunities and they’re easier to get into. Michigan State comes to mind they have a DO and MD school. Also UT San Antonio is a less competitive school. There are new medical schools opening up in Texas as well with lots of opportunities. UNT and TCU just partnered to open a medical school and I think it opens up this fall.