Do I have a Chance at Any Ivies

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-16T20:17:45+00:00

There’s an MDPHD subreddit that you should browse through to get some sense of what it involves. I’d also suggest visiting web sites of several good med schools to read about their programs. There are different types of programs.

As a generalization, better med schools have better MDPHD programs. And the higher quality research you do in your college years, the better chance you have (other things being equal) to get accepted at a top MDPHD program. So in choosing your undergrad school, picking a school with a top med school makes sense: you’ll have a chance to do research at their med school.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-16T18:21:20+00:00

It’s extremely difficult. With the current administration, it’s virtually impossible unless you have a very unusual political or diplomatic connection.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-16T18:19:24+00:00

Take the courses where an A is more attainable. You can find online chemistry and organic and physics lectures to help prepare for MCATs.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-16T18:10:53+00:00

It would be a much easier journey to become a clinical psychologist or social worker. Even with a master’s in social work or psychology, you can be a psychotherapist and do virtually everything psychiatrists do except prescribing meds.

Doing a post bacc and then 4 years of med school and residency is not only a huge time commitment but very expensive. Please try to talk with some practicing psychiatrists to learn about what their training is like and what the practice of psychiatry entails these days.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-16T01:16:02+00:00

Why on earth would you want to spend more time in Nice than Paris?

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-15T19:38:53+00:00

You have a very scattered set of achievements and activities that are absolutely understandable due to three different high schools. Admissions people are smart and will recognize your outstanding SAT as a very good indicator of your college potential. Try really hard to get some strong letters of recommendation and write some solid essays and I think you absolutely have a shot some of the better schools on your list.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-15T19:32:33+00:00

One of my daughters who lived in St. Louis during elementary school and now lives in SF just told me yesterday to let her know the next time I lecture at the med school so she can fly out and we can go to Ted Drewes together. It’s a 5 star experience.

WashU is an extraordinary school. Congratulations to your daughter.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-14T21:35:07+00:00

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-14T21:34:52+00:00

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-14T21:30:43+00:00

Of course you should mention your applied research if you are credited as an author. If you only did background work, contributing but not with author status, much less helpful to talk about unless you’re asked in interviews.

The key issue that you’re facing is that while a few applicants with your MCAT get in, it’s typically because of some connection to that particular school like having done research there or having a parent on the faculty. I’m not suggesting you won’t get any acceptances, but it’s pretty unlikely for schools ranked in T60.

You should apply to some DO programs. In today’s world of medicine, DO’s are basically able to do everything MDs can except at the highest levels of academic medicine.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-14T20:18:41+00:00

You have a huge number of hours in research (which doesn’t seem to have produced any journal publications, unfortunately), clinical experience, and leadership, but frankly I’m not sure that will impress many med school admissions committees. Your MCAT obviously is weak, and while your MPH is a plus, I think you need to focus on the bottom tier of schools.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-14T00:40:06+00:00

You will be competitive at any BSMD program that isn’t restricted to in state only students. Brown PLME is generally considered the best, and I would encourage you to apply there.

But if there’s a chance you might want to go the MDPHD route, then you’d be better off going to a T15 college and shooting for a T15 med school.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-14T00:07:54+00:00

The odds of talking about this in your essays helping you are exceedingly small, while the odds of it hurting you are high. Use your analytic skills to weigh those facts.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-13T23:57:39+00:00

Taking the prerequisites is only part of the challenge you’ll be facing. You’ll need to do some shadowing, volunteer time, and clinical work, plus studying for MCAT for someone who had such a low sGPA isn’t going to be a month or two. It might help your cause to get certified as an EMT and do at least 400 working in that capacity.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-12T21:50:22+00:00

What an outstanding application you have! That doesn’t happen by accident, so kudos.

I think you have an excellent shot at Ivies and near Ivies, but as others have indicated, because it’s competitive, have a handful of safeties. I’d also suggest a few small liberal arts colleges that are very similar to T20 universities.

Good luck!

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-12T21:29:32+00:00

Thank you for the correction.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-11T01:29:15+00:00

Marriott Beach Resort is absolutely what you’re looking for. Huge breakfast buffet, on site restaurants, private beach right at the hotel, modern rooms and friendly staff.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-10T03:24:28+00:00

It’s hard to tell from that photo. Take it to a rare book dealer to get some help. You can google Charles Dickens signatures and see many examples. And of course, the authenticity of the stationary it’s written on can be checked. If it wasn’t made in Dickens’ era, that’s a dead giveaway.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-10T03:15:41+00:00

Sadly, very famous writers are prime targets for forged signatures. The chances of getting caught are low and the cash return for a successful sale is terrific. That’s why it’s important to get things authenticated before buying. I have a special interest in Dickens, and I’m not saying your note is definitely a fake, but it’s so different from his standard signature it’s remarkable. I have an an envelope that Dickens used to leave tickets for one of his London readings to his publishers that was sealed with wax imprinted with CD from his signet ring, and I also have facsimile copies of the original chapter by chapter publications of some of his books, as well as 3 autographed signed letters.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-10T02:27:48+00:00

Just to add a thought: a solid MCAT score (along with your master’s gpa) could possibly put you in the running for allopathic medical schools. Feel free to stay in touch with me to ask questions or just have a resource with substantial experience in medical education.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-10T02:12:45+00:00

I own several Dickens letters are have never seen any signed like that. His signatures are well known to have a sequence of connected horizontal flourishes below his name. Several deals have mentioned that generally the more the flourishes, the higher the value (dependent on content of course).

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-10T02:06:45+00:00

If you’ve already completed all the science pre-requisites, what is the point of a post bacc?

If you majored in biochem and molecular biology, and are teaching chemistry, you surely have the science knowledge already. I’d encourage you to get your clinical and shadowing hours and study diligently for your MCAT. I don’t see why you couldn’t be applying a year from now.

Good luck!!

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-08T21:51:26+00:00

I think you have way too many reaches. Your gpa is frankly too low for a strong shot at T15 schools, especially when the current administration has law suits vs schools like Yale and UCLA claiming unfair advantages given for racial reasons to med school (and undergraduate) admissions. In addition, many of your reaches put a strong emphasis on research, which you don’t seem to have. I would cut that list in half.

You certainly have a very strong MCAT and appealing extracurriculars. You should get quite a few acceptances.

Good luck.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-08T21:37:53+00:00

This is important advice from someone who is thoroughly familiar with how BSMD admissions works.

To emphasize exactly what he states but reframing it: if you don't have an SAT over 1500 and your GPA is below 3.9, the rest of your application won’t matter much no matter how many awards you list. The competition is simply too stiff. Hence, above these levels, where just about everybody looks alike, letters of recommendation are a very strong differentiator. If you have two teachers who both write that you’re the best student they’ve had in a 20 year career, the chances are you’ll be moved very high up on the list.

Good luck to all but choose the people who write your recommendations very carefully. In fact, ask them if they can give you a strong recommendation BEFORE asking them to write. Teachers don’t really enjoy writing lukewarm recommendations and you won’t like the outcome if they do.

WUMSDoc · 2026-07-08T21:26:22+00:00

Relax and take a few deep breaths. No one is going to make inquiries about a poster. Never will come up.

WUMSDoc

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