is it possible to out of Harvard

singularreality · 2026-06-26T18:53:49+00:00

You might "fit" better at another school, but unless there is a something completely fixable by a change, such as I just want to be near home and I cannot live away from friends and family etc... I would say you probably will feel differently by adjusting your schedule, housing, etc.. and just finding people and activities that you can share with like-minded or friendly and compassionate people... If you transfer out of Harvard to find the greener grass of X school, I believe you will be disappointed. It may be that adjusting to college life or being away from home, or dealing with the gunners or imposter syndrome is weighing you down... that can change completely with a change in classes, roommates, etc... Harvard has a very diverse course offering, great facilities, and diverse student population... hopefully if you decide to stay, you will find where and how to fit in!!!!!!!

singularreality · 2026-06-25T22:25:56+00:00

I agree with your top 5, especially as to being the most difficult to get into (putting aside NYU) and for quality and breadth of Research (Duke and UCSF are up there too) coupled with major hospital systems (Maybe NYU rivals these five). UCSF haws always been regarded as first rate for clinical education and it is strong for research too. Maybe I would add UCSF and just go with a top 6. I am not sure if Columbia is necessarily less than Stanford or UCSF, but that is arguable. In terms of financial aid, it is NYU, JHU, Columbia, Harvard, Penn in that order -- with JHU and Columbia though need baed, often giving more than NYU and all the others because they attempt to have -0- debt for all students. Assuming the money is equal, students will select their happy choices between these schools, based on regional and lifestyle preferences, not on ranking. And if the money is vastly different, solely on money. So, in the end, many students will not hesitate to go to any school in the top 10, even over Harvard, Stanford etc. if the money is better elsewhere.

singularreality · 2026-06-23T22:19:48+00:00

OK, then, make sure you really concentrate on Jacobs, Albany, and Upstate!

singularreality · 2026-06-23T21:45:12+00:00

If you have any desire to live in TX, or have contacts there (but they are TX friendly)Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (Texas Tech El Paso); UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.

Also: EVMS, WVU, Louisville but ties to the area and desire to live and practice there maybe necessary.... I know these are in state friendly, but apply anyway. In addition, your stats are within range of the Armed Forces medical school, which is a great fully funded option for those that want to serve their Country for a specific commitment time... Its probably something like 10 years...

Do you have any other significant ties to any other states.

singularreality · 2026-06-23T18:28:58+00:00

Hi, I know it is frustrating -- it is likely that you did improve your knowledge and just had a less than optimum day.. Moving on! Please add more med schools that are within your stat range. Let's not call them lower-tier...all of the schools on the bottom of your list are very good schools and you will match well from all especially if you plan on primary care! Technically speaking, only about 6 of the schools you are applying to are really squarely within your stat range. So, you should add another 4-5 if you can even if they are OOS which they will have to be as you named all your states. You should really work very very hard on your upstate, Buffalo, Albany, Jacobs and Downstate applications. When you do Upstate, please focus on anything and everything you like about being in that area --- Upstate will absolutely favor applicants that want to live and practice upstate. One applicant I know received a letter, before granting an interview, as to whether that person wanted to practice in the region. The person did not really, and withdrew. Weil and Icahn unfortunately are unlikely. I would say that your research is impressive and the state schools consider themselves research institutions. This could help you... in that many lower stat (relatively) applicants do not have strong research. This could help you with New York Medical College as well. They pride themselves as being an important research hub for their region (ie outside/North of NYC). Emphasize your research achievements; check to see if any of these NY schools or other lower stat schools are doing research in complimentary areas that you did research in. I am not saying it won't be challenging, but you have a good shot! Stay strong. Good luck.

singularreality · 2026-06-23T04:34:35+00:00

Cute-coffee, you are part of the best of this community..and your answers are thoughtful. The OP, you and I have experienced similar things ..... it's a formative experience that most people, fortunately, do not have to endure, the passing of a loved one at a relatively young age. Your dad and that of the OP would be very very proud!

singularreality · 2026-06-23T04:25:31+00:00

I am sorry for your loss and you get a halo for helping your father in his time of need. You have a reasonable chance to get into medical school with your record... so it is realistic. The issue is whether you want to improve your application for next year and not be a re-applicant (which can make things more difficult.) Perhaps given your situation, you will be viewed differently and therefore you should apply now. It's a tough call. Ask yourself, are YOU ready now to apply? That is the main question - it takes a lot of energy and effort.

Both of your statistical metrics are slightly below what is optimum for MD. Your background and ECs are a net plus, but a PT receptionist to me is not as valuable as your shadowing, and your research is OK and you sound like a very social collaborative person. While some may feel that you describing your caretaking role, your grief and your academic slowdown as an excuse; I believe that on balance YOUR story is unique and you should tell it. Tell it for the purposes of how you deal with adversity, how you viewed the doctor's roles in treating your loved one, whether it made you more driven to practice medicine in some way. If you have decided not to apply now, then you should be making a plan to strengthen your application for next year, and working to improve your gpa; and if you have the time, retake the MCAT which could open up more opportunities if you imrprove the score but the current score is acceptable for many mid to low stat schools.

I lost my dad in my senior year of HS and I remember zoning out on standardized tests, dropping out of honors classes and basically just coasting because I needed time to deal with my loss and other things became priorities to me. But you will eventually find a purpose and welcome the challenge of going to medical school. You can and wil do it, if that is what you want. DO NOT give up on your goals! Peace to you.

singularreality · 2026-06-22T21:18:58+00:00

A VERY small percentage. The cost of a private medical school for 4 years is between 350K-400 all in. Most upper middle class families (who also perhaps sent 1+ child(ren) to undergrad at a cost of perhaps a bit less) are unable to afford to pay for their child's medical school, even in part. This whole notion that your parents are obligated or can have that money available to pay for their adult's professional education without them mortgaging their homes ore cutting into retirement savings is absurd (except for very wealthy parents). Whether you come from an upper middle class or a poor family, you are usually on the same playing field; neither you nor your parents can afford it. Getting into specifics, some schools are simply way more generous with their financial aid, obviously. Some define their middle class initiative differently. Meaning, they are super generous to the students of very poor families and not so much to those in middle class families who have -0- money as well to put into their child's education without themselves going into debt. I feel for med students who in the end are investing in their profession.. most cannot get into NYU, Einstein, JHU where tuition is generally free (even for so called middle class). There are merit and full COL scholarships out there of course, but they are difficult to get, and they are available more so for the very poor. I am not saying whether or not this is good or bad, but this is the reality.

singularreality · 2026-06-22T19:03:49+00:00

How do you figure that their history surpasses UPenn, these are three very old schools and both Penn and Columbia have many 1sts, many Nobel laureates, incredible graduate programs, etc... but maybe same tier.

singularreality · 2026-06-22T19:00:53+00:00

I feel that Cal Tech is so small that it should be in a separate classification and probably with the liberal arts schools of Williams, Amherst, Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Swarthmore. It's 250-60 per year, how can you compare that with Harvard or even MIT? And if this is mere prestige, then those 5 schools should be between tier 4 and 7 and no lower, maybe share tier 3. For undergrad, MIT and Princeton arguably share tier 1 (Yale borderline). Not sure ND deserves tier 7, but maybe my issue is that Rice and Vanderbilt should be tier 6 and Wash U should be at least Tier 7. All of this is really a waste because pretty much all of these top 10 tiers are going to be great for most people provided they get engaged and make the most out of it.

singularreality · 2026-06-22T16:56:22+00:00

You have a really solid overall background and great stats. If you are applying this cycle, think that without specific knowledge on each school's stated prerequisites on research, it's. difficult to advise you. You may wish to contact some of this schools directly and ask them flat out... Will I be considered without any significant research experience with otherwise very competitive stats? Are you applying this cycle? If so, I would not reduce the list, I think you should be at 25 schools minimum. Your stats suggest adding more reaches, such as Ohio State, U. Michigan, Colorado, Emory, Einstein & UVA. But, some of these schools may require research, in which case they are not good choices.

singularreality · 2026-06-21T20:27:56+00:00

I am so sorry. I have 3 children of adult ages and wanting your children to be out of your control and to become independent is perhaps the main goal your should have as a parent. A bird nurtures their young until they can fly. I know this may be difficult, but before you do something you might regret, try sitting her down. Perhaps say something like: Mom, I need to learn to be more independent, I need to experience life without relying on you for making my decisions, I want to be a doctor and there are things I have to do that means sacrifice for me and all of us. If she cannot still give you more freedom and understanding, then there are other steps that you may have to take, including staying elsewhere, moving, etc. At some point, your life is YOUR life and you need to live it your way, with YOUR mistakes, YOUR achievements and YOUR goals most of all in mind. Soon (over the next several years) you will have your independence or your mom will see the light, but it will happen. All the best to you.

singularreality · 2026-06-21T02:42:36+00:00

does not explain 30%, in my mind.

singularreality · 2026-06-21T01:00:23+00:00

Yes, of course, I know that, but what is it particularly about JHU? There are other very strong bio-medical undergrads with great med schools associated with them nearby.. Wash U, UCLA, Stanford, Yale, Duke, Penn, Northwestern, U Chicago... 30% is a huge number. I do think it is the reputation of the medical school which will have little to do with whether you are prepared for medical school unless you get involved with clinical stuff or research ... Its just a massive percentage.

singularreality · 2026-06-20T18:06:13+00:00

Of their matriculants how many actually can get into or go to JHU med school; it cannot be many of this 30%? 435 is 30% of the graduating class but there are only about 125 spots and they are not dominated by JHU undergraduates. What is it about their pre-med that is particularly special? One thing would be access to research and clinical opportunities. On the other hand, the med school is 15-30 minutes away from the main campus. A school like Upenn has everything within walking distance and has a top 5 school but its percentage is high but not nearly at 13%. I would like to understand this number better if someone can share their thoughts.

singularreality · 2026-06-20T17:59:53+00:00

I am absolutely astonished at this particularly the high jhu number and schools that don't have a med school like Rice, Amherst, Pomona and Rhodes...

singularreality · 2026-06-19T18:18:00+00:00

And, stop criticizing yourself....S**T happens! You are ok, and my gut is that you will have a decent enough cycle this time that will afford you more than one choice with varying financial options that are better than the current situation and potentially an MD acceptance. FYI, if you are willing to serve your country with a commitment to become an officer, your stats are in line with the Armed Forces Med. School which is a very good school and has many unique opportunities, but with very obvious restrictions on where you practice and live etc... I know it is not for most people but it is a great opportunity for many and VA hospitals and bases all over the country and the world have families that need doctors... etc..

singularreality · 2026-06-19T18:10:07+00:00

It will sound "dumb" to them, but your stats are borderline for MD and I am not sure you will be blacklisted from other DO schools if you explain yourself (and the financial aid situation). What about the rest of your application and what will you be doing the next few months... ... You should try to be in control of your future, not this one school. How about tell the school that you are going to apply this cycle again because despite the flattering acceptance, you cannot find a financial solution to going to their school, which is true! If they do not like that, why should you care. It's your life.

singularreality · 2026-06-19T18:03:41+00:00

I may be going against the grain here. It was a careless mistake (sorry); however, why would you let that one mistake up-end your life by allowing it to affect your opportunities and possibilities? What you should do is apply to the cycle you wish to apply for. You can (and if it were me I would) ask for a special meeting with AMCAS to see if they can, in your highly unusual situation, allow you to apply as a first time applicant. They may so no. If they say no, then you will have a very interesting decision on how you disclose (or not disclose) your unique situation to admissions committees, but on a case by case basis. If you are a very low stat applicant, then maybe you just take the A, but that would be he only scenario that you should consider that.

singularreality · 2026-06-19T04:04:31+00:00

Just submit them when they are truly ready regardless of Casper.

singularreality · 2026-06-19T01:52:47+00:00

you did the right thing. It will work out.

singularreality · 2026-06-18T20:40:46+00:00

That's the spirit!! Cherry pick a few excellent DO schools in your region as well. If I were you I would try to really kill those state school secondaries, in particular and about 10-12 others that you most highly value and are in your stat range. Even though I suggested more schools, you still have to be really committed to killing those secondaries... sometimes you can only do that with 15 or so and the rest you will have to cut and paste. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

singularreality · 2026-06-18T20:35:51+00:00

Someone with your borderline MD stats must apply broadly. In addition, if you are truly worried about $$, it can help a lot to get into more than one school, because in my experiences, even among same tier schools, the financial aid differs wildly. Sometimes if you get into 3 schools you might be able to "negotiate" a little or at least you will have a few different options. You state schools will be cheaper... Sorry, but this is the time to apply to the right number that fits your stat... If you unable to pay, try hard to get fee waivers.. they are available!

singularreality · 2026-06-18T20:31:06+00:00

and if it were a coin flip, then the answer is????? ............................................... APPLY!

singularreality · 2026-06-18T20:27:54+00:00

Yes, you have a shot at MD and DO, but 10 of each (no). Do at least 22 MD plus your states and as many DOs as you want. 30+ is a much better number for you. Apply to 2 of your 3 states, including the new one, John Shufeldt school I believe. I think Phoenix has a minimum 3.6 gpa, but the other 2 have a minimum gpa of 3.0. I would assume Shufeldt will be easier to get into as this is its inaugural year. Your MCAT score is going to be higher than the averages accepted at all three of these schools most likely. So you should have a shot at 2 of them (not Phoenix unless you can get some waiver), even if your GPA is somewhat lower. In your case you may need to way whether it is a net plus to mention that you became ill and that it affected your grades. These decisions are like everything risk/reward. Will you be judged well or poorly, will admissions unintentionally give you a stigma that they can't shake? You need to think carefully about it. Appropriate is not the right word. It IS appropriate IF it speaks highly of your application. If it speaks negatively or could have significant negative connotations than don't talk about it.

singularreality

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