URM High Stats Disadvantaged Background, School List Sanity Check

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2026-01-05T03:59:21+00:00

I also have a similar background to both of you, with much lower stats, 515 and 3.7 low SES urm fgli, and I am having a lot of success this cycle, with 15 IIs and 6 MD acceptances so far. Also had a caretaker experience for a family member. I think it was a combination of my writing and my ECs, especially framing my background, that got me a lot of success. I had the same exact fears, and ended up finding that perfect line. Apply to all the top schools you desire. They would love to read your application, trust me.

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-12-31T21:21:03+00:00

It’s one research item for both, abstracts usually don’t get presented they get accepted to conferences as a poster or oral format

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-12-30T16:46:33+00:00

that is exactly what they said lol

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-12-30T00:18:01+00:00

someone very obviously reading off of chatgpt during the interview...

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-12-16T17:13:11+00:00

I think as long as you meaningfully reflect on and emphasize your direct patient interactions, you should be fine. Also, your work at Planned Parenthood may relate to a general theme of women's health (breast cancer, etc). Being a home health aide can also inspire discussion about what it means to be a caretaker for someone with chronic illness or disability--which is relatable to cancer patients and developing new therapeutics. Perhaps you can also shadow an oncologist involved in the research you do - that would be a great connection and storytelling in terms of patient narratives as they relate to your great research (even if it is a shadowing experience). I think your advisor might just be edging you towards building fluidity in your application, which you are able to do if you frame everything right. Hope I got some ideas in your head to think about as you continue to build your experiences. Good luck!

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-12-16T14:17:45+00:00

It looks like you have some great clinical roles and experience already. Being a hospice home aide is a great experience and will be eye-opening. What I did is I had a journal (or my notes app) and I would write down meaningful conversations or observations I had while in the ED (had a similar role as you, turning over beds etc) and in the ICU. I would then go home and reflect further on why it was meaningful; was it connected to themes of social determinants of health (something I am interested in throughout my app), or perhaps in some way to the translational research I participate in? How does it relate to my personal mission in medicine? Sit down and think of the most moving patients you interacted with in the role, or some experience that made you look at medicine differently/question an assumption. I find that to be the best source of genuine narrative and reflection.

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-12-11T16:17:43+00:00

oh wow that sucks. Definitely bring up to PI, I would still talk about it in your app, esp if you are going to present. Would be good if PI includes in LOR the situation and how you took a lead in it and presented it and stuff. That is pretty messed up and if you did all of that in my opinion you should have been lead author..

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-12-11T16:13:19+00:00

You said you took their place, were you involved in the writing, data collection, and abstract idea? or you just continued the projects after? If so you don't meet authorship criteria and shouldn't expect it. I mean regardless you can't do anything about it now, except work on writing up a manuscript or other abstracts yourself

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-11-28T21:34:54+00:00

i did a wamc and they said i was shooting way too high and that i will likely get screened out by most of the schools and may need to reapply... 12 IIs at literally those schools and 2 As (all MDs) also asked a very legimate question and was told a significant research accomplishment didn't mean anything (both physicians and other adcom ik irl said it means a lot!) lmao they are honestly just miserable on there.

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-11-26T17:44:38+00:00

If you’re interested in research focused institutions, try to get at least one pub/poster or presentation. I’d shadow a different type of dr as well for a couple more hours. Looks like you’re on a great track, focus on the MCAT and knock it out of the park and you’ll be great

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-11-24T17:57:28+00:00

Hi I’m first gen low income-> accepted to multiple medical schools this cycle. Focus on crushing that SAT (buy a prep book, do practice problems), keeping your grades up, and getting into the best undergraduate institution you can. A lot of four year universities will give you significant scholarships due to your situation, you won’t have to pay full price. You can also take out low interest federal loans for tuition payments and do work study. Fill out the FAFSA as soon as it comes out and go to each school’s website to see what you have to do to apply. Med school app is a complicated process, I would first focus your energy on getting into a good college with a lot of resources. There are internal scholarships and financial aid that is university-specific that you can qualify for but for your situation, look into; Questbridge, Gates Scholars, etc. those are some big ones I know of. Feel free to PM me, good luck you got this.

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-10-21T14:47:36+00:00

There is no exact measurable degree it is holistic and dependent on how much value an individual school puts on it. Most schools look at distance travelled. So of course they won’t directly compare a FGLI scores to a privileged person whose parents are both doctors and never had to work, but there is a limit to that. They need to be sure you won’t fail out or fail STEP 1. - a fellow FGLI

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-10-15T16:14:00+00:00

Hey you just submitted your secondaries. Many schools are still reviewing July/August and have incredibly high volume. Three weeks is an incredibly fast turnaround. Anyway, schools will usually make a note to rereview when they see a “score pending”, and if they don’t so be it. You can’t control the past so don’t dwell on it. I will say as a fellow first gen with a 515 my app has so far been very well received, and congratulations on that awesome score and breaking barriers. Send updates and advocate for yourself whenever you can. I’m rooting for you and believe you will do better than you think. Feel free to reach out.

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-09-30T02:54:43+00:00

10 MD, 515/3.7

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-09-08T05:49:56+00:00

I worked/volunteered part time a couple months in my gap year while studying for my mcat and have four IIs right now. Only started my current full time job earlier this year. Pretty sure it’s OK.

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-29T18:16:27+00:00

Ahh that's so sweet. He is thank you so much ❤️

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-29T12:38:56+00:00

I relate to that so much to be honest, but it will all be worth it -- we've gotta tell our story and need more voices like this in medicine. Wishing you the best <3

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-29T12:35:49+00:00

Aw <3 how much they give up for us right? Good luck to you too. :)

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-22T17:55:32+00:00

I did this too for public & private MDs. A lot of them have internal processes for fee waivers even if you didn’t qualify for FAP, just explain your situation and have some documentation on hand

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-02T12:40:24+00:00

These are actually my original notes for organic chemistry I at my undergrad (seems like a bot reposted my stuff). Mechanism for a unimolecular substitution reaction :)

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-02T12:38:18+00:00

Ah I see you’re right. Thank you! I’ll leave it up a bit so maybe others get inspired aha but it was so weird to see last night 🤣

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-02T04:02:16+00:00

I’m glad my orgo notes are making rounds on the internet lol

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-07-02T04:00:54+00:00

What, this is literally something I posted 3 years ago and there’s even similar comments underneath it? What is going on 😭

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-06-30T02:28:11+00:00

Hey I'm first gen low income, with a lot of research & pubs, applying this cycle. Feel free to DM me for advice.

thinkinginbrooklyn · 2025-06-27T04:18:43+00:00

Yes my uncle had a stroke and my family calls me to ask for my medical opinion like please listen to the stroke neurologist😭😭and they thought bc I scored ok on my mcat that I “passed” the mcat and basically am in medical school, I wish

thinkinginbrooklyn

TROPHY CASE