Applying in SoCal sucks

If you’re not from the right area (UCDavis, UCR, CUSM), black (Drew), religious (Loma Linda), then you’re battling the cream of the crop in applicants at UCSF, Stanford, USC, UCLA, UCSD, UCI, Kaiser… with most being OOS friendly too it’s even worse. It’s like you’re predisposed to get rejected if you’re mid.

I feel like I’d be a solid applicant (513, 3.64, years of hands on clinical experience as a PTA and serving unhoused) in every other state but here I am, not fitting the molds. Maybe I’m just bitter but yea, as a nontrad with three kids and working full time, time is not on my side as I’m just now realizing how hard it really is to get into medical school