Am I doomed as an average OOS applicant?

[omegaz]

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I live in a small state with only one med school. I feel like this is the only school that I have a chance to be accepted. From MSAR, private schools also favor in-state students, though not as much as publics. My stats are average so I think even the private schools will favor in-state students over me. I think in order to be accepted as a OOS by even private schools, you need to be high above average in stats.

 

[Goro]

You are incorrect in your assumptions that OOS private schools favor the home team.

I live in a small state with only one med school. I feel like this is the only school that I have a chance to be accepted. From MSAR, private schools also favor in-state students, though not as much as publics. My stats are average so I think even the private schools will favor in-state students over me. I think in order to be accepted as a OOS by even private schools, you need to be high above average in stats.

 

[Keladry]

I live in a small state with only one med school. I feel like this is the only school that I have a chance to be accepted. From MSAR, private schools also favor in-state students, though not as much as publics. My stats are average so I think even the private schools will favor in-state students over me. I think in order to be accepted as a OOS by even private schools, you need to be high above average in stats.

It's possible that the MSAR appears to show in-state bias just because people in-state might be more likely to apply due to proximity to family etc. The applicant pool might be biased that way; that doesn't necessarily mean the school is.

 

[omegaz]

You are incorrect in your assumptions that OOS private schools favor the home team.

Not an assumption, based on interview rates from the 2015 msar, in state interview rate is higher than out of state rate for most private schools other than Harvard, Johns Hopkins...

 

[omegaz]

It's possible that the MSAR appears to show in-state bias just because people in-state might be more likely to apply due to proximity to family etc. The applicant pool might be biased that way; that doesn't necessarily mean the school is.

That doesn't explain the huge difference in acceptance rate as reported by the 2015 msar

 

[AlteredScale]

I live in a small state with only one med school. I feel like this is the only school that I have a chance to be accepted. From MSAR, private schools also favor in-state students, though not as much as publics. My stats are average so I think even the private schools will favor in-state students over me. I think in order to be accepted as a OOS by even private schools, you need to be high above average in stats.

From what I recall I believe there is no bias towards OOS unless you are in a regional area like the pacific northwest (UW and PNUCOM). Correct me if I'm wrong though!

 

[Lambda Phage]

Some medical schools seek to train physicians who will practice in the area surrounding the medical school, especially if the area is deemed 'underserved'. Oftentimes students from these areas are more likely to receive interviews and acceptances, thus boosting the in-state interview/acceptance numbers at private schools.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

That doesn't explain the huge difference in acceptance rate as reported by the 2015 msar

That's matriculation rate, not acceptance rate.

 

[zzxxzz]

That doesn't explain the huge difference in acceptance rate as reported by the 2015 msar

Matriculation* rate. Huge difference. People are more likely to apply to and choose schools in their home state, regardless of whether they're private or not.

 

[Keladry]

That's matriculation rate, not acceptance rate.

You took the words right out of my mouth. 🙂

 

[el_duderino]

That doesn't explain the huge difference in acceptance rate as reported by the 2015 msar

Self-selection bias. Don't worry about it.

 

[DokterMom]

Several reasons why privates matriculate more IS:

• More IS apply - known entity, comfort zone
  
• More IS interview - fewer II's turned down, cheap to attend, chance to visit family if at remote school
  
• Schools figure IS will be more likely to accept an offer, so higher % of offers made (yield management)
• More IS accept - comfort zone, be near family, etc.

 

[Low Flow]

Would help to know how "average" you are before anyone can say if you're doomed or not.

 

[Goro]

OK, you're doomed. What's your plan B?

Not an assumption, based on interview rates from the 2015 msar, in state interview rate is higher than out of state rate for most private schools other than Harvard, Johns Hopkins...

 

[605536]

OK, you're doomed. What's your plan B?

Caribbean? 😉

 

[Goro]

And the local schools are feeders for the local med schools.

Several reasons why privates matriculate more IS:

• More IS apply - known entity, comfort zone
  
• More IS interview - fewer II's turned down, cheap to attend, chance to visit family if at remote school
  
• Schools figure IS will be more likely to accept an offer, so higher % of offers made (yield management)
• More IS accept - comfort zone, be near family, etc.

 

[snowman.33]

Caribbean? 😉

Or Europe/Aussieland 😉

 

[zzxxzz]

As others have said, you're only "doomed" if you have a 20 MCAT, a 3.0, and haven't ever laid eyes on a patient before.

Provide more info.

 

[snowman.33]

As others have said, you're only "doomed" if you have a 20 MCAT, a 3.0, and haven't ever laid eyes on a patient before.

Provide more info.

And where are you planning to apply (or already have)?

 

[omegaz]

I am an average applicant. 3.6 GPA, 31 MCAT. 2 years research, average clinical experience, average EC.

I just graduated, and I plan to take two gap years so I'm applying next year.

 

[Lord Osis]

I am an average applicant. 3.6 GPA, 31 MCAT. 2 years research, average clinical experience, average EC.

I just graduated, and I plan to take two gap years so I'm applying next year.

While it's true that applying to med school is a demoralizing and almost scary process, I see no good reason for you to be daunted unless you have red flags that will result in an instakill of your application.
Let's assume your claim that you're just an average Joe the Premed is true. Do you then have non-average passion for medicine? Your answer to this question will change the quality of your app significantly. You are not doomed - yet.

 

[DokterMom]

I am an average applicant. 3.6 GPA, 31 MCAT. 2 years research, average clinical experience, average EC.

I just graduated, and I plan to take two gap years so I'm applying next year.

While you may not be able to do much to improve your GPA (truthfully, you don't have to) or MCAT (again, it's fine), there's a LOT you can do to improve your "average ECs".
If you do, you're certainly not doomed. Make this your number 1 priority, and come up with something interesting -- not the 'same ole same ole'