Applying to 10+ schools?

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  1. Pharmacy Student
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Who else out there has or plans on applying to 10 or more schools? and what are your stats? I have no idea how competitive I am as an applicant so I've been mad applying to so many schools. I think I'm at 9 already, ha ha already lost count, and still have quite a few more that are on my list. Anyone else in a similar situation? Does it hurt my chances that I'm applying to so many schools? The schools I apply to can't tell on PharmCAS right?
 
im applying to 8 and so far have received 3 interviews so i dont think it will hurt your chances at all if anything it will improve them
 
I applied to about 16 schools and received 7 interviews... but canceled some of them because I got accepted at a school that I wanted to go to...
 
I actually applied to 9 schools, and was offered 7 interviews thus far. 1 of the last 2 schools doesn't even start interviews until January, so I'm hoping to go 8 for 9 🙂... I'd definitely say the more schools you apply to, the better the chance for interviews! Good luck!
 
Thanks for the replies! Now I don't feel so crazy for applying to sooo many schools. I think my final number will be 15 or thereabouts.
 
I applied to around 13 and only ended up completing the supplementals for about half of them and ignored the rest. Interviews and acceptances come and go, and you come to ask yourself if you really want to fill out extra information and essays just so you can spend money on an interview. How about, no.
 
I applied to about 12 schools (I think)...ha ha lost track....! 😀 I want to make sure I get in this year because I am a non-traditional student and I am not as young as most starting the pharmacy program! I also would like to obtain a PhD in addition to my PharmD....so the earlier I get started the better!!! 😀
 
I applied to 14 so far and only got one interview. I have not finished all my supple application for the rest. I left 4 out and maybe spent money on them later. I spent so much money on applying and only got one interview.
 
One interview and one offer of acceptance is all you need.
 
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I feel like 11 is a lot, I applied to 5. Two new programs, three schools that are about my range in stats, and 2 "reach" schools that I'd like to go to but I'm on the lower end of their GPA statistics.

11 schools x $40 on PharmCAS + (11 x $50/per school supplemental avg) = ~$1k alone on applications. Count in postage, time to answer questions, interview travel expenses, etc... that's a lot.

Just apply to schools you know you want to go to, that's what I did, and that number probably won't be 10+.
 
I'm only applying to 3... now you have me worried it's not enough. I can't afford to apply to much more than that!
 
I applied to 8 and that was a lot to me already. It was a lot of time and money, so I can't imagine the cost for 10 plus schools. I have a few classmates that are applying to ~25 schools. Crazy!
 
Applied to 7. 4-5 I think I am competitive for and 2-3 where I would LOVE to go.


No interveiws yet, PharmCAS mailed my app to them on 11-12 and then just two days ago my revised app (October PCAT), so I I feel like it might be a while before I hear anything.
 
I applied to 8 and that was a lot to me already. It was a lot of time and money, so I can't imagine the cost for 10 plus schools. I have a few classmates that are applying to ~25 schools. Crazy!
 
10 is like the minimum for pre-allo students, though. All my friends applied to at least 10 of those. Pharm, dental, and opto are easier to get into, hence fewer number of schools you need to apply to IMO.
 
you'll have better chances if you "complete" your application
early.. they wont even look at incomplete applications..
i.e. they'll wait until your october pcat score is submitted
to count it as complete, and thats pretty late.. especially
with rolling admission, mercer for example, the earlier u apply
the less competition you'll face..
 
For pharmacy, it seemed like the average number of applications was to 3-5 schools.
 
AngelaCL said:
I'm only applying to 3... now you have me worried it's not enough. I can't afford to apply to much more than that!
Click to expand...

I only applied to two last year and got in to both..... it's possible.
 
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i applied 4 last year and failed.
so i applied 16 this year, so far had 3 interviews one offer, 2 more interviews invites. 😀
 
haha, i think the # of schools someone applies to is directly proportional to their confidence in getting in.
 
confettiflyer said:
haha, i think the # of schools someone applies to is directly proportional to their confidence in getting in.
Click to expand...
that sounds about right...i've applied to 11 schools, i have 8 interviews yet i'm still VERY unconfident about getting in somewhere
 
pReShuZanGL said:
48.... only done with 25 so far though.... yes i'm crazy
Click to expand...

Wow.... talk about sending a screaming message in neon capital letters: "Hey AdCom! I'm clueless. I have no idea where I want to be or where I want to go. I am either incapable or unwilling to do even a modicum of research. Please take me by the hand and lead me."

Although I'm not sure that sending out 10+ applications is much better than that. I believe there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to applying; that is, at some point, adcoms are going to decide that an applicant sending in X number of applications really isn't a strong candidate.

Do your research. Narrow your choices down to a reasonable number (I'd say no more than 5 choices, 6 tops). Concentrate all your available time, effort and resources into making those applications strong, and when two or tree select you for interview, blow them away.

No candidate who applies to that many schools is going to convince me they're unique, special, and a good fit for my school or program.
 
she's lying, only an idiot with a trust fund would apply to 48 schools
 
who cares.....if she wants to apply to 48 schools then good for her. If she gets in to a single school then by all means cool....at least she can say she got in to somewhere.
 
I guess the more darts you throw, the better chance you have at hitting the bullseye...

I only applied to 2, so there will likely be no bullseye for me this year. but I'm ok with it. 🙂
 
for sure....if you got bank to apply to 100 schools and are able to finish the supplementals then why not....go for it. Whatever improves your chances.
 
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PointBreak said:
for sure....if you got bank to apply to 100 schools and are able to finish the supplementals then why not....go for it. Whatever improves your chances.
Click to expand...

I agree with eelo, there comes a point of diminishing returns with the number of applications. 😛
 
but as long as you get into one then that's all that matters.
 
confettiflyer said:
she's lying, only an idiot with a trust fund would apply to 48 schools
Click to expand...

I agree she is maybe rich and wealthy,but than again maybe her stats sucks big time to apply for so many schools.
 
wow..didnt know my post would cause so much controversy..
and sorry to burst your bubbles, but i AM unique and worthy of pharmacy.. more than you know.. i just think that the more places i apply, the more chances i have of getting in.. what's wrong with that? if you don't want to apply to that many, then good for you.. but i DO, so i will... geeez people.. and if you really need to know.. u can PM me about my stats 😎
 
PointBreak said:
who cares.....if she wants to apply to 48 schools then good for her. If she gets in to a single school then by all means cool....at least she can say she got in to somewhere.
Click to expand...


thank you i like you haha
 
I feel like I was very stupid about the way I applied. I think I applied to like 8-9 schools but a bunch of them I did not want to go to, I was just scared I wouldn't get in anywhere, but the fact is if I had gotten into those few I wouldn't go anyway! I should have been honest with myself regarding how far I'd go away from home..(and 6-9 hrs away is not happening)

I think if you have extra money lying around, and you're willing to go anywhere that you get accepted, what's the use of limiting yourself? 😉
 
AtomicLuv said:
I feel like I was very stupid about the way I applied. I think I applied to like 8-9 schools but a bunch of them I did not want to go to, I was just scared I wouldn't get in anywhere, but the fact is if I had gotten into those few I wouldn't go anyway! I should have been honest with myself regarding how far I'd go away from home..(and 6-9 hrs away is not happening)

I think if you have extra money lying around, and you're willing to go anywhere that you get accepted, what's the use of limiting yourself? 😉
Click to expand...


THANK YOU atomicluv.. i'm the kind of person that can adapt and adjust no matter how far i am from home.. so no place is a problem for me.. i mean i've moved about 8 times in my life! and my parents wanted me to apply to all 100 schools. but THAT would be crazy, so i did do my research and applied to the ones i could see myself going to.. thanks for understanding!
 
Bump
 
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applying to that many schools is stupid, cheers!
 
well if being stupid gets me into pharmacy school....then woot woot!
 
PointBreak said:
well if being stupid gets me into pharmacy school....then woot woot!
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Just a personal opinion, that's all. Everyone should do what feels right to them.
 
not applying to that many pharmacy schools is stupid....well thats just my opinion 👍
 
It seems like your stats would either make it that pretty much none of the schools want you, or you will have lots and lots of acceptances, and then how do you make your choice from there? I don't think the schools are going to have that different criteria, that applying to 48 is any better than applying to 10. But maybe I'm just jealous you have that kind of money. I applied to 3, 2 of which I am pretty confident that I have a great chance of getting in. The other one is my dream school.
 
of course a person applying to 48 schools has a better shot of getting into pharmacy school then only applying to 10 schools. Different schools look at different criteria. I mean how do you explain the fact that some people with a 2.8 or a 2.9 get into a cali school like USC and then get rejected by new mexico or all those people who have really good grades and applied to UOP and have been waitlisted. It's like the lottery, the more tickets you buy the better chance you have of winning. You're not certain to win but your odds increase. If you have the money to apply to 48 schools then by all means do it...that's the more shots you have at getting interviews. I'm sure there are people out there who are really confident and applied to only 3-5 schools. That's great...big ups to ya but i know some of you won't get in and wish you applied to more schools. That's just the way it is these days...everyone wants to do pharmacy and nothing is certain. But there are a lot of people out there who have mediocre grades and just want a chance of getting in and if they have to apply to 1000 schools then go for it.
 
I wouldn't want to settle for a school that I didn't want to go to just to be in pharmacy school. That's me. There's also a lot of time expended on applications, traveling, and yada yada. So I think 5 - 6 schools sounds reasonable, unless you or your family is loaded. But if that's the case, why not buy your way into school. :idea: I read somewhere (on this forum) that Touro accepts bribes (so don't hold me accountable for this info). There would be much less time and energy wasted.
 
for me, it doesn't really matter what school i go to.. i mean yes, some locations are prettier than others and the weather is different, but at the end of the day, it's a pharmacy school and it shouldn't matter where you go as long as you have the determination and heart to succeed in your career. you should be able to adapt to a lot of different places and circumstances, and i can do that. when we're all pharmacists, you will rarely be judged upon what pharmacy school you went to. the important thing is to get that education and play a crucial role in the healthcare community.

.. but that's just my opinion 😎
 
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