Applying to only 4 schools?

[Bostonienses]

I'm going on FitnessModelMD's bandwagon here and ask the opposite question (sort of): What do med schools think if they see that you only applied to four schools? Do they care at all?

The reason why I am asking is because I need/want to stay in MA, and as you all might know, there are only 4 medical schools here.

I know about the risks of not being accepted, not liking the schools, etc. I just want to know if medical schools care at all, or if they regard someone applying to 25 schools vs 4 schools the same. Thanks!

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[DW]

Well, ostensibly, medical schools arent supposed to know how many schools you're applying too. By aamc doctrine, information on how many schools you're accepted too only gets released after may 15th, the day you have to pick between multiple acceptances. Occasionally I was asked how many schools I applied to at interviews, and I was honest about it, and it didnt hurt me in the long run.

I dont know if any collusion is going on in ths process, but my friends applying MSTP insist those programs are actively talking to each other. I dont know if anything like that occurs with MD admissions, but since we're dealing with a much less concerted applicant pool I highly doubt it. I dont really see how the number of schools you apply to will have any significant impact of how a school views you as an applicant if they even get that information. The crucial thing is convincing the schools as to why you would want to come to X school, if its one of among 4 or 40 schools you applied to.

That said, I'm sure you realize applying to 4 schools is well below the average number of schools applied to. If anything, the concern I think would be on your side, not the adcoms side.

good luck 🙂

 

[Bostonienses]

Thanks, DW.
I realise that four schools is well below average, but honestly, I would be miserable if I could not stay here with my husband. Rest assured, I am working really hard and hopefully it will show...
Thanks again for the info and input.

 

[FitnessModelMD]

i think the consensus is that if applying to many schools is a negative in the eyes of adcoms and conversely if applying to few schools is a positive in the eyes of adcoms, then in either case, it is a VERY MINOR negative or positive and more than likely has little to no bearing on your overall rejection/accpetance.

to be on the safe side, i think it is in your benefit to apply to as many schools that you realistically would be willing to go to if they accept you or at least ask for an interview willing to travel to.

another factor is applying to schools that you have a reasonable chance of possibly getting in, in other words, if you have a
3.0 gpa/28 Mcat, no clinical experience and never done anything fun or extraordinary in your life, never traveled,no research under your belt and are out-of-state, then you probably shouldnt waste money on applying to Harvard or Yale Medical School.

 

[edfig99]

Originally posted by Bostonienses
I'm going on FitnessModelMD's bandwagon here and ask the opposite question (sort of): What do med schools think if they see that you only applied to four schools? Do they care at all?

The reason why I am asking is because I need/want to stay in MA, and as you all might know, there are only 4 medical schools here.

I know about the risks of not being accepted, not liking the schools, etc. I just want to know if medical schools care at all, or if they regard someone applying to 25 schools vs 4 schools the same. Thanks!

med schools don't know where you apply to unless you tell them, or after you are accepted. Basically if you only want to be in MA, then let your four interviewers know that point blank...though you probably should also throw Brown into your mix since Providence, RI isn't that far from Boston or Worcester. 4 schools or 25, the schools don't care. what they may care about is if you are a really competitive applicant, what schools, as it may dictate how hard they try to court you.


it's always a tough decision, i.e. "how many schools". Basically go by your gut. this year was a good year for med school apps, with almost 1:2 spots:applicants - meaning if you want to stay in MA, chances are you will.

good luck.

 

[dumbest premed]

If you want to stay in Massachusetts that badly, you should consider an early decision program for one of those 4 schools in the state. With this path, you get all of your applications into the school that you're interested in early, get an interview if they choose to grant you one, and you're guaranteed a decision by October 15(I think that's the date). In the event that you don't get accepted, you can apply to other schools after you get informed of the decision. If you think your GPA and MCAT are strong enough and are confident about the interview...it may be worth a shot. I'm pretty sure that at least one of the MA schools have such a program....you should look into it.

Good Luck.

 

[sperry]

I spoke with an adcom member at Temple last summer in an informal chat. I told him I was planning on applying only to Philly area schools and he responded negatively. His point of view was that as an applicant, I would somehow be seen as having a closed mind - not open to other options and inflexible.

I took this with a grain of salt (actually a whole salt lick) b/c he acknowledged that the only way schools really know is if they ask you during the interview. He also kinda, sorta suggested that I may want to fabricate an answer if that should happen. 😛 If an interviewer is crass enough to ask about other schools - you can always answer vaguely..."applying to a number, focusing on area schools to stay near hubby"...or something of that nature.

I only applied to 6 schools this time b/c I wanted to stay w/my partner and I was hedging my bets - I knew that my best chances lay in my local schools (not the first time I've gone through this process). It don't think it affected me negatively - only one school asked point blank about the other schools I've applied to. As long as you're willing to risk rejection over staying local - I don't think there's a problem only applying to 4. I think it depends on the individual reviewing you - and that could go either way....

*btw - love your avatar!!!*

 

[MD-2007-Gal]

Schools do not know how the number of schools where you have applied, unless you tell them. I second the idea of maybe doing an EDP program if you must stay in MA. I've heard several stories of people who must stay in the area where they currently live for medical school, almost always because it would be too difficult for a spouse and children to pick up and move. I met several people at NJMS and RWJ who knew they would have to stay in NJ, so they only applied to those 2 schools. Good luck!