Applying to spouse's school

[Lurker123456789]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I will be applying to the medical school my spouse currently attends. I am slightly below their average matriculant GPA but above their MCAT average with strong EC's. Will my spouse attending there have any benefit for my application or will they not care and look at me like any other applicant?

 

[Doctor Strange]

It may have a positive influence, but it also may not. It depends on the school.

 

[Lurker123456789]

It may have a positive influence, but it also may not. It depends on the school.

Do you know if it makes a difference at Jefferson?

 

[Doctor Strange]

Do you know if it makes a difference at Jefferson?

It will probably make a difference.

 

[Lurker123456789]

It will probably make a difference.

His school is in Philly, that is why I asked by the way haha

 

[ciestar]

His school is in Philly, that is why I asked by the way haha

You're fortunate in that Philly also has 5 med schools.

 

[Dr.Kat]

You're fortunate in that Philly also has 5 med schools.

as literally just gonna say that! and @Lurker123456789, it even might be beneficial to attend different schools so you have some independence and don't drive each other nuts.

 

[Lurker123456789]

You're fortunate in that Philly also has 5 med schools.

Do you think other Philly schools would care? So say he goes to Jeff, would Temple care that he is here (I'd mention it in the secondary or an email or something I guess) and give my app a bump cause they know I'd be more likely to go there over any other random school I apply to?

 

[DrfluffyMD]

Do you think other Philly schools would care? So say he goes to Jeff, would Temple care that he is here (I'd mention it in the secondary or an email or something I guess) and give my app a bump cause they know I'd be more likely to go there over any other random school I apply to?

They care

 

[LizzyM]

One thing that schools might think about when issuing interview invitations is whether they are wasting their time with an applicant who would matriculate elsewhere if given an alternative. In other words, is this applicant "low yield"? An applicant who has a spouse tied down in the area will be more likely to matriculate if admitted than someone who has a spouse in another city or one who is has no geographic preference. So, in that regard, a school may care. That said, schools in Philly other than the one your spouse attends may believe that you are relatively lower yield because you would choose your spouse's school over their school.

Another consideration is whether members of the adcom know your spouse and think your spouse is a good student/citizen. If so, there may be a halo effect that you can benefit from.

 

[Lurker123456789]

One thing that schools might think about when issuing interview invitations is whether they are wasting their time with an applicant who would matriculate elsewhere if given an alternative. In other words, is this applicant "low yield"? An applicant who has a spouse tied down in the area will be more likely to matriculate if admitted than someone who has a spouse in another city or one who is has no geographic preference. So, in that regard, a school may care. That said, schools in Philly other than the one your spouse attends may believe that you are relatively lower yield because you would choose your spouse's school over their school.

Another consideration is whether members of the adcom know your spouse and think your spouse is a good student/citizen. If so, there may be a halo effect that you can benefit from.

Interesting. Would it be unethical to somehow mention that he cannot leave the city without saying he goes to one of the other schools in town? Especially since I would rather attend a school other than the one he goes to for reasons mentioned by another poster above?

 

[LizzyM]

Interesting. Would it be unethical to somehow mention that he cannot leave the city without saying he goes to one of the other schools in town? Especially since I would rather attend a school other than the one he goes to for reasons mentioned by another poster above?

There is nothing wrong with saying "My spouse and I have put down roots here and expect to make ___ our home for the foreseeable future." Are you applying only to Philly schools? Have you considered the possibility of a long distance relationship for at least 2-3 years?

 

[DokterMom]

There is nothing wrong with saying "My spouse and I have put down roots here and expect to make ___ our home for the foreseeable future." Are you applying only to Philly schools? Have you considered the possibility of a long distance relationship for at least 2-3 years?

Please do not make the mistake of applying this year to a school you would not want to attend this cycle. Just imagine what would happen if you were accepted MD in Florida but hadn't applied to Philly-area DO schools...

 

[JB50]

Please do not make the mistake of applying this year to a school you would not want to attend this cycle. Just imagine what would happen if you were accepted MD in Florida but hadn't applied to Philly-area DO schools...

R u in fam med?

 

[Lurker123456789]

There is nothing wrong with saying "My spouse and I have put down roots here and expect to make ___ our home for the foreseeable future." Are you applying only to Philly schools? Have you considered the possibility of a long distance relationship for at least 2-3 years?

Yeah we have. Fortunately there are a lot of schools within a 4 hour drive so I will be applying to all of them plus a couple from our home state. What I am more concerned about is that he will be two years ahead of me and we won't be able to couples match. He has talked about taking two research years because his financial situation would allow him to take time off and he wants to do a very competitive specialty anyways but I don't know if that is a great idea.

 

[LizzyM]

Yeah we have. Fortunately there are a lot of schools within a 4 hour drive so I will be applying to all of them plus a couple from our home state. What I am more concerned about is that he will be two years ahead of me and we won't be able to couples match. He has talked about taking two research years because his financial situation would allow him to take time off and he wants to do a very competitive specialty anyways but I don't know if that is a great idea.

Cross that bridge when you come to it. Sometime, but rarely, you can make a case for transferring to another school after 2nd year. Sometimes a school will be open to this if your spouse if doing a residency there. There is also the possibility that you could do away rotations in your 4th year.

 

[Jalby]

Jefferson has a early decision program. you absolutely should do this. They get a huge step up. The people who did this at USC med school back in my day all got in. 5/5 and all with grades that were slightly below normal.

 

[aspiringmd94]

Realistically, I think they probably don't consider it unless they offer you an interview based on your own credentials first. Then, if it comes up at the interview as a reason that you are specifically interested in that school, then at THAT point I think it would be a huge benefit for you. (At least I think this is what happened with my boyfriend and I when we both got in the same school).

All that said, it's still probably worth mentioning in your secondary apps that you have ties to the city for that reason, or in an update letter if the secondary letters don't lend themselves to including it.

 

[Phrasing]

What if you replaced spouse with boyfriend? We live together and would be getting married but, because of educational expenses, cannot afford it right now.

 

[LizzyM]

What if you replaced spouse with boyfriend? We live together and would be getting married but, because of educational expenses, cannot afford it right now.

Boyfriends come and go... not as compelling as spouse. You could use the term "partner" which suggests more permanence than "boyfriend". "Significant other" is another good term.

 

[md-2020]

n=1, my school outright did not offer fiance an interview despite our joint appeal but the only other school in town (thats also quite selective) admitted her with slightly lower stats. Don't hesitate to tell local schools your desire to matriculate even prior to the interview, as it should be helpful more often than not (i.e. them worrying you will choose spouse's actual school over them).