applying to toooo many schools

[dasubline]

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Hey guys I was wondering does it look bad if you apply to a lot of schools, I thought i read that the schools do get to see the other schools that you applied to. I have seen lot of people apply to 10-15 schools, and i know a big factor are stats, but I was wondering does it look bad with average stats?

 

[dasubline]

I have 3.75 gpa and a 3.65 sci-gpa , and have not taken the DAT (taking mid-July, trying to study my butt of I am sure I will not get above a 21, hopefully around a 19). I have lots of great dental and extracurricular acitivities, with 3 years research (national conference presentations and two publications pending). And I am looking at these schools and was wondering is this too many schools?? I know they are a lot of threads like this, but your advice will be my gold!!--again sorry I don't have my DAT scores in (mid-July).

NYU
Boston
Tufts
UPenn
UAB (alabama resident)
Nova
Louisville
USC
Case
Marquette
Buffalo
Creighton
Indiana
Michigan
VCU
Pitt

 

[doc1986]

This very similar to the thread I just started. Check it out.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=636727

 

[Shovon]

Hey guys I was wondering does it look bad if you apply to a lot of schools, I thought i read that the schools do get to see the other schools that you applied to. I have seen lot of people apply to 10-15 schools, and i know a big factor are stats, but I was wondering does it look bad with average stats?

I have also heard that applying to too many schools may look bad. Specifically, people feel that it shows you aren't sure about attending a specific school, but would be happy going anywhere. In my opinion, the only time this would hurt you is during the interview, when you may be asked "Why do you want to attend this school, what makes it stand out from the rest?" They may be inclined to ask you this if they see a laundry list of schools in your AADSAS.

However, my experience tells me it doesn't really matter how many you apply to. I applied to 15 schools at first, and didn't get accepted to any. That didn't work, so the next time around I applied to 30 schools. This time I was accepted to several (2 of which I hadn't previously applied to). My friend also applied to about 30 or so schools, and he got into his top choice (he is also a reapplicant like myself). Oddly enough, we're both going to be classmates.

 

[a1pha]

Listen, the only people who say applying to a lot of schools is detrimental are idiots and are trying to sabotage your application. 99% of the losers who claim to "know" admissions directors who look down upon such actions just wish your spot in the class was theirs. If any school gives you crap about applying to a lot of schools I would laugh at them. Applying to a lot of schools shows you care about the career you're pursuing. All 4 interviews I attended asked about school numbers and after saying I applied to 15 places, I still got into all of them.

Bottom line. Apply to every school you can really see yourself attending. The cost of applying to 20 schools is a lot less than a month of dental school. At the end of 4 years with loans, app costs will mean nothing.

 

[dasubline]

do you think my chances at other schools (private) are slimmer, because they see that I have a decent shot at my state school??

 

[somethinpositiv]

I have 3.75 gpa and a 3.65 sci-gpa , and have not taken the DAT (taking mid-July, trying to study my butt of I am sure I will not get above a 21, hopefully around a 19). I have lots of great dental and extracurricular acitivities, with 3 years research (national conference presentations and two publications pending). And I am looking at these schools and was wondering is this too many schools?? I know they are a lot of threads like this, but your advice will be my gold!!--again sorry I don't have my DAT scores in (mid-July).

NYU
Boston
Tufts
UPenn
UAB (alabama resident)
Nova
Louisville
USC
Case
Marquette
Buffalo
Creighton
Indiana
Michigan
VCU
Pitt

Your list of schools looks good; looks like you have done your research 😉
Your GPA is high, if you get at least a 19 like you say you will, 10 schools is fine.

If you want to narrow it down more, you can consider things like Location (Urban, Suburban, Rural), Region (Northeast, South, West, Midwest), Cost (Buffalo is one of the best values), Facilities, Reputation (do you care if it’s an Ivy League?), class size (NYU, Tufts, and USC have the largest classes), PBL curriculum (USC, Indiana, Case), research possibilities, possible religious undertones (Marquette, Creighton), racial diversity (Marquette is known for its lack thereof), proximity to home and family, safety of the area, ect. ect… Ultimately it is up to you to decide what factors are most important, and to choose your schools based on that.

 

[ak47]

had average or a little bit above average stats. i applied to 22 schools. got invited to 14 interviews...went to 9 of them...and accepted at 7.
only during 2 of my interviews was i asked how many schools i applied to or which ones or why. i said i'd rather be safe than sorry so i don't think it matters howmany you apply you....just dont apply to all 57 or whatever.

 

[dasubline]

thanks for the advice, yea i guess it does not hurt to apply to more, I just feel that if I apply at 4-7 schools and don't get into any, i would always think about that "one" school which i did not apply to that would have accepted me.......yet again I also am thinking about what will the admins think when they see a list of 14-16 schools. Will they think, "oh this kids gonna eventually get into other schools since he applied to 16, so why waste an acceptance offer on him"??? .....But it seems that applying to more is better, and admins are not really basing an applicants acceptance/rejection on the lists of schools that applicants have... i kinda feel like i am gambling....

 

[Vicviper]

23 schools here because I applied so late (November 17th), and I was asked it at one of my interviews, but I just named a few, in particular my state schools that are more or less expected that you'd apply to. I think with especially how competitive admissions has gotten, you should apply to at least 8-10 schools, just to be safe - but also be sure to do your research on those schools, don't go applying to 4 Texas schools if you're a CA resident.

 

[Chrono]

23 schools here because I applied so late (November 17th), and I was asked it at one of my interviews, but I just named a few, in particular my state schools that are more or less expected that you'd apply to. I think with especially how competitive admissions has gotten, you should apply to at least 8-10 schools, just to be safe - but also be sure to do your research on those schools, don't go applying to 4 Texas schools if you're a CA resident.

If asked on a secondary to list what schools we applied to...should we list them all? Or is question optional?

 

[Vicviper]

UNLV asked that one I think, I just filled in as many that would fit on the line, ended up being about 5. I really don't think they care too much about that.

 

[water88]

I'm applying to 17 schools. Basically, I just went through the list of schools and asked myself, "Would I ever go to this school?" If I said yes, I added it. Of course, I also took into account residency factors and cost, but it was more of just a gut feeling.

 

[WilsonJing]

I dont think u are applying to too many schools. Your stats is good. Why dont you think u are gonna get at least a 21? If you don't then what undergrad did u go to? Anyways, im sure you'll get in. Just act surprised when the acceptance comes.

A lot of people are relatively young when they apply and honestly as long as the school is decent academically and clinically would be happy to attend. Plus who at their mid 20s have really a good grasp of where they would like to live? I just wanted to get out of my parent's house.