Are these schools actually interested in me?

[JLeBling]

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Lately I've been feeling super special because I'm getting e-mails from US schools asking me to put them "at the top of my list" during my application, "urging me to consider" them because their program is the best at this and that, or something else along those lines.

I even got this fancy golden letter package in the mail from Vanderbilt in Nashville with all these pretty pictures of the campus and all these statistics about how awesome they are. I got a little excited when I opened it.

Are these schools for real? Or do they send these to everybody, exploiting premeds' brittle egos in an attempt to collect as much application money as possible? Do I have a better chance at getting into a school that sends me these things? Should I be leery, or should I be cheery? Is this some sort of trick?

Sincerely

- Suspicious Premed

 

[Doctor Strange]

It's about the money.

 

[JLeBling]

It's about the money.

And I was so naive to think that medicine wasn't only about money loool

 

[Lucky Louie]

You must have scored really high in a recent MCAT. They buy those lists you know. But then, their marketing department is much too subtle for you to know that.

 

[Status Sciaticus]

Lately I've been feeling super special because I'm getting e-mails from US schools asking me to put them "at the top of my list" during my application, "urging me to consider" them because their program is the best at this and that, or something else along those lines.

I even got this fancy golden letter package in the mail from Vanderbilt in Nashville with all these pretty pictures of the campus and all these statistics about how awesome they are. I got a little excited when I opened it.

Are these schools for real? Or do they send these to everybody, exploiting premeds' brittle egos in an attempt to collect as much application money as possible? Do I have a better chance at getting into a school that sends me these things? Should I be leery, or should I be cheery? Is this some sort of trick?

Sincerely

- Suspicious Premed

I've received the golden foil letter from Vandy, one from Brown, one from Mich, SLU, and 3-4 others. Its pointless.

 

[yehhhboiii]

got a few of those including one from the university of rochester
i sent them an application, they didn't interview me

 

[Status Sciaticus]

got a few of those including one from the university of rochester
i sent them an application, they didn't interview me

 

[LizzyM]

It is not just the money. It is the prestige that goes with having a large number of applications and a small proportion of accepted applicants. It is also the pressure by the accrediting body to enroll a diverse student body which means reaching out to people who might not otherwise apply but who could succeed at that school.

 

[Omppu27]

It's about the money.

👍

 

[Status Sciaticus]

It is not just the money. It is the prestige that goes with having a large number of applications and a small proportion of accepted applicants. It is also the pressure by the accrediting body to enroll a diverse student body which means reaching out to people who might not otherwise apply but who could succeed at that school.

But i bet they're not complaining about getting it now are they?

 

[JLeBling]

I've received the golden foil letter from Vandy, one from Brown, one from Mich, SLU, and 3-4 others. Its pointless.

Nice... That's more than I got I think...

But how do you know if it's pointless? Have you applied to any of those schools yet an gotten accepted or rejected?

I think I'm gonna call them and see what the jig is all about.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Nice... That's more than I got I think...

But how do you know if it's pointless? Have you applied to any of those schools yet an gotten accepted or rejected?

I think I'm gonna call them and see what the jig is all about.

Yeah... Don't do that...

 

[milski]

All they know about me is my MCAT score (AMCAS still not verified), yet they sent me the emails. That's not enough information for anything but a general solicitation. I would not use receiving such an email as an indicator for anything but having an MCAT>N.

 

[LizzyM]

But i bet they're not complaining about getting it now are they?

In some cases the application fee goes to a central university pocket and the med school admissions office has to write a budget and get it approved by central administration. So, it isn't as if more applications automatically equals more money for the admissions office.

But if they have more applications year after year they can get more resources from central administration -- although sometimes it may be easier to get blood from a turnip.

 

[SilentSoldier]

Yeah... Don't do that...

I disagree, if you are generally interested in any of the schools that send you something through mail, I don't think its a bad idea to follow up on them. Like I've said in every one of these types of threads, following up could lead to one learning more about the school, getting into contact with the schools diversity office, and finding out that the school could be a good fit. I did the same thing during my last app, and it ended up with an interview to a school i was OOS for. Who knows what might happen.

 

[Dr Huxtable]

Lately I've been feeling super special because I'm getting e-mails from US schools asking me to put them "at the top of my list" during my application, "urging me to consider" them because their program is the best at this and that, or something else along those lines.

I even got this fancy golden letter package in the mail from Vanderbilt in Nashville with all these pretty pictures of the campus and all these statistics about how awesome they are. I got a little excited when I opened it.

Are these schools for real? Or do they send these to everybody, exploiting premeds' brittle egos in an attempt to collect as much application money as possible? Do I have a better chance at getting into a school that sends me these things? Should I be leery, or should I be cheery? Is this some sort of trick?

Sincerely

- Suspicious Premed

Although I do agree that most schools are most likely looking for extra money, I don't think its always the case. Case in point, I have received some letters as well,but one school in particular went as far as actually waiving my secondary application fee so that I would apply. Ultimately,if you're interested in applying to the school and they say they have accepted applicants with your MCAT score before I say give it a shot (depending on your financial status, of course).

 

[askamsky51]

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