Can a school limit how many programs you apply to

[kellyk12]

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Hi I just found out that my university only allows me to apply to a limited number of medical schools (25). Is this common? Is there anyway around this, or do I need to go through my university to apply.

 

[TheBiologist]

uh, I don't see how an undergrad could control how many med schools you apply to - can you elaborate? do you mean to say that they will only send a committee letter to 25 schools?

you definitely do not go "through your university" to apply - you apply through AMCAS for MD schools and AACOM for DO

 

[Spectar]

This seems obsured and most likely illegal. Just tell your university to send your letters to amcas and then add as many schools as you want.

 

[Goro]

Hi I just found out that my university only allows me to apply to a limited number of medical schools (25). Is this common? Is there anyway around this, or do I need to go through my university to apply.

Are you talking about your school's pre-med committee? This doesn't make sense because they send the LOR to either AMCAS or interfolio. They don't send out n LORs...just one master into a portal for mass distribution.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

They literally can’t do that... there isn’t a way for them to control it

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

Unfortunately, they can. If a school requires an applicant to sign an agreement in order to be considered for a committee letter, they can essentially list any requirements they want. They cant force you to agree but then they dont have to offer you a letter. And if you try to get around it, and the committee finds out, they can send an updated letter with an IA for violating the agreement.

Schools did this for two reasons. The one they tell you is to make sure that you arent spreading yourself too thin, applying to schools way above or below your range, and similar. The one they dont tell is they do this for their benefit and reputation by only endorsing highly competitive candidates.

With AMCAS having centralized letters for both committee and individual, premed committees that still have this dated policy, would have trouble enforcing it. But be careful

Would this is an adequate reason to not use committee letters?

 

[Welshman]

If you do plan to ignore their rule, I think I recall a section where AMCAS asks you to release info to your pre-med advisor, I would not check that box.

Also, 25 schools is a good number. If anything start out with 25, complete all of their secondaries and then see how you feel after that. If you finish by early August you wont be behind in adding a few more. Just make sure your 25 is a solid list on its own

 

[kellyk12]

Hi im referring to committee letters, sry if that caused confusion.

 

[Lawpy]

Unfortunately, they can. If a school requires an applicant to sign an agreement in order to be considered for a committee letter, they can essentially list any requirements they want. They cant force you to agree but then they dont have to offer you a letter. And if you try to get around it, and the committee finds out, they can send an updated letter with an IA for violating the agreement.

Schools did this for two reasons. The one they tell you is to make sure that you arent spreading yourself too thin, applying to schools way above or below your range, and similar. The one they dont tell is they do this for their benefit and reputation by only endorsing highly competitive candidates.

With AMCAS having centralized letters for both committee and individual, premed committees that still have this dated policy, would have trouble enforcing it. But be careful

How would the committee verify how many schools their applicants apply? And what stops applicants from authorizing AMCAS not to release information to premed advisors?

 

[Welshman]

For reference, my biggest regret of this cycle was applying to 37 schools, 25-27 would have been adequate, but then again the schools I likely would have cut are the ones who have interviewed me so far... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Dagrimsta1]

No, the risk is that schools that still enforce this policy are usually those that have excellent premed committee reputations. Not having a committee letter from a school like this would be a red flag. I also agree with the @Welshman that for most solid, traditional candidates, 25 is more than enough schools to apply to.

IMO you should not be applying to >25 schools. Got in with way less than that. LizzyM: 64.

 

[KdotLB]

For reference, my biggest regret of this cycle was applying to 37 schools, 25-27 would have been adequate, but then again the schools I likely would have cut are the ones who have interviewed me so far... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Applied to 26. Advisor outlined 12 schools she thought were highest yield for me. 7 of my 8 interviews ended up being out of those 12. With the other apps I wish I did nothing but reaches that interested me instead of a couple reaches and a handful of low-yield schools.


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[Microbug]

Applied to 26. Advisor outlined 12 schools she thought were highest yield for me. 7 of my 8 interviews ended up being out of those 12. With the other apps I wish I did nothing but reaches that interested me instead of a couple reaches and a handful of low-yield schools.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

I think your advisor is an unicorn.

 

[Jdp00921]

That's lame your school does that, but as others have said, 25 should be enough. I had to apply twice to gain an acceptance. My first application, I was stupid, and applied to 7. My second application, 2017-2018 cycle, I applied to 24 (secondaries completed), and here I am with my acceptance!!!

You should be fine with 25 if you're stats are even decent at best.

 

[ciestar]

25 should be plenty, honestly. I applied to 25. I started out with 16...ended up adding 9 more. Of my original 16, I got interviews from 7, 3 from the 9 i added at the beginning of September.

All in all, I could have stuck with my original list and would have been fine. You can still cast a wide net with 25 schools.

 

[LizzyM]

Anything more than 25 is too many. Target the schools where you have a good shot. Add 3 reaches at most. If the list of schools where you have a good shot is very low, maybe you should sit out a cycle and work on improving your application. Don't apply to >25 because your application is weak; that is a set up for needing to reapply.

 

[Kingsmen2018]

No, your wallet will limit you. Im the dunce on here that applied to like 54 MD schools. Ended up doing secondaries for like 44 MD of them. I have one MD acceptance, so i guess i got lucky. I wouldn't recommend it though if u aren't a ORM CA Resident.

 

[ThinkMaize]

I've never heard of that before.

 

[ADSigMel]

Geez, these posters applying to all these schools have my undying respect. I only applied to 10, and I was so sick of writing secondary essays by the end, I was about ready to give up on medical school.

 

[KdotLB]

I think your advisor is an unicorn.

She is super open minded, helpful, and still realistic. Nothing like the descriptions of other advisors I see here.


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[Davemed]

LizzyM ~ 70
Applied - 23.
II - 3 out of which accepted into 2 and waiting for a decision from 1.
Rejected pre II - 7
Silence from - 13

I submitted all my secondaries in August 2017, so maybe that cost me a few IIs due to rolling admissions. I am deeply disappointed that GW rejected me pre interview because it was my favorite school and I spent 3 days on the secondary for that school. Being IS in AZ, kinda mad that both AZ schools rejected me pre interview. 30K/yr for IS tuition was the main reason I wanted to be accepted in AZ, but it's OK. Thankful for the OOS acceptances.