Can they see?

[h-rabbit]

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I have 2 questions for you smart pre-meds:

Do med school admissions see how many other med schools you apply to? And if they do, does applying to ~20 schools look bad (will they think you're desperate to get in)?

When you add more med schools to your application after you've already submitted one, would you be able to change your essay? I want to be able to personalize the essay for the school by saying I want to go there (e.g I look forward to continuing my education at XXX Medical College...).

Any help would be deeply appreciated 😀

 

[lisa13579]

No they can't see what other schools you applied to, but I've heard they may ask you on the interview. I am in the same situation... applied to 25 schools, and my reasoning is "THAT I REALLY WANT TO BE A PHYSICIAN". If I'm asked about other schools that I applied to, that will be my answer.

No you cannot change your personal statement on AMCAS, but you will usually have the chance to write a personal essay on why you want to go to the school with the secondary application.

 

[thackl]

The only way they know for sure is if you apply for an Early Decision Program (EDP). Only a few schools have this and if you go EDP, you can only apply to one school.

The upside is that your school knows you are dead serious about attending. The down is if they reject your application, you are very far behind for getting new applications out to other schools.

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by h-rabbit

Do med school admissions see how many other med schools you apply to? And if they do, does applying to ~20 schools look bad (will they think you're desperate to get in)?

A lot of CA kids apply to 30+ schools. I was one of them. It doesn't matter because schools don't know how many other schools you have applied to.

 

[h-rabbit]

Thank you so much for replying. Your input had helped me out tremendously! Good luck to everyone applying!😀

 

[voltron77]

Every poster on here is correct, saying that other schools can NOT see what other medical schools you have applied to. It is also stated on aamc.org in the frequently asked questions and in the HELP section of the AMCAS application. Only you know how many and what particular schools you have applied to, although some secondaries and interviews may ask what other schools you have applied to. Good luck.😛

 

[Giving My .02]

The Texas Primary has a question concerning this. The upside is there are only three lines, and if you apply to a lot of schools you can't even fit all of them into the section!!!!! 😉

 

[edfig99]

schools don't know where you applied unless you tell them. however, schools can see where you are holding acceptances at.

 

[Irene Adler]

Okay, so when you are in the interview and they ask about what other schools you've applied to, what is the diplomatic answer?

I mean, besides--"I'm so desperate, I'll go anywhere they take me."??

 

[edfig99]

hopefully they won't ask the question...it's always an awkward one.

The diplomatic answer is to be as vague as possible...I tended to not give specific schools and just spoke about general geographic areas, or types of schools, i.e. schools which share similarities with the school you are applying to.

It's already a given that most med school applicants are "desperate" - you don't want to leave an impression of desperation on the interviewer. You also don't want to leave the impression that you are applying to sooo many schools that you may not go to that one if you are accepted....so just keep it general, "I cast a wide net initially while applying, but I've canceled a few interviews and am leaning towards a school that is heavily (pbl/lecture) based, with excellent clinical exposure. I'm not 100% sure where I'd like to end up geographically, but am very interested in coming out (east/west/wherever)."

 

[Eraserhead]

I didn't even think about this when I sent my AMCAS application to Tulane, I wonder if I can call them and tell them to remove it from my file?

do you really think they wouldn't accept me just because I applied to 37 schools?

 

[AvgApplcnt]

I disagree because some schools ask for a copy of your printed amcas. Since it lists all the schools you applied to, they will obviously know, but if you leave out those pages, it looks suspicious.

 

[h-rabbit]

Really?!? Do you know which schools do that?

 

[UCLAMAN]

Originally posted by AvgApplcnt
I disagree because some schools ask for a copy of your printed amcas. Since it lists all the schools you applied to, they will obviously know, but if you leave out those pages, it looks suspicious.

Which schools ask for a printed copy of amcas? A lot of schools asked for a printed copy 2 cycles ago when amcas first went online because of all the delays in processing. But last year I don't remember sending many printed copies of my amcas out(if any at all). Tulane may be one of the schools that ask for a copy(based on a previous poster's comments. I dunno because I didn't apply there.) In any event I don't think leaving the last pages out will arouse suspicion. If a school wants a copy of your amcas it is because they want another copy of your essay, experiences, and grades, etc. They don't care about the designated schools IMO. I would say that you are reading into it too much.