Casting the application net..how many?

[mbh11]

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How many schools should I apply to? What is common? I've always heard to apply to as many as possible but how many is that exactly? how many is to many?

I'm a TX resident and plan on applying to all MD schools in the state , and TCOM. Might apply to Baylor (private)...but how many DO and MD schools should I apply to out of state? Been saving lots of money with my wife so money is not an issue..

suggestions?

 

[artx2008]

It depends on how strong you are as an applicant. It is hard to say without your GPA and MCAT score.
Anyway, apply to all Texas schools, because it is so cheap!

 

[GTV]

You'd do best to apply to lots, but make sure that the vast majority fall within your stats. Don't make the mistake of applying to every school with stats below yours because you think you'll have an easier time getting in. A lot of those schools will assume you will get in somewhere "better" and reject you.

 

[Daedra22]

It depends on your stats. Being a Texas resident is a good start--we have great med schools that are very partial to Texans. I personally applied to 10 schools (6 in-state MD, TCOM and 3 OOS DO schools). It worked out well for me. My advice is to only apply to schools you would honestly like to go to... look at the geographical location, curriculum, etc. before you decide where to apply.

 

[mbh11]

I never really thought of it in that way, that helps a lot. I've always just planned on aiming low even though I will have a great application merely because I don't want to get rejected from schools.

 

[JJMrK]

It depends on your stats. If they are very competitive you can apply to fewer, but probably no less than ~10.

This is for next (the 2010-2011) cycle, correct?

 

[Jolt21]

I've always just planned on aiming low even though I will have a great application merely because I don't want to get rejected from schools.

why? you can only go to one school anyway. all you need is 1 acceptance. a million rejections is fine as long as you get into one school.

 

[Jolt21]

to answer the original question, my school recommends no more than 20.

i started with 27

looking back, 20 would've been fine and i should've done more research beforehand.

 

[JJMrK]

to answer the original question, my school recommends no more than 20.

i started with 27

looking back, 20 would've been fine and i should've done more research beforehand.

Same here, I applied to too many.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

I never really thought of it in that way, that helps a lot. I've always just planned on aiming low even though I will have a great application merely because I don't want to get rejected from schools.

This mentality will get you nowhere. Everyone gets rejected from a lot of med schools, and there are plenty of candidates who only get one acceptance. One is all you need. You're setting yourself up for devastating disappointment if you expect to not be rejected even from lower-tier schools.

 

[mbh11]

It depends on your stats. If they are very competitive you can apply to fewer, but probably no less than ~10.

This is for next (the 2010-2011) cycle, correct?

yeah this is for the next cycle...planning on sending them right when they accept them, june 1st for most schools i believe.. will be at WVSOM end of may for my brother and his wife's grad, maybe have a quick talk with the dean..ha!!

This mentality will get you nowhere. Everyone gets rejected from a lot of med schools, and there are plenty of candidates who only get one acceptance. One is all you need. You're setting yourself up for devastating disappointment if you expect to not be rejected even from lower-tier schools.

very true, im a pretty confident guy, but with everything in life for me, hate losing!!

 

[artx2008]

Same here, I applied to too many.

Opposite here; I have applied to only 4 schools. It worked out great for me, but it is better to apply to slightly more schools. I applied to so few schools, because application and interviewing takes a lot of money.

 

[TexasPrincess]

There is a spreadsheet somewhere on SDN that shows what your lizzieM score is compared to all the schools in the US. It tells you where you have a chance.

I applied only to the Texas schools I wanted to go to (even though now I wish I applied to them all to have more safeties) plus a few reach schools in the Northeast. I haven't finished one secondary to an out of state State school that my dad went to because I would really prefer just to stay here and go to the one school I interviewed at. TMDSAS is MUCH cheaper than AMCAS. Plus, many Texas schools don't have secondaries to fill out or secondary fees.

Advice: fill out TMDSAS first then copy and paste into AMCAS. You can start getting your transcripts in May. Have you taken the MCAT? Don't forget to register 60 days in advance or more and it takes about 30 days to get your scores back.

Good luck!

 

[apumic]

There is a spreadsheet somewhere on SDN that shows what your lizzieM score is compared to all the all schools in the US. It tells you where you have a chance.

I applied only to the Texas schools I wanted to go to (even though now I wish I applied to them all to have more safeties) plus a few reach schools in the Northeast. I haven't finished one secondary to an out of state State school that my dad went to because I would really prefer just to stay here and go to the one school I interviewed at. TMDSAS is MUCH cheaper than AMCAS. Plus, many Texas schools don't have secondaries to fill out or secondary fees.

Advice: fill out TMDSAS first then copy and paste into AMCAS. You can start getting your transcripts in May. Have you taken the MCAT? Don't forget to register 60 days in advance or more and it takes about 30 days to get your scores back.

Good luck!

Average is 13 but the spreadsheet will give you a much better idea of how many you would really need to apply to to get in somewhere as well as where might want to apply.

 

[bannie22]

ur texas. u only need 5. =/

i did 26 american and 2 canadian 🙁 sigh