Curious Question...How many applicants do you think applied to the top 20's...

[Krisss17]

only to the top 20's, expecting to get in with nontop 20 worthy credentials (i.e. mediocre GPA/MCAT)?

I was just curious. Since the mass majority of those applying for medical school are traditional students and most likely on a premed track, how many of you hear your classmates boasting about how they are planning on applying to the best schools without applying more broadly.

I'm a nontrad hoping to get into a good medical school, not necessarily a top 20.

 

[etf]

the mega millions jackpot in ca is currently at $340M. i hear people on the bus talking about how they're in on a pool of 100 tickets at work. the higher the jackpot gets, the more people get interested, as if the odds are suddenly in your favor - isn't it the opposite though, since more people are playing? what this has to do with the above post i don't know.

 

[Davjc2009]

When the jackpot is that high people have a higher expected value and in some cases it's actually positive... even if it's only like +20 cents.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

When the jackpot is that high people have a higher expected value and in some cases it's actually positive... even if it's only like +20 cents.

does this factor in the increased chances of having to share the prize, if one wins?


much better thread topic.

 

[Krisss17]

does this factor in the increased chances of having to share the prize, if one wins?


much better thread topic.

If you don't like the thread topic, don't answer it.

I'm sorry but it was just a question I was curious about.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

If you don't like the thread topic, don't answer it.

I'm sorry but it was just a question I was curious about.

i'm sorry. the answer is 1,487.

 

[etf]

If you don't like the thread topic, don't answer it.

I'm sorry but it was just a question I was curious about.

that's like saying "if you don't like america, don't live here."

sorry, some of us take it upon ourselves to hijack stuff.

 

[Stroganoff]

the mega millions jackpot in ca is currently at $340M. i hear people on the bus talking about how they're in on a pool of 100 tickets at work. the higher the jackpot gets, the more people get interested, as if the odds are suddenly in your favor - isn't it the opposite though, since more people are playing? what this has to do with the above post i don't know.

I've thought about that too, lol. I'd rather have significantly higher odds of winning single digit millions of $$ than having terrible odds of winning $10M-400M.

 

[Stroganoff]

To the OP, wouldn't most people apply to the Top 20? Even just for fun.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

To the OP, wouldn't most people apply to the Top 20? Even just for fun.

he's interested in those that *only* applied to the top 20s. as i indicated, the answer is 1,487.

 

[tacrum43]

the mega millions jackpot in ca is currently at $340M. i hear people on the bus talking about how they're in on a pool of 100 tickets at work. the higher the jackpot gets, the more people get interested, as if the odds are suddenly in your favor - isn't it the opposite though, since more people are playing? what this has to do with the above post i don't know.

Well, the odds stay the same. There's still a 1: whatever million chance that you'll match the right numbers. It's just that more people are playing, so it's more likely that someone will pick those numbers, but the odds of an individual picking them with their ticket are still the same.

 

[baylormed]

he's interested in those that *only* applied to the top 20s. as i indicated, the answer is 1,487.

1488, according to the last US census. It's a fact.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

Well, the odds stay the same. There's still a 1: whatever million chance that you'll match the right numbers. It's just that more people are playing, so it's more likely that someone will pick those numbers, but the odds of an individual picking them with their ticket are still the same.

this is why i'm wondering if the expected value is still good, given that you're also increasing your chances of sharing the prize (i.e., more likely that others will pick the same numbers you do).

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

1488, according to the last US census. It's a fact.

my bad. i was using the projected numbers for 2010. didn't mean to mislead.

 

[tacrum43]

this is why i'm wondering if the expected value is still good, given that you're also increasing your chances of sharing the prize (i.e., more likely that others will pick the same numbers you do).

The odds of winning are still the same, but the chance that you'll share the prize with another winner does increase (two separate odds).

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

The odds of winning are still the same, but the chance that you'll share the prize with another winner does increase (two separate odds).

yes, and i'm wondering at what point for a given jackpot would there be too many other people playing that the expected value is negative.







incidentally, for $573 million the answer is 1,487 people.

 

[Krisss17]

he's interested in those that *only* applied to the top 20s. as i indicated, the answer is 1,487.

First of all, he is a she. I also wasn't asking for a specific number; I was just curious about if some students are applying only to the top 20.

Will I apply to a top 20? Well, it depends on my GPA and MCAT...if I'm not even in the range of average for their acceptances, why should I waste my money? Right now I have about a list of 10 schools that I'm drawn to for their curriculum versus whether or not they are in the top 20.

It seems as though there are many traditional "premeds" that are so driven that they wouldn't even consider a school that wasn't in the top 20. Personally, I feel that an MD is an MD is an MD at whatever school you go to, because everyone is going to have to take the boards in order to qualify.

 

[baylormed]

First of all, he is a she. I also wasn't asking for a specific number; I was just curious about if some students are applying only to the top 20.

Will I apply to a top 20? Well, it depends on my GPA and MCAT...if I'm not even in the range of average for their acceptances, why should I waste my money? Right now I have about a list of 10 schools that I'm drawn to for their curriculum versus whether or not they are in the top 20.

It seems as though there are many traditional "premeds" that are so driven that they wouldn't even consider a school that wasn't in the top 20. Personally, I feel that an MD is an MD is an MD at whatever school you go to, because everyone is going to have to take the boards in order to qualify.

You shouldn't care what other people do, just apply to the schools you are interested in and do what will make you happy. If it makes other people happy to apply to only top 20 schools it is their right to do so.

Also, even if your grades are a bit lower than their averages, it doesn't mean you don't have a shot. An average has numbers above and below, and you might as well give it a try if the school interests you.

 

[JohnMadden]

only to the top 20's, expecting to get in with nontop 20 worthy credentials (i.e. mediocre GPA/MCAT)?

I was just curious. Since the mass majority of those applying for medical school are traditional students and most likely on a premed track, how many of you hear your classmates boasting about how they are planning on applying to the best schools without applying more broadly.

I'm a nontrad hoping to get into a good medical school, not necessarily a top 20.

What are nontop 20 worthy credentials?

 

[Krisss17]

What are nontop 20 worthy credentials?

?????

 

[etf]

What are nontop 20 worthy credentials?

ANYWAY...superlotto is also about $50M; i'm tempted to buy a ticket...

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

First of all, he is a she. I also wasn't asking for a specific number; I was just curious about if some students are applying only to the top 20.

oh, then the answer is "yes."

but seriously, you're preaching to the sdn choir when you claim that rankings aren't so important and one should apply to schools that one likes. there is some debate about the importance of prestige for academic medicine or super-competitive specialties, but this doesn't apply to most applicants.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

ANYWAY...superlotto is also about $50M; i'm tempted to buy a ticket...

oh yeah, sorry i had helped derail our lotto thread. we should start an sdn pool for the $50M.

 

[Davjc2009]

oh yeah, sorry i had helped derail our lotto thread. we should start an sdn pool for the $50M.

Yeah... so I have a friend who wants to know if he can get in on the pot.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

Yeah... so I have a friend who wants to know if he can get in on the pot.

cool. i'll set up a paypal account to receive the money. just please remind your friend that it's an extremely small chance that i, um, i mean we, will win any money. but if we do win i'll try to make sure he gets his share at some point, minus my appropriate comission and jackpot finder's fee, of course.

 

[johnnydrama]

Lotteries are a regressive tax on people who don't know math.

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

Lotteries are a regressive tax on people who don't know math.

whatever, dude. i'll have you know that i've scratched and won before. that's right, won. had to split it with my step-dad, though.