Demographics influcing acceptance?

[firstborn]

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Hey guys,
I know this issue doesn't really matter either way, but I was just wondering if anyone had some insight into whether demographics (what state/city you're from, not race) play a part in admissions. I was wondering on two accounts. Is there some unwritten rule that schools won't accept more than 1 or 2 people from a certain town? And also are certain schools more likely to accept people based on what region they're from? Thanks for the help!

 

[NickNaylor]

Whether or not there's a specific rule about towns, who knows, but of course schools are looking for people from certain regions. State schools obviously look for people from their own state (or, in the case of UW, their region) usually. But many schools try to recruit individuals from all over the US - it's one of those things schools pride themselves on.

It also wouldn't surprise me a bit if schools had informal quotas on how many people they interview/accept from any one particular school (HYP schools likely being the exceptions). I have no idea if that's based in reality, though.

 

[ppfizenm]

Whether or not there's a specific rule about towns, who knows, but of course schools are looking for people from certain regions. State schools obviously look for people from their own state (or, in the case of UW, their region) usually. But many schools try to recruit individuals from all over the US - it's one of those things schools pride themselves on.

It also wouldn't surprise me a bit if schools had informal quotas on how many people they interview/accept from any one particular school (HYP schools likely being the exceptions). I have no idea if that's based in reality, though.

I get the feeling that they do but also from different colleges. We had two applicants at my undergrad of comparable stats apply and get interviews at the same med schools. Neither got accepted at the school another had though. The schools usually add this years class is representative of x states and y undergraduate institutions. Higher numbers look better.

 

[NickNaylor]

I get the feeling that they do but also from different colleges. We had two applicants at my undergrad of comparable stats apply and get interviews at the same med schools. Neither got accepted at the school another had though. The schools usually add this years class is representative of x states and y undergraduate institutions. Higher numbers look better.

It depends on what you're looking for. I couldn't really care how many institutions or states are represented in my class, but for whatever reason admissions offices seem to hype up this pretty meaningless statistic.

 

[firstborn]

Hmm yea I've also seen that statistic a fair amount on school websites. Must be another part of "school diversity." I guess I was wondering if it was based on home residence or undergrad uni. I suppose it's more than likely both. This whole process seems like a big game past a certain point haha

 

[ppfizenm]

It depends on what you're looking for. I couldn't really care how many institutions or states are represented in my class, but for whatever reason admissions offices seem to hype up this pretty meaningless statistic.

I can see why they do that for undergrad. It gives the parents something to focus on. Like "o look. 30 countries are represented as well 45 states. You'll experience a lot of culture."

But we are going to med school. I think must can see how pointless it is.

 

[LizzyM]

I can see why they do that for undergrad. It gives the parents something to focus on. Like "o look. 30 countries are represented as well 45 states. You'll experience a lot of culture."

But we are going to med school. I think must can see how pointless it is.

Although it is medical school, much of what you will learn about human behavior (motivation, fears, biases) and cultures different from your own you will learn in small groups from fellow students and trainees. Having the perspective of a small town guy from Kansas or a black woman from rural North Carolina or a Puerto Rican from NYC will add to the variety of experiences and opinions expressed at the table.

Schools do like "diversity" beyond race, ethnicity and gender. That includes region, school, languages spoken and so forth. Some adcoms might also make assessments at how likely a student is to matriculate the idea being that someone who is from a particular area of the country might "come home" for med school over someone with no ties to the region. Likewise, some adcoms have a soft spot for students from their undergrad institutions and schools in close geographic proximity or its traditional feeder schools. (Some private schools snap up loads of high achieving applicants from California because they are forced to migrate out of California for med school).

Feeder schools are big. Adcoms get to know certain schools that send a large number of applicants to med school and are less familiar with schools that don't. Sadly, it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle.

 

[Catalystik]

And also are certain schools more likely to accept people based on what region they're from? Thanks for the help!

Some schools give a bump to the applications of those from rural areas. Or to those from certain counties. Or those from a region within a state.

Among OOS applicants, some schools give strong preference to only applicants from adjacent states or regional states without their own med school.

And some schools take zero out of state applicants.

 

[firstborn]

Do you also think there's an added unstated pressure to interview 1 or 2 people max from certain institutions to leave more spots from elite ones?
Edit- Or maybe elite institutions just have that many more worthwhile candidates to interview. I realize I just asked this yesterday and answered my own question...

 

[Catalystik]

Do you also think there's an added unstated pressure to interview 1 or 2 people max from certain institutions to leave more spots from elite ones?

No, not in my experience.