Higher than normal applications

[anfleisch]

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Has anyone else noticed that some schools seem to be indicating higher than normal applications for this cycle? I have seen indications that both BU and Drexel have many thousand more applications than last year at this point. This could just mean that most people are learning that they need to apply much earlier than they previously thought. Has anyone noticed such a trend?

 

[Musclemass]

If the average of # of schools applied to has increased, it may just mean that desirable applicants will go on more interviews and get more acceptances than in prior years. If so, after the dust clears the real effect would be minor if anything at all, since no one can use more than one acceptance. If it's just that people are applying earlier, which could well be, there could be a greater penalty than normal from being in the later waves.

It's too early in the cycle for you to be psyching yourself out. Wait a few months, then go crazy. Good luck.

 

[barcoderider]

It could mean that more people than usual have applied this year, which would make sense, because more people tend to apply to graduate schools when the economy is weak.

I'm betting that the number of truly competitive applicants is about the same though.

 

[SOcash]

It could mean that more people than usual have applied this year, which would make sense, because more people tend to apply to graduate schools when the economy is weak.

I'm betting that the number of truly competitive applicants is about the same though.

I agree. Given that most competitive applicants have been working on their application for years, I don't think there's going to be a big change in the number of competitive applicants even if more people than usual apply.

 

[anfleisch]

That is a good point. It does take quite some time to make a good app. I am not psyching myself out, just making an observation.

 

[mvenus929]

I'm for the idea that it's because the economy isn't great. It happened in the 90's too, I believe.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Has anyone else noticed that some schools seem to be indicating higher than normal applications for this cycle? I have seen indications that both BU and Drexel have many thousand more applications than last year at this point. This could just mean that most people are learning that they need to apply much earlier than they previously thought. Has anyone noticed such a trend?

they say that every year

 

[LizzyM]

I had a picture in my mind of applicants smoking pot before their interviews... it has happened!

😉

 

[FIREitUP]

I had a picture in my mind of applicants smoking pot before their interviews... it has happened!

😉

lol, title should be "higher than normal applicants". btw, how did you know the applicants were high on weed? bloodshot eyes + saying "man" too many times in a single sentence?

 

[hoot504]

Has anyone else noticed that some schools seem to be indicating higher than normal applications for this cycle? I have seen indications that both BU and Drexel have many thousand more applications than last year at this point. This could just mean that most people are learning that they need to apply much earlier than they previously thought. Has anyone noticed such a trend?

Where have you seen this information?

 

[wanderer]

they say that every year

Yup. They made the same claim last year. Overall though, the same number of primaries were sent out (though who knows if the number of secondaries has changed).
Another school I interviewed at is projecting a 15% increase of applications this year, so maybe people are just applying more broadly.

 

[fahimaz7]

My school had 40% fewer EDP applicants than this last year (120 from 210).

Not sure where you are hearing these misleading rumors though 🙂

 

[anfleisch]

On the school threads, the information has come from first year medical students at the school or from emails from the school. I myself do not have any first hand knowledge except for a few incites from those answering the phones at a few schools. But I would guess the secondary processing time may be a more consistent benchmark, but they could always hire more reviewers.

 

[LizzyM]

On the school threads, the information has come from first year medical students at the school or from emails from the school. I myself do not have any first hand knowledge except for a few incites from those answering the phones at a few schools. But I would guess the secondary processing time may be a more consistent benchmark, but they could always hire more reviewers.

We are volunteers. We are faculty members and med students who read applications and recommend applicants for interview.

 

[ThaliaNox]

We are volunteers. We are faculty members and med students who read applications and recommend applicants for interview.

Interviewers, med students who have lunch with you and many committee members are also volunteers. The office of admissions at my school has like five actual employees, most of which are secretaries. There's a dean and an assisstant dean too, who coordinate presentations for visitors, conduct interview days and work on the committee.

Seriously, though, the number of applicants has been relatively stable over the last several years. The number of applications submitted per student has gone up considerably, but that doesn't affect the overall ratio of applicants per med school seat.