How do you decide what schools to apply too?

[Doctor2be17]

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I was just wondering what your decision criteria are for medical schools. I'm having trouble limiting my list and don't know the best way to decide what schools to apply too...

 

[musclemilk619]

See what schools your mcat and gpa fit into, curriculum, and desired location. That's pretty much how I did it

 

[QualityProcess]

It takes time. Start with anything that sounds remotely interesting or comforting... names, cities/locations, weather, anything.

Next, look up their average stats and cross off the names of where you're not competitive. Get the MSAR and Osteopathic MCIB books for more detail, and cross off any that you don't think are a fit for you. Read their websites and opinions on SDN, and see what does and doesn't interest you.

 

[ManBroDude]

Do a search and see which schools have a regional bias (and how heavy they are). This is a big one.
Do know how much each school costs.
Do know if the school is in an urban, suburban, or rural location.
Do know if the school makes you leave for rotations (PNWU, SOMA)
Do know what the schools' curriculae are like.
Do know the schools' first time pass rate on the boards.

Don't get caught up at looking at match lists.
Don't discount a school because it's in a sh*tty location (LECOM, MSU-COM, LMU-DCOM)

 

[dntke1518]

Do a search and see which schools have a regional bias (and how heavy they are). This is a big one.
Do know how much each school costs.
Do know if the school is in an urban, suburban, or rural location.
Do know if the school makes you leave for rotations (PNWU, SOMA)
Do know what the schools' curriculae are like.
Do know the schools' first time pass rate on the boards.

Don't get caught up at looking at match lists.
Don't discount a school because it's in a sh*tty location (LECOM, MSU-COM, LMU-DCOM)

👍👍 These

 

[MEDMENT0R]

Quick and Dirty version:
1. Apply to your state school if you have one.
2. Make a ratio of out of state acceptances/class size and sort schools highest to lowest by this ratio
3. Apply to schools that fit your GPA and MCAT.

 

[LostInPreMed]

I noticed that MedMentor replied to this post in a very interesting way. Having visited the MedMentor website, there is a very quality breakdown of exactly how to figure out where to apply. Although I appreciate MedMentor's modesty in the post by not saying "GO TO MY WEBSITE" I think it is worth the read! It is thorough and informative. If you have a sec, read it!

http://medmentor.blogspot.com/

 

[HalfListic]

Do a search and see which schools have a regional bias (and how heavy they are). This is a big one.
Do know how much each school costs.
Do know if the school is in an urban, suburban, or rural location.
Do know if the school makes you leave for rotations (PNWU, SOMA)
Do know what the schools' curriculae are like.
Do know the schools' first time pass rate on the boards.

Don't get caught up at looking at match lists.
Don't discount a school because it's in a sh*tty location (LECOM, MSU-COM, LMU-DCOM)

Good list here... How would you find regional bias? Is the CIB good enough for this, Bro? 😉

 

[tide11189]

TO

Can be used as a preposition of movement
Can be used as a preposition of direction
Can be used in conjunction with times
Can be used to mean 'receive'
Can be used as the first part of an infinitive
Examples:
I will take a taxi to the airport.
The train leaves from Montreal to Ottawa.
The office is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm.
I gave a present to my friend Paulina.
Next year I want to spend six months in Europe.

TOO

Can be used before an adjective or an adverb for reinforcement to mean 'very' or 'more than sufficient'
Can be used as an adverb to mean 'also' or 'in addition'
Examples:
This dress is too big for me.
He was driving too fast so the police gave him a fine.
She has been to Switzerland too. (= also)
I got very drunk last night and my friend did too. (= also)

TWO

Only used as a number
Examples:
There are two cars in the car park.
Sweden has two official languages.

 

[Cinclus]

Do a search and see which schools have a regional bias (and how heavy they are). This is a big one.
Do know how much each school costs.
Do know if the school is in an urban, suburban, or rural location.
Do know if the school makes you leave for rotations (PNWU, SOMA)
Do know what the schools' curriculae are like.
Do know the schools' first time pass rate on the boards.

Don't get caught up at looking at match lists.
Don't discount a school because it's in a sh*tty location (LECOM, MSU-COM, LMU-DCOM)

I think LMU-DCOM has one of the greatest locations of any med school, but I love me some hills and mountains, so...

 

[MedPR]

Start with schools your MCAT/GPA give you a shot at. No point in reading about Hopkins (I realize this is the DO forum, but whatever) if you have a 3.3/30.

Then check out tuition and estimated cost of living.

Then location.

Then matriculant demographics (if you care about that kind of thing).

Then mission. I think a lot of people overlook this one.

 

[NeuroLAX]

I'm glad you brought mission into this discussion MedPR. Fitting the school's mission/focus can be very important, especially at the level of answering "why here?" on secondaries and during interviews.

It's always nice to have something intelligent to say when answering this question.

 

[chiddler]

Where do I research whether a school has a regional bias?

 

[MakesSense]

Where do I research whether a school has a regional bias?

The best place to find out is from the AACOMAS website. Go to the member schools and look at each school. They will state whether or not they have a regional bias.

But be aware that regional biases will vary. Some school have very strict regional bias while others do not. My school, WCUCOM, is known to have a regional bias but there are members in the 1st two classes from as far away as California and New York. Definitely not in the same region as Mississippi. However, I will be quick to add that the vast majority of both classes is from the Southeast and Southwest. I imagine that our incoming class this fall will be like our 1st two classes.

Hope this helps.

 

[ManBroDude]

Here's the info I compiled for myself last year. Note: this is last year's 2011-12 data.

Schools in yellow are public schools, so the state subsidizes for in-state students (read: in-state bias).
PNWU has a >90% regional bias
WesternCOMP Lebanon also has a NW bias.
NYCOM and both PCOMs probably do, too. But this may also be due to a selection bias (mainly east-coasters applying to east-coast schools to stay local).

 

[drgioiadds]

I think LMU-DCOM has one of the greatest locations of any med school, but I love me some hills and mountains, so...

MSU Detroit campus is pretty cool too.

 

[UrshumMurshum]

Wow I see the MCATs have all gone to pretty much 27-28 range. Few have 26 anymore.

It's like the D.O. stats of 2012 are the MD stats of 2008.

 

[Goro]

I often ask my students why they came to my school when they had their pick of picks. Most common answer is "location"; and second is "best fit".

Don't tell my Dean I told you this, but you'll pretty much get a decent education no matter where you go. You have to find the place where you're most comfortable.

I was just wondering what your decision criteria are for medical schools. I'm having trouble limiting my list and don't know the best way to decide what schools to apply too...

 

[MedPR]

I'm glad you brought mission into this discussion MedPR. Fitting the school's mission/focus can be very important, especially at the level of answering "why here?" on secondaries and during interviews.

It's always nice to have something intelligent to say when answering this question.

👍

Here's the info I compiled for myself last year. Note: this is last year's 2011-12 data.

Schools in yellow are public schools, so the state subsidizes for in-state students (read: in-state bias).
PNWU has a >90% regional bias
WesternCOMP Lebanon also has a NW bias.
NYCOM and both PCOMs probably do, too. But this may also be due to a selection bias (mainly east-coasters applying to east-coast schools to stay local).

Thanks for this!

 

[MindtheGlottis]

👍




Thanks for this!

Ditto. Thanks BroManDuuude

 

[elsaied]

which schools have heavy in-state prefs other than the ones you've mentioned?

 

[Night Hawk]

I was just wondering what your decision criteria are for medical schools. I'm having trouble limiting my list and don't know the best way to decide what schools to apply too...

Here's what I did...

First figured what schools I was above average at, competitive at and reaching for. There's only like 29 D.O. schools and half got cut out for me since I don't have a D.O. letter.

Next, determine what is important to you in a school. For me this is:

1. Location, location, location! - I prefer schools that are in urban areas, followed ones by the suburbs, and REALLY wouldn't want go somewhere rural. I prefer the big city feel and wouldn't live somewhere if I didn't like it, just me though. I also want to live somewhere reasonably close to an airport, providing I windup in another state.

2. Clerkship sites - I would prefer to go to a school with good teaching sites. Therefore, I looked up all of the clerkship sites for all of the schools in locations I liked. I looked at bed counts, admissions, and demographics. The more exposure to whatever it is you're interested in, the better prepared you will be for networking and for the ERMP.

3. Curriculum - I don't want all PBL for the didactic sequence. Personally, I prefer a mix of class and PBL.

4. Facilities - Gym, cafeteria, simulation lab (although this seems to be more and more standard), hot women, good food nearby and years open are all important things to me.

5. School policies - Are lectures podcast/video-taped? Are there PowerPoints made available? Is class mandatory? Am I allowed to have drinks in the building and wear sandals whenever possible, etc? I prefer a laid back environment.

6. Cost - Most are right around 40k...

Next, I took this list of things that are important to me and read up on all the schools I might be interested in. I also looked to see what kind of an applicant I am, compared to the usual students who matriculate.

I gave each school I was competitive and above average at a score based on those 6 thing (1 the highest & 6 the lowest) and ranked them as follows.

PCOM
UMDNJ-SOM
NSU-COM
CCOM of MU
KCUMB
PCOM - Georgia
NYIT - COM
LECOM
LECOM - FL

 

[VBGLL]

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