How many applying to?

[marsupial]

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How many programs: Please state if you are IMG or US, Reapplicant or New Applicant.

I just talked to an img applying to 95!

 

[sam w]

I think the average used to be in the 30's very recently but has surpassed 40. Seeing this, some applicants want to apply to 50. In a few years, the average will be 50, prompting people to apply to 60.

In 10 years, will the average number be 100?

Because of scheduling conflicts, one can probably only interview at 15, 20 at most.

I think that if you can't get many interviews, applying to more places won't generate many more interviews. Therefore, if you looked at people applying to 100 places, a number of them would get 50-80 interviews and a number of them would get 0-5 interviews but few would be in between.

 

[basil]

I applied to 45 (I am a US senior). If I had more information about programs, I could have cut it down more. But in the end I was thinking "Is x better than y? no way to know, so I guess I'll just apply to both."

 

[Ophtho24]

I am applying to 44 programs. I was only going to do 40 but a classmate went over 50. I think it is very easy to scare us into applying to more than necessary, but I guess no one wants to go unmatched because they didn't apply to that "one" magic program.

 

[Surgess]

I am applying to 44 programs. I was only going to do 40 but a classmate went over 50. I think it is very easy to scare us into applying to more than necessary, but I guess no one wants to go unmatched because they didn't apply to that "one" magic program.

I originally applied to 43 programs, but called the SFMatch to remove four programs that I knew I really didn't want to go to. I would love to go to the programs in Oregon or Washington, but in the end, I knew I wouldn't be happy that far from my family. So I ended up applying to 39 programs.

 

[FlyingDoc]

Last year I applied to 22 programs. You seriously cannot go to more than 15 or so interviews without killing yourself (some people I know did do that, however).

Good luck to everyone this year.

 

[kassie]

I applied to 30 programs.

I'd be surprised if I get more than a few interviews so I won't be killing myself.

 

[IEye]

I think the average used to be in the 30's very recently but has surpassed 40. Seeing this, some applicants want to apply to 50. In a few years, the average will be 50, prompting people to apply to 60.

In 10 years, will the average number be 100?
.

In the future, everyone's application will automatically be sent to all programs unless you opt out of specific ones (and then get a small refund). 😀 At the interview, other applicants will say "what, you only applied to 99?"

 

[suedogg312]

If you are a reasonably strong student (good USMLE scores, AOA, etc.), you don't have to kill yourself (or empty your wallet) by applying to 60 programs. I had a 237 on Step 1, 242 on Step 2, but did not have any research experience in ophtho and I applied to 29 programs. I was offered 16 interviews, went to 12, and matched at my fifth choice on my list. Hope this helps...

 

[xaelia]

I have a list of about 40 programs I'm interested in, and I'll probably pare it down to 25 or so after meeting with some of the folks in my ophtho department.

 

[Spyder007]

How many programs: Please state if you are IMG or US, Reapplicant or New Applicant.

I just talked to an img applying to 95!

I matched last year and applied to 42 programs. Looking back, it was more than I needed to apply to, but always take the "better safe than sorry approach." I had no problem getting interviews (~20) and found it only practical to go to 13 (Also too many, looking back, but you know the saying....). And let me tell you, I was exhausted and found it difficult to squeeze in so many. However, a friend of mine managed to swing 16 interviews which boggled my mind. Your program director probably will have a good idea of how many schools you should apply to. I made a prelim list and showed it to him and he helped me slim it down. He was right on with his predictions.

Good luck to all!

Peace.