how many places do people typically apply?

[sweetseoul]

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I've been talking to several upperclassmen and have heard of people applying anywhere from 3 to 30 schools. I'm planning on applying to every school in Illinois (7 in total), and am wondering whether you guys think I should add more and if so.. where? I just want to make sure I get in at least somewhere without getting bogged down by millions of essays
1. UIC
2. Northwestern
3. U of C
4. Rosalind Franklin
5. Loyola
6. Rush
7. SIU

cGPA: 3.98
sGPA: 4.0
MCAT: PS 11 V 10 BS 11 O
extracurriculars:
-undergraduate research in howard hughes medically awarded lab
-shadowing experiences abroad
-medical missions coordinator in volunteering club on campus
-possible chemistry TA next year and figure skating instructor

 

[sling787]

I would add some top schools, I think you have a shot at a bunch of them. A lot of those schools like Loyola and Rush might reject you because they think you won't accept their invitation.

 

[Stratego]

Applying to 20-25 schools should be enough for you, as your numbers are good (but everyone will have a differenct opinion on this). Take a look at the School Selection sticky at the top of this forum to help you pick out schools in your range, then a few reach schools and a few safety schools.

SIU is more for Illinoisans in the bottom 2/3s of the state, BTW. Northwestern is a bit of a reach. UChicago is close to your range. Both are research powerhouses, so hopefully you have a few years of research under your belt and maybe a publication if you apply to them.

You didn't mention specifically that you have clinical experience. Is this included in the medical missions work?

 

[flip26]

I've been talking to several upperclassmen and have heard of people applying anywhere from 3 to 30 schools. I'm planning on applying to every school in Illinois (7 in total), and am wondering whether you guys think I should add more and if so.. where? I just want to make sure I get in at least somewhere without getting bogged down by millions of essays
1. UIC
2. Northwestern
3. U of C
4. Rosalind Franklin
5. Loyola
6. Rush
7. SIU

cGPA: 3.98
sGPA: 4.0
MCAT: PS 11 V 10 BS 11 O
extracurriculars:
-undergraduate research in howard hughes medically awarded lab
-shadowing experiences abroad
-medical missions coordinator in volunteering club on campus
-possible chemistry TA next year and figure skating instructor

The average applicant, nationally, applies to 13 or 14 schools (this stat is available from AMCAS).

With your stats, I don't see any reason you need to apply to 30 schools. You should be pretty safe with 15 to 20 max, especially if you include SLU and Creighton.

One note: you need at least some shadowing experiences in the US - some med schools will not be interested in the foreign shadowing. Plus you did not mention any clinical exposure or volunteering in the US - knock both of them out with a clinical volunteer gig...this is absolutely essential for you to get this EC in, and if you are applying this coming cycle, you are seriously behind...the expectation of med schools is that you get all of your clinical ECs done prior to applying, not after you submit AMCAS....

 

[kac714]

if youre from northern il, i'd take out siu. they heavily favor applicants from south of i-80. i'm an il resident and i had a lot of luck at the SUNYs.

 

[DiddleDO]

16! and now I am gonna be on the streets asking for change to get my deposit. Do your research I feel a lot of the schools I applied to initially I wouldn't have if I new more than the location... Would have saved me a few hundred on primaries.

 

[enigma85]

Though it can get expensive, you really should add some more schools to your list to bring your total to at least 13 programs. You don't want to have to go through this process more than once and Northwestern and Pritzker are very competitive.

SLU and Creighton are good options. So are Vanderbilt, Toledo, Pitt, Cincinnati, MCW, & Ohio State.

Best of luck!

 

[HrryUpNwait]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=618623