how many programs is too many to apply to?

[sunset823]

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I'm an M3 and I know I'm thinking about this a little too early to be thinking about this, but I've perused a list of IM programs, and there are between 50-60 that I would want to apply to. My step 1 score is okay, below average but not terrible. Almost all the programs I'd apply to are university programs (I want to be in academics), about 1/3-1/2 are programs that I probably have no shot at, but my conscience just wouldn't let me not at least give them a shot.

Is that an insane number of programs to apply to for IM? How many interviews can one person conceivably manage during 4th year? 15? 20?

I always have a tough time cutting things down, and when you have almost 400 programs, it's really hard to cut it down to 20, since I have few constraints of any sort, except preferring academic.

 

[IMdocT]

i've met FMG's on the interview trail who had applied to 60, once even 90. if you're not as desperate as that, the sort of rule of thumb is to apply to places where you feel you will be happy or at least satisfied in. you can apply to as many as you want. all that will happen is you spend a little extra money on the application, and if you get 'too many' interview offers, nothing bad will happen if you decline some of them. i believe the nmrp published some data about the average # of programs that matriculants have applied to, in each specialty. you can look it up. i may be wrong but i think the average for IM was approx 10 interviews?

as for cutting down, again, you have to figure out what you're looking for, and what will make you happy. for example, if someone had a family that definitely could not move to another state, then he/she would use that to narrow down the choices.

 

[sunset823]

as for cutting down, again, you have to figure out what you're looking for, and what will make you happy. for example, if someone had a family that definitely could not move to another state, then he/she would use that to narrow down the choices.

the problem is, anything can make me happy. I'm close to my family but haven't lived physically near them in a long time, so that's not an issue. No relationships, no friends (well, I have friends, but nothing that ties me down - one of my closest friends lives on different continent). And I'm very flexible, lived in cities, suburbs, really small towns, east coast, midwest, south, spent lots of time on the west coast though I've never technically lived there.

I guess my question, which you answered, is would it backfire if I had to cancel a bunch of interviews, and the answer is no, which is good. Though figuring out which ones to cancel would be another hurdle. Oh well, another year to worry about all that.

Anybody else ever been this indecisive/overly flexible (as I prefer to call it)? Or is it just me?

 

[jdh71]

the problem is, anything can make me happy. I'm close to my family but haven't lived physically near them in a long time, so that's not an issue. No relationships, no friends (well, I have friends, but nothing that ties me down - one of my closest friends lives on different continent). And I'm very flexible, lived in cities, suburbs, really small towns, east coast, midwest, south, spent lots of time on the west coast though I've never technically lived there.

I guess my question, which you answered, is would it backfire if I had to cancel a bunch of interviews, and the answer is no, which is good. Though figuring out which ones to cancel would be another hurdle. Oh well, another year to worry about all that.

Anybody else ever been this indecisive/overly flexible (as I prefer to call it)? Or is it just me?

I also sent out a bunch of applications all over the place, except the NE (for me was anything east of P-burg, and north of D/C). Interviewing was kind of fun that way, maybe a little expensive, but I'm of the opinion that if you don't have any hard fast reasons to need to be in a certain area, apply far and wide to programs you find interesting. Young and single without strings is the time do this this kind of thing. Of course I also tend to be a bit nomadic.

 

[sunset823]

Young and single without strings is the time do this this kind of thing. Of course I also tend to be a bit nomadic.

👍 Yep, same here, so nomadic my married with condo friends don't understand my lifestyle/lack of furniture. One of my friends, who's married, only applied to the 3 hospitals associated with her med school. I couldn't even fathom that. I'm not technically a military brat, but my dad was in the military and I inherited my family's wanderlust genes.

Well, looks like I'll just have to prep my bank account for some exorbitant ERAS/interviewing fees.

 

[IMdocT]

the only thing i would add, is that if you're going to cancel an interview or decline an interview, do it early after you've made the decision, so that the time slot can be freed up for other applicants. i don't think doing it late will affect your chances at other programs. but it's just nicer that way.

 

[NDESTRUKT]

Find 20-25 of the programs that most interest you. Apply. Interview at no more than 10 (or 12 if you must).

 

[gutonc]

FWIW, I applied to 30 places all across the northern tier of the US (St. Louis was the farthest south I applied) and interviewed at 18 of them (which was kind of fun but about 6-8 too many).

I don't really think there's such a thing as "too many to apply to" simply because the whole process is a crap shoot and it's pretty damn cheap and trivial to apply. Going on more than 10-15 interviews though is kind of nuts...at least for IM.

 

[DocKSV]

I have decent stats (4.0GPA, #1 Class rank, 235/99(S1) 236/99 (S2), 1 publication), but being a Carib student I have to apply widely.

I essentially applied to most of the University programs in the country, with the exception of some impossible programs (MGH, Hopkins, UCSF, etc) and some midwestern programs. My list is about 80 right now. I'm just hoping to get 15-20 interviews.


Given that you are a US grad, I don't see a reason to apply to more than 30 programs that you really feel you'll be happy with for 3 years. Kill your 3rd year and Step 2, and you should be fine applying to that many.

 

[desijigga]

I'm an M3 and I know I'm thinking about this a little too early to be thinking about this, but I've perused a list of IM programs, and there are between 50-60 that I would want to apply to. My step 1 score is okay, below average but not terrible. Almost all the programs I'd apply to are university programs (I want to be in academics), about 1/3-1/2 are programs that I probably have no shot at, but my conscience just wouldn't let me not at least give them a shot.

Is that an insane number of programs to apply to for IM? How many interviews can one person conceivably manage during 4th year? 15? 20?

I always have a tough time cutting things down, and when you have almost 400 programs, it's really hard to cut it down to 20, since I have few constraints of any sort, except preferring academic.

I am in the same boat as you, what the heck throw that app out to 50 spots if you want and got money to spare. I am sending to like 60 MD spots, and 16 DO spots...it will cost me like 1300 just can't bring myself to not apply to some of the big guns, thank you Direct Loans! 😎

 

[DrVanNostran]

I'm applying to an even 40. 10-15 reaches, 20-25 places that I feel competitive for. I'm hoping to go on 7-10 interviews.

 

[nyknicks8]

So based on the discussion so far, I'm guessing the 120+ programs I thought of applying to is a little too much. I'm a US-FMG from the carribean. The reason I thought of applying for so many is because I have my CS results pending, and havent taken the CK yet. I applied to nearly every program that took a FMG in the past and was a place that I could live at.

 

[gutonc]

So based on the discussion so far, I'm guessing the 120+ programs I thought of applying to is a little too much. I'm a US-FMG from the carribean. The reason I thought of applying for so many is because I have my CS results pending, and havent taken the CK yet. I applied to nearly every program that took a FMG in the past and was a place that I could live at.

No...that number seems reasonable given your situation.

 

[sluggs]

IM programs outside the top 30 are giving spots away to US grads with no red flags. Apply to a few top tier, 10 solid middles and 3 back-ups (in case you have red flags you don't know about)

 

[abbycornish]

IM programs outside the top 30 are giving spots away to US grads with no red flags. Apply to a few top tier, 10 solid middles and 3 back-ups (in case you have red flags you don't know about)

Which are the top 30?

 

[DrVanNostran]

Which are the top 30?

(BWH+MGH+UCSF) x 10

 

[jdh71]

Which are the top 30?

Are you all going to make me do it?

 

[DrVanNostran]

Are you all going to make me do it?

Since ERAS opened today, I think you should throw us a bone.

 

[topscorer]

the only thing i would add, is that if you're going to cancel an interview or decline an interview, do it early after you've made the decision, so that the time slot can be freed up for other applicants. i don't think doing it late will affect your chances at other programs. but it's just nicer that way.

Last year I was in touch with a PC at University program late in the interview season.

I was shocked to hear that kids were simply not showing up for thier IVs at the end. She was extremely upset about it as well, but I cannot imagine what that is like for waitlisted candidates, especially those new to the states desperately waiting to match with baby on the way and parents to take care of. real responsibilities. and the difference for the REST OF HIS life was ONE interview. it just takes ONE IV

and she was surprised I did not know about this because it happens in Large numbers and it happens EVERY YEAR
i understand it can be uncomfortable to call a program and say you don't think they are worth the trip
but shoot a text man
seriously
unethical
unprofessional
and wrong. just wrong.

 

[HumorMD]

OP, nothing wrong with applying to as many as you want (given that you can afford it). My experience has been that you will naturally start cutting things down as the interviews roll in. You can't possibly interview at them all, and you will be forced to turn down interview requests. Most people I know where mentally done with the interview process after 8-10 interviews.