HOW many programs?

[babyostrich]

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Just wondering...How many programs do pple apply to? so far 14 for me categorical: 2 semi-nice and many mid-average programs. I'm a low-average student, applied only days ago and haven't heard from any. I'm freaking out big-time. i know pple say they can invite later, but i just want to know should i apply to more before its too late?

 

[Mumpu]

14 is plenty for IM. Unless you are a superfreak gunner, you will likely not hear from most programs until your Dean's Letter is realeased November 1 or so. In the meantime, pop open a beer (may I recommend Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale?) and go make fun of people in premed forums. 🙂

 

[nofear]

hey bro i know you know a lot of stuff...so is there an advantage to apply now vs say 3 weeks for IM...some say yes some say no...can you clear this up for me thanks

14 is plenty for IM. Unless you are a superfreak gunner, you will likely not hear from most programs until your Dean's Letter is realeased November 1 or so. In the meantime, pop open a beer (may I recommend Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale?) and go make fun of people in premed forums. 🙂

 

[uclabruins47]

well i dont have any experience in this, but i can tell from applying for medschool, that one thing is clear:

every school has a limited number of interview slots. applying early means more chance of securing one of these limited slots. applying later means some of these slots have already been filled when you apply and you will be competing for a lesser number of slots.

i may be totally wrong, so take this with a grain of salt 🙂

 

[orientedtoself]

hey bro i know you know a lot of stuff...so is there an advantage to apply now vs say 3 weeks for IM...some say yes some say no...can you clear this up for me thanks

get in your app asap. . . it shows you are intererested in the program and have your **** together

 

[nofear]

So based on what you guys are saying and according to Mumps you will NOT hear until your dean's letter, so say after Nov 1...Do the progrmas get your application and say ok this person sent it in on oct 15h and this one on oct 27th so he is first if we like his Dean's letter???
Thanks

 

[babyostrich]

I think at least some programs read the application and invite people on a rolling basis coz my friends got invites as soon as they sent in even before LoR, dean's letters and other things were all in. so if you send early before the crowds i guess you get faster invites and lower risk of missing interview slots.

 

[orientedtoself]

last year i started getting invites one week after i had my app in on sept 7th. the invites kept rolling in until late november. there was alot of hype on sdn about there being some sort of "bumper crop" of exclusive interviews after nov. 1. that was not the case for me. i think i got one interview on nov 1st.

 

[nofear]

It seems like everyone says the earlier the better .....okk thanks guys

 

[gagolden]

When do you start turning down interviews? I applied to 15 programs. Ive heard back from 8 so far, with 7 interviews. Dont know what happened with the other since it was near the bottom of my 15 anyway. I still havn't heard from my top choice (location- near the family and such). How many interviews are really necessary? But I have gotten interviews at my early #2,3,4,5.

How are you guys making the call on when to turn down programs you probably woundn't rank above 6 or so anyway? Im a DO student, with very good board scores, letters etc. and applying to midwest, southwest programs. Nothing elite.

 

[irlandesa]

I think 7 or 8 is a good # of interviews.. I got some very bad advice when I applied; was told by an advisor that b/c I was a low average student that I would need to apply to 25 IM programs. I am a US MD grad; ended up getting invites from ~20/25 programs, 10 interviews, definite overkill but turned out well. Programs I know of that send out later initial interview offers are Brown-RIH (usually last week of October), BU (after the Dean's letter typically), JHU-Bayview, U Pitt. Just some reassurance there..

 

[megacolon]

When do you start turning down interviews? I applied to 15 programs. Ive heard back from 8 so far, with 7 interviews. Dont know what happened with the other since it was near the bottom of my 15 anyway. I still havn't heard from my top choice (location- near the family and such). How many interviews are really necessary? But I have gotten interviews at my early #2,3,4,5.

How are you guys making the call on when to turn down programs you probably woundn't rank above 6 or so anyway? Im a DO student, with very good board scores, letters etc. and applying to midwest, southwest programs. Nothing elite.

Programs are very aware that not everyone they offer will accept an interview. You can really keep your options open for a while...most programs will get the hint that you probably aren't coming when it's mid december and you haven't scheduled an interview. I was offered 15/19 interviews and I scheduled 13. There were some that when I finally got my feedback to know where I stood in term of getting interviews that a couple places just weren't up there on my list to go to. They will send you an email sometimes to follow-up and see if you want to schedule a time. I called one place and told them I just don't think I will be able to afford to fly up there (being polite because I just didn't want to go) and they offered to pay for my flight up there! That shocked me a little, but told them my interview schedule was full and I wouldn't be able to make it. And as the interview season went on I quickly realized how similar places are and how quickly you see which places you like and which places you don't, and in the end I cancelled two of my interviews that I had scheduled in january. I simply emailed the coordinators and said I wouldn't be able to make it and cancelled. They are used to people cancelling in january and I think just appreciate being notified that you won't be coming in advance so they can offer the slot to someone else.

In the end I would say a solid applicant applying to IM shouldn't need to interview at more than 8 schools. That would be a good amount for you to see a variety of differences and places and really help you see what you want and like in the programs you visit.

 

[Mumpu]

Mind the costs too -- my 7 interviews cost about $2000. Airfare and hotels ain't cheap.