How many schools did/will you apply too?

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paul411 said:
I applied to 8 in-state MD schools (Ahh, the perks of being a Texas resident 😀)
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I thought we had 7 MD and 1 DO. And UTSW is my dream school, congrats on getting in!
 
Medicine4Bruhs said:
Many applicants with higher stats do apply to other places as well as ECU, but the reason ECU has low numbers is that they are looking for a very specific type of student. There are plenty of 65-70 LizzyM score kids in NC for them to pick a class of 78 from, if they really wanted to boost their numbers. They just don't seek those kind of students.

As for the relatively large proportion of UNC grads going to ECU, this may be due to the large number of premed kids in Chapel Hill applying to ECU more than the fact that they prefer UNC students. Then again, where else are they going to come from? Wilmington? Pembroke? Let me tell you where they are not coming from: Durham, Winston-Salem, and Davidson. If you discount this, then you are simply unfamiliar with the sentiments that permeate the admissions process in Greenville. Ask BSOM students themselves: medical school tuition is so cheap because they intend to graduate future PCPs. Davidson students mired in undergraduate debt are more likely to specialize and leave NC than those students with less debt. Couple that with the preconceived notions by Brody adcoms that these students are more ambitious and likely to be interested in the more glamorous and high-end specialties (a student can receive largely the same education at UNC as they can at Wake/Duke/Davidson, whatever. Why then would these students then pay more to go to these schools over UNC if not for the greater prestige inherent in their degree?), and you have Wake/Duke/Davidson graduates held at a serious disadvantage when compared to their coastal brethren. This is fact.

As for your last point, UNC Med is a great school, cherry picking the best in-state talent, opening the doors for the very best residencies and future careers, yada yada. I wouldn't be surprised that these students choose to leave the state for greener pastures later in their careers.
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This is not entirely true, I spoke with Dr. Peden directly and asked him this question about "focusing on graduating PCP's only". He told me that yes ECU wants to graduate physicians who intend to practice in NC (what the school was built on) but NO they do not force you to do a specialty. He said as long as you have shown interest in a specialty no matter what it is, it's a good thing. What's bad is when an applicants have shadowed only heart surgeons and write how they want to do rural IM medicine. He said he had an applicant that matched NSG this past year that explicitly told him we was going to be a neurosurgeon when he was applying/ and backed it up with experiences, etc.
 
YouNeverKnow22 said:
This is not entirely true, I spoke with Dr. Peden directly and asked him this question about "focusing on graduating PCP's only". He told me that yes ECU wants to graduate physicians who intend to practice in NC (what the school was built on) but NO they do not force you to do a specialty. He said as long as you have shown interest in a specialty no matter what it is, it's a good thing. What's bad is when an applicants have shadowed only heart surgeons and write how they want to do rural IM medicine. He said he had an applicant that matched NSG this past year that explicitly told him we was going to be a neurosurgeon when he was applying/ and backed it up with experiences, etc.
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Please refer to my earlier post where I wrote that ECU is interested in providing "medical support to a region lacking your specialty (overwhelmingly PC but not exclusively)". As neurosurgery is likely a needed specialty in some areas of NC, a student could make a convincing argument for an ECU acceptance by stating an interest in NSG if he demonstrates a need for NSG in NC.

One impressive method is shadowing a neurosurgeon in your area and then stating in your essays on how the specialist you shadowed is retiring in a few years, right when you are completing your medical training, and how you would love to continue serving in the region as a NSG when he retires. Now that would be a tfm.

Furthermore, realize also that Dr. Peden may be out to misinform you in order to judge your true intentions. So ECU does not force you into a specialty. Really? Well, that's pretty obvious, because as far as I know, there isn't a medical school in the US that forces you to sign binding residency promises before you matriculate (special school-specific loan programs may, however, but this is another matter).

Dr. Peden said that showing interest in a specialty is a "good thing". That is wonderful. I hope future doctors do indeed have an idea of what fields they may be interested in practicing in the future. But is this specialty the kind of physician ECU is mandated to churn out? Probably not. He wants honesty so he can determine that you are not going to be a PCP or show an ability to specialize in a field with demonstrated need, and then throw away your application. I think this is just another example of him trying to mislead you. He may also give out other signs that you may not be the type of student they're looking for with some of his answers and body language. I mean this with no personal offense to him at all, but with regards to BSOM admissions, treat him as a snake in the grass.
 
Medicine4Bruhs said:
Please refer to my earlier post where I wrote that ECU is interested in providing "medical support to a region lacking your specialty (overwhelmingly PC but not exclusively)". As neurosurgery is likely a needed specialty in some areas of NC, a student could make a convincing argument for an ECU acceptance by stating an interest in NSG if he demonstrates a need for NSG in NC.

One impressive method is shadowing a neurosurgeon in your area and then stating in your essays on how the specialist you shadowed is retiring in a few years, right when you are completing your medical training, and how you would love to continue serving in the region as a NSG when he retires. Now that would be a tfm.

Furthermore, realize also that Dr. Peden may be out to misinform you in order to judge your true intentions. So ECU does not force you into a specialty. Really? Well, that's pretty obvious, because as far as I know, there isn't a medical school in the US that forces you to sign binding residency promises before you matriculate (special school-specific loan programs may, however, but this is another matter).

Dr. Peden said that showing interest in a specialty is a "good thing". That is wonderful. I hope future doctors do indeed have an idea of what fields they may be interested in practicing in the future. But is this specialty the kind of physician ECU is mandated to churn out? Probably not. He wants honesty so he can determine that you are not going to be a PCP or show an ability to specialize in a field with demonstrated need, and then throw away your application. I think this is just another example of him trying to mislead you. He may also give out other signs that you may not be the type of student they're looking for with some of his answers and body language. I mean this with no personal offense to him at all, but with regards to BSOM admissions, treat him as a snake in the grass.
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It seems you have bitterness towards Brody. As an NC applicant it's a school most NC applicants have a decent shot at. Some of your conclusions are baseless and statements seem to be stemming from a bad experience. ECU for me is a school I wouldn't attend unless it was my only acceptance--but I don't want others reading to get wound up in your views.
 
I'm thinking 9 or 10. I'm taking in my location into account. For my situation, if you don't have a decent shot at getting into your state schools, then you're going to be hard pressed for an acceptance elsewhere. Of course, I am adding a few schools to which I feel I have ties.
 
38.... but I have a low GPA and am a Cali resident
I can't tell you how much I'm starting to loathe filling out secondaries...
 
YouNeverKnow22 said:
It seems you have bitterness towards Brody. As an NC applicant it's a school most NC applicants have a decent shot at. Some of your conclusions are baseless and statements seem to be stemming from a bad experience. ECU for me is a school I wouldn't attend unless it was my only acceptance--but I don't want others reading to get wound up in your views.
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I am more upset with the massive propaganda they spew out to misinform NC premeds. BSOM has many positives, such as the tight knit classes with a refreshing dearth of gunners. Good luck to all students applying there.
 
YouNeverKnow22 said:
It seems you have bitterness towards Brody. As an NC applicant it's a school most NC applicants have a decent shot at. Some of your conclusions are baseless and statements seem to be stemming from a bad experience. ECU for me is a school I wouldn't attend unless it was my only acceptance--but I don't want others reading to get wound up in your views.
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Bottom line, if you are in NC, you are generally in good shape for med school apps given that you are a competitive applicant.
 
Two 🙄 I have no choice, I can't go out of state and there are only two schools in my area. And out of those two, there is only one that I really want to go to for financial reasons, and if I got accepted to the other one but not my school of choice, I would have to seriously consider rejecting the offer because it is so expensive.
 
Medicine4Bruhs said:
I would strongly agree with this statement, as it is a salient point missed by many NC premeds. Dr. Peden can tell you himself, Brody is looking for a very specific type of applicant, while unc and wake look for more general applicants. You MUST show a commitment to NC in a medical specialty that is needed in the area to be seriously considered. This is why their stats are so misleading, as the reason they have a relatively lower mcat/gpa is not because they cannot attract more qualified applicants, but because their requirements are so stringent. They are willing to overlook shoddy stats, but you have to provide a solid argument for staying in NC after you finish your residency and provide medical support to a region lacking your specialty (overwhelmingly PC but not exclusively). They are looking to immediately cut Duke, Davidson, Wake and even UNC kids out, as these kids probably don't follow the school's mandate and are bull****ing the school. If you explain profusely that you are interested in PCP, yet you shadowed an orthopedic surgeon once, played varsity/club sports in college, and say you like to go to the gym, you are portrayed as a future ortho resident. Stupid? Totally.

Brody also has other quirks, such as preferring 9-9-9 MCATs over 11-8-11s, strongly preferring heavy volunteering/altruistic applicants, and essentially requiring applicants to have 100 hours minimum of shadowing. These components are critical to their admissions process, yet they are not publicized anywhere by the school. Finally, being from eastern nc is HUGE! Anyone west of the triangle is held to a disadvantage, which is one of the reasons why unc expanded their class size with a specific emphasis on accepting more students from western NC. Any NC applicants interested in BSOM would be wise to heed this advice.
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well I wish I had read this before I applied 😀

I applied to 25 schools, and I'm sort of wishing I had narrowed it down a bit more. I'm just really indecisive! I don't regret it though, as it definitely made me feel more comfortable going into the process. Having 4 interview invites so far (6 if you count UNC and VCU) feels great, and is worth the extra work and money IMO.
 
I take that back. Probably over 30. I'll just be a medical school applying *****, except I'll be getting screwed AND robbed.
 
27 MD... I don't think applying to over 20 schools is necessarily crazy, given how competitive things are these days. It really just comes down to money and how many secondary essays you're willing to write!
 
18 thus far. may add some more "safeties", so I expect to be at 20-22 eventually.
 
25 here...

In regards to the Brody/Primary care training stuff...I think the main message is if you're interested in primary care, then provide a good pitch for it. If you're interested in NSG, then make a convincing pitch for NSG.

My state school happens to he UWashington, and we're one of those "primary care-savvy" schools...although our research budget might suggest otherwise...:laugh:

Adcoms here say the same thing-if you're interested in it, go for it. But don't say you're interested in primary care when all you've done is shadowed ROADS specialties.
 
12 MD, 1 DO

Thankful to be a Texas resident
 
kpcrew2oo2 said:
your mcat is pretty high, don't you think that's a bit much?
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I applied to all schools with MD-PhD programs in the fields I'm interested in and funding, that were located in states in which I would not mind living.

I'm applying MD-PhD only (with two or three exceptions, that I'd be happy to go to MD-only), so I don't think it's too many. Also, while my MCAT is high, my GPA is pretty low, and I had a rough final semester. If I had the same GPA with a rising trend (instead of flat 3.6+ then a crash), and stronger clinical ECs, I'd have applied to less schools.

Yes, doing all the secondaries is a pain. 🙂 Going to be eating ramen for a while, too.
 
I think around 12-15 is reasonable amount. Any more and i eel it would be time consuming and a waste. What if you get accepted to a school (out of like 45) you halfheartedly wanted to go to?
 
Considering EDP but I'm not sure if this will affect financial aid packages
 
Is it strange that my UG only lets pre-meds apply to maximum 20 schools? I feel like I'd be more comfortable with, say, 25...
 
One doesn't have to be a PCP to fulfill Brody's goals. General surgery is a highly needed surgical specialty.

YouNeverKnow22 said:
It seems you have bitterness towards Brody. As an NC applicant it's a school most NC applicants have a decent shot at. Some of your conclusions are baseless and statements seem to be stemming from a bad experience. ECU for me is a school I wouldn't attend unless it was my only acceptance--but I don't want others reading to get wound up in your views.
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aSagacious said:
They often have a pre-health committee and refuse to provide the committee letter if you fail to satisfy some of their requirements (max # of schools, inappropriate LORs, GPA too low, MCAT too low, etc).
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I'm actually not sure, but I believe that my pre-health advisor will not provide a LOR if I apply to more than 20 schools. I think GPA/MCAT-wise, there's no cut-off.

Just a small question: isn't it possible to initially designate 20 schools on the AMCAS primary, and later add more?
 
I think you can add more whenever you like. Why would your adviser not write a LOR based on how many schools you apply to?

I'm applying to about 16 or so. My adviser even suggested a few more.
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
What if you get accepted to a school (out of like 45) you halfheartedly wanted to go to?
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I would go to any of the schools I applied to rather than not get in this cycle. If anything, there are some schools out there that I will wish I had applied to if I don't get in this year.
 
iqe2010 said:
I plan on applying to all eight schools in Texas, I might apply in Oklahoma just for the hell of it. I refuse to go anywhere else in the "deep south" lol.
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We wouldn't have taken you anyway.

I applied to 3, and hit for the cycle. Rejected, Waitlisted, Accepted.
 
Kangaroo Paw said:
Is it strange that my UG only lets pre-meds apply to maximum 20 schools? I feel like I'd be more comfortable with, say, 25...
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Mine does this too. :lame:

AzDesertDoc said:
How do they enforce this?
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Our pre-health office wants a copy of our verified AMCAS and then another copy of our AMCAS in September (I think?). Something like that. There are probably loop-holes that I plan on exploiting. :laugh:
 
EsseQuamVideri said:
I don't personally agree with applying both MD and DO. Both have pretty different philosophies, or at least personalities as far as medical schools go, but it is statistically easier to get into DO so you see people applying for that reason.
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I agree that people should not apply DO if they aren't okay with the concept.... So sick of threads like "got into DO, but should I withdraw because..." If you don't want to go somewhere, then don't apply there!! Duh.
 
Frazier said:
Scratch what I said earlier, as of like 2am last night make it "35 schools".

I need to hide the credit card! :meanie:
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Weren't you trying to cut your school list down to 27? :laugh:
 
8 instate (TX resident) and 7 oos, so 15 total 🙂
 
StephanieZ said:
Two 🙄 I have no choice, I can't go out of state and there are only two schools in my area. And out of those two, there is only one that I really want to go to for financial reasons, and if I got accepted to the other one but not my school of choice, I would have to seriously consider rejecting the offer because it is so expensive.
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Do you happen to live in alabama?
 
DISCOSTEW said:
why not man? I qualify for the FAP, every secondary is free. I only paid for 19 primaries
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I've got FAP too, but I'm way too poor to afford 19 primaries plus the interview. 19 primaries is still like $500. I applied to the 14 schools that I got for free and no more.
 
TheMightySmiter said:
I've got FAP too, but I'm way too poor to afford 19 primaries plus the interview. 19 primaries is still like $500. I applied to the 14 schools that I got for free and no more.
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I am just very good at saving =) 50% of my paycheck is direct deposit to savings. I live frugally, spend wisely, and lay off the fast food!
 
40 M.D.
7 D.O.

Crazy..i know...but this is my second time applying and I reaaalllyy don't want to go through all this again...haha had to save up for awhile to afford all of them though
 
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