How many schools should one apply to?

[CKD2006]

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Hi there!

I was just wondering what number of schools should I stop at when applying to medical school. I am thinking about applying to at least ten. Is that too many?

Also does the MCAT send you rscores to a certain number of schools for free and for additional schools you have to pay extra like with the ACT or SAT? If so how much extra do you have to pay for each school? By the way how much does it cost to take the MCAT anyway?

Thanks in advance,

Kay 😀

 

[Shadowfax]

CKD - I think the MCAT costs about $185 to take. They automatically send your scores to AMCAS now. Score reports to non-AMCAS schools are now free. - For more info, check out
http://www.aamc.org/mcat

As for # of schools, that really depends on a lot of factors. I would say that the vast majority of people apply to 10-20.

 

[lalalala]

I think 10-15 is probably enough, but most people apply to more just b/c the admissions process is such a crapshoot and/or if their stats are a bit weak. Also, Cali applicants tend to apply to 20-25+ (at least I've seen that to be the trend on this board), b/c their state schools are pretty killer to get into as opposed to other applicants. The rule of thumb seems to be apply to a wide range of schools (low/middle/top), and if you have decent stats, probability should land on your side.

Originally posted by CKD2006
Hi there!

I was just wondering what number of schools should I stop at when applying to medical school. I am thinking about applying to at least ten. Is that too many?

Also does the MCAT send you rscores to a certain number of schools for free and for additional schools you have to pay extra like with the ACT or SAT? If so how much extra do you have to pay for each school? By the way how much does it cost to take the MCAT anyway?

Thanks in advance,

Kay 😀

 

[wexy]

depends on what state you are from- if there are many med schools in your state some apply to to 25+

 

[SMW]

LOTS!! Welcome to SDN!!! 10 is not too many. It might not be enough, depending on the strength of your application and where you're from. Your basic AMCAS application costs a certain amount, and then they charge you per school for sending your apps (including MCAT scores) to each school. There are no free schools. If you want your scores sent to non-AMCAS schools, you have to list them when you take the MCAT, or pay a fee later to have them sent.

 

[Dr. Lawyer]

As many as you can afford. Spending several thousand dollars to apply is a drop in the bucket with regard to the debt you will amass in the coming years if you go to a private school.

 

[TeinVI]

i say apply only to those schools you can actually see yourself going to. i actually now regret applying to some schools like tulane, st. louis, finch, vermont, and other schools that i really can't see myself going. i guess i became "add happy" when i was submitting my amcas and also i was very unsure whether or not i was gonna get in anywhere.

 

[DarkChild]

tein has a very good point. only apply to schools which you see yourself going to. otherwise its a pretty big waste of money.

 

[Rudy1223]

Originally posted by SMW
LOTS!! Welcome to SDN!!! 10 is not too many. It might not be enough, depending on the strength of your application and where you're from. Your basic AMCAS application costs a certain amount, and then they charge you per school for sending your apps (including MCAT scores) to each school. There are no free schools. If you want your scores sent to non-AMCAS schools, you have to list them when you take the MCAT, or pay a fee later to have them sent.

This is information is incorrect. As of now the mcat scores are sent directly to AMCAS and they distribute all Mcat scores with your application. Its now less expensive to apply to more schools. No fees.

Read aamc.org for more info or read the 2nd post on this thread for the correct information 🙄

 

[lola]

Originally posted by Rudy1223
This is information is incorrect. As of now the mcat scores are sent directly to AMCAS and they distribute all Mcat scores with your application. Its now less expensive to apply to more schools. No fees.

Read aamc.org for more info or read the 2nd post on this thread for the correct information 🙄

is it? it wasn't this year. each school was $30 to send mcat scores and your app to.

 

[Rudy1223]

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/update.htm#scorereporting

 

[Dr. Lawyer]

Ditto Lola, SMW was entirely correct, at least for this year.

 

[shamthis]

its fun to apply to lots of schools

last year i applied to 12 or 13 which is safe

i didnt get in-- so i applied to twice as many this year to 'seal the deal', as they say

 

[lola]

Originally posted by Rudy1223
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/update.htm#scorereporting

they may not charge extra to report scores, but believe me, they charge to send your application to each additional school. from amcas faq:


How much does it cost to use AMCAS?

AMCAS charges an application processing fee of $150 for one (1) medical school designation, and $30 for each designation thereafter

 

[lola]

i applied to 25 schools, because i am a california resident and was applying without knowing my mcat scores. i think it's good advice to apply to low/mid/high schools (unless your app isn't very competive, then you might be wasting your money applying to top schools). 10 is not too many at all. tein's advice is good. only apply to schools you'd really see yourself going to. of course, it's hard to kow without visiting them, but do your research as much as possible before applying to schools. if you live in a state with relatively easy state schools to get into and don't mind going to them, 10 might be enough. otherwise, it would probably be wise to add a few more to your list. if you live in california, you will likely be better off applying to at least 15.

 

[badgergirl]

good rule of thumb: 4 reach, 4 real, 4 "safety" (yes,yes, no such thing as a safety school, yada yada yada). i applied to 17 and am now wishing i'd stuck with less. secondary fees and interviews add up so fast, and then there's that little thing called "time" you have to factor in. but yeah, stick with where you actually want to go, not where you think you should go.

 

[Shanna]

I'm only applying to One.

And again the next year if I don't get it the first time.

 

[Goya]

I'm a NY resident and I did about 21-24 (I can't count that high...I run outta fingers and toes). Did all the state schools, schools I thought I fell in the average range of scores, and 'reach' schools. I got NO interviews from ANY reach schools. Didn't even get interviewed at all my state schools. And the schools I thought I was competitive...it was a crapshoot.

As ppl said. Applying to schools can be a random process for those of us who aren't super duper students. I had pretty average stats...didn't do anything super for extracurriculurs. For me...I woulda gone to med school anywhere in the US. I couldn't afford to be picky about what kind of weather/what kind of city/blah blah. So thus me applying to all those places. Also this was a one shot deal for me. If I didn't get in that cycle...I prolly wouldn't have applied again (well..mebbe 2-3 the next year). Yah, the money issue really cramped my style senior year in college but I figured might as well go out this one time in life eh?

 

[perrum365]

I'm from Ohio. we have like 7 med schools here. I applied to a bunch of lower tier private out of state schools too. I wish I had some of that money back now. oh well.

i guess it was a good investment