I have the question mark because I am unsure: Will applying to 5 more schools really increase my odds that much if I have a really well thought out list of 15 schools?
Family being happy. Doesn’t mean the two are mutually exclusive. Far from it, I would think.
Very true. On another note though, wouldn’t it also be a disservice to myself not to apply to the schools with the best ‘name’ that I can get in to? (I could care less about the prestige for the sake of prestige; I care about the financial aid, the resources and support for students, and the boost for the match).
I am going different directions. Hence the question and the poll lol
How real/common is yield protection; does my lower cGPA save me from that?
My stats were relatively similar to yours. I would say you're in an even better position than I was, but my narrative was fairly unique in my opinion. Regardless, I got interviews from schools all up and down the spectrum from top 20 schools to "unranked" schools. I applied to 37 schools, and received interviews from 22 IIRC. We're not the same person, but I wouldn't worry too much about yield protection with a 3.6x. If I were in your position a year ago, I would have been concerned only applying to 15 schools (depending on which schools they were), but in retrospect if your list isn't too top heavy, it's definitely possible that you can make it work.
Resource protection is real, and what is important is having a strategic list.
Of which you have helped/are helping/will likely help me fashion, so thank you!
I might add a few more of the places that are all about MCAT, and take off some of the low yield public and private schools. E.g. your choice of Northwestern, U Chicago, Vandy, Sinai, Case Western, NYU instead of Creighton, Jefferson, Iowa, Wisconsin or Vermont. Especially the public ones, they're not gonna believe you'd pick them over UW.
Same for Northwestern, U Chicago and Vanderbilt, they all love offering scholarships for majority of tuition. Would make those three priority to add
Hmm, You know I never considered Pittsburgh. All I knew about Pittsburgh was from this scene in an episode of fairly odd parents some 14 years ago:
To the first bolded: I get that, it is just difficult not to stigmatize ones self. Particularly looking at both cGPA and how my research is only like 500ish hours across 2 years...granted, as you said, there is the military and extensive clinical experience. Just as far as top schools are concerned, I keep getting hung up on the cGPA and the higher-than-average-but-low-for-T10 research. Thank you for the words of confidence.
I will throw Vandy in there. Same for U chicago - it is in a nice but still 'affordable-ish' area of Chicago. In another post, LizzyM told me that Northwestern is in an expensive and/or cramped part of chicago despite being a nice area. Any Chicagoan's that can confirm? If so, I will leave Northwestern off for family's sake.
Thank you for the list/modifications. I know that is like the third list you have given me, but I greatly appreciate the help in narrowing things down in getting specific!
No, you are all good. I know it is a major difference and I understand the boost for Active Duty. Have heard from others that any military experience is viewed positively, but AD is definitely a moreso thing. Other guy was just insulting. Can probably delete my rant.
I mark “Other” as I am actively in the Inactive Ready Reserve. Were I still in the reserves I would mark reserves. Were I out of the IRR I would still mark ‘other’ and put “Served six years in the reserves” had I been deployed I would mark Veteran. In any case, yes I am checking “yes” to have you ever served in the US Armed Forces, because I have served in the US Armed Forces. Have I served more than 180 days of service? By far, if that is what you are asking. Do I still qualify for VA home loan, GI bill, military discounts at private shops, access to on base, VA health systems, personal financial counseling, mental health counseling, in state tuition waivers, and all other benefits that are granted to Active duty veterans? Yes to all of the above, if that is what you are asking.
In the future, feel free to engage in constructive dialogue before sharing opinions on things you don’t understand. Thanks for the wishes of luck, appreciate it.
During military residency? You are active duty, yes. I believe that the residency is counted as TIS as active duty towards retirement but not towards time commitment. During medical school, however, it is not counted as TIS as they are assigned to IRR status (where I am at now). If you are at USHSU, I am not sure if schooling portion counts towards TIS. @Matthew9Thirtyfive would know better.
Would you provide any different advice as far as school list and/or competitiveness based on that? I apologize for the confusion, I thought you were aware of my situation, my fault it was not clear.
While this was likely the situation for anyone who joined before fiscal year 2018, anyone who joined after that does not have access to the whole 20 year retirement scheme right? This is the start of a whole different thread so I don’t want to get into it too terribly much but aren’t people who joined after 2018 under the blended retirement program or TSP strictly? I just remember having the option of opting into TSP only as opposed to the 20 year system
Thank you for clarifying. Even after a few multi-hour briefings on the transition, all the details still never stuck in my head.
Didn't know that the webpage for it was this extensive. I did not look in to it as I only planned on the 6 years in when the switch was made.
