How many schools to apply to?

[NimbleNavigator]

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I'm applying to 40 schools. Is that too much? It's definitely gonna be expensive. Luckily I'm an engineer on a couple of gap years though so I'm making enough to pay for it.

 

[Jersanta]

I would say applying to 10-15 schools would be a safe minimum. If money is not an issue, then it's your decision to apply to that many schools. But keep in mind to only apply to those schools -AND their respective city- you can honestly picture yourself spending 4+ years in. I would not waste my time doing II's and money with schools that I "might" be willing to go.

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[ronnicus]

I would say applying to 10-15 schools would be a safe minimum. If money is not an issue, then it's your decision to apply to that many schools. But keep in mind to only apply to those schools -AND their respective city- you can honestly picture yourself spending 4+ years in. I would not waste my time doing II's and money with schools that I "might" be willing to go.

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People always say only apply to cities and schools you can picture yourself spending 4+ years in. Why wouldn't you be able to spend 4 years anywhere? Won't you be on campus most of the time anyway? Or am I just not really that picky?

 

[Jersanta]

That's honestly more of a personal question for yourself. Yes you may be spending majority of the time studying in medschool, but there will be times to relax and just live life.

If you want to live somewhere that's nice and cool, then don't apply at Texas or Arizona. If you want to be near a beach during off days, then don't apply in the middle of no where. If you want to stay in a moderate sized city, then don't apply in big cities. If safety of the city is an issue, then don't apply to dangerous cities with frequent crime rates. If you plan on doing residency in that same state, will you be happy to stay there for another 3+ years. If you have/will have a family, maybe choose a school that's relatively close. There's so many factors to consider, that it all comes down to what will make you happy/content with your current life?

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[Mansamusa]

Depends on your stats.

If I had to cut down my MD list, I would've gotten rid of all the schools where my science GPA was below the 10th percentile. I ended up getting into 2 schools where my sGPA was over 0.1 lower than the 10th percentile and I will be attending one of those schools. So if I didn't apply to so many schools, I wouldn't have the options I have now.

Basically, applying to 40 schools will be a waste of money, but it may give you unexpected opportunities. You can decide based on your desires/app if wasting the money is worth the chance of an unexpected outcome

Now, if you are someone with a 3.7+ and 34+ or come from a state with easy-to-get-in med schools, you should definitely trim that list

 

[NimbleNavigator]

What if I have high stats but I want to apply a lot of schools in hopes of getting a scholarship? Which schools should I apply to?

 

[Catalystik]

I'm applying to 40 schools. Is that too much? It's definitely gonna be expensive. Luckily I'm an engineer on a couple of gap years though so I'm making enough to pay for it.

You are likely to suffer severe Secondary burnout if you apply to that many schools, with their essay quality dropping off significantly after 25-30. Instead of using the pray-and-spray approach, research the schools now for elements that might sway you against attending there: curricular style (small group learning/PBL, traditional lecture, systems-based, etc) cost of living, safety of area, type of grading system (P/F vs ABCDF, and those between), variety of clinical sites, whether cheap health insurance is provided (some don't have any), proximity to home, opportunities in the area for SO jobs and kids' education (if pertinent), climate & preferred recreational opportunities, etc.

 

[Mansamusa]

What if I have high stats but I want to apply a lot of schools in hopes of getting a scholarship? Which schools should I apply to?

As in top tier stats? Then make sure you apply to Mayo and Baylor and Miami. And other strong mid-tiers who may give you money. And then UPenn and UChicago give a lot I've heard.

Honestly, if you do think that you are likely to qualify for scholarships and have the money to apply, I don't see anything wrong with it. Writing all those secondaries isn't bad. They are almost all variations on the same 3 or 4 topics. Brainstorm your stories for those topics now (the stressful part of secondaries is just listing your coursework over and over again).

I definitely wasted a lot of money this cycle, but it was worth it.

 

[Toutie]

Make sure you don't apply to any of the left leaning schools. You surely wouldn't be happy in such a liberal environment.

 

[osckey]

Paying for it is one thing, however, you don't realize how much work it is to finish secondaries with all the unique essays you have to write. You may pay for 40 apps and receive around 33-37 secondaries back for completion. It is an insane drain on your time and won't be fun but is possible. Just understand that.

 

[theguardsman]

I applied to 40 schools, attended 5 interviews (out of 7 invites) and got into all 5.

Reflecting on it, it was definitely:
1. a lot of money (I stopped counting once those 100 secondary fees started coming in)

2. A lot of work- secondary wise. My july totally sucked. I worked a full time job and would write them after work every single day. Sure there is overlap, but you never understand how annoying it is to convert seemingly similar essays between 100 words and 1000 characters and etc..

3. It may not have allowed me to do my "very best" writing, just because there was so much volume. The way I organized it was by date recieved, trying to be within the 2 week "deadline" (which is more of a good measure). So sometimes I would have to do a school that I was less excited about before one that I really cared about and that was a bit annoying.

Overall, I think it was worth it to apply to a large number, but I think it's possible to trim down from 40 to about 30 or so and save a little bit of work and use that extra energy on making the ones you do really good. Just make sure to have a solid list. Adding 20 additional schools that you have slim to none chance of getting admitted (schools with few OOS, extremely competitive schools, schools w 15k apps) won't do you much good.

 

[LizzyM]

If you can't get one offer out of 20 applications you are doing it wrong. I think that >25 is too many particularly if you have strong stats. The secondaries are hard work. The invitations to interview come in if you are a strong student and until you have at least one offer in your pocket, you really can't say "no" to an interview invite. As you go to more interviews you get worn out and begin to sound rehearsed. Some applicants have difficulty focusing on the "what alternative to medicine have you considered?" question when they have an offer already in hand. Some of those applicants are unbearably arrogant.

Choose your instate schools and those that are friendly to OOS applicants which includes all the private schools. Know what you want in terms of geography, culture and climate. If you wouldn't live in Rochester (either of them) if they paid you, then don't apply there. I hate nothing more than people who say, "should I drop this offer and reapply next year? I think I can do better".

 

[LuluLovesMe]

If you are truly a nimble navigator you only need to apply to Harvard.

 

[Shirafune]

Any advice for me? I'm a California resident, so I'm applying to 35 MD programs. I'm interested in MD/PhD so I applied to 10 public school programs; I'm not confident enough to take away chances at private MD schools, given their rolling admissions if I'm not accepted to their MD/PhD program.

 

[LizzyM]

Any advice for me? I'm a California resident, so I'm applying to 35 MD programs. I'm interested in MD/PhD so I applied to 10 public school programs; I'm not confident enough to take away chances at private MD schools, given their rolling admissions if I'm not accepted to their MD/PhD program.

How many MD/PhD programs and how many MD only programs?

How many hours of research have you completed? have you been funded even for a summer? have you published? have you presented your work? Just trying to gauge if you are a viable candidate for the PhD.

MCAT and GPA?

 

[MediocreGunner]

It's been my understanding that California residents apply to 30 - 40 programs, even 40+, on average. If you have the money and the time, then why not?

 

[Shirafune]

How many MD/PhD programs and how many MD only programs?

How many hours of research have you completed? have you been funded even for a summer? have you published? have you presented your work? Just trying to gauge if you are a viable candidate for the PhD.

MCAT and GPA?

35 MD only schools and 10 MD/PhD at out-state public schools.
I am graduating as a senior and have been doing basic science research for nearly 3 years now. Two labs: roughly 1k hours over 1 year for first lab and almost 2k hours over 2 years for second lab. I am published as 3rd author from my 1st lab. I am finishing up a 1st author manuscript in my 2nd lab which will only have me and my PI as authors. A post-doc might be second author depending on how the next month or two pans out. I have presented my work at the undergraduate symposium at my home institution as well as at a departmental seminar series (1 hour presentation + Q&A) at my home institution.

I propose and design the experiments for my PI, collect and analyze the data, write parts of the manuscript, prepare figures, troubleshoot, and manage/mentor other undergraduates. My preliminary data is also on my PI's grant renewal.

33 MCAT (14PS/8VR/11BS) - taken August 2014
cGPA/sGPA are 3.95+

I also received an award for being the top student based on academic excellence and research within the college of biology at my UC.

Strong LORs - one professor (not PI) said I was producing work equivalent to a top student in his graduate courses, so really I only think my MCAT is holding me back from applying to only MD/PhD programs and/or a more limited number of MD only programs.

 

[XxThaDoggxX]

I like Trump whereas it seems like most medical students don't. But I guess that's not the diversity medical schools want.

I am pro-life whereas it seems like most medical students aren't. But I guess that's not the diversity medical schools want.

I believe that we were created by God, whereas it seems like most medical students believe we just appeared from nothing. But I guess that's not the diversity medical schools want.

I am Asian, a minority race. But I guess that's not the diversity medical schools want.

I believe that transgender individuals aren't helped by gender reassignment surgery, and that the reality is there are deeper mental illnesses that need to be addressed instead. But I guess that's not the diversity medical schools want.

All the ones that welcome "How Diverse " you are.

 

[LizzyM]

You are a bit low for top 20s MD but your research productivity might make you attr active despite low MCAT verbal. If you target well you should be able to get in with 10 combined and 10 MD only.