How many schools = too many schools?

[newtokyo]

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Hello all. I am new here. Can someone tell me if it looks bad if I apply to about 30 schools? I heard that medical schools are all connected and know where you are accepted, waitlisted, and rejected from. Do they actually know which schools I submitted my AMCAS to and would it hurt my chances if I applied to so many schools. Would they view that as being desperate and mentally penalize me for that when looking at my application? (I know it's a lot of money, but I want to increase my chances since I am applying late in the process and I don't have very high stats, i.e 3.5 gpa/30 mcat). Thanks!

 

[[pj]]

Applying to 30 schools is far from abnormal. If you only applied to, say, 5 schools, then they might think you're full of yourself. So I guess you're showing you're definitely not that.

 

[fuzzywuz]

I'm in the same shoes as you. Pretty much the same stat.

I applied to 27 schools.

 

[LittleRocker]

When interviewers ask what other schools you're applying to does it look bad to list off 20 other schools? What's the best way to tackle that question?

 

[silverhorse84]

I don't think they're allowed to ask what other schools you've applied to, but I could be wrong. Personally, I wouldn't list my 30 schools (I don't even know if I could by memory).

 

[flip26]

27

 

[chad5871]

For an "average" applicant (i.e. nothing too outstanding, nothing too bad), I think 30 is a good maximum. After that, I believe one would find a case of diminishing returns. 30 secondaries is a LOT, believe me! I can't imagine doing any more than that...

 

[schismal]

I've never met anyone in the real world who applied to more than 15 schools. It seems to be extremely common on SDN, though... guess that's self-selection at its finest.

 

[DrChristianTroy]

Hello all. I am new here. Can someone tell me if it looks bad if I apply to about 30 schools? I heard that medical schools are all connected and know where you are accepted, waitlisted, and rejected from. Do they actually know which schools I submitted my AMCAS to and would it hurt my chances if I applied to so many schools. Would they view that as being desperate and mentally penalize me for that when looking at my application? (I know it's a lot of money, but I want to increase my chances since I am applying late in the process and I don't have very high stats, i.e 3.5 gpa/30 mcat). Thanks!

Everything that I have read/ heard has told me that other medical schools cannot see the list of schools that you applied to until a certain point (it even says this in the AMCAS site FAQs). However after something like May 15th, I believe that med. schools can see what schools you are still holding acceptances to. I am unsure if this extends to rejections, etc. However up till the point that you are getting interviewed/ accepted the schools should have no idea what other schools you applied to.

Also, I have heard from some people that med. schools will ask what other schools you are applying to. In this case, my advisor instructed me to jsut list my state school and a select few. Going down a list of 30 schools would probably raise eyebrows; not because it is rare (I applied to 28) but because the school would have a decreased chance of retaining you if they did issue an acceptance (you have 29 other possible acceptances to choice from).

Overall do not be afraid to apply to as many places as you few you need to as long as money is not a factor. As make sure that you do not get fatigued by filling out multiple secondaries and have your work suffer because of it. Finally be sure to only apply to places that you could actually see yourself attending.

Good Luck

 

[shiftingmirage]

Other schools do not know where you apply until the May 15 list comes out b/c at that date, you are only allowed to have one spot at one school. If you can afford it, apply to as many schools as you want...though be smart about where you apply. Some schools will not accept OOS so don't waste your money by applying there. idk if schools can ask you where else you applied, but if it comes up in an interviews, just say something like, I can't really decide if a school is for me by just reading the website, I need to go, check it out, interact with students and staff, so I applied wide enough to find the right school for me.

 

[bcat85]

I've never met anyone in the real world who applied to more than 15 schools. It seems to be extremely common on SDN, though... guess that's self-selection at its finest.

me too. I applied to 11 and that was the most I knew of. Applying to 30 medical schools is pure ridiculousness (and a huge waste of money). Figure out where you have a chance of getting in and apply there. If you have a 3.4/28, don't apply to Harvard and JHU. It ain't gonna happen and you would do just as well to shove that money in your butt and crap it down the toilet. Applying to 40 schools is the reason that there are those "I got into one school but I don't want to go there, can I withdraw and reapply?" threads right around May 15th every year. Pick 15 reasonable schools and go for it.

 

[175961]

taking out a loan to apply to med school = too many schools

 

[stixx]

Applying to 40 schools is the reason that there are those "I got into one school but I don't want to go there, can I withdraw and reapply?" threads right around May 15th every year. Pick 15 reasonable schools and go for it.

Thank god for SDN. Because if I hadn't seen all those people get the verbal beatdown in past threads this is exactly what I would've done.

 

[bugalow121]

65

 

[halekulani]

Applying to 40 schools is the reason that there are those "I got into one school but I don't want to go there, can I withdraw and reapply?" threads right around May 15th every year.

people who are accepted shouldn't even be allowed to re-apply without a really good excuse.

 

[Mister Pie]

I initially applied to approximately 25 schools and completed secondaries for perhaps around ~20 or so. I don't really remember, but to be honest, I was getting pretty burned out on writing essays by the end. I would suggest that you be strategic with your essay writing and balance it between schools you have a good shot at and the schools you really want to get into, since those aren't always the same thing. Enthusiastically writing the secondaries for your dream schools at the expense of doing a good job for your more realistic choices could very well be the downfall of your application. That said, it's a VERY good idea to apply only to schools you would like to attend.

 

[Lukkie]

me too. I applied to 11 and that was the most I knew of. Applying to 30 medical schools is pure ridiculousness (and a huge waste of money). Figure out where you have a chance of getting in and apply there. If you have a 3.4/28, don't apply to Harvard and JHU. It ain't gonna happen and you would do just as well to shove that money in your butt and crap it down the toilet. Applying to 40 schools is the reason that there are those "I got into one school but I don't want to go there, can I withdraw and reapply?" threads right around May 15th every year. Pick 15 reasonable schools and go for it.

you're one of my favorite posters man. i think you'll be a fine replacement for PandaBear once he departs.