How would you have done it?

[Spriteling]

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I would have probably delayed my application a year, so I didn't end up having to apply so late in the cycle. I would also then have had more grades to show on my application. Though I was accepted to my top choice school, it was my only acceptance, and I think I would have done better with an earlier app.

 

[mistafab]

I think I did this cycle right the first time. I got a few acceptances and I don't think i'd change what I did.

1. I submitted my app early
2. I asked for LOR's really early (gave a heads up to potentials in march/april)
3. didn't pre-write

Come to think of it though - I probably would have applied to less schools. The extra secondaries and cash (~500 bones) could have saved me time and money. 16-20 would have been plenty of apps.

 

[takeurmeds02]

Schedule interviews for school you are less interested in first. Intentionally delay interviews for schools that you are more interested in for later.

Unless your interviews fall in the spring semester lol. I'd think you want to try and get looked at as soon as possible since half the cycle is done..

 

[justadream]

Unless your interviews fall in the spring semester lol. I'd think you want to try and get looked at as soon as possible since half the cycle is done..

Yes, obviously within reason lol.

My suggestion is more like if HMS is your first choice, you should do anything but interview at HMS first.

 

[mr.mkitty]

Yes, obviously within reason lol.

My suggestion is more like if HMS is your first choice, you should do anything but interview at HMS first.

I'd argue to do this for any school that a student really has desire to attend, not just HMS.
If it's your first choice, it's your first choice..
If you dearly want to get into a particular school, wait till you've interviewed elsewhere. It's crazy how much better you get at interviewing from your first to your last interview.
I'm agreeing with you of course, but also arguing that people really should take this into high-consideration whether or not it is at a "top 20 school."

 

[Pusheen]

I'm really surprised that people wished that they had applied to more dream schools and less safety schools.
As a good-but-not-exceptional applicant, I have a lot of safeties/below my range schools on my list right now and virtually no top schools...Maybe it's time to switch it up a bit 😀

 

[DrDorianTurkleton]

I'm really surprised that people wished that they had applied to more dream schools and less safety schools.
As a good-but-not-exceptional applicant, I have a lot of safeties/below my range schools on my list right now and virtually no top schools...Maybe it's time to switch it up a bit 😀

For the most part, the people saying that they should have applied to more dream schools are people that have thus far been accepted. I'm sure the people with less successful cycles would say the complete opposite. Not trying to say applying to reaches is bad (I applied to plenty 😛), just that in hindsight after getting acceptances, of course most people would wonder if they could have had a shot at some higher-hanging fruit.

 

[raiderette]

I had more interviews at OOS publics than private schools. I wish I had applied to a few more of those and fewer privates.

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[gannicus89]

i would have...stressed out less. this whole process, while tiring, was not as bad as i had imagined it would be. i spent a lot of time worrying about things that were out of my control- something that i think many pre-meds engage in.