Importance of emails from Medical Schools?

[osckey]

AAMCAS released my MCAT score and some info. to participating schools. Ever since then, I have received emails from multiple schools commenting on my URM status and MCAT score. Some emails are generic while some of them seem much less generic.

How much significance should I place towards these schools when applying? Are these schools actually interested in me or are these mass marketing schemes looking to rake in lots of money off of application fees?

I understand that schools send out lots of emails fishing for many applicants for the money. Has anyone had any experience with this type of correspondence and it's actual implications?

Thanks.

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[OneTwoThreeFour]

I don't think anyone can answer this. People have been interviewed/accepted by schools that send them emails, people have been rejected pre-secondary from others.
Any admissions department would say they send the emails to viable candidates, but that means zilch as to whether it provides a boost.

Now, as far as the diversity messages, it is certainly true that some schools more highly value a diverse class. So those messages could be seen as a way to tell which schools fit that description.

 

[Alucard6]

To be honest, those schools that send out emails tend to do it because they are on the lower-list. People avoid applying to those so they try their best to get people to come.

Think of it like those University of Phoenix and DeVry University commercials. They scam you into coming to their schools because their loan payments are ridiculous and put people into debt. On the other hand you never hear any other school doing this because they can supply themselves with a plethora of students without advertising.

Just go with the schools you wish to attend, and pay little attention to those emails unless Harvard or Yale is begging you to apply.

 

[medschoolmyname]

To be honest, those schools that send out emails tend to do it because they are on the lower-list. People avoid applying to those so they try their best to get people to come.

Think of it like those University of Phoenix and DeVry University commercials. They scam you into coming to their schools because their loan payments are ridiculous and put people into debt. On the other hand you never hear any other school doing this because they can supply themselves with a plethora of students without advertising.

Just go with the schools you wish to attend, and pay little attention to those emails unless Harvard or Yale is begging you to apply.

i got a letter from harvard last year asking me to apply, but it sounded way too generic and many ppl from sdn, myself included, determined those schools just want more applications so that they can make money off u in secondaries. how else will those big schools make money? its not like alot of people have high stats so thyre probably trying to make up for application volume = money $$

 

[NickNaylor]

I wouldn't put much stock into them. Apply to schools you're interested in. If one of these emails is convincing, then check the school out and see if they can offer you anything. If after doing that you can't articulate a reason to attend, then don't apply.


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[Alucard6]

i got a letter from harvard last year asking me to apply, but it sounded way too generic and many ppl from sdn, myself included, determined those schools just want more applications so that they can make money off u in secondaries. how else will those big schools make money? its not like alot of people have high stats so thyre probably trying to make up for application volume = money $$

That is a good point. I assume a lot of people do not even bother to apply for those top 10 schools because it would be a waste of money (like myself!).

 

[osckey]

To be honest, those schools that send out emails tend to do it because they are on the lower-list. People avoid applying to those so they try their best to get people to come.

Some of the emails I'm getting are from upper-tier schools so that statement isn't 100% true. Personally, I'm going to be applying to a lot of lower tier schools due to my cGPA stat. from a poor freshman year.

You're right in saying that I should apply to places that interest me and not just from the programs that are sending me emails. I have become interested in some of these schools after reading into them.

 

[Alucard6]

Some of the emails I'm getting are from upper-tier schools so that statement isn't 100% true. Personally, I'm going to be applying to a lot of lower tier schools due to my cGPA stat. from a poor freshman year.

You're right in saying that I should apply to places that interest me and not just from the programs that are sending me emails. I have become interested in some of these schools after reading into them.

I agree now, I take back what I said. As someone else said, they want a lot of people to apply just so they can get that extra money with little effort, from the secondaries. If by all means they seem interesting and everything checks out, then go for it!

 

[Abstractions]

To be honest, those schools that send out emails tend to do it because they are on the lower-list. People avoid applying to those so they try their best to get people to come.

Think of it like those University of Phoenix and DeVry University commercials. They scam you into coming to their schools because their loan payments are ridiculous and put people into debt. On the other hand you never hear any other school doing this because they can supply themselves with a plethora of students without advertising.

Just go with the schools you wish to attend, and pay little attention to those emails unless Harvard or Yale is begging you to apply.

Although I agree with this sentiment, top schools do advertise as well (I received a pamphlet in the mail from WashU after they received my MCAT score).

 

[NervousNerd]

Although I agree with this sentiment, top schools do advertise as well (I received a pamphlet in the mail from WashU after they received my MCAT score).

I got one from U of Illinois MSTP program telling me to apply. My MCAT is a 29.... Do they even know who they send these too?

 

[lmn]

To be honest, those schools that send out emails tend to do it because they are on the lower-list. People avoid applying to those so they try their best to get people to come.

Although I received my fair share of lower programs and places like Ross (Medical and Vet in the same email just in case you didn't know which you wanted to go into), I received a few from high tier schools as well. I believe those are based on threshold of your MCAT and sometimes URM, but it isn't just lower tier schools sending these out.

 

[Alucard6]

Although I received my fair share of lower programs and places like Ross (Medical and Vet in the same email just in case you didn't know which you wanted to go into), I received a few from high tier schools as well. I believe those are based on threshold of your MCAT and sometimes URM, but it isn't just lower tier schools sending these out.

Yes I agree, I said a couple posts above but I realize my statement was wrong. You get e-mails from all throughout because those schools want those extra dollars!

 

[lmn]

Yes I agree, I said a couple posts above but I realize my statement was wrong. You get e-mails from all throughout because those schools want those extra dollars!

To be fair, they also want your application - for the non-spam everyone schools they are obviously interested in your diversity or your score or something at that point, and they want you to apply in case you are a great applicant that would bring a lot to their incoming class. But obviously (for other readers of this thread) a simple email shouldn't be taken as a golden word that they want you and that you should apply, you still have to make sure your entire application would be a good fit for them and that you fit their missions/etc.

 

[mjhhockey98]

I imagine these schools just have a computer program that sends out an email to anyone who scored x or higher on his/her MCAT.