Is this too risky??

[Carmenita79]

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I am thinking about only applying to my state school (MD program) and three DO schools on the west coast. My stats are 29 and 3.6 GPA, with solid ECs and LORs, so I know that I should apply to tons of schools if I want to get an MD. However, the cost is prohibitive (yet I doubt I am poor enough to get a fee waiver) and I would be happy in a DO program (I am interested in primary care). Any advice?

 

[NapeSpikes]

Credit cards.

 

[akaz]

If you are willing to wait another year, you could risk it. I would apply to a bunch. The debt is worth it. Think of tuition (increases) you will save and getting into work force faster.

I am thinking about only applying to my state school (MD program) and three DO schools on the west coast. My stats are 29 and 3.6 GPA, with solid ECs and LORs, so I know that I should apply to tons of schools if I want to get an MD. However, the cost is prohibitive (yet I doubt I am poor enough to get a fee waiver) and I would be happy in a DO program (I am interested in primary care). Any advice?

 

[Carmenita79]

Credit cards.

What about secondaries, don't you have to pay with a check normally?

 

[akaz]

What about secondaries, don't you have to pay with a check normally?

No. Credit cards.

 

[NapeSpikes]

What about secondaries, don't you have to pay with a check normally?

For me, out of 23 schools, only four or five insisted on checks.

 

[lobster1]

I am thinking about only applying to my state school (MD program) and three DO schools on the west coast. My stats are 29 and 3.6 GPA, with solid ECs and LORs, so I know that I should apply to tons of schools if I want to get an MD. However, the cost is prohibitive (yet I doubt I am poor enough to get a fee waiver) and I would be happy in a DO program (I am interested in primary care). Any advice?

From personal experience, you'll have absolutely no trouble getting into a DO program. An MD program will be difficult but don't count it out. I'd apply to the DO schools you would want to go to, the MD schools in your state and any other MD schools that have MSAR statistics anywhere near yours that you feel passionate about. Again, from personal experience, being able to convey how much you love a school will work in your favor. Good luck and don't worry too much.

 

[kenmc3]

I think that you have a VERY good chance at being accepted to an MD school – the average person accepted to medical school has your stats. But you can’t do it by only applying to 1 school. In fact you probably need to apply to 15+. It’s all a numbers game, you figure at each school they only accept a small percentage of applicants no matter what their statistics are. If you really want to be a doctor and go to an MD school, I suggest you get some money from somewhere (loans, credit card, family, friends etc) and apply to many school. Chances are you will get accepted somewhere. The key is:

1) Apply very early – like within the next month.
2) Be smart when you pick your programs – apply to ALL your state schools and then choose private programs which accept students with your statistics
3) Don’t apply to any state schools for which you don’t have residence in the respective state.

Good luck!

 

[lilnoelle]

I did what you did... I applied to 4 MD schools and 1 DO school. My stats were 28N and 3.85 GPA. I applied to so little for the same reason... cost. It worked out all right for me, so it does happen, but then again, if it hadn't and I had to apply next year for a lot more schools, it actually would've cost me more in the end. I was pretty nervous for a while too.... my state school turned me down and I was thinking that I wouldn't get in.
What state is your residency?

 

[Blade28]

As others have stated already - credit cards. You'll need them for med school and residency as well.

 

[Dr.Acula]

Definitly do NOT under any circumstances make a huge decision like MD/DO based solely on monetary issues. You WILL be in debt after med school, you might still be in debt from undergrad, so when you are 200K in debt will the 2-3 grand really make that much of a difference? My advice like others is a credit card or more loans (paying off your credit with loan money would even improve your credit history!)

 

[Carmenita79]

Wow, thanks for all of the advice. I am a Washington resident, so UW is clearly my first choice, but getting in there is far from a sure thing. I think I will add a few more MD schools (I am thinking Creighton, SLU, Loyola, Albany, maybe others?), hopefully that will improve my chances without being too crazy expensive. Like many of you have said, it will be a lot more expensive to have to wait a year and reapply. 👍

 

[ColinHay]

Wow, thanks for all of the advice. I am a Washington resident, so UW is clearly my first choice, but getting in there is far from a sure thing. I think I will add a few more MD schools (I am thinking Creighton, SLU, Loyola, Albany, maybe others?), hopefully that will improve my chances without being too crazy expensive. Like many of you have said, it will be a lot more expensive to have to wait a year and reapply. 👍

You should apply to the NY schools. they are the only state schools that will take a bunch of out of state students and you automatically brcome a resident after one year so the tuition goes down.
UW is very competitive and will also count WYCHE states as in state
- statistically your chances are low.

 

[Carmenita79]

You should apply to the NY schools. they are the only state schools that will take a bunch of out of state students and you automatically brcome a resident after one year so the tuition goes down.
UW is very competitive and will also count WYCHE states as in state
- statistically your chances are low.

Actually each of the WWAMI states is an individual application group. I think ~100 of the positions are reserved for WA residents (I am also from Toppenish, which may help a little).... still tough since there are so many applicants.

Do all of SUNY schools accept a lot of OOS students? I have heard Upstate does, but I am not sure about the others.

 

[BAM!]

if you take a year off and get a full time job (~30-40k/year), you'll have more than enough money to pay for application costs.

 

[lilnoelle]

if you take a year off and get a full time job (~30-40k/year), you'll have more than enough money to pay for application costs.

haha, thats what you'd think... I guess it depends a little on whether your living with the rents and being fed by them as well. I posted earlier about applying to so few schools because of lack of money and I'm a non trad thats been out for three years, working full time. Of course, I also had one child and was due to have another one last August (knew that I'd be out of work for about three months), had the transmission of my car go out on me, etc, etc, and refused to resort to using credit to pay for the process.

 

[ColinHay]

Actually each of the WWAMI states is an individual application group. I think ~100 of the positions are reserved for WA residents (I am also from Toppenish, which may help a little).... still tough since there are so many applicants.

Do all of SUNY schools accept a lot of OOS students? I have heard Upstate does, but I am not sure about the others.

You should get the AAMC Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR¿) 2007-2008
and use it as your bible. it has all the info you are asking about.
https://services.aamc.org/Publicati...1&cftoken=9EE63981-A8E6-4FBF-95868A53D17F6B42

 

[NonTradMed]

Definitely apply to more than 1 MD school if you are interested in going MD. You have good stats but one MD school will not guarantee you anything. Also, remember that MD schools may be better endowed and can offer you scholarships and financial aid which some DO schools may not.....so spread your options around and see which schools will give you the most bang for your buck. And lastly, remember the bottom line: you will be ~$100k in debt by graduation time, are you not willing to spend a few thousand NOW to make sure that $100k is well invested? It's like saying you're too poor to fly to see your new house so you just buy the first one that comes on the market----not a good way to make an informed decision.

Your numbers are good for both DO and MD, I'd try to add more schools to your list if you can.

 

[cgscribe]

I agree with all the other fine opinions here: 1. The cost of applications is going to be drips in the bucket compared to the debt of actually attending, 2. You'll be able to pay it off eventually, so take solace in that.

Good luck, apply broadly and apply early.

 

[SoCuteMD]

I am thinking about only applying to my state school (MD program) and three DO schools on the west coast. My stats are 29 and 3.6 GPA, with solid ECs and LORs, so I know that I should apply to tons of schools if I want to get an MD. However, the cost is prohibitive (yet I doubt I am poor enough to get a fee waiver) and I would be happy in a DO program (I am interested in primary care). Any advice?

I would apply to a few MD schools and maybe skip the DO schools unless you really want DO. They do tend to be more expensive than MD schools.

I think there was someone who posted on here from MD that she applied there and only there and they waitlisted her because her dedication to medicine was questionable in their opinion. I think she said she reapplied and applied to a bunch of schools and was accepted, maybe. This was a while ago, so I forget.

In summary, I would apply to more than one MD school as it can make it look like you only want to be in medicine if it's "convenient" even if that's not the case at all.

 

[SoCuteMD]

Definitely apply to more than 1 MD school if you are interested in going MD. You have good stats but one MD school will not guarantee you anything. Also, remember that MD schools may be better endowed and can offer you scholarships and financial aid which some DO schools may not.....so spread your options around and see which schools will give you the most bang for your buck. And lastly, remember the bottom line: you will be ~$100k in debt by graduation time, are you not willing to spend a few thousand NOW to make sure that $100k is well invested? It's like saying you're too poor to fly to see your new house so you just buy the first one that comes on the market----not a good way to make an informed decision.

Your numbers are good for both DO and MD, I'd try to add more schools to your list if you can.

100K, I wish 🙂.

Oh well, still gonna have those letters behind my name.