Not applying out of state - am I being stupid?

[texas aggie]

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With 8 MD schools in Texas and 1 DO school, I have heard that out of state med schools don't really invite Texas residents for interviews unless they are spectacular (3.8+ GPA and 36+ MCAT). With a GPA of 3.61 and an MCAT of 11/11/10 (32), I feel like if I don't get in anywhere in Texas, I probably won't get in anywhere out of state. I'm thinking about not even applying out of state. Am I making a huge mistake?

 

[Rocktapus]

Don't know what your ECs are like but you should get in somewhere in TX. If you have the cash and time I would add maybe 4 private schools that have similar median stats to you (there are a lot) and offer something you like, and maybe 1 or 2 reaches. Can't hurt.

 

[Mr Avante]

With 8 MD schools in Texas and 1 DO school, I have heard that out of state med schools don't really invite Texas residents for interviews unless they are spectacular (3.8+ GPA and 36+ MCAT). With a GPA of 3.61 and an MCAT of 11/11/10 (32), I feel like if I don't get in anywhere in Texas, I probably won't get in anywhere out of state. I'm thinking about not even applying out of state. Am I making a huge mistake?

Not at all. The average MCAT in texas was 29, I think. Look for safety and dream schools if it concerns you a lot; that I'd do.

 

[texas aggie]

Not at all. The average MCAT in texas was 29, I think. Look for safety and dream schools if it concerns you a lot; that I'd do.

I agree, but why would a safety school invite me? Wouldn't they be smart enough to know I'm applying to the school as a safety, and would much rather pick a Texas school over theirs? 🙁

 

[chenzt]

I agree, but why would a safety school invite me? Wouldn't they be smart enough to know I'm applying to the school as a safety, and would much rather pick a Texas school over theirs? 🙁

That's when secondaries that asks "why our school" becomes your best friend

 

[Status Sciaticus]

That's when secondaries that asks "why our school" becomes your best friend

Correct. I am sure there are texans who want to get out of texas or go to a specific school because they find it a better fit than most texas schools.

I love the texas schools and their super cheap tuition.

 

[texas aggie]

Correct. I am sure there are texans who want to get out of texas or go to a specific school because they find it a better fit than most texas schools.

I love the texas schools and their super cheap tuition.

What out of state schools are recommended for Texas residents? I don't really care to go to any fancy schools 😀

I just want to apply to 3-4 "safeties"

 

[Status Sciaticus]

What out of state schools are recommended for Texas residents? I don't really care to go to any fancy schools 😀

I just want to apply to 3-4 "safeties"

Apply to the ones where youre scores are part of the median on the MSAR or above their median..

 

[texas aggie]

Apply to the ones where youre scores are part of the median on the MSAR or above their median..

Thank you!

 

[DokterMom]

With 8 MD schools in Texas and 1 DO school, I have heard that out of state med schools don't really invite Texas residents for interviews unless they are spectacular (3.8+ GPA and 36+ MCAT). With a GPA of 3.61 and an MCAT of 11/11/10 (32), I feel like if I don't get in anywhere in Texas, I probably won't get in anywhere out of state. I'm thinking about not even applying out of state. Am I making a huge mistake?

I don't think it's a mistake at all -- though it does take guts!

Think about it -- Your stats are very good. In line with the 90-10 margins of probably every school in the state, right? So you've got 8 high quality medical schools with cheap tuition who are already biased in your favor. Even applying to 30 schools, how many pre-meds have 8 really good fit schools that they'd actually want to go to? (Maybe you'd prefer some TX schools over others, but wouldn't you prefer *any* TX school over one that costs $250,000 more?)

Assuming you have no red flags and your PS doesn't suck, you should expect at least four or five interviews, very possibly more. And if you don't suck at interviewing, you can reasonably expect several offers. And with TX's match, the odds that at least one school will be willing to accept you are really quite high. So that's the good news.

The bad news is that if you do have red flags, if your PS does suck, if your ECs are lousy, and if you interview poorly, you may not get in. Explain how that will change OOS? Will you somehow be more competitive there?

So my advice for Texas applicants is:

- If you're a stellar applicant, apply to your dream schools. You might get in.

- If you're an average to good applicant, TX is a great fit. The circumstances in which you would not get accepted anywhere in TX but would get accepted somewhere else are, uh, what?...

- If you're a below average applicant, your OOS 'safeties' should be DO. See 'average' above.

 

[Greedo]

I don't think it's a mistake at all -- thought it does take guts!

Think about it -- Your stats are very good. In line with the 90-10 margins of probably every school in the state, right? So you've got 8 high quality medical schools with cheap tuition who are already biased in your favor. Even applying to 30 schools, how many pre-meds have 8 really good fit schools that they'd actually want to go to? (Maybe you'd prefer some TX schools over others, but wouldn't you prefer *any* TX school over one that costs $250,000 more?)

Assuming you have no red flags and your PS doesn't suck, you should expect at least four or five interviews, very possibly more. And if you don't suck at interviewing, you can reasonably expect a several offers. And with TX's match, the odds that at least one school will be willing to accept you are really quite high. So that's the good news.

The bad news is that if you do have red flags, if your PS does suck, if your ECs are lousy, and if you interview poorly, you may not get in. Explain how that will change OOS? Will you somehow be more competitive there?

So my advice for Texas applicants is:

- If you're a stellar applicant, apply to your dream schools. You might get in.

- If you're an average to good applicant, TX is a great fit. The circumstances in which you would not get accepted anywhere in TX but would get accepted somewhere else are, uh, what?...

- If you're a below average applicant, your OOS 'safeties' should be DO. See 'average' above.

I totally agree with this, if you can figure out what makes the difference between a "stellar" applicant and an "average to good" applicant. It seems like the "top" schools are looking for intangibles, so it's hard to define what makes someone stellar.

 

[A7X]

I don't think it's a mistake at all -- thought it does take guts!

Think about it -- Your stats are very good. In line with the 90-10 margins of probably every school in the state, right? So you've got 8 high quality medical schools with cheap tuition who are already biased in your favor. Even applying to 30 schools, how many pre-meds have 8 really good fit schools that they'd actually want to go to? (Maybe you'd prefer some TX schools over others, but wouldn't you prefer *any* TX school over one that costs $250,000 more?)

Assuming you have no red flags and your PS doesn't suck, you should expect at least four or five interviews, very possibly more. And if you don't suck at interviewing, you can reasonably expect a several offers. And with TX's match, the odds that at least one school will be willing to accept you are really quite high. So that's the good news.

The bad news is that if you do have red flags, if your PS does suck, if your ECs are lousy, and if you interview poorly, you may not get in. Explain how that will change OOS? Will you somehow be more competitive there?

So my advice for Texas applicants is:

- If you're a stellar applicant, apply to your dream schools. You might get in.

- If you're an average to good applicant, TX is a great fit. The circumstances in which you would not get accepted anywhere in TX but would get accepted somewhere else are, uh, what?...

- If you're a below average applicant, your OOS 'safeties' should be DO. See 'average' above.

This.

 

[SN12357]

With 8 MD schools in Texas and 1 DO school, I have heard that out of state med schools don't really invite Texas residents for interviews unless they are spectacular (3.8+ GPA and 36+ MCAT). With a GPA of 3.61 and an MCAT of 11/11/10 (32), I feel like if I don't get in anywhere in Texas, I probably won't get in anywhere out of state. I'm thinking about not even applying out of state. Am I making a huge mistake?

If Texas were my home, I probably wouldn't apply anywhere else either except for a few dream schools. It's not like you're limiting yourself to 1 school or something like that.

 

[Radon XP]

If Texas were my home, I probably wouldn't apply anywhere else either except for a few dream schools. It's not like you're limiting yourself to 1 school or something like that.

If $$ isn't a huge inhibitor, then I recommend applying to an additional 10-15 schools on top of the Texas schools.

Why? First of all, you can apply to all Texas MD schools using TMDSAS for cheap; and there's really no good reason to not apply to other medical schools in the country. Just look up which ones are OOS friendly. Private schools usually don't restrict their classes to in-state applicants only.

It's true that Texas schools are preferable and cheaper...but a more expensive OOS medical school is still much better than no acceptances whatsoever.

 

[texas aggie]

I don't think it's a mistake at all -- though it does take guts!

Think about it -- Your stats are very good. In line with the 90-10 margins of probably every school in the state, right? So you've got 8 high quality medical schools with cheap tuition who are already biased in your favor. Even applying to 30 schools, how many pre-meds have 8 really good fit schools that they'd actually want to go to? (Maybe you'd prefer some TX schools over others, but wouldn't you prefer *any* TX school over one that costs $250,000 more?)

Assuming you have no red flags and your PS doesn't suck, you should expect at least four or five interviews, very possibly more. And if you don't suck at interviewing, you can reasonably expect several offers. And with TX's match, the odds that at least one school will be willing to accept you are really quite high. So that's the good news.

The bad news is that if you do have red flags, if your PS does suck, if your ECs are lousy, and if you interview poorly, you may not get in. Explain how that will change OOS? Will you somehow be more competitive there?

So my advice for Texas applicants is:

- If you're a stellar applicant, apply to your dream schools. You might get in.

- If you're an average to good applicant, TX is a great fit. The circumstances in which you would not get accepted anywhere in TX but would get accepted somewhere else are, uh, what?...

- If you're a below average applicant, your OOS 'safeties' should be DO. See 'average' above.

Perfect response! This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

If $$ isn't a huge inhibitor, then I recommend applying to an additional 10-15 schools on top of the Texas schools.

Why? First of all, you can apply to all Texas MD schools using TMDSAS for cheap; and there's really no good reason to not apply to other medical schools in the country. Just look up which ones are OOS friendly. Private schools usually don't restrict their classes to in-state applicants only.

It's true that Texas schools are preferable and cheaper...but a more expensive OOS medical school is still much better than no acceptances whatsoever.

Agreed. I think I'll just apply to a few safeties. I don't really care to apply to any "reach" schools. Prestige doesn't mean anything to me.

 

[def1]

I'd say the majority of the texans i met on the interview trail, only applied to texas schools, including me.

 

[Salaam]

I don't think you need to apply to any OOS schools if you don't want to. I have about 20 friends who applied this cycle. All Texas residents. MCAT scores were primarily around 30 (some a little more, some a little less). Every single one of us will be going to medical school in Texas. ECs were all different, from great to below average. Not a huge sample size, but I hope it gives you some confidence. Texas is a great state to be a pre-medical student!