Premed advisor said to finalize a school list w/out MCAT scores...?

[ToXicity09]

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As you can deduce from the title, my premed advisor told me to finalize a school list to apply to by January 2016 (I'm set to take my MCAT in May and apply throughout the following year). I know I should start to make a tentative list, and maybe that is what she meant, but I'm still unsure as to how to start doing that. I have an excellent GPA and solid ECs, but so much hinges on the MCAT score that I'm unsure of how to start developing my list other than starting with my undergraduate college's medical school and my dream school. Any advice from people who did this before?

 

[efle]

It's not rare for advisors to give odd or downright terrible advice (one recently told my sibling they could take a prereq while studying abroad...)

You absolutely need at least an idea from practice exams of how you'll score to make a decent list

 

[Shirafune]

You can start your list by filtering for mission and fit. Add and subtract schools once you get your MCAT score, but certainly for starters, you can include your state schools, schools with missions that fit your application, schools where you have geographical ties, and perhaps some "mid-tier" schools that pique your interest.

It doesn't take that long to peruse school websites.

 

[LizzyM]

Buy the MSAR.
https://students-residents.aamc.org...-apply/medical-school-admission-requirements/

Why not make two assumptions:
1) you score a 508 on the MCAT
2)you score a 520 on the MCAT

Make a list for each scenario.
Make a third list that includes only the schools that appear on both lists.

Does she want to see the list? Give her the third list and tell her that you may add some more schools depending on how you do on the MCAT.

She might think that you will modify your MCAT study schedule if you realize that you won't get into your target schools with a half-ass job on the MCAT. But who knows; some advisors are completely daft.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Buy the MSAR.
https://students-residents.aamc.org...-apply/medical-school-admission-requirements/

Why not make two assumptions:
1) you score a 508 on the MCAT
2)you score a 520 on the MCAT

Make a list for each scenario.
Make a third list that includes only the schools that appear on both lists.

Does she want to see the list? Give her the third list and tell her that you may add some more schools depending on how you do on the MCAT.

She might think that you will modify your MCAT study schedule if you realize that you won't get into your target schools with a half-ass job on the MCAT. But who knows; some advisors are completely daft.

I would modify this and make three lists for 508, 514, and 520, but overall this seems like the best plan. Again, this is only relevant if for some reason it is required by your premed office that you have a school list by this point. For application purposes independent of that, your final school list can only reasonably be determined after you get your true MCAT score back, so if your advisor is only doing this because for your own "benefit", then don't worry about it and just make a list once you have your score.

 

[lexswift]

You could make a list depending on how you are scoring on your MCAT practice tests but realize that it heavily depends on that score and can be subject to change depending on the ultimate results. I have a list in my head about the type of schools I want to apply to and I hope it doesn't change too much once I get my MCAT results!

 

[libertyyne]

As you can deduce from the title, my premed advisor told me to finalize a school list to apply to by January 2016 (I'm set to take my MCAT in May and apply throughout the following year). I know I should start to make a tentative list, and maybe that is what she meant, but I'm still unsure as to how to start doing that. I have an excellent GPA and solid ECs, but so much hinges on the MCAT score that I'm unsure of how to start developing my list other than starting with my undergraduate college's medical school and my dream school. Any advice from people who did this before?

Just buy an MSAR, read through and create a list where your GPA is >=median. Keep track of the median MCAT for these schools and once you get your scores put it in those buckets.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Make a list of 40, get the MCAT, cut it to 20.