Risk of Applying to Reach Schools?

[Abby_Normal]

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My parents, who have been very supportive of me academically, think I should add more reach schools to my application. It's not so much because they care whether I go to one of the 'big name' med schools (they don't) or that they have ridiculously inflated ideas of my ability so much as they're attitude that I should let the schools decide whether I'm what they're looking for rather than say no for them. More than anything, this stems from the fact that when my mom was applying to colleges she applied to what at the time was one of the most competitive undergrads in the country in spite of reservations about her strength as an applicant and was accepted.

My instinct is not to apply to schools that I am pretty sure won't accept me but seeing as my parents are financing this part of my application I can't come up with a concrete reason not to. Assuming that I also am applying to enough reasonable schools (I think I am), is there any reason it would be detrimental to add a few more reaches? Is anyone else in this situation?

 

[Cypher321]

If money isn't an issue then the worst your reach schools could say is "Thanks but no thanks". Doesn't seem you have anything to lose in the situation.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

My parents, who have been very supportive of me academically, think I should add more reach schools to my application. It's not so much because they care whether I go to one of the 'big name' med schools (they don't) or that they have ridiculously inflated ideas of my ability so much as they're attitude that I should let the schools decide whether I'm what they're looking for rather than say no for them. More than anything, this stems from the fact that when my mom was applying to colleges she applied to what at the time was one of the most competitive undergrads in the country in spite of reservations about her strength as an applicant and was accepted.

My instinct is not to apply to schools that I am pretty sure won't accept me but seeing as my parents are financing this part of my application I can't come up with a concrete reason not to. Assuming that I also am applying to enough reasonable schools (I think I am), is there any reason it would be detrimental to add a few more reaches? Is anyone else in this situation?

Check out the MSAR about GPA range and MCAT range (10-90 percentile of students). If you are in that range -- I say go for it. Of course, I am currently doing that with like 15 reach schools on my list.

Many reach schools interview a larger percentage of their applicants (based some number crunching I did). Even though I don't have as much of a shot, if there is something about my application that like enough to consider me for an interview... well then I might get in.

Of course -- I have also done alot of research in my life and reach schools like reach more so than mid-tier (good chance) schools IMO. So they might my application alot more... until they look at my GPA.

The only downside of applying to reach schools is that you have ALOT more essays to write so you really need to stay on top of everything. You probably will get alot more rejections... but if you are already verified and apply now, you will still be pretty early in the cycle so there is a slimmmm slim chance of hope.

 

[morning]

If you end up having to reapply it could hurt you to have already applied to that school, but otherwise I can't see any reason not to if they're paying.

 

[dingyibvs]

If you have at least one spectacular area out of either the MCAT or EC's, then it's worth applying to some reach schools. If you're mediocre in all areas, then there is 0 shot and don't bother wasting the money.

 

[Suenya]

If finances are not a concern, I think the only reason you wouldn't want to add more reach schools is to avoid secondary burn out. As someone that applied to a very high number of schools, I can say that it can be very painful even to do a moderate number of schools, and if you feel like it's a waste of time than it would be even worse.

Personally, I would apply to more matchy schools and schools you are more competitive at rather than more reach schools to avoid having bad luck and needing to reapply. But reach schools can't hurt if you can handle the applications. I interviewed at some of mine 🙂

 

[akinetopsia]

The risk is being cleaned out by the reach schools on secondary fees, along with receiving rejections, which would be disheartening. The reward is getting admitted to a "reach" school that could possibly open some doors for you as far as your training and career go.

 

[Abby_Normal]

Thanks. I don't have my MCAT scores back yet so, considering the other aspects of my application, my greatest weakness is a lack of research. My ECs are decent and my GPA is good. Anyway, this makes me reluctant to add "big name" schools, because they like research.

I'll explain the finances more carefully to my parents and then see what they say.

 

[TaylorMDhopeful]

Not everyone that gets into big name schools have research experience I believe that from a few books that I read while applying it was more like 75%, still a significant amount but not everyone.

I would say if they are financing it and they are aware of the cost of applications/interviews then go for it. You don't want to always wonder what if I applied to this school or that school. You never know, this application process is a crap shoot. You may get love at places you never thought you would and no love at places you thought you were going to get rave reviews at. Have faith in your application, apply and work hard on secondaries and interview prep!

 

[NickNaylor]

Agree with others - especially if your parents are paying the fees, I say go for it. The only way you can absolutely not get accepted is if you don't apply at all. Until you get a rejection notice there's still a chance. Definitely a happy-go-lucky way of looking at it, but it's true.

 

[MaryLennox]

there are a couple of reach schools i wanted to apply to, but i didn't because i was running out of $$$ and had to choose between those reaches, and more realistic schools for my stats . . .

i do occasionally wonder what would have happened, particularly if i had finished my application to columbia, who supposedly likes artists and high verbal scores. i'm sure i wouldn't have gotten in, but now i'll never know! i am glad i didn't spend the $$ on the Emory secondary though, i didn't have a snowball's chance in hell there. if i were you i'd just apply to a handful of reach schools, after researching them and trying to determine which ones might be a better fit for you/ looking for qualities you have, and therefore a better chance. good luck!!