Schools asking where else I am applying?

[dcc23]

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So I'm filling out a secondary to one of my state schools and just came across a section where they want me to tell them the other schools I'm submitting secondaries to. Is this normal? I know this school specifically didn't accept a friend of mine who had terrific stats (4.0, 36+) and was from this schools hometown last cycle, but he got into other much better schools. I am concerned they discriminate against applicants who will likely go to a better school. Do I have to disclose every school I want to apply to?

 

[medschoolmyname]

Weird first time I heard of this, are u sure its not a non required section? Schools have no business asking such questions. I will tell u though that some schools that tend to accept lower level scores do "at times" (never really confirmed but it must have happened some times) reject an extremely well qualified applicant because they believe they will simply end up somewhere else and they need to fill up their spots with serious applicants.

 

[dcc23]

Weird first time I heard of this, are u sure its not a non required section? Schools have no business asking such questions. I will tell u though that some schools that tend to accept lower level scores do "at times" (never really confirmed but it must have happened some times) reject an extremely well qualified applicant because they believe they will simply end up somewhere else and they need to fill up their spots with serious applicants.

They ask you to answer every question and this one says "Please list any other medical schools to which you intend to submit a secondary application." And yeah, I'm not an all-star applicant but am reasonably above their averages so I'm a little concerned about letting them know I'm applying broadly. Could I get in any trouble by only listing a few of the other schools I'm going to apply to?

 

[yehhhboiii]

that's a weird question for them to ask
i'm under the impression that they won't know what schools you are applying to until early april. that's when they find out which schools you are accepted to if they accepted you. so feel free to bend the truth

 

[Wipeout416]

Ive ran across this question as well.. made me feel weird too

 

[candbgirl]

Since it is so early in the cycle just say this is the first secondary you have completed. Technically you might not have other secondaries yet so you really don't know if or when you will receive more.

 

[Ismet]

Interesting secondary question...I was asked at one of my interviews what schools had offered me interviews at that point. I'm not sure what the purpose of that was, but I ended up getting accepted a couple weeks later.

 

[Doudline]

Yeah, I don't think they have access to that information before way down the road anyway, so you are most likely free to bull****. Although not 100% certain.

It's quite ****ed up anyway.

 

[anegron519]

.

 

[Loveless]

Interesting secondary question...I was asked at one of my interviews what schools had offered me interviews at that point. I'm not sure what the purpose of that was, but I ended up getting accepted a couple weeks later.

I may be way off on this, but I think interviewers in general like to throw in a question or two that's designed to make the person feel defensive in order to see how big of a douche they are (i.e. how nicely they respond).

 

[rosaceae]

Weird first time I heard of this, are u sure its not a non required section? Schools have no business asking such questions. I will tell u though that some schools that tend to accept lower level scores do "at times" (never really confirmed but it must have happened some times) reject an extremely well qualified applicant because they believe they will simply end up somewhere else and they need to fill up their spots with serious applicants.

I heard that this is a myth.. but schools would like to have a high % of the acceptances go to people who will actually matriculate, as this percentage reflects well on the school. I think that if they do reject someone who is highly qualified, it is probably because they didn't do a great job in their secondary reflecting why they want to go to that school. I think they wouldn't just throw someone out purely due to the fact that they have higher stats.

 

[dcc23]

Yeah, I don't think they have access to that information before way down the road anyway, so you are most likely free to bull****. Although not 100% certain.

It's quite ****ed up anyway.

Agreed. Think I'm just going to list a few local schools and not think twice.

 

[tarheel1408]

I don't see why it's such a huge deal to answer the question. I always feel that honesty is the best policy because then it will never come back to bite you. If you can provide legitimate reasons why you want to attend the school in question then there is no reason that applying to other schools will hurt you.

Sorry folks, schools don't reject applicants because they're 'too good'. If your friend with excellent stats was rejected, I can guarantee it's because he didn't fit the school's mission, not because his stats were too high.

 

[dcc23]

I don't see why it's such a huge deal to answer the question. I always feel that honesty is the best policy because then it will never come back to bite you. If you can provide legitimate reasons why you want to attend the school in question then there is no reason that applying to other schools will hurt you.

Sorry folks, schools don't reject applicants because they're 'too good'. If your friend with excellent stats was rejected, I can guarantee it's because he didn't fit the school's mission, not because his stats were too high.

That's fine, but can you explain why they're asking?

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Where else I applied?

Little school called noneofyagotdambusiness.

 

[dcc23]

Where else I applied?

Little school called noneofyagotdambusiness.

👍

 

[tarheel1408]

They ask because it can give them a better idea of what your priorities are, such as what qualities you're looking for in a prospective school.

 

[IslandStyle808]

So I'm filling out a secondary to one of my state schools and just came across a section where they want me to tell them the other schools I'm submitting secondaries to. Is this normal? I know this school specifically didn't accept a friend of mine who had terrific stats (4.0, 36+) and was from this schools hometown last cycle, but he got into other much better schools. I am concerned they discriminate against applicants who will likely go to a better school. Do I have to disclose every school I want to apply to?

Well you can keep adding schools after the primary app. if I am correct. Just put down a list you feel comfortable with. So if the school finds out later on you got accepted into another school that was not on your secondary list, you can just say it was added to the primary app. after the secondary for the school was filled.

 

[LizzyM]

I think schools ask because they want to know who their competition is. Sure, they can find out in the end when they see who else accepted you but I think that they may want to have an idea on a population level if they are attracting applicants who are also applying to one type of school or another or to specific schools. That may help them tailor their pitch to you when you come for an interview. Keep in mind that schools are trying to woo you as much as you are trying to impress them.

 

[yehhhboiii]

I don't see why it's such a huge deal to answer the question. I always feel that honesty is the best policy because then it will never come back to bite you. If you can provide legitimate reasons why you want to attend the school in question then there is no reason that applying to other schools will hurt you.

Sorry folks, schools don't reject applicants because they're 'too good'. If your friend with excellent stats was rejected, I can guarantee it's because he didn't fit the school's mission, not because his stats were too high.

because there's this thing called privacy. which schools you applied to is none of their business. school probably waitlist or reject people that will choose a different school over them stats are part of it. "fit the school's mission" lol. you mean patient centered, evidence based, team oriented medicine? how about a commitment to diversity, ethics, scientific advancement, excellence in education and high quality patient care?

 

[Moxess]

"fit the school's mission" lol. you mean patient centered, evidence based, team oriented medicine? how about a commitment to diversity, ethics, scientific advancement, excellence in education and high quality patient care?

Hey wait a minute that sounds like every school!

 

[Lucky Louie]

I think schools ask because they want to know who their competition is. Sure, they can find out in the end when they see who else accepted you but I think that they may want to have an idea on a population level if they are attracting applicants who are also applying to one type of school or another or to specific schools. That may help them tailor their pitch to you when you come for an interview. Keep in mind that schools are trying to woo you as much as you are trying to impress them.

This is what I was thinking too. However, since this information is readily available, why ask an individual applicant? I think the answers may set them up to thinking how you see yourself as an applicant vs the reality. I remember seeing this when I applied to college and didn't like it then either.

 

[LizzyM]

This is what I was thinking too. However, since this information is readily available, why ask an individual applicant? I think the answers may set them up to thinking how you see yourself as an applicant vs the reality. I remember seeing this when I applied to college and didn't like it then either.

Well, it does make it possibe to call bulls_it on applicants with terrific grades scores and research experience who apply to one state school and say they are interested in rural medicine but otherwise apply to research powerhouses in cities of 1 million or more.