To current applicants, how many MD schools are you applying to?

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radioactive15

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I thought a running list of total schools that current applicants are applying to could be helpful for those who aren't sure how many to apply to and/or to see how the rest of the SDN community approaches things.

If you want to comment, attempt to use this format:

Total (Target, reach)


Mine is: 25 (20,5)
 
Last edited:
20 (18,2)

Pretty average application so far...applying broadly and seeing what happens
 
radioactive15 said:
I thought a running list of total schools that current applicants are applying to could be helpful for those who aren't sure how many to apply to.

If you want to comment, attempt to use this format:

Total (Target, reach)


Mine is: 25 (20,5)
Click to expand...
It totally depends on your credentials and red flags. The strongest applicants can probably get away with 10, the weakest can break 30 and still get no love.

The key though is to have a range. If you are an average applicant 20 applications in the top 20 is not nearly enough, while 20 applications to places which list lower numbers than yours on MSAR might be playing it too safe.

So it's not about the number per se. It's about your personal stats and your range of targets.
 
Law2Doc said:
It totally depends on your credentials and red flags. The strongest applicants can probably get away with 10, the weakest can break 30 and still get no love.

The key though is to have a range. If you are an average applicant 20 applications in the top 20 is not nearly enough, while 20 applications to places which list lower numbers than yours on MSAR might be playing it too safe.

So it's not about the number per se. It's about your personal stats and your range of targets.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. Being wise when coming up with the school list can make/break your application.

But for those (like me) whose (one of) GPA/MCAT is above the range while the (other) MCAT/GPA is below the range presents issues.
 
I applied last cycle, but I'm checking in to say that before I applied, I thought my 15 schools was pretty normal or even slightly high. After being on SDN for a while, I feel like everyone else applied to a lot more than I did. I don't know how you guys do it. I was already very tired of secondaries by the time I was done, and I only had to fill out like 12 or something like that.
 
nwts said:
I applied last cycle, but I'm checking in to say that before I applied, I thought my 15 schools was pretty normal or even slightly high. After being on SDN for a while, I feel like everyone else applied to a lot more than I did. I don't know how you guys do it. I was already very tired of secondaries by the time I was done, and I only had to fill out like 12 or something like that.
Click to expand...

Did you receive any acceptances with your 12?

I've noticed that the SDN community is skewed and reflects more of the higher-end applicants and is not the norm
 
KDoc2020 said:
Fortunately yeah I was playing with 8 really good offers this past year. I applied before my score came in so I thought it would be more like 8/8 but it all worked out in the end 🙂


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

Were you a (mostly) high, mid, or low tier applicant?
 
radioactive15 said:
Did you receive any acceptances with your 12?

I've noticed that the SDN community is skewed and reflects more of the higher-end applicants and is not the norm
Click to expand...
Well, I actually had 15 applications, I just had a few schools that didn't have secondary prompts, so that's why I said filling out 12 secondaries.

I was fortunate to receive 7 IIs, I attended 6 interviews, and I got 3 acceptances.
 
nwts said:
Well, I actually had 15 applications, I just had a few schools that didn't have secondary prompts, so that's why I said filling out 12 secondaries.

I was fortunate to receive 7 IIs, I attended 6 interviews, and I got 3 acceptances.
Click to expand...

Did you receive any of the 7 II's from any no secondary schools?

If you don't mind me asking, what were all of the schools without secondaries which you applied to?
 
Cotterpin said:
Why are you doing that?
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Money. I have a family, own my home, and I cant afford to move to attend other schools. I applied to schools within a couple hours of me, and I'm lucky enough that they are good schools. I know its risky only applying to 4, but I have very good stats (3.95, 518), I think decent EC's, plus I'm a nontrad, and a veteran, so I'm comfortable with my chances
 
chrisjh said:
Money. I have a family, own my home, and I cant afford to move to attend other schools. I applied to schools within a couple hours of me, and I'm lucky enough that they are good schools. I know its risky only applying to 4, but I have very good stats (3.95, 518), I think decent EC's, plus I'm a nontrad, and a veteran, so I'm comfortable with my chances
Click to expand...

Good luck to you!
 
radioactive15 said:
Were you a (mostly) high, mid, or low tier applicant?
Click to expand...

So my application was like this
Major-Physiology. Minors-Psych/creative writing

GPA:3.85
SGPA: 3.83
MCAT: 517

ECs:
Non-medical volunteering 400+hrs
Medical: 350+
Shadowing: 120hrs
Started a few clubs helping mentor in under-resourced local schools
Started a club doing 2x a month medical clinics to Mexico
Research: 1000+hrs/ 2 pubs (1st and 2nd author)

So to be short mostly I'd say upper tear as an applicant. I think my essays were a big selling point but I interviewed at every school I applied to.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
radioactive15 said:
Did you receive any of the 7 II's from any no secondary schools?

If you don't mind me asking, what were all of the schools without secondaries which you applied to?
Click to expand...
Off the top of my head, I think Drexel, Jefferson, New York Medical College, and Rochester just had biographical information (no prompts), although Jefferson might have had an optional question. I received an II from Jefferson.
 
Last year I applied to 9 (8,1) and received two interviews but no acceptances.

This cycle I'll be applying to at least 20. Roughly (18,2)
 
20, roughly (15,5)
I'm also doing 5 DO
 
26
1 reach
all md

I may trim back some lower yield ones since I'm looking at app costs for primary and secondaries and it's going to be almost 4,000 dollars at this point without considering travel costs.
 
Roommate's list from last cycle:
25 MDs, 16 Dos
 
----x---- said:
26
1 reach
all md

I may trim back some lower yield ones since I'm looking at app costs for primary and secondaries and it's going to be almost 4,000 dollars at this point without considering travel costs.
Click to expand...

I think most applicants spend around $8k on apps, travel, hotels during the application cycle
 
chrisjh said:
Lol I spent 274 on my amcas, and will only spend a few bucks on gas for interviews.
Click to expand...

Forgot to add the qualifier: "Applicants that apply to ~20 schools spend roughly 8k"

Your situation is unique, and very tremendous
 
radioactive15 said:
Those credentials are amazing. Surprised how he was rejected by Einstein but got into UPenn, UPitt, & HARVARD
Click to expand...
easy. Einstein knew they did not have a chance at getting him. So they did not even waste their money and resources on interviewing him.
 
13 total (3,10); basically all my in-state and then 10 schools I would choose over in-state tuition ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
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