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- Sep 6, 2015
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Hi there!
I am currently trying to figure out a list of which schools I should be applying to. After talking with a program coordinator at my school, I was told to apply to around 30 and interview at 10-15 . However, I've been hearing that this seems like too many. With regards to the types of schools, it was suggested I could reach for some of the top ones to see if I get interviews, but didn't really specify how many would be appropriate.
My biggest question is that I don't know how my MD/PhD will be perceived in terms of ranking me against other applicants, particularly at the bigger academic institutions. Because of this, I'm not sure if I should apply to mostly middle tier schools with a few top tier thrown in or apply mostly to more higher ranked schools in addition to the local programs that may not be as competitive.
Other info:
-Step 1: 224 (taken 2010 avg 221); Step 2: no score (took late Aug)
-Grades: Mostly Bs 1st and 2nd year; all Bs during clinical clerkships with slightly below avg shelf grades but great evals (my school doesn't do H/HP/P)
-Research: PhD Cell Biology with 2 first author manuscripts and 5 other peer reviewed publications; 20+ first-author abstracts (national and local meetings); individual fellowship (F30) funding from the NIH; currently doing peds research as an MS4 aiming for at least an abstract
-Extracurricular: tutoring, several committee and student leadership positions
-LOR: 2 peds (research in peds and department chair letter likely strong), 1 strong from IM attending, 1 strong from PhD mentor
Thanks in advance for your help!
I am currently trying to figure out a list of which schools I should be applying to. After talking with a program coordinator at my school, I was told to apply to around 30 and interview at 10-15 . However, I've been hearing that this seems like too many. With regards to the types of schools, it was suggested I could reach for some of the top ones to see if I get interviews, but didn't really specify how many would be appropriate.
My biggest question is that I don't know how my MD/PhD will be perceived in terms of ranking me against other applicants, particularly at the bigger academic institutions. Because of this, I'm not sure if I should apply to mostly middle tier schools with a few top tier thrown in or apply mostly to more higher ranked schools in addition to the local programs that may not be as competitive.
Other info:
-Step 1: 224 (taken 2010 avg 221); Step 2: no score (took late Aug)
-Grades: Mostly Bs 1st and 2nd year; all Bs during clinical clerkships with slightly below avg shelf grades but great evals (my school doesn't do H/HP/P)
-Research: PhD Cell Biology with 2 first author manuscripts and 5 other peer reviewed publications; 20+ first-author abstracts (national and local meetings); individual fellowship (F30) funding from the NIH; currently doing peds research as an MS4 aiming for at least an abstract
-Extracurricular: tutoring, several committee and student leadership positions
-LOR: 2 peds (research in peds and department chair letter likely strong), 1 strong from IM attending, 1 strong from PhD mentor
Thanks in advance for your help!