What if I attended to many different universities?

[redsky]

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Hello everyone,

my question is: how many is too many?

We need to enter in our AMCAS all universities we've been, even if we transfered the courses to another one.

I bet is common to have two, maybe three universities you studied at. But I believe there is a number that will make the adcom think "hmmm, this student seems to be hoping around indiscriminatly and is not able to commit himself to a place".

Am I right? I know this is relative to the student's situation and the medical school, but maybe there is a consensus? Maybe there are medical schools which don't care if the applicant has attended to 15 schools before?

Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[sunnyjohn]

15 colleges? You've attended 15 colleges? Are you military or does your job move you around? 😱

I've attended 5 and will probably have 3 more before I'm done. I have to go where the work is.

If you have a darn good reason and an excellent GPA, I doubt anyone will care.

 

[RxnMan]

Since AMCAS handles transcripts, I doubt that the ADCOMs would be hindered by the number of schools attended. But they will notice it and want to know WHY you went to so many schools.

In addition, even if you switched every semester, for example, that means that you've stretched out your education quite a bit. Why did you do that?

 

[medworm]

It is what it is. Just list the schools and wait and see.

 

[redsky]

Thanks for the answers.

I didn't attend 15 schools, that was just hypothetical. 🙂
Actually I did four. Five if you count post-bac. I have good explanations: all my changes were because of personal problems. I had to stop studying for a couple of semesters and then had to move.

AMCAS handles the transcripts, but my application will state clearly the number of universities... As I said, once I explain, I am sure I won't have problems. But I can only explain my reasons in an interview... and I am afraid that this might lessen the number of interviews I receive. So maybe I would have to address it in the PS (which I really didn't want to).

Thanks again.

 

[ATrim7]

If you have a darn good reason and an excellent GPA, I doubt anyone will care.

Agreed. I went to 4 universities for undergrad and am currently attending a fifth for post-bac. I will undoubtedly have to justify leaving schools to attend others, but my reasons were respectable.

 

[prana_md]

I ended up submitting 9 transcripts. Hey, if you're non-trad, you take courses where you can get them! I was only asked about it once during interviews, and they seemed okay with my answer. It's just a pain in the butt to get all those transcripts to AMCAS!

 

[njbmd]

Hello everyone,

my question is: how many is too many?

We need to enter in our AMCAS all universities we've been, even if we transfered the courses to another one.

I bet is common to have two, maybe three universities you studied at. But I believe there is a number that will make the adcom think "hmmm, this student seems to be hoping around indiscriminatly and is not able to commit himself to a place".

Am I right? I know this is relative to the student's situation and the medical school, but maybe there is a consensus? Maybe there are medical schools which don't care if the applicant has attended to 15 schools before?

Any thoughts?
Thanks

Hi there,
It doesn't matter how many universities you attended as long as you did very well. Your overall GPA is one of the main determinants as far as getting into medical school.

If you attended many universities, repeated classes or failed classed, you might be looking at an uphill battle because AMCAS averges all grades. If you did well, bring on those good transcripts. You can have quantity but you need to have quality too.

njbmd 🙂

 

[1Path]

Hello everyone,

my question is: how many is too many?

We need to enter in our AMCAS all universities we've been, even if we transfered the courses to another one.

I bet is common to have two, maybe three universities you studied at. But I believe there is a number that will make the adcom think "hmmm, this student seems to be hoping around indiscriminatly and is not able to commit himself to a place".

Am I right? I know this is relative to the student's situation and the medical school, but maybe there is a consensus? Maybe there are medical schools which don't care if the applicant has attended to 15 schools before?

Any thoughts?
Thanks

I've attended 14 schools and that's no joke! EVERY place I've ever lived I took classes so I guess I'm the proverbial professional sudent in the flesh!!