What Resources Helped You Choose a List of Schools to Apply To?

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JShen

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Hi All!

What resources did people use to narrow down a list of schools to apply to?
I know this forum has been done before, but I couldn't find anything recent...

Just wanted to give you guys my stats and maybe see if anyone has some suggestions as to where to apply:

GPA:
Undergrad: 3.27 - With a big upward trend. I ended up majoring in a religion undergrad, had a 3.92 major GPA, but veryyy low science GPA, so I did a post-bacc program
Post-bacc: 3.85
For D.O. schools, with grade-replacement, I have a roughly 3.65 GPA

MCAT: 32

ECs:
- Research lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Worked in a number of doctor's offices in various positions
- Certified EMT (never was an active EMT though, so should I even put this on my applications?)
- Shadowed plastic surgeon and orthopedic resident
- Volunteering at a number of hospitals
- Speak 5 languages
- Dean's list
- Award as top student in religion major in my graduating class (I know, compared to the distinctions other SDNers have, this sounds humorous)

N.J. resident

I'll be applying this cycle to both MD and DO schools, so I wanted to see what you guys thought my chances were, and where I should apply. Also, what resources were most helpful in choosing which schools to apply to? Thanks so much!
 
1. MSAR
2. US News & Reports
3. WAMC threads
4. Specific school websites
 
Pons Asinorum said:
This is why there is an entire What Are My Chances? forum. Also, buy the MSAR.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm aware, but posted there and got no responses so I thought I'd give the post a shot somewhere else
 
I bought the digital access pass to the MSAR and also found an old copy of the LizzyM. I just updated a bunch of the numbers of the schools I was interested in in the LizzyM calculator and went from there.
 
I started with a map of the US. I placed the locations of each med school. I eliminated any school where I did not want to live (my spouse also was able to eliminate any school). I then had the old LizzyM spreadsheet that was on here (with REAL MSAR data, but it was since removed by threat of lawsuit of copyright material). I used that data to remove all schools that were more than 2 LizzyM points above, and 4 LizzyM points below my score. Then I took out schools that had ridiculously high OOS tuition, or accepted less than 20% OOS students (why bother when there is a low chance). I repeated the process with DO schools with the DO school list book that can be downloaded.

I was left with a list of about 20 schools where I would be happy to attend.

I then grouped those schools into high, medium, and low desirability (for me). My plan was once I received an acceptance from a mid-level school, I would drop all the low desirable schools, and the same from a high desirable school to drop all mid and low schools. I was lucky that my first 5 interviews were from high and mid level schools and resulted in 3 acceptances and 2 wait-list. I had interviews scheduled from nearly all my selections, and canceled them all once i got my second acceptance. Two of the acceptances were from my #1 and my #2 choices. I was lucky, and I planned well.

Things did change. I didn't expect to like U of Arizona, Phoenix so much. They jumped from near the bottom of the mid-tier to near the top of the top tier while I was at the interview time. I was really bummed that I was wait listed there. It has an exciting program that is very visionary and cutting edge. I think it will soon prove to be one of the top schools in the nation.

Good luck choosing.

dsoz
 
dsoz said:
I started with a map of the US. I placed the locations of each med school. I eliminated any school where I did not want to live (my spouse also was able to eliminate any school). I then had the old LizzyM spreadsheet that was on here (with REAL MSAR data, but it was since removed by threat of lawsuit of copyright material). I used that data to remove all schools that were more than 2 LizzyM points above, and 4 LizzyM points below my score. Then I took out schools that had ridiculously high OOS tuition, or accepted less than 20% OOS students (why bother when there is a low chance). I repeated the process with DO schools with the DO school list book that can be downloaded.

I was left with a list of about 20 schools where I would be happy to attend.

I then grouped those schools into high, medium, and low desirability (for me). My plan was once I received an acceptance from a mid-level school, I would drop all the low desirable schools, and the same from a high desirable school to drop all mid and low schools. I was lucky that my first 5 interviews were from high and mid level schools and resulted in 3 acceptances and 2 wait-list. I had interviews scheduled from nearly all my selections, and canceled them all once i got my second acceptance. Two of the acceptances were from my #1 and my #2 choices. I was lucky, and I planned well.

Things did change. I didn't expect to like U of Arizona, Phoenix so much. They jumped from near the bottom of the mid-tier to near the top of the top tier while I was at the interview time. I was really bummed that I was wait listed there. It has an exciting program that is very visionary and cutting edge. I think it will soon prove to be one of the top schools in the nation.

Good luck choosing.

dsoz
Click to expand...

Waaaay more useful than this thread deserved.
 
To some extent it depends upon the individual priorities of the student.

First, stats should be the primary determiner. You have chosen to focus on DO schools, but I think it wouldn't hurt anything but your wallet and time to also apply to a few MD schools that are more accepting of lower GPAs (Tulane and drexel come to mind).

Secondly, intangibles play a role:
School mission-find it on the schools websites (some schools like Loma Linda for example, have very particular purposes)
Location -easily found (wikipedia has a list of all the med schools in the US by location)
Curriculum -can be found on school's websites
Residency placement-you can check matchlists

So I think a combo of MSAR and School's websites should be sufficient to pick schools.

Also, mdapplicants.com is a site that may be helpful in comparing your stats to others to see which med schools they applied to and were ultimately accepted. --I have found this to be particularly useful.


Hope this helps!
 
A map.

I applied in locations I wanted to live. I did not apply to schools where I would be competitive but did not want to live/ potentially complete a residency.

Compare that to school averages on the MSAR and OOS acceptance rates.
 
In the following order:

1. Purchase the MSAR
2. Read the MSAR (pay attention to the matriculating class statistics, especially for schools for which you will be an OOS student
3. Check out the specific school websites of those you are interested in from MSAR
4. Throw bleach in your eyes
5. Check out US News World Report

The last two (4 and 5) are optional, but must be done in that order.
 
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