Why Does It Seem That Applying to More Schools = Less Acceptances?

[gatawatago]

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So I've been lurking a bit on MDApps, and it seems that there is a strange trend where if one applies to many schools (20/25+), he or she only tends to be accepted to a couple. But those students who apply to less than 10 or 15 end up getting accepted to more schools proportionally (to the number of schools they applied to).

I know schools don't get notified until February (for schools who have accepted that student) and May (for all schools) of other schools an applicant has applied to/been accepted to, but is there something going on here? Or is this just simply because those students who apply to a large amount of schools are those who are less likely to get in anyway, so they just apply to more schools - and conversely, those students who have strong applications just apply to a small number of schools because they are relatively confident in their applications?

I ask because this is a trend even among those with similar stats, and the only big difference seems to be the number of schools they applied to.

 

[Narmerguy]

This is likely sample bias--both your own bias in the particular MDApps pages that you've chosen to look at/remember, and from the people posting on MDApps. Often times these trends disappear when you actually write the numbers down and do a legit numerical comparison rather than just going off your memory.

In addition, students with weaker applications are probably more likely (if they're doin' it right) to apply to more schools, while stronger applicants can be more conservative. Looking at whether the applicants with more schools also apply to more "reach" schools could also be a factor.

There are a lot of reasons you could have gotten the impression you did, but I find it highly unlikely that any scenario involves applicants being worse off for applying to more schools. The only thing I can imagine is if the students get cocky/exasperated from applying to so many schools and stretch themselves too thin to do well at any one school...but this is less likely than the other explanations.

 

[mrh125]

I'm kind of noticing this too and I'm someone who's probably applying to nearly every OOS friendly school in my range, so this is pretty damn unsettling. I wonder if medical schools can actually see all the schools people apply to and be like "that person's applying to so many schools he obviously didn't give a **** about us". I know the tmdsas makes you declare all the other medical schools you apply to. It's kind of like being a girl who likes sleeps around, it aint easy getting true love when you have 50 hookup buddies especially if you're paying for each one and it ends up costing over a grand. 🙁 Personally I'd love to wake up and get a zillion interview requests and acceptances. Filling out all these secondaries is merciless so if any do think like this they should also realize that it requires a lot of dedication to do that and being willing to jump through any hoop for a medical school education. Also, tylenol.

edit: One thought I had is maybe the ones who apply to more are more likely to turn down the rest of them after one acceptance, so they dont follow through with a bunch of others.

 

[Shams al Deen]

Maybe people that applied to a bunch of schools just start withdrawing a bunch of their apps after they get their first few acceptances. Personally, if I'm fortunate enough to get into my state school early in the process, I won't be wasting my money flying off to random interviews across the country. Makes sense that once you get accepted to the school you really like, you'll start withdrawing apps and turning down other interviews.

 

[basketcase0a0]

Weaker applicants have to apply more broadly. Weaker applicants get into a lower percentage of schools, because they are weaker applicants. I know a guy who had a 4.0/40/1000+ hours of research and volunteer work. I'm pretty sure he applied to 10 schools and got into 8 (matriculating at Hopkins, turned down Penn, Case, Chicago, UMich etc), because he's a boss and didn't need to apply that broadly to get in somewhere. I had a 3.5/37/weaker EC's, applied to 25 and got into 2. It's the most logical trend, if you think about it.

Also, med schools know nothing about where else you applied, and wouldn't care if you applied to every school in the country. They don't have the manpower to dedicate to analyzing 4000 applicants and then determining which ones are competitive for other schools too.

 

[kyamh]

Maybe people that applied to a bunch of schools just start withdrawing a bunch of their apps after they get their first few acceptances. Personally, if I'm fortunate enough to get into my state school early in the process, I won't be wasting my money flying off to random interviews across the country. Makes sense that once you get accepted to the school you really like, you'll start withdrawing apps and turning down other interviews.

Definitely this! If you get into a school of choice it makes all the sense in the world to withdraw from schools you don't care as much about. I withdrew from schools ranging from no interview invite yet, after I got invited to the interview (flight protection is your best friend), and even a school I had already interviewed at since I knew I wouldn't go there.

 

[WillburCobb]

Also, not everyone completely keeps their MDApps pages up to date. Case and point here.

 

[Narmerguy]

Also, not everyone completely keeps their MDApps pages up to date. Case and point here.

Update that bad boy!

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Update that bad boy!

I feel like MDApps is the slowest site on the web sometimes though.

 

[Theafoni]

It's kind of like being a girl who likes sleeps around, it aint easy getting true love when you have 50 hookup buddies especially if you're paying for each one and it ends up costing over a grand. 🙁

That's a terrible analogy

 

[Narmerguy]

I feel like MDApps is the slowest site on the web sometimes though.

Yeah it's no spring chicken. Though it's nicer than what it used to be, which is cool considering the guy who made and maintains the site is a full time doctor.

 

[WillburCobb]

Update that bad boy!

...and done. If I feel more motivated I'll throw my ECs back in there.

 

[WillburCobb]

I feel like MDApps is the slowest site on the web sometimes though.

That's pretty much what kept me from updating my MDApps page and putting my ECs back-up after this cycle. Though I will agree with @Narmerguy that the site has DEFINITELY improved over that past few years.

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Yeah it's no spring chicken. Though it's nicer than what it used to be, which is cool considering the guy who made and maintains the site is a full time doctor.

That is pretty cool, I definitely like the site. I'll probably just let it load while I'm working on other stuff as I update it this cycle.

 

[Reckoner]

I wonder if medical schools can actually see all the schools people apply to and be like "that person's applying to so many schools he obviously didn't give a **** about us".

They cannot. In February they can see where you're holding an acceptance or wait list spot, but only if they've accepted or wait listed you. In April, all schools can see all applicants who have been accepted somewhere, according to the AAMC.

 

[PanRoasted]

The more schools you apply to, the more effort it takes - I originally was going to apply to 20 schools, ended up only completing 9 secondaries. Realistically, you can't have a genuine interest in 20+ schools (I didn't even have a genuine interest in all 9 of the schools I ended up applying to), and it definitely shows on your secondaries. Applying broadly is good advice, but the more thinly you spread yourself out, the harder it is to craft good secondaries. That could be a reason why people who apply to a ton of schools get less attention. There are also the reasons that have been previously stated.

 

[chenzt]

They cannot. Much later in the cycle they can see where you're holding an acceptance or wait list spot, but only if they've accepted or wait listed you.

Schools can never see one's wait list. The only waitlist they have access to is the schools' own.

 

[Mad Jack]

I applied to a bunch of schools and withdrew all my IIs after my third acceptance. Why spend thousands on flying and hotel rooms when you've already gotten into your school of choice? I've also noticed that people in MDapps tend to stop updating shortly after they're accepted, as is more of a way to kill time while you're waiting to hear back than anything.

 

[mrh125]

That's a terrible analogy

actually it's flawless if you aren't taking offense to it. applying to a ton of diff med schools can easily be seen in a similar way because society's like that.

 

[Reckoner]

Schools can never see one's wait list. The only waitlist they have access to is the schools' own.

You're correct. It seems once the May 15 deadline hit I completely forgot all of the traffic rules. I edited my post for accuracy.

 

[el_duderino]

Since this already seems mildly derailed, I'll take the opportunity to ask just what MDApps is and whether I should do something with it.

 

[Theafoni]

Since this already seems mildly derailed, I'll take the opportunity to ask just what MDApps is and whether I should do something with it.

No you're alright seeing as you're already a med student.