Would I be dinged for applying to too many schools my first cycle?

[deleted1212315]

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[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

You will not be flagged if you discuss it properly. You've certainly not ruined your application.

If you bring it up, committees will notice 60 schools and it'll be something they'll want to see addressed in your app. Being very late in the cycle, being very committed to having a chance at admission and blanket applying to a high number of schools - you're not the first candidate to be in that situation and you won't be the last. Not being able to continue with applications due to job issues is another important thing to consider and that narrative could be a moment to show resilience and "getting back in the saddle." Depending on where you're applying, then you'll be a re-applicant. Schools will be looking at your previous materials and may have questions re: your non-existent secondaries. Here, you can use your professional experience and discuss moving on from challenges.

If I was assessing your app, here's where I'd find flags if you mentioned 60 schools and also what I'd do re:

1) This person was just applying to schools and not researching the location, patient exposure, curriculum, etc. 60 schools is on the extreme end of application numbers and you'll need to crafting a compelling reason to push yourself so far.

Applying en masse to programs is not an effective way to maximize your admissions chances. You've got a background which could really lend to targeted applications at schools seeking students with exposure and interest in computer medicine, etc. Likewise, if you're willing to dive a little into machine learning and AI, then you could have a standout application from a resilient re-inventor.

You'll need to spend a great deal of time, while you still have it, to get a proper school list worked up and consider your narrative.

2) Application quality was going to be lacking. 60 schools is a huge amount of secondaries to write, and even for your top programs the mental bandwidth was going to be strained.

If I'm a committee, my thought is "was this person actually planning to write 60 secondaries or were they just throwing a big net and then they were going to write secondaries for the schools they actually cared about."

You'll want to ensure that you show an understanding of what that task was going to be like and how, in this new cycle, you've gotten a greater appreciation of applications and are excited(AND CAPABLE) of writing high-quality targeted secondaries at schools you genuinely want to go to.

In your reapplication, you will need to address it directly and strongly. In your writing, you'll need to have a strong work narrative written that is compelling and explains your situation. Likewise, you'll need to get your stuff in AEAP for this next cycle.

 

[ecobio]

From my understanding, schools cannot see how many/which other schools you've applied to. They can only see if youre a reapplicant to their program. So, id imagine the impact is likely minimal...

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

Thanks for this. This is really useful to read, and the kind of insight I was hoping to get. I am very grateful.

The other thing is that for Texas schools, I suppose I'm not really a reapplicant. I just have to list the schools I applied to on the application form.

For Texas schools, my thinking was to openly acknowledge that I applied really late in the cycle, which led me to try to maximize my opportunity with a broader list of schools given how late I was. This wasn't the right approach, obviously. I plan on mentioning this year that I've learned to place an extra emphasis on mission, culture, fit, while enhancing my community and clinical exposure activities. In essence, taking this extra time as a period of growth to better prepare me for medicine.

What do you think about this?

For non-Texas schools, my thinking was to apply again and mention the context about my layoff, since they don't need the broad list of schools I applied to. (some schools like Ohio State ask for a list of prior schools, for example).

Thanks again!

You can acknowledge that you applied late in the last cycle, learned your lesson, and have spent time getting ready for this new cycle. You don't need to mention more than you need to. A simple narrative of "I am a reapplicant who's spent time carefully weighing schools, getting experiences, etc." is fine. You don't need to mention 60 schools, at all, if it won't serve you.

I would be more focused on how you'll be talking about your clinical time and Work and Experiences section over how you'll mention 60 schools. The former are necessary, the latter can be left unmentioned.

Your professional experience is something very much worth taking the time to start nailing down what you're going to say and how you can use it to leverage a school list. Happy to discuss more in DMs or here.

 

[chilly_md]

Non-TX schools rarely consider TX residents since they've been unable to compete against the cheap IS tuition in the past. Generally, you need to have a strong tie (not something weak like what most applicants try to spin), fit a very specific mission or higher stats than you have that would make you competitive for some of the "name brand" schools/

 

[Goro]

From my understanding, schools cannot see how many/which other schools you've applied to. They can only see if youre a reapplicant to their program. So, id imagine the impact is likely minimal...

This isb100% correct.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I am a reapplicant and will also be applying to Texas schools since I moved here last year. On my reapplication, I have to list out the schools I applied to on AMCAS on the texas application service. I applied to 60 schools in early August. However, near the end of August I was laid off from my job and didn't end up completing any secondaries.

I am wondering how bad it will look that I applied to so many schools. I have a 514 MCAT, 3.8GPA, am a non-trad working in software development. I felt I had a good chance at a lot of different schools, so I wanted to maximize my chances by applying to more schools since I was much deeper in the cycle.

Am I going to be flagged for this? I would hate to waste all the years I put into taking prerequisites, reinventing my background, studying for the MCAT, etc to be ruined because I applied to too many schools.

I guess you are specifically referring to the Texas schools because AMCAS does not ask a similar question.

I don't know for sure if this information is redacted at the admissions office level (TMDSAS info only) or it could be redacted by admissions offices for file review.

I doubt schools will see your list of schools where you previously applied. If they did, then I don't know if it makes a difference unless they want to know if you applied to their school before.

 

[wysdoc]

I actually called in to ask about this and each school in Texas will have access to the entire list of schools I previously applied to

You're right, the TMDSAS app does ask for a list of all schools you applied to last time if you are a reapplicant.
Don't let it spook you, @jebediahpilkington and don't waste any of your essay space apologizing about it.

Use any reapplicant essays (there will be some) telling how you have grown and added to your experiences since last time.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You're right, the TMDSAS app does ask for a list of all schools you applied to last time if you are a reapplicant.
Don't let it spook you, @jebediahpilkington and don't waste any of your essay space apologizing about it.

Use any reapplicant essays (there will be some) telling how you have grown and added to your experiences since last time.

Curious but does the prompt ask for all schools from prior applications including AMCAS and AACOMAS?

I agree you can't change the past (don't apologize, it's what you did), but I'm also interested who gets this information as I would likely redact it from my adcom faculty screening applications (staff usually don't care).

 

[wysdoc]

Curious but does the prompt ask for all schools from prior applications including AMCAS and AACOMAS?

I agree you can't change the past (don't apologize, it's what you did), but I'm also interested who gets this information as I would likely redact it from my adcom faculty screening applications (staff usually don't care).

To answer your question @Mr.Smile12 , yes it does ask for all the schools you applied to last cycle, but I don't know whether this information is shown to people who will be doing the interviews.
Usually what they see is all the essays & activity list, and sometimes even less info if it's a student interviewer.