You Should Apply to a Bonkers Number of Schools

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For the 2021-2022 cycle, the average applicant applied to 18 schools, according to the AAMC.

We typically recommend 25 to 35 schools. If you have the resources (and an MCAT score below 510), it's not a terrible idea to apply to even more. The average medical school acceptance rate is 6.5%, according to a 2020 U.S. News &World Report survey of 121 ranked schools. (The acceptance rate between schools runs the gamut from barely 2% to around 20%.)

It's never too early to reach out to us to start planning your medical school application. Check out our med school application tutorials (including content geared specifically to the preapplication process) here or get in touch here.

 

[Dorodo07]

Hey just wanted to add that it is possible to get into great med schools without stellar stats. I have MCAT below 510 and very average GPA and applied to 20 schools this cycle and got into 5 MDs where three of them are T20s this cycle. (And I don’t have x factor)

Don’t get discouraged and don’t worry about having to stretch yourself or diversify your school list. I wish I applied to more T20s than I did based on from whom I received interview invites from, and less mid-ranked schools with lower avg stats. Obv everyone’s stories are different but don’t be discouraged if you are certain why your passion is medicine backed up with what you did!

 

[ApplyPoint]

Hey just wanted to add that it is possible to get into great med schools without stellar stats. I have MCAT below 510 and very average GPA and applied to 20 schools this cycle and got into 5 MDs where three of them are T20s this cycle. (And I don’t have x factor)

Don’t get discouraged and don’t worry about having to stretch yourself or diversify your school list. I wish I applied to more T20s than I did based on from whom I received interview invites from, and less mid-ranked schools with lower avg stats. Obv everyone’s stories are different but don’t be discouraged if you are certain why your passion is medicine backed up with what you did!

Absolutely! I think this is a great point -- the MCAT score is important, but it certainly isn't everything. We never want to underestimate the importance of demonstrating fit through a strong personal statement and work and activities section. It's tough to predict exactly what schools will be looking for to round out their incoming classes.