2. Apply to schools where, for some reason, you
can be considered equivalent to
an in-state resident on the basis of an existing
cooperative program (such as
WICHE).
3. Using Table 6.1, identify which schools on
your tentative application list accept
students with a GPA and MCAT scores in your
general range and also are afford-
able.
These three steps will help narrow down your
list to those schools to which you
have the best chance of being admitted. Once
this prospective list is prepared, you may
wish to take into consideration the other
factors discussed in the next section to, if nec-
essary, further narrow down your choices to a
desirable number.
The actual number of schools you should apply
to is suggested in Table 4.1; this
table should merely serve as a general guide.
You can apply to more or fewer schools,
depending how comfortable you think you are
with the choices you make.
Regarding whether to apply or not, which is
relevant to a borderline student, the
basic rule of thumb should be whether you
believe that you have even somewhat of a
chance to get in. If you do, then don't even
hesitate to apply, even if your chances are
remote. If you don't make it, you will never
say in later life that had you applied you
might have gotten in. Should you not get in,
you still have a good number of options,
such as reapplying or applying to an allopathic
school or seeking entrance to an osteo-
pathic or foreign medical school (see Chapters
13 and 14), or obtaining a doctorate in
one of many health-associated professions. (See
page 102 for more detailed advice.)
Table 4.1
RELATIONSHIP OF ACADEMIC RECORD TO SUGGESTED
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS
Academic Record
Number of Applications
A– to A+
5–10
B+ to A–
10–15
B to B+
15–20
C to B
20–30
Where to Apply
The decision as to which schools to apply to is
in part determined by the total number of appli-
cations you plan to file. The estimated
national average for the past 20 years has remained
9–10 per applicant. The actual number you
should send out is best determined by your finan-
cial means and a realistic evaluation of your
chances for gaining acceptance. One of the finan-
cial considerations that should be taken into
account is the cost for out-of-town interviews.
Table 4.1 offers a generalization regarding the
number of applications that should be
submitted in accordance with your academic
record. The exact number of applications
within each range should be determined by
financial considerations, test scores, and
possibilities for favorable interviews. A large
volume of applications may be less impor-
tant than selectivity as to which schools you
should apply to since, in many cases, appli-
cations to some schools for some students are a
waste of time, money, and effort.
Consider the following criteria when
determining which schools to apply to.
· School's track record. Where have
students from your undergraduate college been
accepted in recent years?
· Finances. Which schools can you afford
to attend? Determine what your financial
means are and exactly how much you can pay for
tuition and living expenses with-
out overextending yourself excessively by
borrowing too heavily.
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