The Smart Way to Pick Which Med Schools to Apply

           By the time you have to apply to medical school, you may have heard which are the best schools just by reputation. However, if your MCAT score, GPA, and activities don't match up to their requirements, they may not be the best choice for you.

            In theory we all want to think that all of your hard work in the four years of college has put you above everyone else. This work will be seen by the most prestigious of schools and they may ignore a lower-than -expected-score for you. But the the truth is there are thousands of others working just as hard or harder than you. Ivy League schools recycle students among themselves. To break into their elite circle the student has to stand out in ALL areas of their application; something easier said than done. If you really want to be a doctor, the school you attend should not matter as much as the career. However, you still should not apply to a school you don't want to attend. Here are some tips to pick wisely:

1.  Research the acceptance score ranges of the schools you are interested in. If your MCAT is a 26 with a 3.5 GPA, but the average MCAT of the school is a 35 with a 3.8 GPA, then you would be wasting your money by applying. If your scores are too far off a school you want to go to, as much as it breaks your heart, cross it off. Applications are expensive and you should invest your money wisely.

2. Have two groups of schools to apply to: dream schools and realist schools. The realist schools are the ones that accept students with scores within you range. Don't let your ego get the best of you--if you have to apply to a Caribbean school, do it. The dream schools are a little out of your range, but not by much. Maybe your GPA falls within range, but your MCAT is off by a few points or vice verse. You should still look like a competitive candidate to them. If you are part of a minority group, your chances in getting an interview at a dream school increases.

3. Pick at LEAST two schools in your state of residency. They are required to accept a percentage of student of the same state. At the same time, you should apply to at least two out-of-state schools, even if you don't want to leave. Play all the cards. If out of state schools are more likely to accept you, then apply to more of them, and vice verse.

4. Of course you should consider factors such as weather, location, expenses, family and relationships when picking schools. You don't want to be stuck for four years in a place where you'll be miserable. Don't apply to a school you don't want to go. 

5. Research the curriculum focus of the schools as well. If it is a research oriented school, or an osteopathic school, educate yourself on it. They will want to see what they are looking for reflected in your application. If you have not done research, don't apply to a research-based school. At the same time, if you have lots of it, apply to more research oriented schools.

  There are resources out there that will help you measure your compatibility with schools. In the following link you can calculate this from your MCAT  scores and GPA http://www.studentdoc.com/medfind.html.

Also, in the AAMC page provided below, you can see the acceptance rates depending on ethnicity, GPA and MCAT.
https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/157998/mcat-gpa-grid-by-selected-race-ethnicity.html

Choose wisely and you will see results! :)