Considering that there are 141 allopathic medical schools in the U.S., deciding which schools to apply to can feel overwhelming, especially since selecting the right schools can make or break your chances of acceptance. To help you navigate these options, I recommend that you consider the following areas when narrowing down your school selection:
Geography: Realistically, people excel at the schools where they have the most support. Begin exploring the schools closest to you and family. Furthermore many medical schools prefer to accept in-state residents so you will also have a stronger chance of getting in at a school near you. Finally, keep in mind that for many programs in-state tuition is significantly less than out-of-state tuition.
Interests: If you have years of research or clinical experience within a particular field or specialization, consider the schools that have funding and special training opportunities in your area of interest. Even better, you can network with your mentors to reach out to. principal investigators or professors of medicine at these schools to find out more about their work and how you could get involved as a medical student.
Your qualifications: After reviewing your GPA and MCAT scores, focus on the schools where your numbers fit into their averages. You can apply to a couple of dream schools, but if you apply only to top tier medical schools when you do not have competitive numbers, you may receive only rejections.
The goal is acceptance to medical school, not bragging rights or trophy schools. It’s better to receive an acceptance from a lower tier program than a drawer full of rejections from schools that were out of your reach to begin with. It’s all about strategy.
Special Programs: There are early acceptance programs that some medical schools offer, which you may want to consider, if you have competitive grades and know early in your education that you want to pursue a medical education. For less competitive applicants, medical schools also offer conditional acceptance programs for students who do not have a strong academic background but who demonstrate potential; through this type of program, if you earn a certain GPA by a specified date, you can gain full acceptance into their school. Check out all of the programs offered by the medical schools you are interested in. They are worthy of your consideration because they offer valuable support in multiple areas and serve as clear pathways into medicine, at different points in the process.
In conducting your research, rely on:
• Books, like mine, The Definitive Guide to Premedical Postbaccalaureate Programs and the AAMC’s Medical School Admissions Requirement (MSAR) Handbook
• Medical school websites
• Networking through pre-med clubs and health organizations
• Attending premed fairs
• Visiting medical schools campuses
• Participating in conferences, internships and/or shadowing affiliated with medical schools
The sooner you begin exploring the options, the more knowledgeable you will be about these schools. As you learn more, you will develop definite opinions about what you do and don’t like. Talk to medical students and find a mentor or counselor to help guide you through the process. It’s a long complicated dance before you find the campus where you will thrive. The more specific your criteria, the more likely you will be to identify the med school that is right for you.
Alicia McNease Nimonkar is an Accepted.com advisor and editor specializing in healthcare admissions. Prior to joining Accepted, Alicia worked for five years as Student Advisor at UC Davis’ postbac program where she both evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school and related programs.
Related Resources:
• Navigate the Med School Maze
• Boost your GPA for Med School Acceptance
• 7 Reasons Why Medical School Applicants Are Rejected
- See more at: http://blog.accepted.com/2015/05/10/how-to-research-medical-schools/#sthash.fFmsiSse.dpuf
Geography: Realistically, people excel at the schools where they have the most support. Begin exploring the schools closest to you and family. Furthermore many medical schools prefer to accept in-state residents so you will also have a stronger chance of getting in at a school near you. Finally, keep in mind that for many programs in-state tuition is significantly less than out-of-state tuition.Interests: If you have years of research or clinical experience within a particular field or specialization, consider the schools that have funding and special training opportunities in your area of interest. Even better, you can network with your mentors to reach out to. principal investigators or professors of medicine at these schools to find out more about their work and how you could get involved as a medical student.
Your qualifications: After reviewing your GPA and MCAT scores, focus on the schools where your numbers fit into their averages. You can apply to a couple of dream schools, but if you apply only to top tier medical schools when you do not have competitive numbers, you may receive only rejections.
The goal is acceptance to medical school, not bragging rights or trophy schools. It’s better to receive an acceptance from a lower tier program than a drawer full of rejections from schools that were out of your reach to begin with. It’s all about strategy.
Special Programs: There are early acceptance programs that some medical schools offer, which you may want to consider, if you have competitive grades and know early in your education that you want to pursue a medical education. For less competitive applicants, medical schools also offer conditional acceptance programs for students who do not have a strong academic background but who demonstrate potential; through this type of program, if you earn a certain GPA by a specified date, you can gain full acceptance into their school. Check out all of the programs offered by the medical schools you are interested in. They are worthy of your consideration because they offer valuable support in multiple areas and serve as clear pathways into medicine, at different points in the process.
In conducting your research, rely on:
• Books, like mine, The Definitive Guide to Premedical Postbaccalaureate Programs and the AAMC’s Medical School Admissions Requirement (MSAR) Handbook
• Medical school websites
• Networking through pre-med clubs and health organizations
• Attending premed fairs
• Visiting medical schools campuses
• Participating in conferences, internships and/or shadowing affiliated with medical schools
The sooner you begin exploring the options, the more knowledgeable you will be about these schools. As you learn more, you will develop definite opinions about what you do and don’t like. Talk to medical students and find a mentor or counselor to help guide you through the process. It’s a long complicated dance before you find the campus where you will thrive. The more specific your criteria, the more likely you will be to identify the med school that is right for you.
Alicia McNease Nimonkar is an Accepted.com advisor and editor specializing in healthcare admissions. Prior to joining Accepted, Alicia worked for five years as Student Advisor at UC Davis’ postbac program where she both evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school and related programs.Related Resources:
• Navigate the Med School Maze
• Boost your GPA for Med School Acceptance
• 7 Reasons Why Medical School Applicants Are Rejected
- See more at: http://blog.accepted.com/2015/05/10/how-to-research-medical-schools/#sthash.fFmsiSse.dpuf
