As a Nontrad, How Should I Create a Med School List?

Session 17

Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. Today, they cover tips you need to know when making your school list in narrowing down which medical schools to apply to.

OldPreMeds Question of the Week:

How do you sort through the 150+ medical schools out there and pick the ones that you apply to?

Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich:

Tips in creating your med school list:

Get a copy of the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirement) published by AAMC) which summarizes each school of their class, their setup, requirements, and their average GPA and MCAT score. For the osteopathic schools, check the College Information Book to get the same information.

Take a realistic look at your grades and see if you’re going to fit within the range of the medical schools you’re applying to.

For nontraditional students consider to increase your overall GPA even though the actual may be a little bit lower.

Consider all the schools in your state, both state schools and the private schools. Consider it a part of your normal broad application process.

State schools look at the factor of being in-state or out of state. States will look at in-state applicants closer than out of state applicants.

Some things you need to consider:

Most students apply between 12 and 24 schools.
City or more rural
Specialty of the school you want to be associated with.
Weather

Major takeaway from this episode:

Pick your schools wisely because it’s a big part in the application process and a great deal of money is involved too.

Links and Other Resources

If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question.

Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are.

Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net.

Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review.

Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned!

Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq.