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How do you decide which medical schools outside of your state of residence you should apply to?
I know that applications can be expensive, so how do I determine what places outside of my state I have a good chance of getting accepted into?
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Suzanne’s Answer
Yasmine, this is a very reasonable question. Application fees can mount up -- but do be aware that if you are low income and qualify for the AAMC fee reductions, these can be applied to the application fees and make it more reasonable to apply widely.
In terms of deciding where to apply, there is the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) which you can access once you are officially applying. (Again, there is a fee which can be reduced or waived for those who qualify as low-income). MSAR is an online database which lets you compare all US and Canadian medical schools and decide which are realistic options for you based on your GPA, MCAT results, etc.
As you say, applying to your state schools is smart but beyond that, look at what the schools' missions are. Primary care? Care for the underserved? A strong research focus? Does it mesh with your personal goals? Tuition cost balanced out by scholarship availability? For some people location is important. Does size of school matter to you? What about teaching style? Do you thrive with in-person lectures? Small group problem-based learning? Do-it-yourself watching of lectures from home? Read a lot about each school's style, curriculum and clinical opportunities. Ask questions. Ultimately know that all MD and DO schools need to meet rigorous accreditation standards and you are very likely to get a strong educational background and be ready for residency wherever you go. Good luck to you!
Here is a web page about MSAR from the ever-helpful AAMC.org website: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/deciding-where-apply
In terms of deciding where to apply, there is the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) which you can access once you are officially applying. (Again, there is a fee which can be reduced or waived for those who qualify as low-income). MSAR is an online database which lets you compare all US and Canadian medical schools and decide which are realistic options for you based on your GPA, MCAT results, etc.
As you say, applying to your state schools is smart but beyond that, look at what the schools' missions are. Primary care? Care for the underserved? A strong research focus? Does it mesh with your personal goals? Tuition cost balanced out by scholarship availability? For some people location is important. Does size of school matter to you? What about teaching style? Do you thrive with in-person lectures? Small group problem-based learning? Do-it-yourself watching of lectures from home? Read a lot about each school's style, curriculum and clinical opportunities. Ask questions. Ultimately know that all MD and DO schools need to meet rigorous accreditation standards and you are very likely to get a strong educational background and be ready for residency wherever you go. Good luck to you!
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