How Do Applicants Choose Their School List?

The United States alone is home to almost 200 medical schools (155 allopathic medicine and 37 osteopathic medicine), so how should applicants go about picking only 20 for their school list? What are some important factors to consider? 

I asked a University of Maryland, College Park alum how she was able to narrow down her list during her medical school application process. Hannah Lee graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Neurobiology and Physiology and a B.A. in Violin Performance. When she began her process, Hannah also asked herself the same question. To form a list of schools she wanted to apply to, she first started with a broad range of schools. Then, she narrowed them down by average GPA and MCAT scores of each school using MSAR®, location preference, and specific medical school curriculum. In the end, she was able to condense her list to 21 schools. Hannah wanted to be realistic with the list and applied to schools that she thought she would get an interview with. Hannah, a Maryland native, now calls Philadelphia her new home where she attends Drexel University College of Medicine as a first-year student.

 As part of her selection process, Hannah also searched for schools that valued and emphasized diversity and community service. Medical schools have different curriculum and requirements. Some prioritize research, some prioritize service, and some do both. Hannah believed that what was required and expected from students reflected their values and philosophy towards education and medicine. Not only does being a good physician require proficient knowledge and skills, but it also requires compassion and empathy. A school that emphasizes community service would instill these humanistic qualities in their future physicians to deliver the most effective care.

Hannah also wanted to continue her education in an environment that advocated for diversity and inclusion. She grew up in a predominantly South Korean community where she was immersed with the language, customs, traditions, and culture. Her upbringing as an Asian American fostered valuing diversity and applied it to the qualities she would demonstrate as a physician who is accepting, understanding, and inclusive of wide patient populations and demographics. 

Another important factor to consider is the culture of the student body. Hannah did not realize this until she started her interview process. Based on the questions the admissions office asked and the answers they gave when she asked questions, she was able to draw a picture of her life as a student at each school. She also looked at the grading system of each school to see whether it was pass/fail or on  the 4.0 grading scale. She believed that learning in an environment where her knowledge and performance were evaluated on an A/B/C scale could increase the competitive nature of the student body, which she tried to avoid. 

In terms of finance, she compared the tuition cost for her final two choices of school, which were Drexel University College of Medicine and University of Maryland School of Medicine. The difference between the cost of tuition was approximately $5,000 per year, but she did not have to weigh the significance of the cost in her choice. This allowed her to only focus on comparing the curriculum, student life, location, and other external factors of the two schools. When it was time to decide where she would spend the next four years studying to become a physician, she chose Drexel University College of Medicine. 

Hannah is extremely happy with her choice and is already involved in many service organizations and clinical opportunities at her school. She is a member of the Health Outreach Project, which is a student-run clinic that collaborates with community organizations to provide free drop-in clinics, health education, and tutoring services. As a student ambassador, she engages with prospective students and conducts applicant interviews. She also continues to pursue her passion in violin performance through Penn Med Symphony Orchestra and Drexel University College of Medicine Classical. She plans to combine her training in music and medicine to co-found a service organization that integrates music and community outreach. 

I hope this insight into Hannah’s application process can provide guidance on how to narrow down one’s school list. The entire application process is a long journey, but I hope you don’t feel overwhelmed. According to the AAMC, the average number of schools that applicants apply to has been around 17. However, around 60% of applicants receive only one acceptance. Around 90% of applicants receive three or fewer. Therefore, when interview season rolls around, don’t be discouraged and be proud of how far you have come along the process!

As mentioned in my introduction, I have more exciting pieces to share with you in the upcoming weeks about other aspects of the application process, gap year experiences, and residency programs. Some entries will be written by our alumni themselves. See you again next Tuesday!

With care, 

Gus

Editor: Yubin Lee