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how many programs do students typically apply to?


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To give some context, I have a 3.2 overall GPA and 3.0 Science GPA. I currently work as a medical scribe (1.5yrs) and prior to that I was working as a clinical research coordinator with some patient interaction. I have been out of school for a couple of years so I am running into the issue that some of the required course are close to the 10 year mark. How many programs should I apply to? And are admissions lenient if one or two classes are outside of this mark? 

I have read some applicants apply to 4 schools while others apply to 30.....

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Hey there! I am in a similar boat that you are in as I am near the point of my pre-reqs expiring and this is my 2nd time applying to school. I applied to 4 schools this cycle. I've have reached out to the programs that I have applied to and they are all very set on there deadline for pre-reqs. I also have to stay fairly close to home (I bought a house last year), since my husband owns his own business. Only apply to places that you would be excited to get accepted to! 

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3 hours ago, browens3pa said:

I read in a few places that statistically speaking, 12 is the max you should apply to before it doesn't do any good to apply to more. No idea if that's true but I read that a few times while applying last year.

Only apply to a ton of schools if you're a marginal applicant. There are really three zones of applicants: shoo-in, marginal, and aspirational. Shoo-ins exceed the typical profile of an admitted student in every way, marginal applicants match it, and aspirational applicants are between typical admitted students and the program's minimums.

Shoo-ins should apply a few places so they have a good choice of where to go.

Marginal applicants should apply broadly.

Aspirational applicants... well, good luck. How much can you afford? How much experience getting rejection letters do you want to obtain? If you get an interview, can you afford to attend?

With a 3.2 cGPA, 3.0 sGPA, the OP here is likely an aspirational applicant for most schools.

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