June 17, 2025
Written By
Zach French
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You already know this: getting into medical school is hard. The real challenge now? Maximizing your chances by applying to the right schools. Because the last thing you want is to pour your heart into 30 secondaries when half those schools were never realistic to begin with. On the other hand, applying to just five and hoping for the best? That’s not a strategy. It’s a gamble.
So the real question is: how many med schools should you actually apply to?
This article is your roadmap. We’re going to break down how many med schools you should apply to based on the stats, the strategy, and what Adcoms actually care about. We'll walk through the “golden range” for most applicants, how to build a balanced school list, and how to decide which schools are even worth your time.
And if you’re tired of guessing, we’ve got you. At Premed Catalyst, we built a free resource that shows you what it really takes to get in. You’ll get 8 full AMCAS applications that earned real acceptances to places like UCLA and UCSF. Use it as a guide to craft your own winning application.
Grab your free resource here.
The number of schools you apply to can make or break your application cycle, especially in an era where acceptance rates are razor-thin and competition is sky-high. But more than that, it’s a numbers game, a financial investment, and a psychological marathon all rolled into one.
Submitting too few applications might mean you don’t cast a wide enough net to land interviews. Apply to too many, and you risk burnout, cookie-cutter essays, and thousands of dollars down the drain. There’s no one-size-fits-all number, but you definitely need to have a number.
Let’s say you apply to 10 schools. Each school has a 5–10% acceptance rate. Even if your application is strong, those odds mean you could walk away with zero acceptances. But what if you apply to 30? Now, you’ve drastically increased your chances of securing interviews, assuming your application quality holds steady.
That being said: acceptance rates aren’t static. They’re not some universal law of nature that applies to every applicant equally. They’re population-level statistics. And you? You’re an individual.
Yes, the AAMC data says only 41.9% of applicants got in last cycle. But that number includes everyone from students applying with a 3.0 and no clinical hours to those with near-perfect stats and stellar secondaries. If you’ve got a 3.8+ GPA and a 517+ MCAT, your odds are dramatically better. In fact, over 82% of students with that stat profile earned at least one acceptance.
So, what does that mean for you? It means that while more schools can absolutely improve your odds, the impact of adding schools depends on who you are as an applicant. If your stats are weaker or you have red flags, casting a wider net is often essential. But even if you’re a strong applicant, adding more schools strategically still gives you more opportunities to connect with the right fit.
For most first-time applicants, the sweet spot is 25-35 schools. This is what we call the “golden range.” It gives you enough reach, target, and undershoot schools to build a well-rounded list without totally overwhelming you with secondaries.
But this only works if your application is solid. Strong personal statement. Strategic school list. Tailored secondaries. If you’re rushing your essays or winging your school selection, even 25 apps won’t save you.
That said, there’s room to go higher. Many students successfully apply to 40-50 schools. Why? Because the marginal cost of adding a school is relatively low. We’ll get into more of that later.
The limiting factor usually isn’t money. It’s time. Can you realistically complete that many secondaries without sacrificing quality? If yes, and you're a competitive applicant, a high-volume strategy might serve you well.
Your state of residence also plays a huge role. If you're from a state like Texas, with its own application system (TMDSAS) and numerous public med schools, you might only need to apply to 14–15 schools in total. But if you're from a state with just two med schools, say, Iowa for example, you’ll probably need to go broader unless you're 100% comfortable staying in-state.
So, you’ve got your golden number of 25 to 35 schools. Great. Now what?
You don’t just throw 25 school names in a spreadsheet and call it a day. You need to build a portfolio the same way investors balance risk and return. Some high-stakes. Some safe.
Here’s how to break it down.
These are your hail marys. The ones where your stats may be below the median and the acceptance rates are brutal. Think <5%. But they’re still on your list because you’ve got something special. A compelling story. Unique impact.
Plan for 8 to 10 reach schools, or about a third of your list.
Just make sure you earn your spot on these secondaries. Reach schools don’t reward effort. They reward fit. You can’t afford to phone it in. Be specific. Be personal. Let them know why you’re aligned with their mission.
This is your bread and butter. Your GPA and MCAT match their averages. Your clinical and research experience are solid. You’d be proud to go here, and you’ve got a real shot.
Aim for 10-14 target schools because this is your core. Your most likely acceptances will come from this tier.
But don’t get lazy here. Just because it’s a target doesn’t mean you can afford a half-baked application. These schools still get thousands of apps and will spot fluff from a mile away. Know the mission. Know the curriculum. Know how you fit. Make it clear in every sentence.
Undershoot schools are the ones where your stats are comfortably above average with a few points higher on the MCAT, a stronger GPA, and a compelling narrative. These schools give you leverage. They’re your chance to rack up interview invites and maybe even scholarship offers. You don’t need a dozen, but you do need a cushion, a fallback plan if your reach or target schools don’t come through.
Shoot for around 7 to 10 undershoot schools. Just don’t send a lazy app. Enthusiasm still matters. They want students who want to be there.
Let’s talk money. Because no one tells you this part until it’s too late: applying to med school is expensive. And it’s not just tuition. It’s just applying.
The primary application alone costs $175 for the first school, then $47 for every additional one. So, if you apply to 20 schools, you’re already out over $1,000, and that’s before secondaries. Most secondaries are $75 to $100 each, and you’re expected to submit those within 2 weeks. Add in CASPer, MCAT retakes, interview flights (if they’re in person), and it adds up fast.
That’s why every school you apply to should earn its spot on your list. Because each one is a bill. And if you’re not strategic, you're not just wasting time. You’re wasting money.
If you’re staring at your list and the cost and thinking, “I can only afford 10 schools,” don’t panic. You still have options. But it means your strategy has to be airtight.
Start with a hard look at your stats and your story. Cut the long-shot reaches. Focus on targets and well-researched undershoots where you’ve got a real shot. Every school on your list should be one where you can confidently say you belong.
Also, apply for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) if you haven’t already. It waives the primary app fees for up to 20 schools and reduces MCAT costs significantly. For many premeds, that can make the difference between applying to 8 schools and applying to 25.
You’ve got your target number. You know the cost. Now comes the hardest part: picking the actual schools.
This isn’t about vibes. It’s about alignment between who you are, what you need, and what they offer. Use these five filters to build a school list that actually makes sense for you.
This is the baseline. Do your stats fall within the school’s accepted range?
It’s not about matching perfectly, but you should be in the ballpark. Look up each school’s median GPA and MCAT. If your numbers are way off, ask yourself: is this a reach worth taking? Or a waste of money?
Academic fit also includes prerequisites. Some schools require specific upper-division science courses, lab hours, or even a minimum number of shadowing hours. If you don’t meet the non-negotiables, move on. There are too many schools out there to gamble on ones that won't even read your app.
This one’s slept on, but it matters more than you think.
Is the school research-heavy or community-driven? Are they big on rural medicine? Do they emphasize primary care, underserved populations, or global health? If your values don’t align, you’ll stick out and not in a good way.
Also look at the curriculum. PBL or lecture-based? Graded or pass/fail? How early do you get clinical exposure? This stuff impacts how you’ll experience med school. You’re not just applying to a brand. You’re applying to a way of life for the next four years. Choose wisely.
This one’s personal. And it’s valid.
Do you need to be near family? Hate snow? Thrive in cities or prefer smaller towns? Geography affects mental health, financial planning, and even your support system during med school. Don’t apply somewhere just because it sounds prestigious if you’ll be miserable living there.
Also, consider where you want to practice one day. Most students match regionally. If you’re set on training or working in California, applying to a school in rural Alabama might not serve you long-term.
Paying for med school isn’t just about tuition. It's about cost of living, access to scholarships, and long-term debt.
Some schools are known for generous merit aid. Others quietly rack up $300k in loans. Look beyond the sticker price. Ask what their graduates’ average debt looks like, what percentage receive aid, and how transparent they are about costs.
And remember: the AAMC FAP program, in-state tuition discounts, and guaranteed scholarships can all drastically shift what “affordable” means for you.
This is the X factor.
Does the school give you a unique edge? Maybe you’re a perfect fit for their mission. Maybe your mentor trained there and can write you a glowing letter. Maybe it’s a brand-new program with higher odds for applicants who apply early. Strategic value is what elevates a school from “maybe” to “definitely.”
You can have a solid GPA, a competitive MCAT, strong clinical hours and still get ghosted by every med school you apply to. Why? Because the mistakes that ruin cycles aren’t always the obvious ones.
Here are the most common missteps that silently sabotage even good applications:
Let’s fast-forward. You’ve crafted your app, hit submit on your primaries, and now you’re waiting for secondaries to roll in.
When you get to this stage, your strategy still matters. And in some cases, the smartest thing you can do after submission is to add more schools.
But timing matters.
If it’s been 3–4 weeks and your inbox is still silent, that’s not just a “maybe adjust”—that’s a red flag. At that point, you’re likely already applying late. Medical schools review applications on a rolling basis, and the earlier your secondaries hit their desk, the better. So don’t wait until you’re ghosted for a month to act. Start reevaluating by week 2 if the secondaries aren’t coming in.
Here are situations where you may want to add schools—quickly:
Let’s be real: this whole process is overwhelming. The school list, the secondaries, the cost, the uncertainty. You’re making decisions that affect the next decade of your life, and half the time you’re just wondering if you’re doing it right.
But here’s the truth: you don’t need to guess. The most strategic thing you can do right now is model your application after ones that already worked.
That’s exactly why we created our free resource at Premed Catalyst: eight full medical school applications from students who got into top programs like UCLA. These aren’t summaries or cherry-picked blurbs. These are full applications, including secondaries, stats, and personal statements. And yes, our co-founder Mike’s is in there, too.
Get your free resource here.