The general rule is that the less optimistic you are about your chances for acceptance, the more schools you should apply to. You can base this in part on the average MCAT scores and GPA for matriculants in 1998-1999. 10.2 9.9 O 3.52 3.64 Selecting a Medical School State funded medical schools where you are a legal resident should offer the best chance of acceptance. These schools tend to reserve 90 percent or more of their seats for in-state students. Any nonresidents accepted usually have exemplary credentials.
Private schools are another option.
Do not disregard them because of higher tuition costs. These schools are more financially independent and are not under the same restrictions as state funded schools. Because of this, some will cater to students who do not meet the qualifications of public state schools. Some schools may give preference to students in the same general part of the country, such as the Mid-Atlantic area. Find a characteristic you are interested in, such a strong primary care emphasis, strong research programs, or associations with other university.