How to Build a Medical School List Using Your LizzyM Score

The Application Tax

Applying to medical school is astronomically expensive. Between primary AMCAS fees, secondary application fees, and travel costs for interviews, the average Pre-Med spends over $3,000 just to apply.

Because the process is so competitive, panicked applicants often apply to 40 or 50 schools, hoping that "casting a wide net" will yield an acceptance.

This is a terrible strategy. If you blindly apply to schools that are statistically out of your league, you are just donating money to their admissions departments. You must build a highly targeted school list using the LizzyM Score.

Step 1: Calculate Your LizzyM

Input your AMCAS Cumulative GPA and your MCAT score into a LizzyM calculator. Let's assume your GPA is a 3.8 and your MCAT is a 510. Your LizzyM score is roughly a 69.

Step 2: The MSAR Database

Purchase a subscription to the MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements) database provided by the AAMC. This database contains the median GPA and MCAT for every medical school in the country.

Step 3: The 20-School Distribution

You should aim to apply to 20 to 25 carefully selected schools. You will use your LizzyM score to sort them into three buckets:

Bucket 1: The "Reach" Schools (4 - 5 Schools) These are schools where the median LizzyM is 2 to 3 points higher than your score (e.g., LizzyM 71-72). You likely won't get in, but you apply just in case the committee loves your personal statement. Do not apply to Harvard (LizzyM 76+) if you have a 69.

Bucket 2: The "Target" Schools (12 - 15 Schools) This is where you spend your money. Target schools where the median LizzyM exactly matches your score (68 - 70). Ensure you heavily target your in-state public medical schools, as they legally mandate interviewing in-state residents.

Bucket 3: The "Safety" Schools (4 - 5 Schools) Apply to lower-tier MD schools or DO (Osteopathic) schools where the median LizzyM is 2 to 3 points lower than your score. These schools serve as your insurance policy to ensure you don't have to reapply next cycle.