Gelberman says that OCS has also changed itsadvising strategies. "We want students to lookmore closely at the schools they are applying to,"she says.

"We encourage people to look at curriculums,and to consider what they really want to do," shesays.

"Just applying to a lot of schools won't doit--there is no security in numbers," Gelbermanwarns.

Pre-meds know this, and are taking (or havetaken) the advice of their tutors.

Bindra, who has now successfully completed theapplication process, says he applied to 18different schools, a total considered to be quitehigh.

"I applied to so many because most of theplaces I'm looking at receive thousands ofapplicants for a few hundred places," he says.

"I was a biochemistry major and wasn't pre-meduntil the beginning of my senior year," Bindrasays. "My adviser told me to apply to a wide rangeof schools."

Diane E. Levitan '95 says that knowing aboutthe rise in applicants has made her re-think herstrategy.

"I will probably apply to more schools, butI'll still apply to the ones I want to go to,"says Levitan, who is a Crimson editor.

Streetwise pre-meds are taking care to planahead in an attempt to maximize their grades aswell as their MCAT scores.

"A student's GPA and MCAT scores are moreimportant then ever," says Gelberman. "They serveas one way of `weeding out' applicants."

Pre-meds are planning around the necessary (andpainful) ordeal of the day-long MCAT. "Sometimesyou don't want to challenge yourself as much asusual--especially during MCAT time. You need timeto prepare for that test," says Chan.

Unfortunately--preparation and strategyaside--some students are preparing for the worst:the possibility of not gaining admission anywhere.

"If it happens, I might just try to work in alab or hospital for a year. It will give meexperience and beef up my resume." says GlennBianchi.

Gelberman says OCS is equipped to deal withthis possibility as well. "When students don't getin, we're here," she says.