Application experience this cycle

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>This is intended for first/second year college students planning on medical school. Used this and SDN a lot(probably too much) during just completed medical school application cycle, and hope our experience can help someone else. This isn't geared for the Ivy League/Top Tier medical school applicants, but rather for those who want to attend and would be happy to get into any accredited US medical school(N.B.: only applied to MD schools, so no advice to give on DO schools).</p>

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<li><p>It's incredibly competitive. Read a post that said Drexel medical school got 12,600 applicants for a class of 250 most recent cycle. That doesn't mean you should give up, but it does mean it will be a long haul from application to acceptance. So pick your schools carefully. Some private schools(e.g. U of Miami) are so tied to their state they recommend OOS not apply, while some public schools take almost 50% OOS. So get the MSAR; you want to know the in-state v. out of state acceptance rate BEFORE sending in the application. You don't want to waste your money.</p></li>
<li><p>While not all-controlling, your application begins and ends with your GPA and MCAT score. Applicants know how to study, but the MCAT is a different animal; plan on taking an MCAT review course. This will be the first of many medical school application expenses, but it's worth it. And having to take the MCAT more than once will not kill your application. Ours took it twice, with 20% increase second time and we're convinced it paid off(from sub 30 to well above 30). Informally, it appears that a 30 or above MCAT is desired, with a GPA of 3.5 and above(3.5 would be low) for non-URM applicants.</p></li>
<li><p>It's expensive: again, if you've got a 4.0 in biochemistry and a 40, and you're class president, an Olympic athlete, and have five publications, this doesn't apply to you because you're in; for the rest of the mortals, plan on applying to 15-20 schools. You'll pay for the application, plus all the secondaries. A lot of money? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.</p></li>
<li><p>So things are going well-you're getting interviews. Again-it's expensive: cost of gas to drive or plane ticket. Maybe you need a hotel; some schools offer student hosts you can stay with. And you've got to eat, etc. So plan on these expenses, and plan on missing a fair amount of class. Not a big deal, but just let your professors know; in our case, they were understanding and supportive.</p></li>
<li><p>Your personal statement makes a BIG difference; so does your additional essay on the secondary. Based on our spread of acceptances/rejections, this is the only explanation. All the schools had about the same numbers, but why an interview invite or not? Had to be the essay and clearly, the interviews make a difference-so practice! Many UG offer practice interview sessions.</p></li>
<li><p>Your ECs make a difference, too. Our applicant had some pretty average numbers for medical school admission, but some really special ECs, involving tons of leadership in community activities. We don't know that this made the difference, but this and #5 had to, in light of the process and results.</p></li>
<li><p>And yes, shadowing helps, and if you do research, that really helps too-both of these came up during interviews.</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, medical school is expensive. While this is not something to totally focus on at this point, it is something to consider. Right now, the aid packages have been sent, and friends of ours are shocked that medical schools offer VERY few scholarships, VERY few grants, and that most financial aid packages are almost all loans. Clearly, many of our fellow applicants hadn't thought about this, and there is a lot of shock right now, especially when looking at borrowing $60,000+ per year-and that's on the low side. So keep the cost in mind; we believe it's worth it, but you do need to know.</p></li>
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<p>The numbers? Applications submitted: 19 Interviews offered: 8 Interviews accepted: 6 Results: 4 offers of admission, two wait-lists. Schools sometimes will tell you why you weren't accepted(we've been told this, but didn't ask any schools), and didn't question any of the acceptances.</p>

<p>So-your numbers are important, but don't control all. Clearly, medical schools take into consideration the intangibles-in other words, you and who you are and what you've done. So you will get accepted; just find those research/ECs that fit you; these will compliment your application. And yes, it's a long, tense process, and will cost you some $$$. But if this is what you want, it's definitely worth it.</p>

2

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<p>Does anyone think that it will maybe get easier in a few years, once the economy gets better and people stop taking the safe route to six figures that happens to require 11+ years of training?</p>

3

<p>The economy has not been driving people to medical school nor should it be. If you don’t have a driving passion for medicine you should not consider the career path.</p>

<p>It’s a long and arduous grind with a very long time before any real income is earned. Several of my son’s friends who went the IB route will have ten years experience and serious income before he even finishes his residency.</p>

<p>Don’t go into medicine for the money there are easier and shorter paths.</p>

4

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Not bad at all. Shows great interpersonal skills and a reasonably well thought out list. Anybody would declare this a hugely successful cycle. Congrats to yours.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for the thought, and good luck.</p>

6

<p>"Applications submitted: 19 "
-on a high end. Application is expansive and traveling to interviews will be expansive unless you apply in driving distance. Also, you will take time off from your classes/exams, they will have to be made up. Some profs are more understanding than others. So, constract your list very carefully with your personal criteria well ahead of others’ advice.</p>

7

<p>Did waste three apps on OOS reaches and received unbelievably fast rejections. Should have been more realistic, and the time/money spent on the reaches was wasted. That said, if you’re in the middle of acceptance averages, would still recommend applying to 15 medical schools-or more specifically, 15 schools for which your numbers are at/near average. It’s at that point your essays, ECs, research, etc will start to be considered-and in this case, some liked what they saw(the interviews) and some didn’t(the rejections without interviews). There didnt’ seem to be any particular reason why school X granted an interview, and school Y didn’t, as both were almost identical in their acceptance averages. It had to be the non-grade, non-MCAT variables that each applicant controls, which is why I stand by my recommendation that if you’re average apply to at least 15 schools(this includes ALL state schools for your state of residence). Will it cost money? Yes. Will travel cost money? Yes. But if this is what you want, save up your money and use it for the apps and the interviews; you won’t regret it. It’s an expensive process, but it can be done. So can’t agree with Miami; the process is so competitive that if you’re “average” you need to apply to a broad range/number of schools.</p>

8

<p>I initially applied to 15 schools but only completed the secondaries at 13. Among those applications I had 4 “safeties” (schools where my MCAT and GPA were higher than their averages), 4 “matches” (MCAT was around their average), and 5 “reaches” (MCAT was just below their average). My GPA was very high and therefore I felt that applying to more reach schools was acceptable. The 2 schools that I dropped were an OOS public (“safety” yet low probability of acceptance due to being OOS) and Georgetown (due to a ridiculous secondary essay and high fee). </p>

<p>I received and attended 9 interviews (3 safeties, 3 matches, 3 reaches). I was initially accepted to 4 schools (2 safeties, 2 matches) and accepted off of the wait-list at one of my reach schools. I was wait-listed at the rest of the schools.</p>

<p>The moral of my application cycle is: choose schools wisely! I spent hours researching schools before I applied, and I think I did very well. Don’t be afraid to apply to reach schools, but make sure that you have a sufficient number of match and “safety” schools as well. Remember that you can never be too certain that you will be accepted to a safety school, so write your essays carefully and research the school even more on the day prior to your interview. Make sure you have specific reasons as to why you would want to attend there - don’t just give general BS! </p>

<p>I think that if you have good stats, applying to more than 15 schools is overkill. Unless you have absolutely NOTHING to do during the summer of your application cycle, you can’t possibly write 30+ secondary essays and write them WELL. Each essay of mine took several revisions before I sent them out! </p>

<p>Best of luck to future applicants!</p>

9

<p>18 schools-4 interviews-4 acceptances-rejections-many
The hardest part of applying certainly was “the waiting” but I do have to say that applying early in the cycle was key. My focus for acceptance was on my state’s only medical school and I was fortunate to apply early, be contacted for an interview early(-August 4-for a Sept 15 interview) and then gain an acceptance early- on October 17. Being accepted at my first choice took a lot of pressure off–and because this past year was my gap year for working and attempting to pay down loans and save some money–I did not regret applying in my senior year (May, 2011 grad) and using the late spring and early summer to focus intently on applications & secondary essays and know that if I received interviews-I would not be missing classes. It made getting LORs easier and it gave me time to develop a solid PS. Having those components in place and ready to go–made the initial application and its approval allow me to receive secondaries earlier–and getting all of those finished by mid July was another plus. Taking the gap year worked for me–it gave me some time away from studying. While the gap year is not for everyone–it allowed me to execute my plan for applying with a greater focus. I want to wish everyone a great positive vibe if you’re applying in this upcoming cycle–don’t get down if you do receive rejections–and work to stay balanced on your journey–it is long-try to savor the good moments–I know you will get there.</p>