<p>So I was hoping to get my pre med courses out of the way in three years, apply and get into med school before I get an undergrad degree (I beleive some medical schools do not require an actual degree) - and then I realized something: what would I do if didn't get into a medical school? I was talking to someone today, who is a 4th year biochem major, who said that if he doesn't get into a med school, he will most likely pursue a phd. So I was wondering, after people get their undergrad degree, but do not get into medical school, what do you do? Reapply next year? Research, study (more courses to get your gpa up), volunteer, or get a job? Also, would getting accepted into a graduate program be easier than getting accepted into a medical school, as a backup, I guess (since this is what the person I was talking to today said).</p>
<p>If you don’t get into med school the first time and you want to be a doctor–the correct answer is that you improve your CV and reapply. </p>
<p>The kinds of activities you pursue will depend on what kind of weaknesses your application had. (Grades? MCAT score? Community volunteerism? Research? Medical experience? LORs? You gotta figure out what’s wrong and fix it. If you’re a reapplicant, your application package needs to be stronger than it was the first time to get seriously considered.) </p>
<p>It’s easier to get accepted into a MS program than it is to get accepted into med school. But it’s probably equally difficult to get into a FUNDED grad program as it is to get into med school. (IOW, there are plenty of grad bio programs where the dept will be very happy to take your money while you take classes, but if you are looking for a program that will offer you a tuition remission and a living expenses stipend while working on a MS-- that’s a whole different story and a whole lot harder to do…)</p>