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Show Summary

The 2024-25 medical school application cycle is looming. In fact, for many it’s already started. Would you like to learn how to craft a quality application to medical school, a compelling persuasive application? Well, that’s the topic of today’s episode, so tune in.

Show Notes

Welcome to the 567th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Thanks for joining me. Are you considering using an admissions consultant at any point during your medical school application journey? Well, if you are, you are eligible for a free 30-minute consultation with a top-notch, experienced Accepted admissions consultant.

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A lot of experience is one thing you don’t want to have when applying to medical school, but you sure would like to have a personal guide and mentor with decades of just such experience by your side as you’re going through this really tough and long process. That’s what Accepted provides. If you’re interested in learning more, just go to accepted.com/freemedcall and sign up for invaluable guidance. And that initial call is 100% free. 

And even if you have that guide, you probably want to know the itinerary, as well as what you need to bring on your trip, and that’s what we’re going to discuss today. 

I have many times said that in order to apply successfully to medical school, you need to have competitive qualifications, and you also need to present those qualifications effectively via your primary and secondary applications, as well as the all important interview. 

Today, we’re going to address how to do exactly that, so hold onto your hats or your earbuds. There’s a lot to cover here. Also, because there’s so much to cover, Accepted is providing a worksheet for you that you can use to take notes on today’s show or to set up a to-do list that you can use throughout the application process. Remember, a goal without a plan is really a wish. And it’s a goal to get accepted to medical school, not a wish. So, the note-taking and to-do list with due dates can help you turn your dream into reality and make sure that that goal is not just a wish, along with the personal guide that I mentioned a minute ago. Again, you can find the free worksheet here.No registration is required. So, just get your copy and enjoy.

Five essential ingredients of a successful medical school application [2:57 ]

A successful medical school application has five essential ingredients, if you don’t mind me mixing travel and cooking metaphors in the show. Include them all in your application and your chances of acceptance are excellent. Leave off any one element, any one ingredient, and your chances are simply greatly diminished. Again, if you have all five, then medical schools will want you and accept you. My goal for this podcast is to show you that a successful medical application has to have each of these five elements, not one, not two, not three, not even four, all five. And I’d suggest that you see page three of the worksheet, where you can jot down to-dos for your medical school application during the podcast or after, I mentioned that a second ago, I’m mentioning it again. The task list will probably shrink and grow during the process at different points in time, but it will guide you and help you as you apply.

1. Demonstrate you can do the work in medical school [3:48 ]

Okay, so essential ingredient number one. I’ll list them all at the end, but let’s go one by one for now: demonstrate you can do the work in medical school. That’s just foundational. Do you have the educational foundation, intellectual ability, the capability to succeed and handle the work? And how do you intend to show that you have that, that you can do that work? 

Well, the most common way, and here I’m talking academically, the most common way is through your undergraduate transcript and your MCAT score, and this is usually presented in the primary application, because it is so foundational. And you ideally want to be at or above the averages for accepted students, particularly students, for both your grades and your test scores.

If you don’t have that, how can you convince schools to accept you with below average, let’s start with grades. Well, first of all, realize that averages are what they are because some are accepted with below-average stats. However, the farther away you are from the average on the below side, and if both your grades and MCAT scores are below average, the less likely it is that you can effectively demonstrate you can do the work. What if you have below-average grades? Well, I would suggest that you consider a post-bac program, preferably one, depending upon the circumstances that you were dealing with, that will help you with study skills. If science grades are below average, consider a post-bac program that will allow you to bring them up. Perhaps one that also, again, provides the study skill support that I mentioned.

A high MCAT score can mitigate somewhat low grades. For U.S. allopathic schools, ideally, you want to be at 510 plus. A 511 doesn’t guarantee rejection and a 511 plus doesn’t guarantee acceptance. The average MCAT score for those accepted to allopathic medical schools in 2022, 2023 was a 511.9. In other words, a 512. So, that should be a guideline to you in terms of what you are aiming for, what you have, and where you should apply.

In terms of showing that you can do the work and meet the expectations of the medical schools you’re applying to, you need to apply to medical schools where your test scores and GPA are competitive in range. Yes, the medical schools consider other factors. We have holistic review and all that, and that’s going to deal with the next four elements that I’m going to discuss, deal with all that other stuff, but the grades and test scores count. They count. And that ability to do the work, to handle the academics is generally evident in your transcript and test scores. The objective, quantitative elements of the application. Okay, so that was ingredient number one, or essential element number one.

2. Show that you know what clinical practice is [6:26 ]

Essential element number two, show that you know what clinical practice is and have a realistic idea of what you’re getting into, that you’re committed to it, and perhaps have some direction within medicine.

Medical schools want to admit people who are committed to medicine, who are committed to a life of service, and in this particular way. And the way to show that you know what you’re getting into and that you have that passion, that calling for medicine, is t