Contrary to popular opinion, medical school admissions is not
just a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" decision making process.
Since there are so many qualified applicants and so few spaces,
who ends up getting in?
First Factors
The process works differently at each school and program, but
certain things remain roughly the same. A group will make an
initial review of the applications, making a first cut at
separating possible acceptances from clear rejections. At this
stage, there are several reasons for rejection. The application
might not be complete, the grades or MCAT scores are way too low
for the program's standards, the personal essay does not explain
mitigating circumstances elsewhere in the application, or the
applicant seriously lacks preparation for the program.
The first cut will eliminate candidates who fall below the
school's standards for both GPA and MCAT scores. Those left for
the secondary review are those who have demonstrated sufficient
proof of their academic skill.
Take Two
Once you're through the primary review, the focus shifts from
your intellectual abilities to your non-academic accomplishments.
Now the program will ask you for letters of recommendation, a
list of extracurriculars, a second essay, and any other
requirements they may have.
Some med schools only send secondary applications to a
fraction of the initial applicant pool, while others send them to
anyone who meets the academic requirements. Because each school
creates their own secondary application, you can figure out
what's important to that school by the questions it asks. For
instance, if a school asks for significant information about
extracurriculars, you can be pretty sure that it will figure
large in the screening process.
You're Goin' In
Once you've sent in the secondary application you may be
invited in for an interview. This pretty much means that you're
acceptable to the school on paper. But beware — at all medical
schools, if you have a poor interview, you'll probably get
rejected, while a great interview might ensure your acceptance.
There are some schools, however, that only use interviews to
further weed out candidates, and at these schools a good
interview doesn't carry much weight at all.
The Decisions
Admit
Congratulations, you're in! But read the letter carefully. The
committee may recommend or in some cases, require, that you
complete some preparatory course work to ensure that your skills
meet their standards.
Reject
At the top schools, there are far more qualified applicants
than there are spaces in the class. Even though you were
rejected, you can reapply at a later date. If you are intent on
reapplying, the onus is on you to demonstrate that you're a
better candidate now than you were previously. This may involve
improving your MCAT score, taking additional courses, gaining
substantive new experience, or writing better essays.
Alternate List
Schools use the alternate list to manage class size. The good
news is that you wouldn't be on the list if you were not
considered a strong candidate. The bad news is that there is no
way to know with certainty whether you'll be accepted. Be aware,
though, that schools do tend to look kindly upon wait-listed
candidates who reapply in a subsequent year.
If you've been wait-listed, try to sway your case. If someone
offered you a recommendation that you didn't accept, now would be
the time to ask the person if the offer still stands. Sending
extra material in gives the admissions committee more information
that might swing the balance in your favor.
