-If you have questions, I'll try to answer them but I can't promise a timely response= I think I have a pretty good grip on this whole process, even compared to other students (I just think about stuff a lot), but that being said- medical school does seem like a crapshoot sometimes, and I have no clue what is about to happen most times. As a side note, I only think I know my stuff, not because I have had a successful application process, but because of the exact opposite- I almost didn't get in anywhere and that would have sucked majorly for me. There were so many times I wished I could do something over again and hence the advice I have...
*This advice is not intended for super applicants, just the average person trying to get by like me. Yes, I go to an Ivy-league school, but no, my stats and resume are not anything special. This advice is mainly intended for the average/solid applicant trying to get into a solid (top 50- I hate using rankings) medical school.
-My best advice:
1) Don't screw yourself over with your GPA (numbers of course matter a lot- as much as you hear that they want to see the real you, I can assure you that you will only get the opportunity to show the real you at an interview, which you will get largely based on numbers). MCAT scores are HUGE! Make sure you get a solid score.
2) Do activities and do research- I didn't do lab based research and I am sure that it hurt
me. Activities, you all have so I won't elaborate...
3) Treat your personal statement like your life depends on it- I am not a good essay writer at all, but I gave this my best effort and I think it helped me get a few interviews I thought I wouldn't (due to my non-stellar GPA). Because really, really think about this one- how are you going to make your personal statement unique? Will it stand out? Is it a good read? Does it have your voice or is it too formal? If it is none of these, then it will surely be lost within the other thousands of applicants you ARE competing against.
4) This one is obvious- Apply to a lot of schools- I applied to 16 and I thought that was average and a good number...until the rejections and waitlists started rolling in= apply to a handful of backups. I think a good formula is 3 reach/dream schools, 6 upper target schools, 6 middle target schools, 6 lower target schools, and 3 backups (whatever 'backup may mean'). So yeah, 24 is the magic number, no joke. Look at other applicants on this site- the well prepared ones apply to almost 30. If you're not a super applicant, I can already tell you that you're not getting into a dream school. With luck (and I really hope you have it), you'll get into one upper target school. But I bet the process will turn out much more competitive than you imagined and that with luck you'll get into one or two backup schools and one or two middle and lower target schools (which you will soon realize should have been an upper target schools). Just think about it- the average acceptance rates for a top 50 school is what, 5-10 percent on average? So let's say 8 percent. That's one in twelve= if you are the solid/average applicant, then out of 24 schools you apply to, you will get into 2 middle target schools. That's why I don't recommend you applying to only 16 like I did, because that puts you in a position where you are more likely to get into just one school. Let me remind you to, that those acceptance rates include getting in off the waitlist which I think/assume, on average, account for around 1/4th to 1/10th of all acceptances. So if we account for this- if you are the average applicant applying to 24 schools, you'll on average get in to two schools straight off the bat, OR one school straight off the bat and one later on off the waitlist. Options looking a bit thin already? And if you appy to under 20 schools, account for some variation (the crapshoot part) or the fact that you may be a less than average candidate, and you may be getting in solely off the waitlist or not at all. Those are scary options to me=apply to a lot of schools (and do it EARLY). And don't trick yourself into thinking that you can devote more energy to a smaller number of applications- just get off your lazy butt and do it- this is your future.
5) Ace your interview- haha, easier said then done- especially if you are a socially akward/shy person like me (if I met you in person, I probably wouldn't give you any advice because that's how shy I am). But yeah, the interview matters a lot- sometimes you get lucky and you have an interviewer that clicks with you and has the same interests/experiences you have- and sometimes you don't- this to me, contributes to the crapshoot process, but hey, if you are a good interview, chances are that you will click with most. Be prepared, and don't just brush things off. No matter your mood, excite yourself for the occasion both in the days before your interview and in the seconds before you walk in. The process can become a drag, and I'm always amazed at the people on this site that sound so excited about everything, but that's exactly what you have to be.
6) Have a good idea of where you stand= I do- I did not apply to any top 10 school because I would not have gotten in or gotten an interview, plain and simple. Again, I don't know how many times I've spoken to people that have wondered why I didn't apply to higher-profiled schools. These people (some of them are fellow medical students and even advisors) are what I call 'optimistic' people. I am realistic. I've seen on this site so many comments, ie 'your stats are so great, so why didn't you apply to this school?' or 'I'm sure you'll get in to this school due to your outstanding resume.' Hehe, like I said, unless you are a very unique applicant...
7) Almost forgot to add this one and it might be the most important- Some schools (the ones I think are the competitive ones which is not necessarily a bad thing depending on who you are) don't want to hear from you much during the application process- I don't know who these schools are so my advice is to PURSUE, PURSUE, PURSUE with every school that you possibly can (normally the ones you have interviewed at). I can honestly say that this might be the #1 factor that got me into AECOM. And I also think that this could get me into Irvine (although I think Irvine is much more numbers based) off the waitlist if I try hard enough and if there are open spots--Update: May--I got into Irvine!!! I honestly think I was at the top of the wait list because they called me early, but I did end up pursuing them very hard, and like I thought, it worked out. Normally, I would never be confident about being on a wait list at any school (chances are overwhelming that you're not getting in...) but if you give that extra effort and strike a good vibe then you give yourself a shot. The bad part is that I had to make the toughest decision of my life and turn down Einstein, which is also where my girlfriend happens to be going, but I just couldn't reject my home state, good old sunny California. I guess everyone hopes that they end up having the luxury of a decision, but believe me, I wish I didn't... Btw, 'pursue' means to send letters (I would send the normal one to your interviewer and one very soon after to the admissions commitee and several if and after you are waitlisted). At AECOM, the assistant Dean of Admissions is VERY nice and responsive so that's the type of school you should be pursuing at and even sending personal emails to. Send emails that update your activities or interest in the school (ie you found that they have a certain study abroad program that was exactly what you were looking for), and give them calls. Don't get lazy or just tired/sick of everything when you are so close to the finish. Don't do it. Good luck all!
