Getting Accepted
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What do medical school admissions committees look for in applicants?
Medical school admissions committees assess a broad spectrum of intellectual and personal attributes in each candidate they consider. They review application materials (grades, MCAT® scores, essay, letters of recommendation, interview evaluations, etc.) for evidence that the applicant has the knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal qualities to succeed in medical school and in the profession. Is the applicant altruistic, compassionate, trustworthy, etc.? In what ways will the unique qualifications and background of each candidate contribute to the medical school class overall?
As you complete your medical school application, take the time to carefully reflect on the academic foundation you have built and the experiences that have contributed to the development of your character and have led to your decision to pursue a career in medicine.
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What sort of personal characteristics are important?
Intellectual ability is just one factor medical school admissions committees consider.
Admissions committees want to see that you are excited by the challenge of mastering the rapidly advancing science and technology of medicine, and that you are someone who will be empathic to the needs of patients. They look for evidence that you are willing and able to take responsibility and advocate for the welfare of others, that you can work collaboratively, that you are active in your community, and that you can sensitively evaluate your own performance.
Although these attributes can be demonstrated through your academic record, they are more frequently found in the record of service and volunteer experience, as well as achievements in other areas and obstacles overcome, which you include in your application and which are referenced in the letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf.
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What are the academic credentials that count?
When considering an applicant's academic credentials, admissions committees look at a variety of materials, including academic transcripts, MCAT® scores, and volunteer and extracurricular experiences. Your transcripts provide medical school admissions committees with information about the coursework you have completed, and regardless of your major, show whether you have completed courses that provide a sufficient foundation in science to begin medical school (biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics). By working with your pre-health advisor, you can be confident you have prepared well.
MCAT scores offer admissions committees a "standardized" measure for comparison, and therefore are another way to measure academic preparedness. Finally, non-science coursework and activities such as research experience can be important academic credentials for medical school.
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Are interviews required? Are they important?
Interviews are a part of the medical school application process, but schools differ in how they conduct interviews. For example, at some state medical schools, all applicants from that state are interviewed. At other schools, select students are invited to interviews only after an initial and intensive review of the application has been completed. Reviewing the application procedures at the medical schools that interest you will inform you about their specific policies regarding interviews.
Medical schools also differ in where the interviews take place and who conducts them. For example, most medical school interviews are conducted on campus, but some schools schedule off-campus interviews with local physicians practicing close to you. Interviews may be conducted by individuals or by committee. Again, gathering information about the individual schools that interest you will help with preparation.
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What are my chances of getting into medical school?
At this time, roughly half of all applicants are accepted to medical school. However, the ratio of applicants to accepted students doesn't provide a complete picture of your "chances" for getting into medical school.
One reason is that this ratio varies from year to year. More important, just as it is essential that you build credentials that will make you a competitive candidate for medical school in general, you also should become familiar with the interests and focus of the specific medical schools where you might apply. For example, it might help you to know that many state-supported schools show preference to state residents.
If you are committed to a career in medical research, you might want to apply to schools that emphasize research training within their curricula. If you are interested in providing clinical care in rural or inner-city settings, you might want to focus on schools located in these settings. By learning all you can about the medical schools that interest you, you can better decide where to apply.
You can find out more about specific schools from the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR ® ) .
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