Top 3 Reasons Medical School Applications Are Rejected

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Dr. Busnaina provides advice on how to overcome the three largest weaknesses of many applications: low grades, poor extracurricular involvement and lack of safety schools. When explaining low grades, it is important to be honest about the reasons for your poor performance and frank about how you turned it around. The admissions reader wants to know that you’ve learned from your mistakes and developed the skills to succeed in medical school. In addition, you can compensate for a lack of extracurricular leadership experience by drawing a strong connection between your volunteer, shadowing or research activities and your specific career goals. Did your summer internship in a genetics lab make you realize how much you enjoy being immersed in concentrated bench work or did it make you eager to spend more time interacting with patients? Either way, you have the opportunity to demonstrate a clear career goal, which is what the admissions reader wants. Lastly, apply to at least one safety school to which your chances of being admitted are high. While you can still shoot for the stars, you want to give yourself the choice between attending a safety school and deferring for a year or two in order to strengthen your application. Visit www.thehonesteditor.com for more advice.

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jorge of WA 5:01PM April 30, 2013

Excellent post!
All this information is good and a must-read for newcomers.

FutureClassof2018MD of MI 8:43PM April 25, 2013

its nice about all the information you put on the internent my name is melat esayas but i have one question how about if you are under graduate what should you do first to apply?

melat of DE 10:43AM August 09, 2012

I would add cookie-cutter essays that fail to set you apart from other applicants. Please visit my website to learn more: thehonesteditor.com.

Jennifer Millman of NY 10:52PM July 07, 2012

Thank you for helping me get to this point.and there is a lot of free stuff on getting into medical school and medical schools admissions in general on this website. good luck

Medical school admission requirements of PA 6:15AM May 02, 2012

I would like to add some common sense advice. First remember if you graduate Johns Hopkins and your friend graduates in the middle of his class at the Univ of South, Fla they call you both Dr. Moral of story, don't hang on to pie in sky dreams. The whole idea is getting in. You'll be reading Harrison's textbook of Medicine in a library so late at night you won't know what city you're in let alone what medical. Harrisonn's in Baltimore is the same as the one in Tampa.
Next, schools that receiver money from the state of location are biased [by law] to accept a majority of students from that state. Why should Ohio pay for a guy who's moving to New Jersey?If your family lives in Texas forget all the state funded schools in New York. Definitely apply to schools within your own state.
If you get an interview and they ask you why you want to be a physician DO NOT SAY "I want to help people." Then join the Peace Corp. Medicine is an incredibly diverse field combining hard core science with application to the human condition. Figuring out what to do at 3AM, using all your skills and knowledge to successfully treat a 42 year old heart attack is extremely gratifying, intensely so. At the same time you are required to relate to his family using a personal touch. wow! So think of a better answer. Last time I interviewed was 1971 so I forget what I said. Today I would say because being involved in the medical field is profoundly psychologically rewarding at a personal level. It makes ya feel good above yourself.
No matter what the pros tell you, be prepared to have a strong science background. Show them a statistics course, a math above 1st year calculus, one semester physical chem, etc. Child Psych, Neuropsychology, Abnormal Psych. Think of all the aspects that medicine entails. Show 'em you have an interest and a background.
If you want to be a halfback in college that's fine BUT you'll be competing with the girl who plays violin in the orchestra. Chose your activities that involve sensitivity to the human condition, personal growth and academic achievement.
Last but not least, don't be "cool" don't be a "dork" at an interview. Be yourself, SINCERE! Not that stupid defensive posture you had as a Freshman. On the flip side don't appear insecure or too humble. These interview people have a knack of seeing through you. I don't want a physician taking care of my mother who isn't self confident.
Hope I helped.

Glenn A. Gingold, MD of WV 12:26PM February 15, 2012

I am a current applicant who has been accepted. I'm going to echo what's already been said in the comments because it hasn't been addressed yet. The statement, "Schools are able to view how many and which schools you have applied to through AMCAS" is not true.
How did such false information get published if this knowledge is widely known and available online? This is not acceptable and indicates a poor reviewing and editing process at USNWR.

Matt M of TN 11:40AM February 13, 2012

The writer states that “Schools are able to view how many and which schools you have applied to through AMCAS.” AMCAS does not share this information with medical schools, and admissions committees are unable to view which schools applicants applied to through the system.

AMCAS Communications of DC 11:31AM February 09, 2012