7 Common Mistakes Medical School Applicants Make

7 min readPublished On: April 5, 2022Categories: Medical School
9 Common Mistakes Medical School Applicants Make Square

 

You know that getting into medical school can be an extensive process. You’ve spent a lot of time building your resume and studying hard to perform well in your classes and on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The last thing you want is for anything to hinder your chances of getting accepted.   

Missteps during the medical school application process can have an unfortunate impact on your prospects. That’s why we looked to some experts to find out about some of the most common mistakes medical school applicants make. As you select the programs you’ll apply to and prepare for medical school interviews, keep the following advice in mind.  

Close up of pre-med student preparing application materials

 

7 Medical school application mistakes to avoid 

There’s so much that goes into the medical school application process, so it can be easy to focus on the wrong elements or overlook certain details. But if you steer clear of these seven common mistakes, you’ll be able to assemble and submit your applications with confidence.  

1. Applying to the wrong schools

Word of mouth can be very useful for determining whether a school provides a good education, but you’ll still need to do your own research if you want to find programs that will be right for your medical interests and career goals. 

Joseph Franza, associate director of admissions at St. George’s University (SGU), notes that prospective students will sometimes discount a school based on one negative comment before fully investigating it for themselves. “They don’t actually apply to all the programs that could be a really good fit for them,” he says. In doing so, you could miss out on a career-defining research opportunity or a unique dual-degree option that aligns with your professional goals.  

Students also run into issues when they frame their entire application around a single, sought-after medical program. Your dream school might emphasize things like volunteer experience, but it’s important to remember you’ll be sending out a significant number of applications. In fact, US medical school hopefuls typically apply to an average of 16 different schools. 

If you cater your materials to the preferences of one program, you may be hindering your chances of standing out to admissions committees at different schools. “Another school may say, ‘Yes, those things are great, but you need to make sure you meet our GPA requirements,’” Franza explains. 

For more guidance on this, refer to our infographic “What Medical Schools Should I Apply To? How to Create Your List.” 


 

2. Writing a bland personal statement

Your personal statement will serve as your first opportunity to share something meaningful with the people evaluating your application. Simply repeating experiences you’ve already listed on your resume or sticking to a generic outline won’t help you stand out.   

“Don’t start with a cookie-cutter formula,” suggests Kim Lifton, who, as president of Wow Writing Workshop, has helped many medical students craft their essays. “Start by answering this question: ‘What do I want to share with the medical school admissions committee that they will not know from the rest of my application?’” 

Think critically about the details you choose to include when writing your personal statement or any other essays throughout your medical school application process. Lifton encourages sharing information or anecdotes that will demonstrate why you would make a good doctor and how certain qualities make you unique. 

For more tips on this application component, check out our article “7 Features the Best Medical School Personal Statements Have.” 

3. Not acquiring enough experience

Even if you have a 4.0 GPA and outperformed all your peers on the MCAT, you’ll still need to round out your application with plenty of hands-on experience if you hope to stand out to admissions committees. They’re looking for applicants who have a demonstrated interest in the field of medicine.  

This includes loading your undergraduate experience with the necessary pre-med courses. But many medical schools are also looking for students with supplemental medical experience 

There’s no required number of clinical hours you’ll need to get into medical school, but it’s still a good idea to seek out opportunities to shadow physicians or volunteer at a local clinic. While those clinical hours aren’t a necessity, admissions committees may be skeptical if they see you’ve never worked with patients before. 

Female pre-med student gaining volunteer experience

4. Making excuses

Very few students have a spotless resume, so there’s no need to be embarrassed about imperfections. That said, it’s important to take responsibility for that bad grade or that short-lived volunteer experience.  

Admissions committees look to your past experiences as an indicator of your future performance. Taking ownership of any perceived shortcomings could be used as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to improvement or your eagerness to find the vocational path that will help you thrive.  

“Medical schools want to see the positive trends and experiences you can bring to the table,” Franza notes. “They don’t want to hear you referencing excuses.”  

5. Trying to be someone you’re not

When wading through so many applications, admissions committees can struggle to notice the distinctions between one applicant and the next. You might be tempted to make yourself stand out by writing a personal statement you think they want to read, but you should never misrepresent yourself.  

“Don’t try to be anyone you’re not,” Lifton advises. There’s a way for everyone to express themselves authentically through writing. She suggests thinking about your defining traits, how your loved ones would describe you, and what your personal passions are. “If you are creative, then be creative. If you are serious, then be serious. Write in your own voice, using your own words and style.”  

6. Failing to fully prepare for medical school interviews

Medical schools are often very selective about how many invitations they extend, so if you get invited for one or more interviews, it’s definitely something to be proud of. But this also means you should take your interview preparation seriously.  

“A lot of undergraduate universities offer mock interviews and things of that nature,” Franza says. Taking advantage of practice interviews—whether facilitated through your school or simply with a professor whose input you’d appreciate—can help you become more confident when speaking about your experiences.  

Franza notes that there are also many web-based resources students can seek out that provide common interview questions and tips. And when your interview day arrives, be sure to prepare appropriately. Dressing sloppily, arriving late, and avoiding eye contact are all examples of major mistakes medical school applicants make. “It just doesn’t come off professionally if those things are happening,” Franza explains.  

For more advice on this topic, read our article “How to Prepare for Medical School Interviews. 

Pre-med student practicing medical school interviews with faculty mentor

7. Enrolling at the first school that accepts you

Gaining acceptance to medical school may leave you feeling ecstatic, relieved, or a combination of the two. While you might be tempted to commit immediately after finding out you’ve been offered a seat, you’re better off taking some time to think it over.  

“You applied to all these programs, so you should really consider all these programs and not just grab the first seat that you get,” Franza advises. Acting too quickly could mean you end up missing out on a spot at your top-choice medical school.  

One thing to note is that many programs will allow you to make a deposit and reserve a seat without actually committing. Be sure to check with individual medical schools to make sure you understand their policies, but you might be surprised at how lenient they are. Most US schools give you until the end of April to make your final selection.  

Apply to medical school with confidence 

Getting into medical school is a rigorous process. But you can breathe a little easier knowing which mistakes to avoid as you work through your applications. Addressing any problems now can help you polish your application materials and stand out among the other medical school applicants when interview season arrives.  

As you do, be sure to reference our all-encompassing resourceApplication to Enrollment: The Pre-Med Student’s Comprehensive Guide.”  

9 Common Mistakes Medical School Applicants Make Square

7 Common Mistakes Medical School Applicants Make

 

You know that getting into medical school can be an extensive process. You’ve spent a lot of time building your resume and studying hard to perform well in your classes and on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The last thing you want is for anything to hinder your chances of getting accepted.   

Missteps during the medical school application process can have an unfortunate impact on your prospects. That’s why we looked to some experts to find out about some of the most common mistakes medical school applicants make. As you select the programs you’ll apply to and prepare for medical school interviews, keep the following advice in mind.  

Close up of pre-med student preparing application materials

 

7 Medical school application mistakes to avoid 

There’s so much that goes into the medical school application process, so it can be easy to focus on the wrong elements or overlook certain details. But if you steer clear of these seven common mistakes, you’ll be able to assemble and submit your applications with confidence.  

1. Applying to the wrong schools

Word of mouth can be very useful for determining whether a school provides a good education, but you’ll still need to do your own research if you want to find programs that will be right for your medical interests and career goals. 

Joseph Franza, associate director of admissions at St. George’s University (SGU), notes that prospective students will sometimes discount a school based on one negative comment before fully investigating it for themselves. “They don’t actually apply to all the programs that could be a really good fit for them,” he says. In doing so, you could miss out on a career-defining research opportunity or a unique dual-degree option that aligns with your professional goals.  

Students also run into issues when they frame their entire application around a single, sought-after medical program. Your dream school might emphasize things like volunteer experience, but it’s important to remember you’ll be sending out a significant number of applications. In fact, US medical school hopefuls typically apply to an average of 16 different schools. 

If you cater your materials to the preferences of one program, you may be hindering your chances of standing out to admissions committees at different schools. “Another school may say, ‘Yes, those things are great, but you need to make sure you meet our GPA requirements,’” Franza explains. 

For more guidance on this, refer to our infographic “What Medical Schools Should I Apply To? How to Create Your List.” 


 

2. Writing a bland personal statement

Your personal statement will serve as your first opportunity to share something meaningful with the people evaluating your application. Simply repeating experiences you’ve already listed on your resume or sticking to a generic outline won’t help you stand out.   

“Don’t start with a cookie-cutter formula,” suggests Kim Lifton, who, as president of Wow Writing Workshop, has helped many medical students craft their essays. “Start by answering this question: ‘What do I want to share with the medical school admissions committee that they will not know from the rest of my application?’” 

Think critically about the details you choose to include when writing your personal statement or any other essays throughout your medical school application process. Lifton encourages sharing information or anecdotes that will demonstrate why you would make a good doctor and how certain qualities make you unique. 

For more tips on this application component, check out our article “7 Features the Best Medical School Personal Statements Have.” 

3. Not acquiring enough experience

Even if you have a 4.0 GPA and outperformed all your peers on the MCAT, you’ll still need to round out your application with plenty of hands-on experience if you hope to stand out to admissions committees. They’re looking for applicants who have a demonstrated interest in the field of medicine.  

This includes loading your undergraduate experience with the necessary pre-med courses. But many medical schools are also looking for students with supplemental medical experience 

There’s no required number of clinical hours you’ll need to get into medical school, but it’s still a good idea to seek out opportunities to shadow physicians or volunteer at a local clinic. While those clinical hours aren’t a necessity, admissions committees may be skeptical if they see you’ve never worked with patients before. 

Female pre-med student gaining volunteer experience

4. Making excuses

Very few students have a spotless resume, so there’s no need to be embarrassed about imperfections. That said, it’s important to take responsibility for that bad grade or that short-lived volunteer experience.  

Admissions committees look to your past experiences as an indicator of your future performance. Taking ownership of any perceived shortcomings could be used as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to improvement or your eagerness to find the vocational path that will help you thrive.  

“Medical schools want to see the positive trends and experiences you can bring to the table,” Franza notes. “They don’t want to hear you referencing excuses.”  

5. Trying to be someone you’re not

When wading through so many applications, admissions committees can struggle to notice the distinctions between one applicant and the next. You might be tempted to make yourself stand out by writing a personal statement you think they want to read, but you should never misrepresent yourself.  

“Don’t try to be anyone you’re not,” Lifton advises. There’s a way for everyone to express themselves authentically through writing. She suggests thinking about your defining traits, how your loved ones would describe you, and what your personal passions are. “If you are creative, then be creative. If you are serious, then be serious. Write in your own voice, using your own words and style.”  

6. Failing to fully prepare for medical school interviews

Medical schools are often very selective about how many invitations they extend, so if you get invited for one or more interviews, it’s definitely something to be proud of. But this also means you should take your interview preparation seriously.  

“A lot of undergraduate universities offer mock interviews and things of that nature,” Franza says. Taking advantage of practice interviews—whether facilitated through your school or simply with a professor whose input you’d appreciate—can help you become more confident when speaking about your experiences.  

Franza notes that there are also many web-based resources students can seek out that provide common interview questions and tips. And when your interview day arrives, be sure to prepare appropriately. Dressing sloppily, arriving late, and avoiding eye contact are all examples of major mistakes medical school applicants make. “It just doesn’t come off professionally if those things are happening,” Franza explains.  

For more advice on this topic, read our article “How to Prepare for Medical School Interviews. 

Pre-med student practicing medical school interviews with faculty mentor

7. Enrolling at the first school that accepts you

Gaining acceptance to medical school may leave you feeling ecstatic, relieved, or a combination of the two. While you might be tempted to commit immediately after finding out you’ve been offered a seat, you’re better off taking some time to think it over.  

“You applied to all these programs, so you should really consider all these programs and not just grab the first seat that you get,” Franza advises. Acting too quickly could mean you end up missing out on a spot at your top-choice medical school.  

One thing to note is that many programs will allow you to make a deposit and reserve a seat without actually committing. Be sure to check with individual medical schools to make sure you understand their policies, but you might be surprised at how lenient they are. Most US schools give you until the end of April to make your final selection.  

Apply to medical school with confidence 

Getting into medical school is a rigorous process. But you can breathe a little easier knowing which mistakes to avoid as you work through your applications. Addressing any problems now can help you polish your application materials and stand out among the other medical school applicants when interview season arrives.  

As you do, be sure to reference our all-encompassing resourceApplication to Enrollment: The Pre-Med Student’s Comprehensive Guide.”