Tips to Get Into Medical School

Here are more tips that can help you showcase how you’re the ultimate candidate for medical school! 

Give Recommenders Time to Write and Identify Backup Recommenders 

Ensure you give your recommenders enough time to write stellar letters. Remember, many of your peers (especially in science courses) are likely also seeking recommendations; asking for them earlier in the cycle, such as in January, means you may be one of the first of your peers to request a recommendation. 

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However, you should also identify backup recommenders. Not everyone you ask may be enthusiastic about writing you a letter or have the time to produce one that’s detailed and specific. 

Spend Time On Your Personal Statement 

Don’t underestimate your medical school personal statement. While your personal statement will likely be approximately 5,000 characters long, every sentence and word must serve a purpose (and show why you’re the best candidate)! 

Crafting a compelling narrative takes time. You must brainstorm, select relevant experiences and traits, outline your first draft, and write it. Don’t neglect the editing process; editing is key to producing a polished personal statement. 

Apply Early 

Most medical schools have rolling admissions, meaning seats are filled throughout the application cycle. Applying later in the cycle (closer to application deadlines) means you may have a lower chance of acceptance due to fewer open seats. Apply as early as you can without sacrificing quality! 

Submit Your Secondaries Quickly 

You can reasonably expect to receive secondary applications from most schools you applied to. This means that you may have many essays to write when the time comes. 

Secondary application deadlines can vary. You may have two weeks to write your secondaries from the date you receive them, or they may have another deadline a month or longer away. 

A quick turnaround time on your secondary applications can indicate your interest in the school, so submitting them within two weeks (regardless of the deadline) is ideal. One way to write your secondaries quickly is to pre-write them based on previous prompts (although they may be subject to change).