Ten Things to Know About Your Medical School Application

A professional admissions consultant in a modern office, gesturing toward a whiteboard with the text '10 Common Questions About Medical School Applications.' The office is filled with medical-related items such as a stethoscope, books, and a laptop displaying a personal statement document, symbolizing the complex and important nature of the medical school application process. — Ten tips for getting your AMCAS and secondaries right!

Admissions Consultant Answers 10 Common Questions About Medical School Applications

Medical school is, by far, the most difficult and demanding application process. Far more rigorous than an MBA, law school, or PhD application… and for good reason! A bad MBA or lawyer still gets a corner office and a job, but a bad doctor can kill you!

Because applying to medical school is such a rigorous and competitive process, a well-crafted application can make all the difference. To help you navigate this journey, we’ve gathered ten common questions about medical school applications and provided brief responses. This guide is a great place to begin your medical school application process! For additional help, contact us at Gurufi.com. Every year, we help hundreds of applicants refine their AMCAS (and other) personal statements, Work & Activities sections, and secondaries.

1. What is the purpose of the AMCAS personal statement?

The AMCAS personal statement sends shivers of terror down people’s spines. You have 5300 characters (not even two pages) to describe your life, give your “doctor’s origin story” and make it clear why you’d be an amazing doctor. In short, this is the centerpiece of your application. The AMCAS personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and explain why you want to pursue a career in medicine. It should highlight your motivations, experiences, and personal qualities that make you a suitable candidate for medical school. This statement is crucial because it provides a holistic view of who you are beyond your grades and test scores, allowing the committee to understand your passion for medicine and your readiness for the challenges of medical school. It provides the frame for your application and the lens through which all of your other materials are viewed.

2. How can I effectively describe my clinical experiences in my medical school personal statement?

Tell stories. Next question. Okay, I’ll elaborate a bit! (if you’re interested, check out this video on storytelling we did for MBA applicants. The examples we use are for business students, but the core ideas, themes, and strategies still apply!)

To effectively describe your clinical experiences in your personal statement, focus on specific examples that highlight your involvement, responsibilities, and what you learned from these experiences. Discuss how these experiences shaped your understanding of the medical field and reinforced your desire to become a physician. Be sure to reflect on the impact these experiences had on you, both personally and professionally, and how they have prepared you for a career in medicine.

If you’re doing clinical work, such as volunteering or scribing, I would urge you to use our Scribing Journaling tool to help you begin to put your ideas together.

3. What should I include in the Work & Activities section of the AMCAS application?

A good rule of thumb for the AMCAS personal statement is that you should use that essay to demonstrate, in depth, a few things about your experience, accomplishments, and aspirations. Depth, not breadth, is the key. For the Work & Activities section of the AMCAS, use these mini-essays to show breadth. Complement what you’ve highlighted in the personal statement. For instance, if your personal statement is mostly clinical, then use the W&A to detail research or leadership. Be strategic about your “Most Significant” longer essays to provide / show greater breadth. You want your application to showcase your extracurricular involvement, employment, research, and volunteer experiences. Include detailed descriptions of your roles and responsibilities, highlighting any leadership positions, accomplishments, and skills you developed. Focus on activities that demonstrate your commitment to medicine, community service, and personal growth. Additionally, choose the most meaningful experiences to provide further insights into your character and values.

4. How can I write a strong secondary application essay for medical school?

If the AMCAS is the core pitch you send to all schools, then secondaries are tailored and specific. Writing a strong secondary application essay involves making your responses to each school responsive to what they’ve asked and, more than that, making sure it aligns with that school’s values, culture, and areas of strength. In short, if the AMCAS is designed to show that you’re a compelling candidate, in general, then secondaries are about proving that you’re a great fit for that particular school. Research each medical school to understand its values, mission, and unique programs. Use this information to craft thoughtful and personalized essays that reflect your alignment with the school’s goals. Be concise and focus on answering the prompt directly while providing specific examples from your experiences.

5. What are common mistakes to avoid in medical school personal statements?

Common mistakes to avoid in medical school personal statements include:
1. **Being too vague:** Provide specific examples and detailed descriptions rather than broad generalizations. If you can’t match a story to an assertion, don’t make it.
2. **Focusing too much on others:** While it’s important to acknowledge the influence of mentors, make sure the statement centers on your experiences and insights. After all, this is a PERSONAL statement, so make sure that you remain the main character in it.
3. **Ignoring the prompt:** Ensure your essay answers the specific question or prompt provided by the application. This problem often arises when, perhaps late in the application process, you can’t find the juice to write one more new secondary, so you figure that you’ll just try to shoehorn in an old essay… even if it doesn’t quite fit. Don’t do this.
4. **Neglecting to proofread:** Spelling and grammatical errors can detract from your professionalism. Proofread your essay multiple times and consider having others review it.

6. How can I convey my passion for medicine in my personal statement?

Again… storytelling. To convey your passion for medicine, share personal anecdotes that illustrate your commitment and enthusiasm for the field. Discuss formative experiences that inspired you to pursue medicine, such as volunteering in a healthcare setting, shadowing physicians, or overcoming personal health challenges. Reflect on what these experiences taught you and how they solidified your desire to become a physician. Authenticity is key, so be honest and heartfelt in your writing.

7. What experiences should I highlight in my medical school personal statement?

Highlight experiences that demonstrate your readiness for medical school and your suitability for a career in medicine. These may include:
1. **Clinical experiences:** Volunteering, shadowing, or working in healthcare settings.
2. **Research projects:** Participation in scientific research that showcases your analytical skills and commitment to advancing medical knowledge.
3. **Community service:** Involvement in volunteer activities that reflect your compassion and dedication to helping others.
4. **Leadership roles:** Positions in student organizations, work, or community groups that highlight your ability to lead and work collaboratively.
5. **Personal challenges:** Overcoming obstacles that have strengthened your resilience and determination to pursue medicine.

8. How do I handle the ‘Why this medical school?’ secondary essay?

To effectively handle the ‘Why this medical school?’ secondary essay, research the specific features and programs of each school. Identify aspects that resonate with your career goals, values, and interests. Discuss how these features align with your aspirations and how you would contribute to and benefit from the school’s community. Be specific about what attracts you to the school, such as particular faculty, research opportunities, or unique programs, and explain why these aspects are important to you.

This is an important thing to answer, so I’d even hop on forums or LinkedIn to cold-chat with current students there to gain insights. As you research schools to apply to, ask yourself over and over, “could I see myself thriving here? Why?” The answers to these questions could help to guide your secondaries.

9. How can I make my AMCAS application stand out?

In addition to the tips I’ve laid out above, make sure that you avoid overused topics. Don’t begin the essay at the bedside of your dying grandma or talk about how the first time you saw a doctor it was like their white coat was a superhero cape… those tropes have been overused.

10. What should I focus on in the ‘Most Meaningful Experiences’ section of the AMCAS application?

In the ‘Most Meaningful Experiences’ section of the AMCAS application, focus on providing detailed descriptions of experiences that had a significant impact on your personal and professional development. Discuss what made these experiences meaningful, the skills and insights you gained, and how they have prepared you for a career in medicine. Reflect on your growth and the lessons learned from these experiences, and explain why they stand out among your other activities.

The main tip I would give is that you should look to complement your personal statement. If there are things that you didn’t cover in your personal statement and you think they’re important, use your Most Meaningful essays on them. Remember, you should view your application holistically, and don’t try to jam everything into just the personal statement. The entirety of the application should cover all the main topics and strengths, so make sure that your personal statement provides enough space for the most important 1-2 ideas to breathe and have a full genuine impact. Then, use the Most Meaningful to show that you’ve had a well-rounded set of experiences and accomplishments.

As the husband of a doctor and the brother of two doctors, I know just how meaningful a medical career can be, so try to approach all of this from a position of optimism, excitement, and joy. Yes, it’ll be a slog, but people who are enthusiastic, confident, and positive in their mindset tend to be more interesting and attractive to admissions committees. Yes, this is the start of a long process and a difficult journey, but it’ll be worth the investment.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical schools. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements, AMCAS W&A, and secondaries that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook,Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The Myth of the “Non-Traditional” Medical School Applicant

A 30-year-old mother studying at a desk while holding her infant in one arm. She types on her laptop with a stack of medical textbooks beside her. — Medical students come form all walks of life and have a diverse array of stories

When Gurufi first started, in 2008, the medical school application process was pretty straightforward: ace the MCAT, have killer grades as a STEM grad, and make sure that you’ve done some clinical stuff and maybe worked in a lab. It wasn’t easy, by any means, but it was far simpler. Many applicants went straight from college to medical school and there was a sense that there was a “traditional path” to medicine.

This is no longer true. Today, fewer than 10% of admitted students go straight from college to medical school, and this number is dropping rapidly. As medical schools realize just how important maturity, experience, and a more sophisticated understanding of our healthcare system is, it naturally favors candidates that, in the past, would’ve been seen as “untraditional applicants.” Now, every year, Gurufi consultants help applicants who dropped out of school (or were even kicked out!), took work in unrelated industries, left the workforce to have kids, or otherwise came to medicine later in life.

Whenever I have a candidate who worries that their circuitous path to medicine makes them an unappealing candidate, I stress two important things:

You can’t change your past, so embrace it. As the old saying goes, “what you can’t fix, feature.” Don’t be like the balding man holding onto a few threads of hair trying to fool people into thinking he actually has a luxurious Oscar Isaac-style mane of hair… shave it off, and confidently embrace that this is who you are!
Besides, what you view as flaws are often features that provide context and believability for your “why medicine?” argument. It’s easier to sell the “why?” and demonstrate that you are approaching this journey with open eyes and a mature mind.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that just anybody can earn admission so long as they tell a good story. The medical school admissions process has long been known for its rigorous academic standards and high expectations for applicants. However, medical schools increasingly welcome applicants with non-traditional backgrounds—those who didn’t follow the typical pre-med track.

These applicants bring unique skills, perspectives, and experiences that can enrich the medical school community and ultimately benefit patient care.

Redefining Non-Traditional Backgrounds

A non-traditional background can encompass various scenarios.

It might refer to individuals who pursued careers in different fields before considering medicine, those who earned degrees in non-scientific disciplines, or applicants who took time off for personal reasons such as travel, family, or military service. Non-traditional applicants also include those who chose to complete a post-baccalaureate program to meet medical school prerequisites or those with significant life experience outside the academic realm.

Why Medical Schools Value Non-Traditional Applicants

Medical schools are increasingly recognizing the value that non-traditional applicants bring to the table. Here’s why they are sought after:

Diverse Perspectives: Non-traditional applicants often have unique life experiences that inform their perspective on healthcare. They might have worked in business, education, the arts, or technology, bringing different approaches to problem-solving and patient care. This diversity enriches the medical school environment and prepares future physicians to serve a broader population.

Mature and Resilient: Non-traditional applicants tend to have more life experience, making them more resilient and adaptable. Many have faced challenges or obstacles that required determination and perseverance, traits that are valuable in the medical field.

Strong Interpersonal Skills: Those who have worked in other industries or pursued non-traditional paths often have well-developed interpersonal skills. This translates into better communication with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals, which is crucial in medicine.

Broader Skill Sets: Non-traditional applicants bring diverse skills, such as leadership, project management, or technology proficiency, which can be beneficial in medical school and beyond. They often demonstrate creativity and innovation, which can drive progress in healthcare.

Addressing Application Challenges

While non-traditional applicants offer many strengths, they may face unique challenges when applying to medical school. Here’s how medical schools are addressing these challenges:

Flexibility in Prerequisites: Medical schools are becoming more flexible with prerequisite coursework. While core science classes are still required, some schools are willing to accept alternative coursework or provide guidance on completing prerequisites through post-baccalaureate programs.

Holistic Admissions Process: Many medical schools have adopted a holistic admissions process, which considers the whole applicant, not just academic metrics. This approach allows non-traditional applicants to showcase their unique experiences, skills, and perspectives in their personal statements, interviews, and letters of recommendation.

Post-Baccalaureate Programs: Post-baccalaureate programs are designed specifically for non-traditional applicants who need to complete or improve their prerequisite coursework. These programs offer academic support, clinical exposure, and guidance through the medical school application process.

Supportive Learning Environments: Medical schools recognize that non-traditional applicants may require additional support as they transition into the demanding environment of medical school. Schools often provide mentorship, peer support, and academic resources to help these students succeed.

Making a Strong Case as a Non-Traditional Applicant

To succeed as a non-traditional applicant, individuals should focus on the following:

Highlight Unique Experiences: Use personal statements and interviews to showcase unique experiences and skills that set you apart. Emphasize how these experiences have shaped your desire to pursue medicine and how they will benefit the medical school community.

Demonstrate Academic Competence: While medical schools are more flexible with prerequisites, academic competence is still crucial. Ensure you meet the required coursework and aim for competitive GPA and MCAT scores. If you have a very poor grade in a relevant course, consider retaking that class. I often work with candidates who failed, for instance, BioChem, and took that class again years later and earned an ‘A.’ This helps to support their narrative that, back then, they were immature and unprepared, but now they are capable of handling demanding work. If you do have academic (or other) missteps that you feel you need to explain, check out this video. It was made for MBA students, but the basic ideas hold true for medical school applicants as well!

Gain Relevant Experience: Non-traditional applicants should seek out clinical or research experience to demonstrate their commitment to medicine. This can include volunteering at hospitals, shadowing physicians, or participating in medical research projects.

Leverage Networking and Mentorship: Building relationships with mentors, medical professionals, and alumni can provide valuable guidance and support during the application process. Networking can also lead to letters of recommendation and other resources.

Medical schools are increasingly open to applicants with non-traditional backgrounds, recognizing the value they bring to the medical field. These applicants offer diverse perspectives, mature and resilient mindsets, strong interpersonal skills, and broader skill sets. While non-traditional applicants may face unique challenges, medical schools are adapting to create more inclusive and supportive pathways.

With the right preparation and approach, non-traditional applicants can make a compelling case for their place in medical school and ultimately become valuable contributors to the healthcare industry.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical schools. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Ten Tips for Your “Why Medicine?” AMCAS Personal Statement

Cartoon of a young Asian female medical school applicant seated at a desk, pondering her AMCAS personal statement. Above her, thought bubbles depict her various experiences: conducting research in a lab, assisting in a clinical environment, and experiencing personal growth while reading under a tree. The scene conveys her contemplation on how these experiences answer the 'why medicine?' question for her application — How do you write the most important essay of your life?

As spring is upon us, a new crop of aspiring doctors begins their medical school application process! At the heart of your application is your AMCAS Personal Statement, which asks you a simple question: why medicine? During our 15 years of helping hundreds of medical school applicants earn admission to their dream schools, we have worked with clients to help them craft unique responses to this question that resonate with their experiences and come across as genuine, compelling, and personal. Here are some tips for you on how you should think about -and respond to- this question.

Start with your personal story: The best way to make your response original is to use moments, challenges, successes, and failures from your life. Your personal story is a unique and powerful tool for communicating why you are drawn to medicine. This can include experiences you’ve had with healthcare providers, exposure to medical challenges faced by loved ones or your community, or a moment when you first realized your passion for medicine.
Highlight your experiences: Discuss any relevant experiences you’ve had in the medical field, such as volunteering at a hospital, shadowing a healthcare provider, or participating in a healthcare-related research project. Discuss what you learned from these experiences and how they have shaped your perspective on medicine.
To avoid your essay being a cliché, strive from depth in your personal statement, not breadth. What this means is getting very specific about a particular experience -an EXACT moment or conversation- and how it shaped you. An exercise that I like to do with clients is to say, “if you have to take me to a precise moment in a time machine, where would you set the dial?” This forces you to have a specific entry point to a story that would help me understand it so that you might say, “on my third day at the clinic, I met Fred, whose leg infection had gone septic…” instead of saying, “my time volunteering at Detroit Mercy opened my eyes.” Specificity is the difference between a well-told story and a boring one.

Emphasize your understanding of the field: Show that you have a deep understanding of the field of medicine and the challenges that healthcare providers face. This can include discussing current issues in the healthcare system, such as access to care, the opioid epidemic, or the impact of social determinants of health. BUT, only do this if you in fact have the insight and experience to do so. Faking it will be easily detected, if not by the reader then certainly by a future interviewer who asks you about it!

Express your passion: Share your passion for medicine and what motivates you to pursue a career in this field. Explain why you believe that medicine is more than just a job, but a calling to help others and make a difference in the world. If there is a single idea that you want to convey, it is positive excitement. People are attracted to optimism and energy, so find a way to convey that.

Demonstrate your commitment: Show that you are committed to the field of medicine and that you understand the sacrifices and dedication required to succeed. Discuss your long-term goals and how they align with your passion for medicine. For every goal you seek to identify, first ask yourself, “what experiences have I had that prepared for pursuing this goal?” and “what about my past explains this goal?” and “what about my past justifies my belief that I can attain this goal?” Answering these three questions will help your aspirations come across as more believable and, importantly, allow you to SHOW your commitment to medicine by reference to things you’ve done.

Be specific: Instead of simply stating that you want to become a doctor, be specific about why you are interested in a particular specialty or aspect of medicine. Discuss what attracts you to this area of medicine and what you hope to achieve in this field.

Be honest: Be honest about your motivations for pursuing a career in medicine. Don’t try to sound like someone you’re not or exaggerate your experiences or achievements. Admissions committees can usually tell when someone is being insincere. This goes beyond lying, of course. Essays that are built purely around the idea of “tell the reader what they want to hear” usually feel hollow and insincere and, perhaps worst of all, come across as cliché.

Edit and revise: Make sure your response is well-written, free of typos and grammatical errors, and that it clearly communicates your passion for medicine. Ask someone you trust to review your response and provide feedback.

Address any weaknesses: If there are any red flags in your application, such as a low GPA or MCAT score, take the opportunity in your response to the “why medicine?” question to address these weaknesses and explain how you have overcome them. Remember, you can’t just avoid talking about bad moments and hope that the AdCom somehow misses it. They won’t. Thus, if it comes up in the meeting about your application, you’ll want to be sure that you frame it.
Here is a video that I did to help MBA applicants, and though the examples I use are business-related, the core ideas are the same. Or, if you want the “TLDR” version without the specifics, check this out!

Be yourself: Finally, be yourself in your response. Admissions committees are looking for applicants who are passionate, knowledgeable, and well-suited to the field of medicine. Your unique perspective and experiences are what make you a strong candidate, so be sure to let your personality shine through in your response.

All told, the “why medicine?” question is an opportunity to demonstrate your passion for the field, your understanding of the challenges and rewards of a career in medicine, and your commitment to pursuing a career in this field. By following these tips, you can craft a compelling response that will help you stand out in the medical school application process.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical schools. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements, Work & Activities sections, secondaries, and residency letters that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.