<p>Young undergrads often don’t realize that certain missteps can make or break their apps for med school.</p>
<p>Look at it this way…med schools typically only interview about 10% of their applicants (Tip: applying EARLY in the season is a BIG help because the interview spots fill up). </p>
<p>SOMs get about 5000-7000 apps. So, they have to figure out which 500 or so they’re going to interview. And, of those interviewed, less than half will likely be accepted. So, out of 5000-7000 apps, to be one of the 300 or so that get accepted, you really can’t show weaknesses, because there are enough other apps without weaknesses. %The acceptance rate (about 5% is similar to the acceptance rates at undergrads like HYPS.)</p>
<p>Yes, SOMs first look at things like GPA and MCAT, but as we all know, they have more than enough applicants that fit those req’ts. So, then the “down-selecting” involves other tangibles and intangibles…like are you well-rounded (your schedule doesn’t suggest that), can you handle a full-load (already addressed that weakness), did you do medically-related ECs and volunteering. </p>
<p>What else interests you academically? What other subjects interest you that you’d do very well in? I’m not suggesting that you add classes that you won’t get A’s in. Do you sing? I know a premed who is one of the Bama choirs…It’s a class with performances, so there are grades. Are you a good writer? Do you love literature? Foreign languages?</p>
<p>What about sports related classes? My premed son has taken a couple of weightlifting, conditioning type classes.</p>
<p>We’ve just been thru the med school app process. Son made a couple of missteps, thankfully they weren’t deadly. He applied a little later than intended (late July), school started when the “secondaries” came in so he only completed 6 (could have killed him over that!). Thankfully, he ended up with 3 acceptances…truly a gift considering the LOW number of apps he completed.</p>