The medical school admission process has always been competitive. The number of applications submitted far outweighs the number of seats offered in MD programs, which means even qualified applicants may fail to gain acceptance on the first try.
After completing the entire process, the last thing you want to see is a rejection letter. While it’s easy to feel discouraged, know that it doesn’t have to be the end of your dreams to become a physician. Approximately 25% of the applicant pool is composed of those who are reapplying.
Taking time to self-reflect before hopping back into the applicant pool can help you identify areas for improvement, so you can return as a stronger applicant. Here are some tips for improving your application.
Strengthening your application starts with self-reflection. Consider why getting into medical school means so much to you. The path to becoming a doctor requires commitment, dedication, perseverance, and resilience.
As someone who is reapplying, it’s more important than ever to show how you embody these traits. The main goal with your new application is to showcase why you’re a stronger applicant this time around.
Before you begin crafting your new application, start by reviewing your previous one. Identify areas for improvement and set a reasonable deadline that allows you to gain additional experience or improve your grades and scores.
If you’re unsure where your application fell short, review your rejection letters to find the contact information for the dean or admission counselors. Reach out to them for feedback on your application and interview. While not every school will reply, those that do can provide valuable insights.
Keep these insights in mind as you plan your next steps.
Many schools conduct holistic reviews when determining their incoming class. You can retake prerequisite courses to improve your GPA or prepare to retake the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®). If necessary, you can take the MCAT up to three times in a calendar year, four times in a consecutive two-year period, and up to seven times in a lifetime.
Volunteering, taking on leadership roles in clubs and organizations, and gaining more clinical experience can round out your application.
Make sure to create a realistic timeline for when you plan to reapply. It’s OK to give yourself extra time to gain more experience or earn a higher MCAT score. Admission teams are more interested in seeing your growth and commitment to the medical field than how long it took to resubmit your application. Use your time wisely, and strive to make every moment count.
Although you may have received glowing recommendation letters the first time, obtaining new ones is a good idea. As you gain more experience and strive to improve your application, you’ll want to ensure this growth is reflected in your letters. Each letter should capture who you are at the time of your application, to ensure admission teams have the most recent picture of you as an individual.
Obtain letters from those who have seen your growth and can speak to the value you’ll bring to both the program and the medical field.
While you can technically reuse your personal statement, it’s better not to. Much like your recommendation letters, your personal statement should reflect the current version of you. By the time you reapply to medical school, you’ll have more experience and deeper insight into why pursuing this path is so important to you.
Use this opportunity to acknowledge your growth and explain what motivated you to apply again. Share the lessons you’ve learned, the obstacles you’ve overcome, and the growth you’ve achieved.
Now that you have an idea of what it takes to improve your application, here are a few common questions asked by those who reapply.
Only you can determine whether reapplying to medical school is worth it. In addition to restarting the application process, you’ll need to showcase how you’ve improved. This may seem like a daunting task, but it’s not impossible.
Don’t let one round of rejections keep you from reaching your dream of becoming a physician.
Whether you can reapply to the same school depends on that school’s admission policies. While some schools limit students to two attempts, others allow more. Researching how many times you can apply to specific schools before building and submitting a new application can save you time and money.
Take Another Look at Your List of Schools
Take a chance and expand your list of potential schools. It’s easy to apply to well-known schools — but just because an MD program is well-known doesn’t mean it will be a good fit for you.
Take the time to do additional research. Speak to admission departments, and chat with current students or alumni for the programs you’re evaluating. This may help you better understand which programs most align with your long-term goals.
You may also find it beneficial to include in your search medical schools that commit to holistic application reviews. These admission committees consider your unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores.
At Ross University School of Medicine (Ross Med), we accept qualified students from every walk of life. Our mission is to find individuals with the potential to develop into outstanding physicians. Whether you’re applying for the first time, reapplying, or seeking to transfer, our admission counselors will help you navigate the process.
Don’t let a negative first experience keep you away from your passion. Request more information from Ross Med today!
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Velma Rawlins, MD.
The information and material contained in this article and on this website are for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or used in place of, professional medical advice. Please speak with a licensed medical provider for specific questions or concerns. Ross Med is not responsible for the information maintained or provided on third-party websites or external links.
