Medical school application process (or the Ten Steps of Medical Admissions Application)

Photo by _mubblegum_

So, you bought a stethoscope and want to order those business cards with the coveted M.D. on them next to your name? Well, applications to medical schools sound like a good idea to begin with. I feel a little odd writing a whole article about what might be more than obvious to you over-zealous mega-achievers. However, I also feel some of you will severely underestimate the importance of spending enough time on the actual application process (as opposed to the years of preparation that go into having something to write on that application). For shortness' sake, let us assume you have accumulated enough padding for your CV, took the MCAT and aced it, and you feel mature enough to become a doctor (I will write about that one soon, when I discuss the interviews). Here are the Ten Steps of Successful Medical School Applications (this is a quick guide, so don't blame for not being thorough):



First - Official
Sounds simple. It is. Make sure you learn by heart the admissions website of every university you apply to. This means taking the time to list for yourself all the requirements. Circle all the deadlines on your calendar. Learn about things that are important to you (the duration of the program, for example, since there are 3-year programs leading to the same MD degree).

Second - Unofficial
Be proactive, not reactive. Do not wait for the rejection letter to learn something you should have known. Use the internet. Seach Google. Make sure you fish out everything you can on the subject of "your-school-of-choice medicine application". See how it contradicts/complements/confirms the information you gathered in step one. One of the best resources for Canadian applicants is the forum of Canadian Premed and Medical Schools.

Third - Word of mouth
This one requires some social skills. Ask your friends who applied there or know somebody who did. Were there any quirks? Oftentimes, you will come across information that is not available on the official website, information people learned on their own experience. Information they will not share but with their good friends, such as you. If you are smart, you will cut short the wisdom gaining process and learn on others' experience, not your own. At this time, you can get some invaluable pointers at what the admission committee of that specific school is looking for.

Fourth - Clarification
Having formed your own idea of how you fit into the grand scheme of things at the Best Medical School, you will be primed for asking them questions. Preferably several times and on different occasions. Most likely there will come up an issue that is still unresolved after the above steps. You want an example? Sure : do they absolutely need 2 references from professors? Most likely, nobody except the admission committee personnel (please carefully mark my words: secretaries do not count) will be able to answer these definitively. You will need to call them, come in (if you are in the same city) or keep calling again. A good idea would be to ask your friend to call and ask for a different person (there are usually at least a couple of ad com officers). If you suddenly start feeling guilt for the extra work you will cause the poor office people working so hard to get you closer to actually having a legitimate reason to use your stethoscope - remember that you are paying them. The application fees got you covered.

Fifth - Personal review
This is a quick reality check. After getting all the information written down and broken down on a per school basis, set it aside. Let it sit for a while. Do something else and come back to it a week later (hence the suggestion to start applications early - you cannot skim on things like this). You will not believe what kind of things you might have missed. In case you did, go back up the list and repeat until you are completely satisfied with yourself.

NOTE: A post about worst application screw-ups coming soon. Prepare for a good laugh. Update: put on your laughing caps - it's here.


Sixth - Close person review
This is more pertinent to the creative part of your application, i.e. the Personal Statement, aka the Biographical Sketch aka the Biggest Bullshit of Your Life. Did I really say that? I guess I did. It does not matter since you should not be listening to an anonymous person who probably did not even get past the submit button on medical school applications anyway. Ok, ok, joke over.

Although I will write a post about the PS relatively soon, I think its worth to mention this important step right now. Make sure a close person (friend, family) reviews your application briefly and your PS thoroughly. Give them a list of pertinent questions (more about this later) and ask them to use the Review feature in Microsoft Word.

Seventh - Personal review
Now, when you have real person feedback on your application - make sure you use it. Compare the edited with the original. Decide which parts are better and make the final draft from the best parts of the two. This is going to be hard, but you have to integrate everything, don't just accept all the comments, as well as don't discard them altogether because they say you sound too arrogant when you say you already knew what you needed to know to decide you wanted to be a doctor when you were 3 years old. Be humble, but be aware that your friend/relative might not be as informed/enlightened about the intricacies of the PS requirements.

Eighth - Adviser/counselor review
Same old song about using what you pay for. Please be smart and go to your Career Office/Student Services and book an appointment with an adviser to look over your PS, CV or any other two letter acronym document you may submit.

Ninth - Personal review
At this point, you are probably so fed up with the applications, that you will punch the next person who says medical school, MCAT, accepted, interview or references. Nevertheless. Just like in step five, put the application aside. Do something fun and come back refreshed. See that silly word you missed? How about that date? Did you really think the admissions committe will believe you volunteered for Doctors Without Borders when you were 5 years old? What? Oh, its a typo. That's right, they will be understanding. The admissions committee will definitely understand how much effort you spent on their application when they throw it in the trash bin.

Tenth - Last checkup
Just before you are about to click that last button, print the last paper, pass the no-turning-back point - stop. I know how much you are going to hate me for this, how much I will be ridiculed, but I am still saying it: Go back to step one and complete this guide all over again. This time, quickly and without time-consuming parts (seek only people you can reach quickly, i.e. forgo the adivser this time).

In conclusion, I would like to remind you that the better you prepare you first application, the less likely you will need to think of a second one. Just like with the MCAT, volunteering, school and life in general, the effort you put may not grant you instant gratification, but it sure as hell will make you Birthday-Christmas-Marriage happy when you are accepted.