Reapplication Considerations
If you were not accepted to medical school, you may be wondering what steps to take next. Based on feedback from medical school admissions offices it is recommended that students do not reapply to medical school until they have made significant changes to their application. In order to determine the best way to strengthen your application, ask yourself several questions. What were your greatest assets? What were some of the weaker areas of your application? Review the following elements of your application and consider where you might improve your qualifications.
- College/Post-College Activities
- Grade Point Average
- Interview
- Letters of Recommendation
- MCAT Score
- Personal Statement
- Post Baccalaureate Programs
- Research Experience
- Volunteer/Work Experiences
Prehealth Self-Assessment Sheet – worksheet to help you assess if you are prepared to apply
What if you had little volunteer experience prior to applying to medical school?
Volunteer experience represents a critical element of the medical school application as it reflects your dedication to service and helping others. You need not volunteer specifically in a medical setting, but may give your time to any community service-oriented organization to demonstrate your commitment to assisting others and your ability to communicate effectively interpersonally. Ideally such volunteer experience would result in a letter of recommendation from an individual who has observed your human relations and leadership skills firsthand. Opportunities to volunteer your time can be found at local hospitals, through MIT-run programs, as well as area community service and non-profit organizations. Visit our Explore Medicine page for a list of Boston area hospitals and organizations offering volunteer opportunities.
What if you did not score well on the MCAT?
Review the MIT data available from students who have previously applied to medical school and determine how your MCAT score compares to those of previous applicants. Is there a significant discrepancy between the quality of your MCAT score and your grades? You should retake the MCAT only if you are certain that you took the exam prematurely and would be considerably more prepared when retaking the test. Additionally, the test should be retaken if specifically recommended by a medical school or if you experienced severe illness or dealt with an emergency situation while test-taking. You may consider enrolling in an MCAT preparatory course that would provide structure and guidance to your study efforts. However, bear in mind that these classes are time-consuming and often quite costly. Also remember that new MCAT scores do not replace old scores; rather both will appear on your new application. Finally, please note that MCAT scores are only valid for three years, after which you must retake the test.
What if you had a low GPA during college?
Students are not recommended to retake premedical requirements in an effort to receive better grades. Rather, you should demonstrate your academic abilities by succeeding in upper-level science courses. Some post-baccalaureate programs exist specifically for students attempting to strengthen their medical school application. You may select the type of program to apply to based on your desire to take additional undergraduate courses, graduate courses, or to earn another degree. See below for additional information on Post-Baccalaureate Programs.
What if you received interviews, but feel they did not go well?
Developing your interviewing skills requires practice and a willingness to receive feedback. The Preprofessional Advising Staff in the MIT Careers Office conducts mock interviews specifically geared toward the medical school interview. These mock interviews provide an excellent opportunity to practice responding to the type of questions that you could be asked in a medical school interview and to receive feedback on your comments, physical presence, and nonverbal cues. You can also practice interviewing with your academic advisor, professors, prehealth advisor, individuals in your research lab, and even friends and family members. For additional assistance, view the Careers Office's online workshop specifically for medical, dental or other health related professions school interviewing at intvwhealthprof.pdf. The more comfortable you feel describing your experiences and your motivation to attend medical school, the better you will communicate yourself in an interview.
What if you feel that your personal statement was not of high quality?
If for some reason you feel that your personal statement was a weak element of your application, consider what you might do to improve it. The medical school application essay should reflect both your ability to communicate clearly and your motivation to enter the medical profession. Effective essays should be personal and often tell a story to grab the reader's attention and give some insight into your experiences and professional ambition. Many resources exist to assist you with your personal statement both at MIT and beyond. The Preprofessional Advising Staff is available to review your statement and offers workshops on Medical School Essay Writing. Additionally, if you have a prehealth advisor, you should have him/her critique your essay. You can also view sample essays online at Accepted.com and www.essaybank.co.uk.
What if your letters of recommendation were likely weak or unfavorable?
Ask yourself several questions. Whom did you select to write your letters? Did you include recommenders from a broad range of experiences? Does your recommender know you well enough to write about your motivation in pursuing this career? For example, did you have a letter from a professor? a supervisor from a UROP or other work experience? someone who worked with you in a volunteer environment? Did you provide your recommenders with sufficient time to prepare your letters? Did you offer them supplemental materials (resume, personal statement, etc.) to assist them in describing you and your college experiences? Consider the answers to these questions and now ask yourself, as you strengthen the other elements of your application, who can best vouch for your persistence and enhanced preparation to attend medical school?
What else can you do to strengthen your application?
Though research and work experience are not required elements of the medical school application, they can expose to you scientific practices and principles that serve to prepare you for a medical education, as well as peak your interest in a particular area. There are many ways that you can gain research experience in either an academic or industry environment. You may consider applying for a full- or part-time job in a field that would allow you to conduct research that interests you. To pursue such an opportunity, your best option is always to network with people that you know and conduct informational interviews with those that you do not. Take advantage of MIT alumni resources such as ICAN, the Institute Career Assistance Network, to locate alumni currently working in areas of interest to you. If you want to gain additional research experience in an academic environment, contact resources at MIT including professors, teaching assistants, academic advisors, current students, and former employers, to inquire about existing opportunities. For more information on both volunteer and funded opportunities through the MIT Public Service Center.
What are Post-Baccalaureate Programs?
There are three types of post-baccalaureate programs. The first type is intended for career-changers, who completed little to no science coursework during college and now wish to fulfill the requirements necessary to enter medical school. The second type of post-baccalaureate program is designed for those who wish to enhance their existing academic record to increase the likelihood of acceptance to medical school, typically re-applicants. Some of these enhancement programs are master's degree-granting, while others are not. "Special Master's" programs exist that allow students to earn a degree in the medical sciences. Medical schools offer these programs, admitting students who were nearly as qualified applicants as those that were admitted. "Special Master's" program students may complete first-year medical school courses, but cannot typically apply transfer credit toward their MD.
The third type of post-baccalaureate program is specifically geared toward under-represented minority students, economically or educationally disadvantaged students, or individuals otherwise under-represented in health-related professions.
Within each type of post-baccalaureate program there is also a great deal of variation between institutions. In addition to purpose, programs differ in admission requirements, size (selectivity), length, tuition, and financial aid available.
Application Requirements
Almost all post-baccalaureate programs require that applicants are U.S. citizens and permanent residents of U.S. Some schools require applicants to have in-state residency. Depending on the purpose of the program, other requirements may include that applicants have previously applied unsuccessfully to medical school or are considered either economically or educationally disadvantaged.Of the 75 post-baccalaureate programs listed by the AAMC, 44 programs have minimum GPA requirements for application and six cite mandatory minimum MCAT scores. Required GPAs range from 2.0 to 3.5, with the median required GPA at 3.0. Minimum MCAT scores range from 15 to 27.
Application Elements
As with applying to medical school, post-baccalaureate programs request an official transcript from all academic institutions you have attended (sometimes including high school), official score reports from any standardized tests that you have taken, an essay or personal statement, and an application fee. For further information and resources on how to write a personal statement, see Medical School Application - Personal Essay. Many programs require that applications include letters of recommendation as well. Information regarding obtaining recommendations can be found at Medical School Application - Recommedation Letters.
Application deadlines vary depending on whether the program requires enrollment in the fall only or permits students to begin in the spring or summer sessions also. Most deadlines for fall enrollment range from the end of May the beginning of August, but some schools accept applications on a rolling admission basis as early as January. Application fees typically cost between $30 and $60.
Structure
Programs differ in whether or not they are formal/structured vs. individualized or informal/unstructured. However, all post-baccalaureate programs are rigorous, regardless of their intent to introduce premedical course material or build upon it. Some programs are run by the university's School of Medicine, while others are offered through the College of Arts & Sciences or equivalent. Consider your options in terms of the type of classes offered, undergraduate or graduate, when they are offered, during the day or the evening, and whether you have the option to enroll part-time or must be a full-time student.
Size and Statistics
Although some post-baccalaureate programs admit 50 to 100 students, many programs accept as few at 10 to 25 applicants. Consider several factors when deciding which programs to apply to, such as how selective is the admission process and what type of learning environment does the program offer? Review the school's statistics indicating how many students apply and are accepted to medical school after completing the program.
Academics
Programs vary considerably in the types of courses that they offer, how many classes students must take and within what timeframe. Some degree-granting programs require their participants to conduct research in addition to completing science coursework. Some post-baccalaureate programs are one year, while others are two, differing based on the population they attempt to serve, the structure of the program (part-time vs. full-time) and whether it is degree or non-degree granting.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The cost of post-baccalaureate programs varies significantly. Some schools charge annual tuition rates anywhere from $5,000 to over $25,000, while other programs represent their costs per credit hour at a price anywhere from $200 to more than $800 per credit. Availability of financial aid differs greatly from school to school as well, with some schools offering need-based and merit-based scholarships. However, as with aid for medical school, financial assistance is primarily available in the form of loans. For more information on federal loans visit http://www.aamc.org/students/financing/start.htm.
For a complete list of Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Programs visit the AAMC's website at http://services.aamc.org/postbac/.
Last updated on Friday, November 04, 05 at 11:02:07 AM EST.
