Get Me In! How to Get Accepted to Medical Schools

Why is it that getting into medical school is so difficult? Despite the shortage of physicians in the nation, Medical Schools across the U.S have the task of rejecting vast numbers of candidates, many of which have GPA’s and MCAT scores to match or exceed those of the selected candidates. What, then, makes these selected few so special? And, how do you become one of them?

I believe most people understand the importance of a good GPA and a high MCAT score to get accepted to medical school. However, not a lot of people know about other inconspicuous, yet important components in getting accepted to medical school. I mean, how come some candidates with a 4.0 GPA and an MCAT score of 35 not get accepted to the same schools where other candidates with similar or lower scores.

The reason is rather simple. Medical Schools consider other characteristics when selecting candidates for their medical schools. A 4.0 GPA tells them you study a lot and a high MCAT scores tells them you know how to take exams. No big deal. That is why Medical Schools look at the following criteria in addition to high GPA’s and MCAT scores.

1. Commitment to Serving People- Medical Schools want to know you care about serving others. Above all, medical practitioners are responsible to CARE for their patients. If you don’t enjoy serving people, quite frankly this is not a career you should follow. In the real life, Dr. House probably wouldn’t make it to medical school if he frankly accepted he didn’t care about patients during his medical school interviews.

2. Realistic Notion of Strengths and Weaknesses- In their application essays and personal statements, most candidates write only about their strengths, which is to be expected. However, a mature applicant is aware that one’s personal growth is never fully achieved. To put it simple, we are not perfect. Hence, there should be an area in which one can maturely admit to need improvement. Share a story in which you faced adversity, show them what your problem was and, most importantly, how did you overcome the problem.

3. Participation in Rigorous Activities- By now, I presume we all understand the rigor implied by attending medical school. Participation in rigorous activities where candidates assume leadership roles and self-initiate change are good indicators that they have what it takes to make it in medical schools. Schools want to know that you can keep up the good grades while also working diligently in different things. They want to know you can adapt to the next level (medical school) in which you have more to study in less time, per se.

4. Evolution of a Desire to Enter the Field of Medicine- You need to articulate why it is that you want to pursue a medical education and put yourself through hell for a few years. I doubt anyone wakes up a morning and decide that they want to become a physician. Instead, one develops their decision to pursue a medical career based on a combination of academic interest, social commitment and personal experiences. Make sure to articulate this very well during your personal statement as well as orally during the interview process.

5. Involvement in Areas Not Necessarily Socially Reinforced- What is it that makes you unique? Most applicants will have a high GPA and MCAT scores, research experience, shadowing experience, good letters of recommendation and personal statements. So what will distinguish you from the rest of them? Are you a mentor, a leader, an activist? Whatever it may be, make sure to have an ace under your sleeve to pull off when writing your personal statement and the interview process.


All of the criteria that I included above are among the criteria that medical schools look for in candidates. Don’t believe me? You don’t have to. If you believe in the Dean of Admissions from Texas A & M, the University of North Texas, and Baylor Medical School, then, you should probably listen since most of the information that I used to write this blog was actually taken from the notes I took while in a conference with a panel composed of them.

To those criteria, I would personally add the dedication to pursue a medical education. One thing I learned is that things don’t have to be the way they are, but they don’t change by themselves. Challenging the status quo takes commitment, courage, imagination, and, above all, dedication to learning. Dedication is at the foundation of all. Even if you make it to medical school, graduate, and become a successful physician, you MUST never stop learning. Be cognizant that your personal growth is never and will never be fully achieved, quite frankly.