Though the academic prerequisites for applying to medical school remain generally standard from year to year, it is important to look beyond these when crafting an application.
Each year, many more qualified individuals apply to U.S. medical schools than are admitted. While this may be frightening, a nuanced understanding of programs’ desires and current admissions trends may give you the edge you need to secure coveted interviews and acceptances.
Arm yourself with knowledge to put your best foot forward during the 2017-2018 admissions cycle. Here are three medical school admissions trends to consider.
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1. Increased competition: Medical school admissions is difficult — that is a given. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, 53,042 prospective students applied to medical school in the 2016-2017 cycle, and a mere 21,030 students matriculated into U.S. programs. That is roughly 40 percent. The average MCAT score for applicants was 501.8, while the average score for matriculating students raised the bar even higher, to 508.7.
What is perhaps most daunting is that these data suggest that medical schools are consistently becoming more competitive. In October 2015, the AAMC reported 52,550 total applicants — an increase of 6.2 percent from the previous year. Students applying during the 2017-2018 admissions cycle will likely see more of the same.
As you prepare your application, it is important to keep this sense of “upping the ante” in mind. You may have a fantastic MCAT score and a strong GPA, but so do thousands of other prospective doctors.
You might therefore consider applying to several more programs than were originally on your short list. If your list contains only M.D. schools, you might research D.O. programs, as well. With the ongoing merge of accreditation systems, both M.D. and D.O. schools are great options for future physicians.
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2. Greater attention to social media: No patient wishes to Google his or her doctor and find an unflattering picture of said physician from a long-ago spring break. Greater selectivity in the medical school admissions process means that programs may filter applicants based on their online presences.
Medical schools expect their incoming class to already carry the professional image expected of a doctor — in other words, programs seek mature applicants who have exhibited behavior consistent with respect for self, others and the environment.
Before you apply to medical school, search for yourself online. Are there any inappropriate comments or photographs that you would not want a future employer to see?
We are now entering an era in which many medical school applicants will have grown up online in a semipublic eye, perhaps never considering how their social media posts might harm their future ambitions. Take down those pictures, make your accounts truly private and begin to build your professional online presence.
[Get medical school application tips from the experts.]
3. Increased reliance on holistic methods of evaluation: Your MCAT results and transcript are extremely important. They are proof that you can handle the academic rigors of medical school, and they are among the factors that can positively influence an admissions committee.
But programs are increasingly examining not only your academic strengths but also your personal strengths. Are you a leader? Have you exhibited compassion? Are you resilient? Medical schools try to answer these questions, among others, as they evaluate you as a candidate.
As you complete your application, take the time to think about qualities that you wish to highlight for admissions committees — and then pair them with competitive academic data.
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3 Medical School Admissions Trends to Watch in 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com
