Reapplying to Medical School: How to Excel the 2nd Time Around
It’s become a notoriously well-known fact that gaining admission to medical school is incredibly tough. In the 2019-2020 cycle, only 41% of applicants actually matriculated into any MD and DO institution. So, if you weren’t accepted on your first try, you’re definitely not alone. Now, you’re considering reapplying to medical school. Without a doubt, you’ve got to work extremely hard on your application materials in order to convince admissions committees that you do have what it takes to grow into a capable physician.
There are many possible reasons behind an applicant being denied admission to medical school the first time: low GPA or MCAT score, unsatisfactory performance in the interview round, late AMCAS submission, or essays that might not have been compelling. To guide you through how to turn your luck around as you prepare for reapplying to medical school, we’ve provided a bigger picture of how many students apply and reapply, discussed how admissions committees view reapplicants, and gone over the factors that you should reconsider to make sure your application makes it to the “yes” pile.
What the Data Looks Like for Reapplicants
One of the biggest questions reapplicants have is what their chances look like and how successful those in their shoes have been in the past. Although there’s no specific data for how many reapplicants are ultimately accepted by MD programs, the AAMC states that during the 2018 application cycle, 38,483 (73%) were first-time applicants, and 14,294 (27%) were reapplicants. So, there is still a pretty significant number of students who want another shot at their medical school dreams.
As a candidate who is reapplying to medical school, you’re not only in competition with first time applicants, but you also have the added pressure of being compared to students who are in the same position as you when going through the process all over again. So it makes sense that most pre-med committees at prestigious universities encourage applicants to not reapply the immediate cycle after which they’ve been rejected by medical schools. For example, Brown states, “Before you re-apply, carefully consider the factors which did not enable you to gain admission during your first application. Evaluate your previous application and ensure that you address areas that may not have been the strongest before you reapply.”
So, you must take time to really reflect on where you went wrong and work hard to improve in those areas instead of rushing to submit only a few months after you’ve just received your admissions decision.
How Do Admissions Offices View Reapplicants?
If you’re reapplying to medical school, it’s understandable that you’re wondering whether submitting your profile a second time puts you at a disadvantage with admissions committees. The straightforward answer is no — but know that you will need to show concrete improvement. Obviously, it will not benefit you to upload the exact same application that you did the first time — you will unfortunately find yourself with more nos. Admissions committees expect reapplicants to have reevaluated where they went wrong or could have improved. They want your file to convey how you have strengthened your profile in terms of clinical experience, increased volunteering hours, and whether you’ve further reflected on why medicine appeals to you and repositioned your personal statement to demonstrate your dedication to medicine.
More importantly, it’s essential that instead of trying to spread yourself across all of these areas, you reflect on exactly where your application needs boosting. If you’ve got enough volunteering experience, focus on research or patient interaction. When admissions committees note that you’re reapplying to medical school, they want to see development.
