The path to a career in medicine is extremely challenging — and long. But if you’ve done the soul-searching, have the academic chops and the grit, resilience and passion, it is time to make a plan. An essential part of becoming a successful medical student and resident is making it through the first hurdle: getting accepted to medical school.
No question, getting into medical school is highly competitive. According to applicant data released by the AAMC, 55,188 people applied to medical school during the 2022 application cycle. Applicants sent out an average of 18 applications each, which means 990,790 applications were sent out across the United States. Forty-one percent, or 22,712 applicants, were accepted to med school in 2022.
Don’t let these medical school acceptance rates scare you. There are myriad positive thing you can do to make yourself a frontrunner.
How to get a leg up on the competition
So what’s the best way to get a leg up during your undergraduate years? Here’s advice from the experts on extra steps you can take to boost your chances of getting into medical school.
- Do your homework. Ask yourself what’s important to you in your medical studies. Do you want small classes? Are you looking for diversified clinical experiences or strong research opportunities? Study the medical school websites to find out what kind of culture and community they offer — and where you will fit in best and be poised for success!
- Get experience in a clinical setting. Volunteer or pursue an internship in a clinical setting. Beyond good grades and MCAT scores, hands-on experience is important. Letting them see you’ve had lived experiences on the frontlines of medicine, shows admissions committees that you can connect with others in a medical setting and are serious about becoming a doctor.
- Mentor, mentor. Mentors are important for pre-medical students. Building the right relationships is an essential tool for medical school admissions and throughout your career in medicine. Ask friends and family to introduce you to a local healthcare provider. Meeting and talking to medical professionals can give you an up-close view of what a career in medicine is really like. Ask to shadow the doctor or if they can mentor you.
- Study up. Study early and often for the MCAT. Whether you are taking it for the first time or this is another attempt, make sure you set aside plenty of time to study practice questions, view videos and any other resources that will help you familiarize yourself with the MCAT format.
- Build your academic portfolio. Beyond the biological sciences, and high GPA, you can boost your academic resume with a medical certificate. This extra effort and education can help you stand out in the crowd. According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), Certified Medical Assistants (CCMA) are the most versatile allied health professionals, and have a wider range of job opportunities available to them. From pediatrics to geriatric care, A Medical Assistant certification will give you a bigger selection of medical settings to choose from and is great experience for potential medical students. Best part: Medical assistants get to work with physicians each day, watching what they do and how they interact with patients.
Find out more about how a pre-medicine certificated can help you build a powerful foundation and boost your chances of getting accepted in medical school here.
