Do not apply until you have the best possible app
Do NOT take the MCAT until you're fully ready.
Make sure your LOR writers know you well enough to write a good LOR
ECs: While not required by med schools, they really are so make sure to have enough patient contact experience (volunteer or otherwise), have some research experience, and non non-clinical volunteer experience. Demonstrate your altruism and humanity.
Medical missions are not really useful unless your actually digging water wells or delivering babies.
Don't bother with LOIs. They're worthless.
KNOW what you're getting into.
1 or 2 Cs will not kill your medical career. Ditto W's.
It's OK to take coursework at CCs, especially if you're a non-trad, or doing grade repair, or are a transfer student from a CC with an AA/AS degree, going to a 4 year UG school.
The more eyeballs looking over your app, the better.
Worry about getting into medical school before worrying about your residencies/specialties.
Always remember it's a marathon, not a sprint. You're in this for the long haul.
Have or develop good coping skills
Have good time mgt skills. We expect you to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Invest in MSAR and apply strategically. If you have an MCAT of 31 and GPA of 3.5, you're not getting into Harvard or UCSF. Rosy F or NYMC, most probably, and that's fine!
If you're a poor standardized test taker, get that fixed.
Don't have cookie cutter ECs. Do something that will make you stand out.
We're not impressed by double majors, or any minor. Take courses that interest you, and do well in them. THAT impresses us.
It's OK to be human. There are med schools that indeed reward reinvention. rising trends ARE a good thing.
LEARN from your mistakes.
Do NOT bull your way through a semester if life throws you a bean-ball. Take the Ws, not the F/D/C.
Ditto for the MCAT. If you're sick that day, or your beloved dog dies, do NOT take the test. Or, void the test.
Do NOT take the MCAT cold! We consider poor choice making as a factor in who we accept. Prepare as needed. Take as many practice tests as needed.
If you're applying to MD schools, do NOT think that a high MCAT will overcome a poor GPA (or vice versa).
Do NOT go into Medicine if it's your parents' choice, and not yours.
Apply early. That's June or July for MD. June through Dec for DO.
Do NOT expect that one more LOR will somehow move you off of a wait list.
do NOT re-take the MCAT if your score is >30, even if imbalanced. Retaking with a good MCAT score is an exercise in hubris.
Do NOT be discouraged by rejection. Get feedback, improve on your deficits, and apply stronger the next cycle.
Do NOT apply to a school you have no intention of attending. Do your homework and think hard about living in X city for four years.
In that same vein, make sure you have a support group in the area. Homesickness is real.
At interviews, do NOT babble. Be concise. Display grace under pressure. Know what's in your packet. Do NOT lie. Do NOT embellish. Look over the Feedback forum for the types of questions asked at particular schools.
Make eye contact, even if this is not normal for your culture.
Hope that helps
... So my score wont be back until around mid July conservatively. I'm hoping that will still beat much of the rush?
