Getting things started with some general questions:
- How many medical schools did you apply to?
- What factors were important for your school list?
- How did you choose the one where you ended up?
How many medical schools did you apply to?
I did two application cycles. During my first cycle, I was hilariously delusional- I only applied to big name schools in cities I liked. I sent out 14 applications to DO schools and 27 to MD programs, and (not-so-shockingly) didn’t get a single interview. Honestly, my secondary responses were pretty generic, and while my stats were decent, they weren’t exceptional.
After that reality check, I decided to do a master’s program, and I absolutely fell in love with the school and the city where I studied. So, for my second cycle, I was equally delusional but in a different way- I only applied to 2 schools, both in the same city. This time, though, I had a much stronger application and a compelling reason for wanting to attend both and had spoken to the admissions officers before applying. While I wouldn’t have minded School B, I’m pretty sure they could tell it wasn’t my top choice (plus, being a state school, they preferred in-state applicants). But it all worked out because I got into School A, where I did my master’s, which was perfect since it was my first choice!
What factors were important for your school list?
I wanted to live in a fun city with people I liked! After finishing my master’s, I worked for a year and made some amazing friends outside of academia, which made me appreciate the city even more. I also vibed really well with the med school program. I wish I could say I meticulously analyzed the curriculum and all that, but I kind of got lucky!
That said, if I were giving advice, I’d encourage people to consider things like:
✅ What is the attendance policy (mandatory/optional)?
✅ Pass/fail grading?
✅ How accessible are faculty for research and mentorship? Are there organized research groups?
✅ How integrated is the school in the local community?
✅ Early clinical exposure?
✅ Is there a home residency for the specialty you want to do? If not, what connections does the school have to allow students to explore it?
I love that my school had student-run clinics and required shadowing for MS1s. Literally, during my first week of med school, I shadowed an obgyn attending who let me scrub in and assist with delivering the placenta after the 4th-year student delivered the baby! It was wild to see how much trust and responsibility they give the upper-level students.
Pro tip: In your interviews or second look days, ask upperclassmen what surprised them about their school after starting, those answers can be eye-opening.
How did you choose the one where you ended up?
It was actually my only acceptance. Even if I had options, I would’ve still picked this school. What really sold me was how happy the students seemed. People had lives outside of med school- they hung out with friends, went on vacations with family during the school year, and didn’t seem constantly stressed.
I also loved that I had time to work a part-time job and still had a two-month summer break after MS1. I didn’t touch a single textbook during that break. I genuinely had fun, went on vacation, and worked a little to earn some extra money. The balance between working hard and actually enjoying life was exactly what I wanted, and that’s what I got
🙂
