Are med schools looking for "well rounded" or "focused" candidates?

[toff4l]

For undergrad, being well-rounded is pretty much necessary for admission to a top school but for med school, are they looking more for applicants who are "focused" on medicine as opposed to applicants who have lots of activities and experiences which, while impressive, are not directly related to medicine?

In other words, even though you might have the numbers and activities, can you lose your spot to someone who has that one story or experience that just does not apply to you?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[gravitywave]

For undergrad, being well-rounded is pretty much necessary for admission to a top school but for med school, are they looking more for applicants who are "focused" on medicine as opposed to applicants who have lots of activities and experiences which, while impressive, are not directly related to medicine?

you need both.

In other words, even though you might have the numbers and activities, can you lose your spot to someone who has that one story or experience that just does not apply to you?

yes. no one is a beautiful and unique snowflake but even so, some snowflakes are more beautiful and unique than others.

 

[mvenus929]

Agree with above. You need to have a well rounded application to be considered at most schools. Let's face it... most of the people who make it far enough to apply have the numbers and drive to make it through medical school. You need to have something that will make you stand out from the rest of the pack.

 

[LoveTheRunner]

...say you're a well-rounded applicant who is focused on becoming a doctor?

 

[Longshanks]

They want well rounded focused applicants.

 

[equios]

I'd say you need focus and a good narrative that you want to be a doctor, but you also want to come across as a real person too. So have a single focused drive for MD, but remember to have enough fluff and fun on the side. Don't be a bush, don't be a stick, but be a tree with both. Wow...weird analogy day apparently.

 

[clinicallabguy]

Like people have said, you want to show that you are both. When I was a pre-med a faculty member from my state medical school spoke to us and while giving us advice about how to prepare for medical school he told us about this applicant that everybody on the admissions committee was excited about because she was in the reserves and repelled out of helicopters. They all agreed to admit her. Another story he told was of a kid that played the bagpipes and traveled around performing, and he got admitted because he was memorable. What I learned from that is that there is an "X factor" component that can play into your favor, where if you have some crazy interesting interest or experience that makes you memorable and perhaps make you seem more well-rounded if it is non-medical.

However, I should admit that I don't think I had any kind of trait that made me as interesting as these people and still got in. So it doesn't make or break you, but it's something to think about. If you have a crazy interesting hobby, then do something with it that may impress someone. However, don't let this get in the way of grades and MCAT. That is the top priority.

 

[toff4l]

Like people have said, you want to show that you are both. When I was a pre-med a faculty member from my state medical school spoke to us and while giving us advice about how to prepare for medical school he told us about this applicant that everybody on the admissions committee was excited about because she was in the reserves and repelled out of helicopters. They all agreed to admit her. Another story he told was of a kid that played the bagpipes and traveled around performing, and he got admitted because he was memorable. What I learned from that is that there is an "X factor" component that can play into your favor, where if you have some crazy interesting interest or experience that makes you memorable and perhaps make you seem more well-rounded if it is non-medical.

However, I should admit that I don't think I had any kind of trait that made me as interesting as these people and still got in. So it doesn't make or break you, but it's something to think about. If you have a crazy interesting hobby, then do something with it that may impress someone. However, don't let this get in the way of grades and MCAT. That is the top priority.

This is good advice. Thanks for sharing.