Being non-trad is so bitter sweet

[Anthodite]

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I love my unique/vast experiences(which apparently according to a few premeds are “stacked”) but I also hate not being the easy applicant for advisors.

It feels like advisors are annoyed by my presence because I may not have checklists checked in the way they want. They also don’t take into account any sort of factor that may hinder my application like being low income and not being able to do stuff like multiple unpaid campus leadership positions because of it.

I’m a year away from applying and you bet I’m gonna pour my heart and soul into those applications.

 

[Pungus]

I've had real hit or miss experiences with advisors. One advisor (who doesn't work at my program any more) told me I needed a ton more clinical hours and to quit my full time job, while the other advisor said my hours and employment were perfectly fine. I think it comes down to the fact that there's really no right answers, and every single applicant is an individual. The most we can do as nontrads is to figure out how we want to tell our stories and really tailor the applications and secondaries around that story.

It's worth looking at your history, seeing your areas of strength, and then identifying opportunities that play into that strength.

 

[SovjakRaya]

I love my unique/vast experiences(which apparently according to a few premeds are “stacked”) but I also hate not being the easy applicant for advisors.

It feels like advisors are annoyed by my presence because I may not have checklists checked in the way they want. They also don’t take into account any sort of factor that may hinder my application like being low income and not being able to do stuff like multiple unpaid campus leadership positions because of it.

I’m a year away from applying and you bet I’m gonna pour my heart and soul into those applications.

Factttsss. Low income and non trad is rough.
I appreciate that you are going to pour your heart and soul into the applications, but I also want to caution you that they aren’t worth it! Definitely don’t burn yourself out or stress too hard about how to tell your story. Create a list of schools that you know value non trads or that have a community with a need you can fill. For example, I am a substance use advocate with lived experience. I graduated at the top of my class in 3 years with 136 credits and was told by my med school I wasn’t “determined” enough. Turns out they just don’t like facing the opioid epidemic. I reapplied and focused in on MD schools (rather than DO, idk why those are supposed to be better for non trads) that were in rural areas with communities struggling with substance use. It worked.
Also the applications I turned in in the first week AMCAS opened, were the two where I got interview invites lol being first makes a difference. All schools want at least a couple token non trads, so if you’re first in line your odds are good! You got this!!

 

[Wamuu]

I love my unique/vast experiences(which apparently according to a few premeds are “stacked”) but I also hate not being the easy applicant for advisors.

It feels like advisors are annoyed by my presence because I may not have checklists checked in the way they want. They also don’t take into account any sort of factor that may hinder my application like being low income and not being able to do stuff like multiple unpaid campus leadership positions because of it.

I’m a year away from applying and you bet I’m gonna pour my heart and soul into those applications.

Advisors ****ting on applicants? Color me surprised.

Honestly, being a non-trad is a huge advantage these days. Schools are realizing the value of applicants who’ve worked, lived, and figured out what they actually want. My family once heard admissions people implying they were 'too old' in their late 20s. But now, most people I meet are mid-20s with solid work experience, especially in healthcare.

Yes, you still need to check the boxes; schooling, volunteering, etc., but make sure it’s authentic. Too many applicants build resumes purely for medicine, and it shows. My original app was geared toward PA school, but my extracurriculars were driven by things I loved, even if they weren’t healthcare-related.

Your biggest strength as a non-trad isn’t just your experience, it’s the fact that your experience is real and personal, not manufactured. I never once ran my CV by an advisor. I went straight to doctors I work with in my academic hospital, and their feedback was always practical and honest—no BS checklists required.

Also, don’t let anyone guilt you about unpaid leadership roles. A lot of advisors forget that not everyone can afford to work for free. You’ve been handling real life. That’s not a flaw, it’s your edge.


Stay authentic. That’s what gets noticed.