- Joined
- Sep 29, 2011
- Messages
- 499
- Reaction score
- 14
I was recently inspired by a WAMC thread to compile my theory on how medical school admission is done. It may not be an exact formula, but I think it runs along the lines of the following for the "most prestigious" schools (heck, maybe all schools???).
Every year adcoms set certain "criteria" for how their class will be composed. The "criteria" never really changes, it just adapts to what the dean has to work with. Let me explain.
Medical admission to the most elite programs in the nation is like movie "The Cabin in the Wood". Adcoms are the wardens who hibernate underground and seek out the applicants (ala: victims). The applicants are carefully chosen by MCAT scores and molded to fit certain "categories". Low GPAs are, of course, weeded out, but you can get back into the mix with a tremendous MCAT. The converse cannot be said. Once the adcoms have the 35+ MCATers in a pool, they sort them out to fit certain "roles". You see, they are trying to build a diverse class of high achieving standardized test takes. They hope these students will play the "game" and contribute to the overlord (in this case it is the dean and board of directors who handle the financial stability of the institution). The MCATers contribute to ranking and alumni donations (high MCAT = high board = specialist = $$).
So after a manual or electronic screening of MCATs, the dean and his committee seek to fill certain roles (roles are assigned and waitlists are set by categorical demographics):
1) The technical and nerdy engineer type. The hope here is that they will excel in biomedical research and device a stellar medical device. They will profit tremendously and hopefully the university can get a patent on that (research under their roof = their kickback). If, not, hopefully alumni $$ will follow.
2) The hot chick(s). Every school I visited this year had at least a few. Now, they can be medical school "pretty" or just plain old hot. A few schools I applied to asked for pictures both during secondaries and pre-interview. Also, obviously, the dean can make mental notes of appearances during interview day.
3) The jock(s). If there is anything that can innumerably increase your chances in the EC department, Division 1 athletics is the key. Even if you were the water boy, list it (well not that you were the water boy, but that you were affiliated with the team).
4) The token old dude (or girl). Again, every school had at least a few. I though one guy was a professor, turns out he was a 1st year. They are looking for life experiences here. It's ok that you screwed up during undergrad. Your MCAT means you are smart and it is really cool that you were a cop for 15 years. Try to married with kids if possible.
5) The typical undergrad. Yeah, you excelled in undergrad and did your cookie cutter ECs to the max. Well, guess what? There are the least of your kinds here. What, why? It is extremely competitive in this category. Coming straight out of college without fitting any other categories, you need tremendous MCATs and pedigree to match (undergrad degree from same school may help).
6) The publication wizard. This person can also be the old fart nontraditional (overlap). Typically already have a PhD and 5+ publications. Again, no need to explain what this means to an academic powerhouse.
7) Mother Teresa. Most of the time, this will inevitably be a girl. Key things to look out for including naivitiy, purity (a la the virgin in the "Cabin in the Woods"), and a strong sense of saving the world. She probably has bumper stickers for the Invisible Children. We need her to help organize student medical missions.
8) Gordon Gekko. Medicine is after all a business. These seats are typically taken up by 1st year analysts in New York who turn to medicine. They typically have pedigree behind them.
9) The URM(s). No need to debate here. Not trying to beat a dead horse, but this category probably gets it's own pile in addition to category. Numbers are less scrutinized here.
Now, I definitely missed a few. The point here is that you are weeded out by MCAT scores. You THEN need to fit a certain category. If Alex with a 40 applies with Sal with a 36, but Sal is a better fit for that category, Sal get the seat. If Rebecca is a Mother Teresa but only has a 29, whereas Sara has a 37 with less experiences, Sara still gets the seat. MCAT first, and then you need to fit the seat category second. If you don't get in, you get the "second" team or wait list until the first team recruit goes to another team (school).
Every year adcoms set certain "criteria" for how their class will be composed. The "criteria" never really changes, it just adapts to what the dean has to work with. Let me explain.
Medical admission to the most elite programs in the nation is like movie "The Cabin in the Wood". Adcoms are the wardens who hibernate underground and seek out the applicants (ala: victims). The applicants are carefully chosen by MCAT scores and molded to fit certain "categories". Low GPAs are, of course, weeded out, but you can get back into the mix with a tremendous MCAT. The converse cannot be said. Once the adcoms have the 35+ MCATers in a pool, they sort them out to fit certain "roles". You see, they are trying to build a diverse class of high achieving standardized test takes. They hope these students will play the "game" and contribute to the overlord (in this case it is the dean and board of directors who handle the financial stability of the institution). The MCATers contribute to ranking and alumni donations (high MCAT = high board = specialist = $$).
So after a manual or electronic screening of MCATs, the dean and his committee seek to fill certain roles (roles are assigned and waitlists are set by categorical demographics):
1) The technical and nerdy engineer type. The hope here is that they will excel in biomedical research and device a stellar medical device. They will profit tremendously and hopefully the university can get a patent on that (research under their roof = their kickback). If, not, hopefully alumni $$ will follow.
2) The hot chick(s). Every school I visited this year had at least a few. Now, they can be medical school "pretty" or just plain old hot. A few schools I applied to asked for pictures both during secondaries and pre-interview. Also, obviously, the dean can make mental notes of appearances during interview day.
3) The jock(s). If there is anything that can innumerably increase your chances in the EC department, Division 1 athletics is the key. Even if you were the water boy, list it (well not that you were the water boy, but that you were affiliated with the team).
4) The token old dude (or girl). Again, every school had at least a few. I though one guy was a professor, turns out he was a 1st year. They are looking for life experiences here. It's ok that you screwed up during undergrad. Your MCAT means you are smart and it is really cool that you were a cop for 15 years. Try to married with kids if possible.
5) The typical undergrad. Yeah, you excelled in undergrad and did your cookie cutter ECs to the max. Well, guess what? There are the least of your kinds here. What, why? It is extremely competitive in this category. Coming straight out of college without fitting any other categories, you need tremendous MCATs and pedigree to match (undergrad degree from same school may help).
6) The publication wizard. This person can also be the old fart nontraditional (overlap). Typically already have a PhD and 5+ publications. Again, no need to explain what this means to an academic powerhouse.
7) Mother Teresa. Most of the time, this will inevitably be a girl. Key things to look out for including naivitiy, purity (a la the virgin in the "Cabin in the Woods"), and a strong sense of saving the world. She probably has bumper stickers for the Invisible Children. We need her to help organize student medical missions.
8) Gordon Gekko. Medicine is after all a business. These seats are typically taken up by 1st year analysts in New York who turn to medicine. They typically have pedigree behind them.
9) The URM(s). No need to debate here. Not trying to beat a dead horse, but this category probably gets it's own pile in addition to category. Numbers are less scrutinized here.
Now, I definitely missed a few. The point here is that you are weeded out by MCAT scores. You THEN need to fit a certain category. If Alex with a 40 applies with Sal with a 36, but Sal is a better fit for that category, Sal get the seat. If Rebecca is a Mother Teresa but only has a 29, whereas Sara has a 37 with less experiences, Sara still gets the seat. MCAT first, and then you need to fit the seat category second. If you don't get in, you get the "second" team or wait list until the first team recruit goes to another team (school).
Last edited:
