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NEW ESSENTIAL WISDOM THREAD AS OF 2019 CLICK HERE
Before exploring the compilation, please read the AMCAS Applicant Guide to be familiar with the application process.
AAMC Surveys on Adcom Preferences
The following AAMC surveys show the list of various metrics, experiences, demographics and sources of applicant information that medical schools generally find to be important based on a priority scale. Please take the time to carefully look into these tables to have a general understanding what schools are looking for.
2015 AAMC Survey
2013 AAMC Survey
Also note that the priorities (measured by mean importance ratings) are organized in a descending order according to the above footnotes.
In regards to academics, both AAMC surveys illustrate the importance of doing well in classes and on the MCAT.
science GPA > MCAT total score > upward/downward GPA trends > cumulative undergrad GPA > performance in a post-bacc program
Curiously, the 2015 AAMC survey lists undergrad selectivity as of lowest importance, unlike the 2013 AAMC survey that shows differing medical school interpretations (i.e. for public schools, undergrad selectivity matters little, whereas for private schools, undergrad selectivity matters a lot). Generally, attending a competitive undergrad (i.e. HYPSM/Ivies etc.) may help for medical school admissions, but undergrad name doesn't excuse for poor GPA/poor MCAT. Likewise, attending a state school or subpar undergrad doesn't exclude you from medical schools.
For experiences, the priority ratings are
Healthcare experience > community service/volunteer experience > leadership experience >> research experience
Note crucially that healthcare and community service experiences are required. Without these experiences, you cannot get accepted into any medical school. As @Goro likes to say, "You need to show Adcoms that you know what you're getting into". The 2015 AAMC survey also lists physician shadowing as highest importance. Usually, 50+ hours of shadowing with experience in primary care settings is ideal.
@gonnif has pointed out that research experience is listed as medium importance (as noted in both AAMC surveys). So research is not a required component in a successful medical school application, although it's always good to have some experience understanding how the scientific method works.
The following information offers powerful insights into each of the categories highlighted in the above survey.
SDN Advisor Guides and Insights
Below are some advice and guides kindly provided by SDN adcoms, attendings and faculty (collectively termed SDN Advisors). Thanks to @LizzyM @Goro @gyngyn @mimelim @gonnif @Med Ed @HomeSkool for guiding students in their medical journey.
LizzyM's Heuristics
The hallmark metric used to assess academic quality is the LizzyM Score.
LizzyM Score = 10*GPA + MCAT
LizzyM's Clinical Rule: If you are close enough to smell patients, then it is clinical experience
LizzyM's Staircase Analogy for Determining Interviews and Acceptances
LizzyM's Summary of Academic Medicine
Goro's Guides
Credit to @Catalystik @Doctor-S @aProgDirector @SouthernSurgeon @Crayola227 @Perrotfish @Law2Doc
Credit to @WedgeDawg @Depakote @Alejandro @Affiche @planeblue @medic86 @Planes2Doc @bananafish94 @RogueBanana @The Knife & Gun Club @Guero @----x---- @PugsAndHugs @bluestreaks @SymphonyNo9 @seren1051 @Lucky Day for providing valuable advice to applicants.
Application Advice
Additional useful resources can be found here. Credit to @efle @Lucca @mehc012 @voteknope @aldol16 @tessellations @RogueBanana @Domperidone @Alejandro @NickNaylor @VictorAlpha @PanRoasted @MikeS 78 for the hard work and effort put into them.
Tips and Guides
Before exploring the compilation, please read the AMCAS Applicant Guide to be familiar with the application process.
- Lee's MD vs DO Threads Sticky
- WedgeDawg's Applicant Rating System
- Gender and Sexual Minorities Resources for Pre-meds
- International Applicants to Medical School Thread
- Collection of Healthcare Resources
- MCAT Study Plans and MCAT Study Strategies
- Success Rate Charts - 2017 Edition
- Essential SDN Wisdom for Medical Students
AAMC Surveys on Adcom Preferences
The following AAMC surveys show the list of various metrics, experiences, demographics and sources of applicant information that medical schools generally find to be important based on a priority scale. Please take the time to carefully look into these tables to have a general understanding what schools are looking for.
2015 AAMC Survey
2013 AAMC Survey
Also note that the priorities (measured by mean importance ratings) are organized in a descending order according to the above footnotes.
In regards to academics, both AAMC surveys illustrate the importance of doing well in classes and on the MCAT.
science GPA > MCAT total score > upward/downward GPA trends > cumulative undergrad GPA > performance in a post-bacc program
Curiously, the 2015 AAMC survey lists undergrad selectivity as of lowest importance, unlike the 2013 AAMC survey that shows differing medical school interpretations (i.e. for public schools, undergrad selectivity matters little, whereas for private schools, undergrad selectivity matters a lot). Generally, attending a competitive undergrad (i.e. HYPSM/Ivies etc.) may help for medical school admissions, but undergrad name doesn't excuse for poor GPA/poor MCAT. Likewise, attending a state school or subpar undergrad doesn't exclude you from medical schools.
For experiences, the priority ratings are
Healthcare experience > community service/volunteer experience > leadership experience >> research experience
Note crucially that healthcare and community service experiences are required. Without these experiences, you cannot get accepted into any medical school. As @Goro likes to say, "You need to show Adcoms that you know what you're getting into". The 2015 AAMC survey also lists physician shadowing as highest importance. Usually, 50+ hours of shadowing with experience in primary care settings is ideal.
@gonnif has pointed out that research experience is listed as medium importance (as noted in both AAMC surveys). So research is not a required component in a successful medical school application, although it's always good to have some experience understanding how the scientific method works.
The following information offers powerful insights into each of the categories highlighted in the above survey.
SDN Advisor Guides and Insights
Below are some advice and guides kindly provided by SDN adcoms, attendings and faculty (collectively termed SDN Advisors). Thanks to @LizzyM @Goro @gyngyn @mimelim @gonnif @Med Ed @HomeSkool for guiding students in their medical journey.
LizzyM's Heuristics
The hallmark metric used to assess academic quality is the LizzyM Score.
LizzyM Score = 10*GPA + MCAT
- GPA is out of a 4.0 scale, and the MCAT is out of 45 points. The LizzyM score applies for the 2015 MCAT by referring to efle's MCAT Percentile Tables and the LizzyM Score Calculator by SDN Application Assistant
- According to @gyngyn, military veterans may be able to add 5 points to the LizzyM score
LizzyM's Clinical Rule: If you are close enough to smell patients, then it is clinical experience
- Concrete examples of the clinical rule are outlined by the Goro Guidelines: "Not all volunteering needs to be in a hospital. Think hospice, Planned Parenthood, rehab facilities, crisis hotlines, camps for sick children, or clinics."
- Nursing homes are a gray area. Safe bet is to call it nonclinical (see example)
- Look at each school on the list. Ask yourself, "If this were the only school I was admitted to and if I were offered only loans to attend, would I go here?" If the answer is no, strike it from the list.
- Imagine that you are invited to interview at all of the schools but can only attend 20 interviews. Which 20 would you want to interview at? That's your list.
- Independence Day (4th of July): complete your AMCAS application
- Labor Day (first Monday in September): have your letters in (including committee letters) and finish your secondaries; your overall application should be complete by now
- Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November): if you don't have an interview invite by Thanksgiving, start thinking about what you'll do if you need to reapply (this so-called turkey rule was substantiated by Lucca's SDN Survey of 2015 and LizzyM's June 2016 Survey)
- Mardi Gras (a Tuesday in February): if you don't have that waitlist turn into an offer by Mardi Gras, drink heavily and start making a contingency plan when the hangover wears off (source)
LizzyM's Staircase Analogy for Determining Interviews and Acceptances
LizzyM's Summary of Academic Medicine
Goro's Guides
- Goro's Guide to the Application Process (2018 edition) (see also: 2014 edition, 2015 edition, 2016 edition and 2017 edition)
- Goro's Guide to Interviews (2018 edition) (see also: 2014 edition)
- Goro's Guide to YOUR Interview Questions (2018 edition) (see also: 2015 edition and 2016 edition)
- Goro's Guide to Interviews: The View from Behind the Curtain
- Goro's Advice for Pre-Meds Who Need Reinvention
- Goro's Advice for DO Applicants in Absence of Grade Replacement
- Goro's Guide to the DO School Application Process (2018 edition) (see also: 2014 edition and 2017 edition)
- Goro's Guide to DO School Interviews
- Goro's Guide for YOUR Interview Questions at a DO School (2018 edition) (see also: 2015 edition)
- gyngyn's Happiness Axiom
- gyngyn's Axiom for Choosing Majors
- gyngyn's GPA Axiom
- gyngyn's Axiom for Physician Shadowing Letters
- gyngyn's MCAT Axiom
- gyngyn's Axiom for Physician Satisfaction
- mimelim's Key to Becoming a Better Future Physician
- mimelim's Key to Time Management
- mimelim's Key to Preparing for Medicine
- mimelim's Key to Extracurricular Activities
- mimelim's Key to Letters of Recommendations
- gonnif's Question: Is your goal is to get into medical school or get into medical school quickly? (it is worth taking some time off to strengthen your application instead of rushing to apply quickly with a weak app.)
- gonnif's Analysis of the Caribbean Route
- gonnif's Analysis of Medical Schools' Reaction to Taking Prerequisites at Community College
- gonnif's Analysis of Dropping Out of a Master's Program
- gonnif's Argument Against Applying Without Knowing MCAT Score
- gonnif's Classification of Letter Types
- gonnif's Argument Against Applying to MD with DO Deferred Admission
- gonnif's Analysis of Holding Multiple Acceptances Past the AAMC Deadline
- gonnif's Analysis of Power Dynamics of MD and DO Regulatory Bodies
- gonnif's Analysis of the Medical School Application Submission Timeline
- Med Ed's Insight into What Makes a Good Letter of Recommendation (see also: example of a generic letter)
- Med Ed's Insight into Personal Statements (see also: example of personal statements)
- Med Ed's Insight into AMCAS Experience Descriptions (additional tip)
- Med Ed's Insight into Disadvantaged Classification
- Med Ed's Insight into Choosing a Medical School
- Med Ed's Analysis of the Flexner Report
- Med Ed's Insight into Attending Salary
- HomeSkool's Rules for Retaking Courses
- HomeSkool's Tip on Writing Application Essays
- HomeSkool’s Guide to Multiple Mini Interviews (additional tip)
- HomeSkool's Guide to Letters of Intent
- HomeSkool's Guide to Financing Your Medical Education
Credit to @Catalystik @Doctor-S @aProgDirector @SouthernSurgeon @Crayola227 @Perrotfish @Law2Doc
- Catalystik's Advice for Writing a Letter of Intent
- Catalystik's Shortcut for Post-Acceptance Withdrawals
- Doctor-S's Suggestions for Volunteering
- aProgDirector's Analysis of the Caribbean Route
- SouthernSurgeon's Tips into Measuring the Strength of Clinical Years
- Crayola227's Interview Tips
- Crayola227's Tips on Managing Burnout and Stress
- Perrotfish's Method of Making Sound Financial Decisions
- Law2Doc's Cost-Benefit Analysis of Medicine
- Law2Doc's Summary on Differences between Research and Clinical Experience
- Law2Doc's Summary into the Importance of Having a Job
Credit to @WedgeDawg @Depakote @Alejandro @Affiche @planeblue @medic86 @Planes2Doc @bananafish94 @RogueBanana @The Knife & Gun Club @Guero @----x---- @PugsAndHugs @bluestreaks @SymphonyNo9 @seren1051 @Lucky Day for providing valuable advice to applicants.
Application Advice
- WedgeDawg's Summary of MD vs DO Differences
- WedgeDawg's Argument Against Going to Medical School in the Caribbean (see also: Caribbean Cycle Theory)
- WedgeDawg's Advice on What to Ask Current Students on Interview Day
- Planes2Doc's Ultimate Guide to Final Fantasy 7, Medical School Purgatory, & Typical Pre-Med Missteps
- Planes2Doc's Ultimate Guide to Maximizing Your Medical School Application (see also: high school edition and non-traditional edition)
- Planes2Doc's Insight into Medical School Admissions (see also: insights into clinical jobs and insights into volunteering abroad)
- Planes2Doc's Thoughts on Systems-based Practice and Clinical Experience
- The Knife & Gun Club's Application Advice for Those with Low GPA
- medic86's Do's and Don'ts for Medical School Applicants
- bananafish94's Thoughts on Personal Statements
- Depakote's Personal Statement Guide and Tips
- Alejandro's Advice on Personal Statements
- SymphonyNo9's Guide to Applying US Med School with a Foreign Bachelor Degree
- seren1051's Tips for International Students Trying to Build a School List
- Lucky Day's Tales from a 3x Applicant
- planeblue's Interview Invite Tracker
- Affiche's Advice for Medical School Interviews
- bluestreaks' Advice from 20+ Interviews
- PugsAndHugs' MMI Interview Strategy
- ----x----'s MMI Interview Strategy
- RogueBanana's Interview Season Stress Tips
- bananafish94's Advice for Those Without an Interview by Late November
- bananafish94's Post-October 15 Advice
- Guero's Advice on Writing Various Letters (e.g. Updates, LOIs, Thank Yous, etc.)
Additional useful resources can be found here. Credit to @efle @Lucca @mehc012 @voteknope @aldol16 @tessellations @RogueBanana @Domperidone @Alejandro @NickNaylor @VictorAlpha @PanRoasted @MikeS 78 for the hard work and effort put into them.
Tips and Guides
- voteknope's School Selection Spreadsheet
- mehc012's Anki Central (use this to learn how to make flashcards for effective studying)
- RogueBanana's Student Fitness Thread
- RogueBanana's SDN Meal-Prep and Recipe Thread
- Lucca's Insight into Disability and Medical School
- tessellations' Tips and Resources for Dealing with Stress
- aldol16's Guide for Summer Research Etiquette
- NickNaylor's Reflections/Thoughts on the Admissions Game
- VictorAlpha's My Story - Hope Has a Place
- PanRoasted's An Open Letter from MS2
- MikeS 78's Reflections as a 4th Year into the Application Process
- Domperidone's Reflections on Residency
- Alejandro's Advice and Reflections on the Journey
- Medical School Grading Systems Including Internal Ranking (study)
- Medical School Rankings by SDN Thread Activity
- Data Insights from AAMC Report on Residents
- efle's Most Premedical Universities (2016 edition) (see also: 2015 edition)
- efle's Percent Correct vs Percentile Earned Charts for Old MCAT
- efle's AAMC A1 Highlights: Low Yield Schools and Gender Balances
- efle's Matriculating Student Survey Highlights
- efle's Highlights on Yearly Applicants and Matriculants by State, Adjusted for Population
- efle's Historical US News Rankings
- efle's Analysis on the Question: Among States, Who Tends to Matriculate the Highest Scoring of Their Own Applicant Pool?
- efle's Analysis on New MCAT and Drop in Admit Rate
- efle's Case Study of Selective Undergrad Boost
- efle's Success Rates for Matching Each Specialty, and what AOA Students Choose
- Lucca's Analysis of F30s and MD/PhD Programs and Program Size
- Lucca's Analysis of Elite School Bias in MD/PhD Admissions
- Lucca's Case Study in Bias for Prestigious Undergrads
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