Getting into a top medical school

[LeGOAT James]

What does it take to get into medical schools such as Harvard, John Hopkins, Duke , etc?

I've always been interested in what sets apart the Harvard medical school bounds students vs. those that end up at their in-state university or mid-tier medical school (those are nonetheless great as well). Those students that end up at mid-tier medical schools seem to also have great GPA's and MCAT's.

I graduated this spring with a 3.89 GPA. I am studying for the MCAT a little bit this summer, and then throughout the year until the next application cycle opens. I'll be a research tech at a pharmaceutical company (working from 6am to 3 pm) but I plan on studying for MCAT sometime after work (maybe 3 hrs a day, but longer during the weekends when there isn't work). So far I have 100 hours of shadowing and 400 hours of volunteering. I plan to do more shadowing and volunteering during my gap years.

Some additional things that I have done are serve as a VP for a non-profit that my friends and I opened up. I also spent a few summers serving as an assistant wrestling coach for a local high school. Furthermore, I spent a lot of time volunteering as a SAT/ AP Biology instructor for local inner city students in New York. During undergrad, I spent 3 years working at a research lab and was able to publish with my team once.

Also, I plan on explaining to medical schools that I am a disadvantaged student. I graduated from a high school where only 15 out of the 200 graduated went on to go to 4 year universities. Grew up with very little family income (about 30 k a year), and we were homeless for a short period. During college I had to drop an entire semester due to my father's car accident. I withdrew from the semester and came home and worked and took care of chores such as dropping off brothers and sisters to school, groceries, etc. It's definitely been a tough ride!

I understand it is very difficult to gage my chances at a top medical school without an MCAT score , but what kinds of things should I be doing to set myself apart?

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[tbonez71]

Stats + incredible research + clinical experience + a longitudinal commitment to volunteering + being personable people + possibly some other outstanding achievement.

Basically they are incredibly accomplished people who go beyond just checking boxes and have true passion/commitment to their work. It isn't really about racking up the hours, but mostly what those projects and long-term commitments were about and the impact of them. Also usually good communicators in general since they have to do well in interviews.

Having a tough upbringing isn't a prerequisite, though I guess it could add to your story as long as you are sincere and it relates to your passion for what you have done/accomplished.

At the end of the day it is a total crapshoot who is interested in you. Just throw your hat in the ring so long as you think you stand a chance, review your essays thoroughly, and see what happens.

 

[chaim123]

I would argue that asking us this question would lead you to do the types of things we do, which would not set you apart, but cause you to be like one of us. I think that a big thing for top schools, and for any school, are a combination of things, including:

• High GPA and MCAT scores - showing academic excellance
• Involvement in the community - showing that you care for others and are committed to a career of service
• Involvement in medicine - showing that you understand what a career in medicine will be like, and aren't going to flake half way through

But most of all, being passionate. Everyone that I know / met on the interview trail who got into a top school showed passion about what they do, even if it doesn't seem directly related to medicine. But they showed the school that they are people with outside interests, and connected those interested to medicine, and make a case for how they are going to better medicine with those skills.

Remember, top schools want to train LEADERS in medicine, which requires outside skills that you can integrate into your medical service to make some aspect of medicine better.

 

[Oso]

Top applicants know how to Use. The. Search. Function.

 

[chaim123]

Also, I plan on explaining to medical schools that I am a disadvantaged student. I graduated from a high school where only 15 out of the 200 graduated went on to go to 4 year universities. Grew up with very little family income (about 30 k a year), and we were homeless for a short period. During college I had to drop an entire semester due to my father's car accident. I withdrew from the semester and came home and worked and took care of chores such as dropping off brothers and sisters to school, groceries, etc. It's definitely been a tough ride!

I want to respond to this separately really quick. Disadvantages in life are common, and happen to many of us. What schools want to see is how you overcame these difficulties, how they fed your passion for medicine, and how you plan to use those experiences in the future. Try not to use it as an excuse - that won't come across well.

 

[Goro]

What does it take to get into medical schools such as Harvard, John Hopkins, Duke , etc?

I've always been interested in what sets apart the Harvard medical school bounds students vs. those that end up at their in-state university or mid-tier medical school (those are nonetheless great as well). Those students that end up at mid-tier medical schools seem to also have great GPA's and MCAT's.

I graduated this spring with a 3.89 GPA. I am studying for the MCAT a little bit this summer, and then throughout the year until the next application cycle opens. I'll be a research tech at a pharmaceutical company (working from 6am to 3 pm) but I plan on studying for MCAT sometime after work (maybe 3 hrs a day, but longer during the weekends when there isn't work). So far I have 100 hours of shadowing and 400 hours of volunteering. I plan to do more shadowing and volunteering during my gap years.

Some additional things that I have done are serve as a VP for a non-profit that my friends and I opened up. I also spent a few summers serving as an assistant wrestling coach for a local high school. Furthermore, I spent a lot of time volunteering as a SAT/ AP Biology instructor for local inner city students in New York. During undergrad, I spent 3 years working at a research lab and was able to publish with my team once.

Also, I plan on explaining to medical schools that I am a disadvantaged student. I graduated from a high school where only 15 out of the 200 graduated went on to go to 4 year universities. Grew up with very little family income (about 30 k a year), and we were homeless for a short period. During college I had to drop an entire semester due to my father's car accident. I withdrew from the semester and came home and worked and took care of chores such as dropping off brothers and sisters to school, groceries, etc. It's definitely been a tough ride!

I understand it is very difficult to gage my chances at a top medical school without an MCAT score , but what kinds of things should I be doing to set myself apart?

I am going to make a post soon on this subject, but based upon feedback from successful SDNers, you need:

• high stats
• hundreds and sometimes even thousands of hours of clinical experience (either volunteer or employed) and/or non-clinical experience.
• research (but not always)

A common theme is service to others less fortunate than yourself. Health policy service or research affected the undeserved seems to be a common venue these candidates have.

Some of the Top Schools are stats ****** and so a high MCAT can make up for lower numbers of the above (except GPA)

Stanford seems to be OK with tons of research and high stats. Your mileage many vary.

Without an MCAT score, simply do NOT think about Top Schools. Do not think about anything except the MCAT. Then come back for advice.

 

[Dr. Brightside]

After interviewing at multiple top 20 schools, I remember the students giving tours at each specifically mentioned that everyone accepted to their class filled a "unique role" with a "quirky" EC or background. (They used the word quirky a lot). Top med schools are obsessed with "class building" - Just look at what they list on their Twitter infographics - so they can brag about their business-owning, professional ballroom dancing students (for example). High stats and lots of EC hours get you to the interview, then you need that X factor to actually get in.

 

[dr_kateb]

Top applicants don’t and won’t get swept by the Celtics.

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

There isn’t some magic formula. Top students excel at whatever motivates them, whether that be sports, research, or service.

A lot of it has to do also has to do with opportunity. A very difficult part of being pre med is that people tend to not take you as seriously as you’d like (the fact that you’re disposable doesn’t help),whether that’s your PI or the doctor who’s office you work at. A lot of students who are at the top worked very hard and/or were lucky enough to get certain opportunities that had potential. The matter of the fact is that you can enter a research position, work your butt off for 2 years, and not get anywhere because the dynamics of the lab don’t allow it . It’s just crappy luck sometimes (although, to be fair, I should have just left the lab 😳).

And lastly, don’t think about going to a top school. Think about getting an excellent MCAT score and about getting the empathy and compassion of a good doctor.

 

[DameJulie]

I believe what it takes besides the really high numbers is that you show entrepreneurship of any kind (quote from my advisor), and also be really really top in one of their ECs.

The typical examples include starting your own business/organization, first-author paper in mid-tier or above journal, winning awards from multiple countries, competing at national or above level in sports. You have to show them that you're not just "doing" the ECs, but you're creating those ECs.

I understand that disadvantages students have other priorities and difficulties to overcome before they can afford the time to do these things. I would also be interested to know how a typical disadvantaged student (not living through a war or something like that) can showcase they can be a good fit just as the above does.