Didn't hear back from med school? It's not too late!
1. Confirm that your AMCAS primary is complete and correct. If you identify any problems (recommendation letters that haven't arrived, classes that are categorized incorrectly, missing classes on your transcript), take immediate steps to address them.
2. Contact (by phone or email) any programs that have not yet sent you a secondary application. Make sure that they have everything they need from you; you can also ask if they are still sending out secondaries.
3. Contact (by phone or email) any programs where you have submitted a secondary to confirm that your application is complete. You may discover that some of your materials never arrived. You can also ask if they are still sending out interview invites.
4. If you're planning an upcoming trip, send an "in the area" email to any programs along the way. Tell them that you will be nearby (although not for another interview) and if they might be inviting you for a future interview, would they consider arranging it around this time to save you the expense.
5. If you have any outstanding updates, prepare an update letter to request that the new information be considered. Keep these short and on-point - you should only provide new information, not reiterate what was in your previous submission.
6. If you've received a rejection letter from a program where you have significant ties, you can send an appeal. This letter, addressed directly to the head of the admissions committee, should describe your unique ties to the medical school and make a strong case for an in-person interview. Although it is by no means guaranteed, I've had several students who were able to gain invitations and ultimately admissions through their appeals.
With all of these measures, be sure that you are not violating any of the specific medical school's guidelines about contact. Some programs make updates very easy through their online portals; others request no additional contact after the secondary is submitted. Abide by their preferences - you don't want to be that person who can't follow instructions.
Admission to medical school is a long process, and it's not over yet. If you haven't gotten the results you hoped for, don't give up. Our experienced consultants can help you maximize your chances. Contact Accepted if we can help you take these last steps that hopefully will get you the offers you want.
Related Resources:
• Getting Into Medical School: Advice from a Pro [podcast]
• Six Tips For Better Resumes
• Nine Ways To Get Rejected From Medical School
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
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