Have you applied to medical school and not received a single interview? If so the most likely reasons are (1) Your application was submitted too late or (2) Your credentials were not competitive.
Waiting till September to submit to AMCAS and December to complete your secondary applications is a sure way to limit your chance of gaining an interview. By waiting to such a late date, you defeat yourself as the interview spots are mostly filled before your application was verified and complete. Don’t make this mistake again.
The second reason is much more complicated. What does it mean to NOT be competitive? All applicants know it is a numbers game to get into medical school. Each school has their own equation using various criteria to assess applicants. These criteria include academics (undergraduate and graduate GPA), MCAT scores, clinical/research exposure, service commitment and leadership skills. Among these criteria, GPA and MCAT scores carry the most weight. If you have a GPA less than 3.0 you will often not be considered further. Even if your application is strong throughout, a low GPA will often hold you back.
Post bac programs are an excellent way to prove your academic aptitude to admission committees. Many programs types are available at both the undergraduate (certificate and post-bac) and graduate (MA, MS and certificate) levels. If your undergraduate science GPA is below of 3.0 then you need to repeat your pre-med requirements. If your undergraduate science GPA is average (3.0-3.3) it is likely not competitive and a graduate program may be more suitable for you if you want to improve your chances of interview. Post-bac programs are an excellent way to raise your science GPA if you are ready to put all your effort into succeeding. Many schools offer such graduate programs and by completing one and earning a high GPA (>3.5), then you can prove your academic aptitude that may have been the weak link in your undergraduate record. Completing any post-bac program requires you to WORK to achieve the highest GPA possible. Remember, attending a post-bac program requires both a personal and financial commitment, however, success will definitely allow you to have a more competitive application moving forward.
By guest blogger Theresa Davies-Heerema, Ph.D., who has advised many medical and dental school applicants during her career in post-graduate education.
Read the full article: Post-Baccalaureate Programs – Who Should Do Them and Why?