Applying to medical schools is stressful as is, and it's even more so when myths about the industry are floating around in the minds of med school applicants. In order to lower your stress levels during your application process and to help you understand the facts, here are some of the med school admission myths we hear the most:
- Grades > application False. This is one of the most common myths about applying for med school and believing it could cause some serious damage to your application and essays. While grades are very important, most med school candidates have very similar grades, MCAT scores, GPA, etc. The essay portion of the application is how applicants can really stand out and secure their interview (which can then secure an admittance).
- Acceptance into medical school is based off of the MCAT
Just like No. 1 on our list, the MCAT and you GPA are not the only deciding factors into your admission at med school. While students with grades of a B+ and above are the most likely to secure their position in medical school, students with Cs get accepted as well. The same goes for the MCAT. If you're unhappy with your MCAT score, there are plenty of other ways to boost your application. Have you done a health-related internship? Community service? Extra-curricular activities? Research? These are all additional pieces to complete your application to really make you stand out.
- In order to become a doctor, students need to begin prepping their freshman year Many pre-med students think that they need to get all of their science classes out of the way within the first half of their college career. However, a large portion of students end up changing their major or choosing a different career path. Therefore, to ensure that you are on the path you want to be on, don't overwhelm yourself with your scientific core. Instead, take a few science classes and experience the healthcare world from outside of the classroom. Whether you're volunteering or interning, real world experience is what will help you realize what you want to study.
- Med schools will only think a student is a strong candidate if he or she tries to enroll immediately after college This myth could not be farther from the truth. In fact, med students who have experienced the real world work better with patients than those who haven't. By taking time off, you are more likely to appear well rounded to med schools. The average age for medical school students begins at 24.