Medical School Admissions - rejection, gap year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCAT + research at NIH

That’s what my daughter says too- gold standard.

Are people finding these positions open at NIH? My daughter had one lined up last year for her gap year and it got pulled because of lack of funding.

Any other intense science research of 2-3 semesters or two summers will suffice, as an undergrad or as a gap year. NIH is much harder to get now.

Almost every other lab is also hard to get now as they’ve all lost funding. I think it’s probably the best option for a gap year IF you can get a good position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCAT + research at NIH

That’s what my daughter says too- gold standard.

Are people finding these positions open at NIH? My daughter had one lined up last year for her gap year and it got pulled because of lack of funding.

Any other intense science research of 2-3 semesters or two summers will suffice, as an undergrad or as a gap year. NIH is much harder to get now.

Almost every other lab is also hard to get now as they’ve all lost funding. I think it’s probably the best option for a gap year IF you can get a good position.

huh??? my kid's undergrad (ivy) has plenty of lab spots for anyone who wants, premed or any stem major. Almost all their premed and stem friends from other schools (Duke, GT, UVA, other ivies, WM) also had paid summer 2025 research jobs in industry, govt/National lab or university programs.

[Anonymous]

Guys, still look for lab jobs. It may not be easy right now, but if you want one you can find one.

Perseverance is the name of the game in medicine.

[Anonymous]

It's not about getting into your first choice school, it's about getting into any school you can get into. Research jobs are going to be tough to find now. Maybe meaningful volunteer work or becoming a nursing assistant would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

+1. I also want to add that it only gets harder in medical school, residency, and fellowship so if med school admissions is problematic I am deeply concerned about students afterwards. The tests get a lot harder.

My daughter is in the middle of the process and the above is why she doesn’t want to hire a tutor for studying for the mcat. (She’s doing some study method, studying every day for two hours, periodically taking practice tests, etc). She told me that if she needed a tutor to get into med school she’d be screwed when the much harder tests come down the line in med school.

This is either a humble brag or not very smart as standardized testing for MCAT is not the same as boards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

+1. I also want to add that it only gets harder in medical school, residency, and fellowship so if med school admissions is problematic I am deeply concerned about students afterwards. The tests get a lot harder.

My daughter is in the middle of the process and the above is why she doesn’t want to hire a tutor for studying for the mcat. (She’s doing some study method, studying every day for two hours, periodically taking practice tests, etc). She told me that if she needed a tutor to get into med school she’d be screwed when the much harder tests come down the line in med school.

Come back and let us know how that works out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

Are you also the “bar is not that high poster”?
I agree with what you’re saying but also you are referencing MCAT scores in the 90th percentile and up as if that’s easy to get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

+1. I also want to add that it only gets harder in medical school, residency, and fellowship so if med school admissions is problematic I am deeply concerned about students afterwards. The tests get a lot harder.

My daughter is in the middle of the process and the above is why she doesn’t want to hire a tutor for studying for the mcat. (She’s doing some study method, studying every day for two hours, periodically taking practice tests, etc). She told me that if she needed a tutor to get into med school she’d be screwed when the much harder tests come down the line in med school.

Come back and let us know how that works out.

I wish she’d think about getting a tutor but she’s adamant. It’s not a humble brag. I’m kind of nervous for her. She did okay on her first practice test and I think that did it. But how much can people really expect their scores to go up from studying? I think each point above a certain score is hard fought. Anyway,trying to just let it be. She’s an adult at this point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

Can you recommend a few med school admissions advising firms (and put your own in that list). Kid needs help next cycle in managing process, reviewing essays, pursuing scholarships, interview process, etc. Currently in gap year to gain clinical experience. has 4.0 in biology from an Ivy, 523, NIH etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

Can you recommend a few med school admissions advising firms (and put your own in that list). Kid needs help next cycle in managing process, reviewing essays, pursuing scholarships, interview process, etc. Currently in gap year to gain clinical experience. has 4.0 in biology from an Ivy, 523, NIH etc

It would be a complete waste of time and $ to hire a consultant for this student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

Can you recommend a few med school admissions advising firms (and put your own in that list). Kid needs help next cycle in managing process, reviewing essays, pursuing scholarships, interview process, etc. Currently in gap year to gain clinical experience. has 4.0 in biology from an Ivy, 523, NIH etc

It would be a complete waste of time and $ to hire a consultant for this student.

I highly doubt that pp was actually asking. It was a bragging post. Not even humble bragging, rather in your face bragging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

+1. I also want to add that it only gets harder in medical school, residency, and fellowship so if med school admissions is problematic I am deeply concerned about students afterwards. The tests get a lot harder.

My daughter is in the middle of the process and the above is why she doesn’t want to hire a tutor for studying for the mcat. (She’s doing some study method, studying every day for two hours, periodically taking practice tests, etc). She told me that if she needed a tutor to get into med school she’d be screwed when the much harder tests come down the line in med school.

Come back and let us know how that works out.

I wish she’d think about getting a tutor but she’s adamant. It’s not a humble brag. I’m kind of nervous for her. She did okay on her first practice test and I think that did it. But how much can people really expect their scores to go up from studying? I think each point above a certain score is hard fought. Anyway,trying to just let it be. She’s an adult at this point!

Not sure. DC did not do any paid prep or tutor, either. What is recommended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect most here are not physicians nor have worked in med admissions. I am both, different from the poster a few posts up. I went to a T5 med school and did admissions for them, as well as run med admissions advising with a couple of other physicians. What we see, among those that do not gt in, is that their MCAT is often below 505 yet they apply anyway. IF they have above 515 and get in no where it is rare, and is often because they do not apply to schools where 515 is the top end of the score range, their GPA was below 3.5, or they have a lackluster transcript, often skipping recommended premed courses such as molecular bio, sometimes skipping required courses.
No one with 3.9+/520+ gets rejected unless they have no schools below the T50 or have serious red flags on app ie no volunteering, missed courses, et al.
Top undergrad programs, as in top flagships or T25 private types generally advise very well . The applicants have all the prereqs and more. That is not the case from some schools. We advise those students to take 1-2 gaps and boost the lacking area such as a Postbacc if the coursework or grades are borderline.

+1. I also want to add that it only gets harder in medical school, residency, and fellowship so if med school admissions is problematic I am deeply concerned about students afterwards. The tests get a lot harder.

My daughter is in the middle of the process and the above is why she doesn’t want to hire a tutor for studying for the mcat. (She’s doing some study method, studying every day for two hours, periodically taking practice tests, etc). She told me that if she needed a tutor to get into med school she’d be screwed when the much harder tests come down the line in med school.

Come back and let us know how that works out.

I wish she’d think about getting a tutor but she’s adamant. It’s not a humble brag. I’m kind of nervous for her. She did okay on her first practice test and I think that did it. But how much can people really expect their scores to go up from studying? I think each point above a certain score is hard fought. Anyway,trying to just let it be. She’s an adult at this point!

Not sure. DC did not do any paid prep or tutor, either. What is recommended?

Whatever it takes (except cheating) to get higher scores. Med schools don't care how you got your score.

[Anonymous]

Just chiming in to say it’s bizarre and sad that kids have to jump through so many crazy hoops to get into med school these days. Of course, we want smart qualified doctors but many smart kids are being rejected while on the other side, we have a serious shortage in every field and that shortage grows every year.

Premed/med school was not that difficult for me nor for many of my friends. We had so much fun in med school and residency. I hope the kids are still having fun nowadays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just chiming in to say it’s bizarre and sad that kids have to jump through so many crazy hoops to get into med school these days. Of course, we want smart qualified doctors but many smart kids are being rejected while on the other side, we have a serious shortage in every field and that shortage grows every year.

Premed/med school was not that difficult for me nor for many of my friends. We had so much fun in med school and residency. I hope the kids are still having fun nowadays

For lots of kids, getting into med school is rather easy and the requirements aren’t a big deal. With the internet these days you hear from everyone who has bad grades and test scores who thinks they deserve a spot too. If the grades and test scores are there, filling out the rest of a successful application is easy.