reapplying to med school personal statement

Reapplying to Medical School? Consider These 7 Tips

New section.

Did you know that approximately 25% of the medical school applicant pool consists of reapplicants? In a recent AAMC webinar, “Knowing When, Where, and How to Re-Apply,” a panel consisting of an admissions officer, a prehealth advisor, and successful reapplicants discussed how to review an unsuccessful application for lessons learned, red flags, or gaps. They also discussed how to know when you’re ready to apply again, where else you should apply, and if you should reapply to any schools on your previous list. You can access the complete presentation here or check out the highlights and key takeaways below.

• Honor your feelings. If you didn’t get into medical school the first time you applied, you’re probably experiencing a lot of emotions, which may be exacerbated by the pandemic. Allow yourself time and space to process your feelings. Give yourself credit for all the hard work you put into applying and consider taking some time off from any premed activities to engage in self-care.  
• Don’t rush to reapply. Any subsequent application should be significantly different from your first. If your application has not changed significantly from the previous submission, the likelihood of a different outcome is small. It’s important to take the time needed to strengthen your application.  
• Pay attention to how you describe your health care experiences in your application. Make sure the descriptions of your encounters highlight what you learned from them. 
• Examine the descriptions of your life experiences. As a physician, your patients will come from all walks of life, so it’s important to become comfortable and build trust with all different kinds of people. Putting yourself in situations where you spend time with people who have had very different life journeys can be a great thing to do.
• For additional ideas on how to strengthen your application, review the 15 core competencies for entering medical students. You can also read stories of other successful applicants through the AAMC  Anatomy of An Applicant resource.  
• Revisit your personal statement. Your growth and accomplishments between your last application and your current application should go into your personal statement . While your new essay can focus on a similar theme and communicate the same qualities from your previous personal statement, your anecdotes and supporting examples may change to reflect the new experiences you’ve had.  
• Examine your school choice. Make sure that you are “looking for schools that are looking for students like you,” said Ann Trail, health professions advisor at Villanova University.   Read the mission statements of schools and use that as a guide to evaluate fit. For example, if your passion is to help underserved populations, then a medical school that emphasizes and values research may not be the best fit. Learn how researching medical school missions can help you find your fit . Also, remember that state-supported medical schools have an interest in enrolling students who will remain to practice in that state. For this reason, they often give preference to in-state applicants. Be sure to check the admissions statistics for out-of-state students if you decide to consider applying to a state-supported school in another state.  
• Time your application early. In some cases, qualified candidates may not be successful if they apply too late in the season. It’s generally a good idea to have your application submitted by the end of July and your MCAT scores available by the end of August.  
• Hone your interview skills. Most medical schools interview only a small percentage of their applicants each year. If you receive an invitation to interview, the school is very interested in you. Utilize career center resources to practice your interviewing skills. You can also check out the AAMC’s collection of articles on interviewing to help you prepare. 

• Medical School Application

Med School Reapplicant Personal Statement: Turn 'No' to 'Yes'!

Medical school reapplicant personal statement examples are often necessary to help the thousands of applicants who face med school rejection every year. Being rejected is never easy, especially for something as important as medical school. However, both Homer Stryker and Charles R. Drew, who went on to make important contributions to medical science and now have medical schools in the US named after them, had to reapply to medical school, so if you were rejected the first time, you are in good company. This article will show you medical school reapplicant personal statement examples written specifically for programs that use specific prompts for reapplicants and give you more tips to improve your reapplication! 

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Article Contents 10 min read

Med schools that ask for a medical school reapplicant personal statement.

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine

University of Colorado School of Medicine

• Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
• Central Michigan University College of Medicine
• University of Arizona Phoenix School of Medicine
• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Want to know the reason why most people get rejected by med schools and learn how to avoid them? Watch this video:

Medical School Reapplicant Personal Statement Example #1

Essay Prompt

Describe the changes to your application from previous cycles - include academics, experiences, and/or personal attributes. (2000 characters maximum)

Throughout my previous application cycles, I have come to recognize the importance of self-reflection and growth. Taking the time to evaluate my application and seek guidance from pre-med advisors, they mentioned that although my academic profile and test scores were above-average, I lacked any significant extracurricular activities, or any real goals for the future aside from being a practicing physician.

Taking their advice, I made several intentional changes to enhance my candidacy for the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine. In this time, I discovered a newfound passion for woodworking and ceramics. Engaging in these non-academic pursuits taught me the value of patience, precision, and attention to detail.

Through the process of crafting intricate designs and working with various materials, I honed my motor skills and developed a heightened sense of creativity. These skills have not only broadened my horizons but have also provided me with a unique outlet for self-expression and personal growth. Furthermore, immersing myself in woodworking and ceramics has taught me the importance of adaptability and perseverance. In the face of challenges and setbacks, I learned to problem-solve, think critically, and refine my techniques.

I also took beginner classes in Arabic. This decision was motivated by my ambition to work with Medicines Sans Frontiers in the future, where I believe my language skills would be invaluable in providing healthcare to underserved populations. Engaging in Arabic language classes has been a humbling and rewarding experience.

It has allowed me to connect with diverse communities, deepen my understanding of different cultures, and broaden my perspective on healthcare disparities. I believe that these language skills will not only facilitate effective communication but also foster trust and rapport with patients from diverse backgrounds.

The changes I have made to my application reflect my commitment to personal growth and my unwavering dedication to becoming a compassionate and competent physician. I am excited to bring my newfound creativity, linguistic abilities, and academic achievements to the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine.

Please explain how you and your application has changed since your previous submission. (1500 characters maximum)

Fortunately, my rejection was the catalyst that made me finally seek out self-reflection and self-awareness, which I did through journaling. This practice has not only honed my writing skills but has also allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me. Through this process, I realized that the journey to becoming a doctor is not solely about personal accomplishments, but rather about the profound impact I can have on others' lives.

Motivated by this newfound awareness, I sought opportunities to contribute to my community and make a difference. Volunteering with a local non-profit organization, I dedicated myself to outreach efforts for unhoused individuals, providing them with access to essential medical services. This experience was both eye-opening and challenging, exposing me to the harsh realities faced by vulnerable populations. It reinforced my commitment to advocating for equitable healthcare and fueled my passion for serving marginalized communities.

Recognizing the importance of academic excellence, I retook the MCAT to improve my scores and enrolled in a post-baccalaureate program to enhance my GPA. Through self-reflection, journaling, volunteer work, and academic improvement, I am now equipped with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to pursuing a career in medicine. I am excited to bring these transformative experiences and my unwavering commitment to the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where I hope to contribute to the health and well-being of a diverse patient population.

Medical School Reapplicant Personal Statement Example #3

Louisiana State University School of Medicine

The LSU School of Medicine accepts re-applicants, but they do not need to respond to a specific prompt. Reapplicants to LSU need to complete a form outlining any improvements in their MCAT score , if they have earned any new degrees, and whether they have participated in any new extracurriculars for medical school . But, for this article, we will present this information in the form of a medical school reapplicant personal statement example.

Since my previous application, I have undertaken new coursework and engaged in extracurricular activities that have further enriched my academic and personal journey. Notably, I pursued a certificate in the biochemistry minor program at Tulane University, broadening my knowledge in this field of study.

One course that challenged me during this pursuit was "Advanced Topics in Biological Chemistry" at Tulane University. This rigorous course delved into complex biochemical concepts and required a comprehensive understanding of advanced laboratory techniques. While initially struggling with the intricate subject matter, I demonstrated resilience and determination by seeking additional resources, collaborating with peers, and seeking guidance from professors. Through perseverance and a strong work ethic, I not only overcame the obstacles but also passed the course with a satisfactory grade.

In addition to academic accomplishments, I actively engaged in extracurricular activities that expanded my perspectives and enhanced my skills. For instance, I participated in a volunteer program focused on mentoring underprivileged high school students in the Baton Rouge community, guiding them in their pursuit of higher education. This experience provided me with a profound sense of fulfillment and reinforced my commitment to serving and uplifting disadvantaged communities.

Moreover, I pursued continuous learning and professional development by earning certifications in advanced life support techniques, such as Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). These certifications not only enriched my understanding of life-saving interventions but also highlighted my dedication to acquiring essential medical skills.

Through my renewed academic pursuits, extracurricular involvements, and commitment to professional growth, I am confident in my readiness to contribute to the Louisiana State University School of Medicine community. I look forward to further honing my skills, broadening my knowledge, and making a positive impact on the health and well-being of the diverse population served by the university and the surrounding community.

Central Michigan University School of Medicine

If you have applied to any medical school in previous cycles, what have you done since your last application to prepare yourself for a career in medicine? (500 words) 

Since my previous application, I have embarked on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth to better prepare myself for a career in medicine. One pivotal experience that transformed my perspective and broadened my horizons was a rural medicine internship at a clinic in rural Michigan.

Coming from an Ethiopian-American background in Saginaw, I had limited exposure to rural populations and their unique healthcare needs. Initially hesitant, I decided to embrace this opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. The admissions officer from another medical school provided valuable feedback that I had few service commitments and too much focus on academic excellence. This insight inspired me to seek experiences that would deepen my understanding of diverse communities and the healthcare disparities they face.

I went to Iron Mountain, Michigan, which has a population of about 7,500. While, I was well-received, I encountered the challenge of building trust and rapport with patients who initially had reservations about opening up to a newcomer like me. Recognizing the importance of connection and understanding in healthcare, I sought creative ways to engage with the community and establish meaningful relationships.

One strategy that proved effective was tapping into the local passion for sports, particularly football. I discovered that the Iron Mountain Mountaineers are an integral part of the community. Recognizing the power of shared interests, I eagerly embraced conversations about football with patients, asking about their favorite teams, memorable games, and local football traditions.

These discussions served as a bridge, allowing patients to feel more comfortable and enabling me to delve into their healthcare concerns. As we talked about local sports teams, community events, and the excitement surrounding upcoming football games, a sense of camaraderie emerged. Patients began sharing their experiences, challenges, and personal stories with me, fostering a deeper connection that transcended the clinical setting.

Listening to the stories and struggles of the residents, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the unique challenges they face in accessing quality healthcare. Through this experience, I learned the importance of cultural competence, empathy, and adaptability in delivering patient-centered care. I developed a greater understanding of the social determinants of health and the need to address healthcare disparities, especially in rural communities. It sparked a passion within me to serve these populations and contribute to improving their access to healthcare resources.

Through introspection and continuous growth, I am now equipped with a stronger foundation in the humanistic aspects of medicine. I am committed to leveraging my unique cultural background, experiences, and newfound perspectives to provide compassionate and equitable care to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

As I apply to Central Michigan University School of Medicine, I am confident that my journey of personal and professional development has prepared me to contribute meaningfully to their mission of serving the healthcare needs of underserved communities. I am eager to continue expanding my knowledge, embracing new challenges, and working collaboratively to make a positive impact on the lives of patients and the community at large.

Are you not getting medical school interview invites? Check this out:

Medical School Reapplicant Personal Statement Example #5

University of Arizona College of Medicine

For re-applicants, 1000 characters to explain how you are a stronger applicant this cycle.

As a re-applicant to the University of Arizona College of Medicine, I am a stronger candidate this cycle for several notable reasons. I had the privilege of volunteering with No More Deaths, a prominent organization in Arizona dedicated to providing humanitarian aid and search and rescue operations for migrants in distress. Working alongside dedicated professionals, I witnessed firsthand the impact of social determinants of health and the need for equitable access to healthcare for all individuals.

I also enrolled in a biochemistry pre-med class, specifically BIOCH 421: Advanced Biochemistry. This course delved into the intricacies of molecular interactions, enzymatic kinetics, and metabolic pathways. Through hands-on laboratory experiments and in-depth discussions, I gained a better understanding of the biochemical basis of life and its implications in human health and disease. It also gave me a more solid foundation in biochemistry, and an overall more comprehensive scientific perspective.

University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine

Have you previously applied to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine? If yes, please provide the Admissions Committee with a brief application history (including when you first applied and the number of application attempts). Please describe in detail the ways in which this application is superior to your previous application(s). (Maximum 3000 characters)

As I reapply to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, I acknowledge that my previous applications fell short due to poorly-written essays. Writing has never been my natural strength, but I have taken significant steps to address this challenge.

Recognizing the importance of effective communication in the medical field, I enrolled in a writing-intensive course at the University of Missouri-Columbia, MFST 322: Media Writing. This course honed my skills in crafting coherent and persuasive written content. Through rigorous assignments and constructive feedback, I developed a better grasp of structuring arguments and conveying ideas concisely.

Since then, I have continued to refine my writing abilities. Notably, I had the privilege of having a blog post published on the UMKC student blog website, 'The RooWriter’. This opportunity allowed me to express my thoughts on pertinent topics in healthcare, fostering my growth as a writer and demonstrating my commitment to effective communication within the medical community.

By acknowledging my weaknesses and actively seeking opportunities for improvement, I have gained valuable insights into the art of writing. I am determined to utilize these skills to express my genuine passion for medicine, my commitment to serving others, and my unique experiences that have shaped my journey towards becoming a healthcare professional.

I am grateful for the chance to reapply to UMKC School of Medicine, and I am confident that my enhanced writing abilities, along with my unwavering dedication and academic achievements, make me a stronger candidate this time around.

These medical school reapplicant personal statement examples are only a guide intended for you to craft your own medical school personal statement , but you can also use them as examples of what to do to improve other parts of your application, such as medical school secondary essays and medical school letter of intent . You can see from the examples that a wide variety of activities and hobbies are as important to have as completing academic course or performing a service commitment. Volunteer work is another common feature of medical school reapplicant personal statement examples, as many medical schools mandate their students participate in volunteer work even after they are admitted.

Yes, according to some medical school requirements , if you are a re-applicant, whether to the same school or a new one, some programs do make re-applicants write a specific medical school reapplicant personal statement and only this one. They do not allow the resubmission of old statements. If you are reapplying to a medical school, the point is to show what has changed about your application so your old statements no longer apply to who you are as a candidate now. 

Many medical schools make clear what they expect to read in a medical school reapplicant personal statement, namely, what a candidate has changed or improved about themselves that was lacking in their first medical school application . The changes made could range from improving your coursework or doing more volunteer work. 

The main difference is a medical school reapplicant personal statement should address the changes you have undergone since you last applied to demonstrate that you are ready to take on the commitment of being a medical student. All medical schools typically ask this of re-applicants so at least you know what to write when you are writing the statement. 

Every school has its own word limits but the medical school reapplicant personal statement can range from between 1000 to 3000 characters. 

You should not repeat anything you mentioned in your original personal statement. You should focus mostly on what you have changed about yourself and how you have increased your suitability for the program, as nearly all medical school ask the same thing of re-applicants. 

Schools ask different questions because re-applicants are a unique demographic in the world of medical school applicants, similar to non-traditional medical school applicants . Re-applicants face the extra burden of having to improve their application significantly, while first-timers with a strong application only have to apply once. 

Yes, many medical schools in the US and Canada regularly admit re-applicants who were unsuccessful either at the same school or another. 

You should only re-apply if you have made the necessary changes or improvements to your application, be it through writing better essays, improving your grades or MCAT scores, or doing more shadowing hours for medical school . Many experts say that you should at least wait a year before undergoing the process again so you can gain a better understanding of your application’s strengths and weaknesses. 

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The Only 3 Medical School Personal Statement Examples You Need to Read

Posted in: Applying to Medical School

Table of Contents

The personal statement is one of the most important parts of the med school application process because t his mini-essay is a critical opportunity for you to stand out from other prospective medical students by demonstrating your passion and personality, not just your grades.

Admissions committees receive hundreds or more AMCAS medical school applications , so yours should be unique and captivating. Your medical school personal statement shows admissions officers who you are beyond your high school or pre-med GPA , extracurriculars , and MCAT score . 

The best personal statements are… well, personal . This is your chance to share what life experiences have compelled you toward a career in healthcare or the medical field , and how those experiences shape the picture of your ideal future.

MedSchoolCoach has crucial advice for writing your personal statement . 

Read these examples of personal statements for prospective med students.

Writing a great medical school personal statement is a lot easier with the right support. We’ve helped numerous med school applicants craft top-notch personal statements and can do the same for you.

But first: 7 steps to writing an engaging personal statement.

Before you read these excellent examples, you need to understand the process of writing a personal statement.  

Include these in your medical school personal statement:

• Why you’re passionate about becoming a doctor
• Your qualities that will make you a great physician
• Personal stories that demonstrate those qualities
• Specific examples of the communities you want to serve as a member of the medical field

What are the most important things to remember when writing a medical school personal statement ?

• Begin the writing process early: Give yourself plenty of time for brainstorming and to revisit your first draft, revising it based on input from family members and undergrad professors. Consult the application timeline for your target enrollment season.
• Choose a central theme: An unfocused essay will leave readers confused and uninterested. Give your statement a clear thesis in the first paragraph that guides its formation.
• Start with a hook: Grab the reader’s attention immediately with your statement’s first sentence. Instead of opening with a conventional introduction, be creative! Begin with something unexpected.
• Be the you of today, not the you of the future: Forecasting your future as a physician can come across as empty promises. Don’t get caught up in your ambitions; instead, be honest about your current situation and interest in the field of medicine.
• Demonstrate your passion: It’s not enough to simply state your interest in becoming a doctor; you have to prove it through personal stories. Show how your perspectives have been shaped by formative experiences and how those will make you an effective physician.
• Show, don’t tell : Avoid cliches that admissions committees have heard hundreds of times, like “I want to help people.” Make your writing come alive with dynamic, persuasive storytelling that recounts your personal experiences.
• Tie everything together: Conclude by wrapping up your main points. Reiterate your passion for the medical profession, your defining personal qualities, and why you’ll make a good doctor.

You can read more about our recommended method in our step-by-step guide , but those are the major points.

Example 1 — From the Stretcher to the Spotlight: My Journey to Becoming an Emergency Medicine Physician

Another siren shrieks as the emergency room doors slide open and a team of EMTs pushes a blood-soaked stretcher through the entrance. It’s the fifth ambulance to arrive tonight — and only my first clinical shadowing experience in an emergency medicine department since my premed education began.

But it wasn’t my first time in an emergency room, and I knew I was meant to be here again.

In those crucial moments on the ER floor, many of my peers learned that they stumble in high-pressure environments. A few weeks of gunshot wounds, drug overdoses, broken bones, and deep lacerations in the busiest trauma bay in the region were enough to alter their career path.

They will be better practitioners somewhere predictable, like a pediatrician in a private practice where they choose their schedules, clients, and staff.

Every healthcare provider has their specialties, and mine are on full display in those crucial moments of lifesaving care. Why am I pursuing a career in Emergency Medicine? Because I’ve seen firsthand the miracles that Emergency Medicine physicians perform.

12 years ago, I was in an emergency room… but I was the one on the stretcher.

A forest-green Saturn coupe rolled into my parent’s driveway. The driver, my best friend Kevin, had just passed his driving test and was itching to take a late-night run to the other side of town. I had ridden with Kevin and his father many times before when he held his learner’s permit. But this time, we didn’t have an adult with us, and the joyride ended differently: with a 40-mph passenger-side collision, T-boned by a drunk driver.

I distinctly recall the sensation of being lifted out of the crumpled car by a paramedic and laid onto a stretcher. A quick drive later, I was in the care of Dr. Smith, the ER resident on call that night. Without missing a beat, he assessed my condition and provided the care I needed. When my mom thanked him for saving my life, he simply responded, “It’s what he needed.”

Now I’m watching other doctors and nurses provide this life-saving care as I observe as a premed student. I see the way the staff works together like a well-oiled machine, and it reminds me of my time in high-school theater.

Everyone has a role to play, however big or small, to make the show a success. All contributions are essential to a winning performance — even the technicians working behind the scenes. That’s what true teamwork is, and I see that same dynamic in the emergency department.

Some actors freeze during performances, overcome by stage fright. Other students are too anxious to even set foot in front of an audience; they remain backstage assisting with split-second costume changes.

Not me. I felt energized under the spotlight, deftly improvising to help my co-stars when they would forget their lines. Admittedly, I wasn’t the best actor or singer in the cast, but I provided something essential: assurance under pressure. Everyone knew me as dependable, always in their corner when something went awry. I had a reputation for remaining calm and thinking on my feet.

My ability to stay unruffled under pressure was first discovered on stage, but I can use it on a very different platform providing patient care. Now, when other people freeze under the intensity of serving public health on the front lines, I can step in and provide my calm, collected guidance to see them through.

As an ER doctor, I will have to provide that stability when a nurse gets flustered by a quarrelsome patient or shaken from an irreparably injured infant. When you’re an Emergency Medicine physician, you’re not following a script. It takes an aptitude of thinking on your toes to face the fast pace and unpredictable challenges of an emergency center.

During my time shadowing, I saw experienced physicians put those assured, gentle communication skills to use. A 13-year-old boy was admitted for a knife wound he’d received on the streets. He only spoke Spanish, but it was clear he mistrusted doctors and was alarmed by the situation. In mere minutes, one of the doctors calmed the patient so he could receive care he needed.

Let me be clear: I haven’t simply gravitated toward Emergency Medicine because I liked it most. It’s not the adrenaline or the pride that compel me. I owe Emergency Medicine my life, and I want to use my life to extend the lives of other people. Every person brought into the trauma bay could be another me , no matter what they look like.

People are more than their injury, health record, or circumstances. They are not just a task to complete or a challenge to conquer.

My childhood injury gave me an appreciation for the work of ER doctors and a compassion for patients, to foster well-being when people are most broken and vulnerable. I already have the dedication to the work and the heart for patients; I just need the medical knowledge and procedural skills to perform life-saving interventions. My ability to remain calm, think on my toes, be part of a team, and work decisively without making mistakes or overlooking critical issues will serve me well as an Emergency Medicine physician.

Some ER physicians I spoke with liked to think that they’re “a different breed” than other medical professionals — but I don’t see it that way. We’re just performing a different role than the rest of the cast.

Breaking It Down

Let’s look at what qualities make this a great personal statement for med school.

• Engaging opening: The writer painted a vivid scene that immediately puts the reader in their shoes and leaves them wanting more.
• Personal examples: The writer demonstrated his ability to stay calm, work as a team, and problem-solve through theater experience, which he also uses as a comparison. And, he explained his passion for Emergency Medical care from his childhood accident.
• Organized: The writer transitions fluidly between body paragraphs, connecting stories and ideas by emphasizing parallels and hopping back and forth between time.
• Ample length: Makes full use of the AACOMAS and AMCAS application personal statement’s character limit of 5,300 characters (including spaces), which is about 850-950 words.

Unsure what traits and clinical or research experience your preferred medical school values ? You can research their admissions requirements and mission statement using the MSAR .

Example 2 — Early Clinical Work For Empathetic Patient Care

The applicant who wrote this personal statement was accepted into University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine.

As I walked briskly down the hall to keep up during our daily rounds in the ICU, I heard the steady beeping of Michelle’s cardiac monitor and saw a ruby ornament twinkling on the small Christmas tree beside her. She was always alone, but someone had decorated her room for the holidays.

It warmed my heart that I wasn’t the only one who saw her as more than a patient in a coma. I continually felt guilty that I couldn’t spend more time with her; her usual companions were ventilators, IV bags, and catheters, not to mention the golf ball-sized tumors along her spine. Every day, I thought about running to Michelle’s bedside to do anything I could for her.

Thus, I was taken aback when my advisor, who was visiting me that day, asked me if I was okay. It never crossed my mind that at age 17, my peers might not be able to handle the tragedies that healthcare workers consistently face. These situations were difficult, but they invoked humanity and compassion from me. I knew I wanted to pursue medicine. And I knew I could do it.

From my senior year of high school to my senior year of college, I continued to explore my passion for patient interaction.

At the Stepp Lab, I was charged with contacting potential study participants for a study focusing on speech symptoms in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. The study would help future patients, but I couldn’t help but think: “What are we doing for these patients in return?” I worried that the heart and soul behind the research would get lost in the mix of acoustic data and participant ID numbers.

But my fears were put to rest by Richard, the self-proclaimed “Parkinson’s Song & Dance Man,” who recorded himself singing show tunes as part of his therapy. Knowing that he was legally blind and unable to read caller ID, I was always thrilled when he recognized my voice. The spirit in his voice indicated that my interest in him and his journey with Parkinson’s was meaningful. Talking with him inspired me to dive deeper, which led to an appreciative understanding of his time as a sergeant in the U.S. military.

It was an important reminder: my interest and care are just as important as an effective prescribed treatment plan.

Following graduation, I began my work as a medical assistant for a dermatologist. My experience with a patient, Joann, validated my ability to provide excellent hands-on patient care. Other physicians prescribed her painkillers to relieve the excruciating pain from the shingles rash, which presented as a fiery trail of blisters wrapped around her torso. But these painkillers offered no relief and made her so drowsy that she fell one night on the way to the bathroom.

Joann was tired, suffering, and beaten down. The lidocaine patches we initially prescribed would be a much safer option, but I refused for her to pay $250, as she was on the brink of losing her job. When she returned to the office a week later, she held my hand and cried tears of joy because I found her affordable patches, which helped her pain without the systemic effects.

The joy that pierced through the weariness in her eyes immediately confirmed that direct patient care like this was what I was meant to do. As I passed her a tissue, I felt ecstatic that I could make such a difference, and I sought to do more.

Since graduation, I have been volunteering at Open Door, a small pantry that serves a primarily Hispanic community of lower socioeconomic families. It is gut-wrenching to explain that we cannot give them certain items when our stock is low. After all, the fresh fruits and vegetables I serve are fundamental to their culturally-inspired meals.

For the first time, I found myself serving anguish rather than a helping hand. Usually, uplifting moments strengthen one’s desire to become a physician, but in this case, it was my ability to handle the low points that reignited my passion for aiding others.

After running out of produce one day, I was confused as to why a woman thanked me. Through translation by a fellow volunteer, I learned it was because of my positivity. She taught me that the way I approach unfavorable situations affects another’s perception and that my spirited attitude breaks through language barriers.

This volunteer work served as a wake-up call to the unacceptable fact that U.S. citizens’ health suffers due to lack of access to healthy foods. If someone cannot afford healthy foods, they may not have access to healthcare. In the future, I want to partner with other food banks to offer free services like blood pressure readings. I have always wanted to help people, but I now have a particular interest in bringing help to people who cannot afford it.

While the foundation of medicine is scientific knowledge, the foundation of healthcare is the word “care” itself. I never found out what happened to Michelle and her Christmas tree, but I still wonder about her to this day, and she has strengthened my passion to serve others. A sense of excitement and comfort stems from knowing that I will be there for people on their worst days, since I have already seen the impact my support has had.

In my mind, becoming a physician is not a choice but a natural next step to continue bringing humanity and compassion to those around me.

How did this personal statement grab and sustain attention so well?

• Personalization: Everything about this statement helps you to understand the writer, from their personal experiences to their hope for how their future career will look.
• Showing, not telling: From the first sentence, the reader is hooked. This prospective medical student has plenty of great “on paper” experience (early shadowing, clinical experience, etc.), but they showed this with storytelling, not by repeating their CV.
• Empathy: An admissions committee reading this personal statement would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this student cares deeply about their patients. They remember first names, individual details, and the emotions that each patient made them feel.
• A clear path forward: The writer doesn’t just want to work in the medical field — they have a passion for exactly how they want to impact the communities they serve. Outside of strictly medical work, they care about the way finances can limit access to healthcare and the struggle to find healthy food in food deserts around the US .

Read Next: How Hard Is It to Get Into Medical School?

Example 3 — Beyond the Diagnosis: The Importance of Individualized Care in Medicine

The applicant who wrote this personal statement was accepted into Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Haywood sighs and shakes her head upon opening the chart. “I was worried about her A1C. It’s up again. Hypertension, too. Alright, let’s go.”

As we enter the patient’s room, I’m expecting the news about her blood sugar and pressure to fill the room. Instead, Dr. Haywood says, “Roseline! How are you doing? How’s your girl, doing well?”

Dr. Haywood continues to ask questions, genuinely interested in Roseline’s experience as a new mother. If not for the parchment-lined examination chair and anatomy posters plastered to the wall, this exchange could be happening in a grocery store. What about her A1C? Her blood pressure? Potential Type II diabetes?

As I continue to listen, Dr. Haywood discovers that Roseline’s mother moved in with her, cooking Haitian meals I recognize as high on the glycemic index. Dr. Haywood effortlessly evolves their conversation to focus on these. Being Haitian herself, she knows some traditional dishes are healthier than others and advises Roseline to avoid those that might exacerbate her high blood sugar and blood pressure. Dr. Haywood also suggests Roseline incorporate exercise by bringing her baby on a walk through her neighborhood.

During my shadowing experience, I observed one of the core components of being a physician through several encounters like this one. By establishing a relationship with her patient where Roseline was comfortable sharing the details of new motherhood, Dr. Haywood was able to individualize her approach to lowering the patient’s A1C and hypertension. Inspired by her ability to treat the whole person , I began to adopt a similar practice as a tutor for elementary kids in underserved areas of D.C.

Shaniyah did not like Zoom, or math for that matter. When I first met her as a prospective tutee online, she preferred to keep her microphone muted and would claim she was finished with her math homework after barely attempting the first problem. Realizing that basing our sessions solely on math would be fruitless, I adapted my tutoring style to incorporate some of the things for which she had a natural affinity.

The first step was acknowledging the difficulties a virtual environment posed to effective communication, particularly the ease at which distractions might take over. After sharing this with Shaniyah, she immediately disclosed her struggles to share her work with me. With this information, I found an online platform that allowed us to visualize each other’s work.

This obstacle in communication overcome, Shaniyah felt more comfortable sharing details about herself that I utilized as her tutor. Her love of soccer gave me the idea to use the concept of goal scoring to help with addition, and soon Shaniyah’s math skills and enthusiasm began to improve. As our relationship grew, so did her successes, and I suspect the feelings I experienced as her tutor are the same as a physician’s when their patient responds well to prescribed treatment.

I believe this skill, caring for someone as a whole person , that I have learned and practiced through shadowing and tutoring is the central tenet of medicine that allows a doctor to successfully treat their patients.

Inspired by talking with patients who had received life-altering organ transplants during my shadowing experience, I created a club called D.C. Donors for Georgetown University students to encourage their peers to register as organ donors or donate blood. This experience taught me that to truly serve a person, you must involve your whole person, too.

In starting this club to help those in need of transplants, I had to dedicate my time and effort beyond just my physical interactions with these patients. For instance, this involved reaching out to D.C.’s organ procurement organization to inquire about a potential partnership with my club, to which they agreed. In addition, I organized tabling events on campus, which required significant planning and communication with both club members and my university.

Though exciting, starting a club was also a difficult process, especially given the limitations the pandemic imposed on in-person meetings and events. To adapt, I had to plan more engaging meetings, designing virtual activities to make members more comfortable contributing their ideas. In addition, planning a blood drive required extensive communication with my university to ensure the safety of the staff and participants during the pandemic.

Ultimately, I believe these behind-the-scenes actions were instrumental in addressing the need for organ and blood donors in the D.C. area.

From these experiences, I have grown to believe that good medicine not only necessitates the physician cares for her patient as a whole, but also that she fully commits her whole person to the care of the patient. Tutoring and starting D.C. Donors not only allowed me to develop these skills but also to experience such fulfilling emotions: the pride I had in Shaniyah when her math improved, the gratefulness I felt when she confided in me, the steadfast commitment I expressed to transplant patients, and the joy I had in collaborating with other passionate club members.

I envision a career as a physician to demand these skills of me and more, and I have confirmed my desire to become one after feeling so enriched by practicing them.

Here’s what makes this personal statement such a good example of what works:

• Desirable qualities: The student clearly demonstrates qualities any school would want in an applicant: teachability, adaptability, leadership, organization, and empathy, to name a few. This again uses the “show, don’t tell” method, allowing the readers to understand the student without hand-holding.
• Personalized storytelling: Many in the healthcare profession will connect with experiences like the ones expressed here, such as addressing patient concerns relationally or the lack of blood donors during the recent pandemic. The writer automatically makes a personal link between themselves and the admissions committees reading this statement.
• Extensive (but not too long): Without feeling too wordy, this personal statement uses nearly all of the 5,300 characters allowed on the AMCAS application. There’s no fluff left in the final draft, only what matters.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

You can learn a lot from those personal statements. They avoid the most common mistakes that med school applicants make when writing the medical school personal statement.

Here are some things you should avoid in your personal statement if you want to be a doctor:

• Name-dropping: Admissions counselors won’t be impressed when you brag about your highly regarded family members, associates, or mentors. You need to stand on your own feet — not someone else’s.
• Dishonesty: Lies and exaggerations can torpedo your application. And they’re bad habits for anyone entering the medical field. Don’t do it.
• Unedited AI content: Artificial intelligence can help you edit and improve your writing, but don’t let it do the work for you. Your statement needs to be authentic, which means in your voice! A chatbot can’t feel or adequately convey your own empathy, compassion, trauma, drive, or personality.
• Grammatical errors and typos: Have someone reliable proofread your essay and scour it for typos, misspellings, and punctuation errors. Even free grammar-checking apps can catch mistakes!
• Telling without showing: I’ll reiterate how important it is to prove your self-descriptive statements with real-life examples. Telling without showing won’t persuade readers.
• Too many examples: Have 3-4 solid personal stories at most; only include a few that are crucial for providing your points. The more experiences you share, the less impact they’ll make.
• Fluff and filler: Cut all fluff, filler words, and irrelevant points. There are many other places you can include information in your application, such as secondary essays on your clinical experience, volunteer work, and research projects . 

You can find more valuable do’s and don’ts in our in-depth guide to writing your best personal statement .

Need extra help? We’ve got you covered.

Schedule a meeting with medschoolcoach for expert support on writing and editing your personal statement. we’re here to help you impress medical school admissions committees .

Renee Marinelli, MD

Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.

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Reapplying to medical school: the ultimate guide.

Learn how Lauren, a 2nd-time medical school reapplicant, got accepted into medical school after working with us in the video below! 

Anyone who has ever considered applying to medical school can recognize that it is a complicated, long, and unbelievably competitive process. 

To be successful, you must have excellent academics, extensive volunteer hours, experience in patient care, and enriching letters of recommendation. Yet, even the most successful premedical students are rejected from medical schools to which they applied.

It can be challenging to look at such a lengthy application and determine what went wrong. But this guide will help you identify your application’s weaknesses, understand what you can do to strengthen them, and explain how to reapply to medical school. 

Reapplying to medical school isn’t easy. However, this article will help you implement the necessary changes to ensure you submit a stellar application.

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

Why Reapplying to Medical School Isn’t Bad

You may feel embarrassed or upset for not getting accepted to medical school after your first application. What you may not know is that this is normal , common , and OK. Sometimes, even the greatest candidates get rejected because there simply isn’t room in the next incoming class.

Many students have applied more than once to medical school before they were accepted. After all, many prestigious medical schools have low acceptance rates. For example, Stanford University ’s acceptance rate is only 2.3 percent. Low acceptance rates are a common occurrence at many of the top medical schools in the US .  

There is nothing wrong with reapplying to medical school after being rejected. If anything, it shows your dedication to medicine and your perseverance by continuing to work toward your passion. Admissions officers will recognize this. 

Before you stress about reapplying to medical school, there are several things you can do to strengthen your application. 

When Should You Reapply?

Although you are probably anxious to reapply to medical school as soon as possible, the best route to take begins with slowing down. Take time to assess and reflect upon your application. 

There may be obvious things you are missing in your application, like spots you can develop further. Alternatively, there may be places you can better show off your skills and knowledge in medicine. Whatever you do, take all the time necessary to seriously examine your application and reflect upon where you can improve. 

Remember — there must be a significant change in your application when reapplying to medical school; if your application looks virtually the same year over year, how will it change an admissions officer’s mind? 

Take the time you need to reevaluate, make changes, and do everything you can to strengthen your application. 

Assessing Your Previous Application

The first step in assessing your previous application is successfully identifying what didn’t work. 

For example, find out at which point in the admissions cycle you were declined. If you were denied before submitting a secondary application, your primary application was lacking something. Similarly, if you made it to the medical school application’s interview portion, your interview skills were likely lacking.

Once you can narrow down which aspects of your application hindered you from being accepted to medical school, you can focus on tackling each issue one by one. If you are unsure of your application’s weak points, you can always ask a teacher, peer, or family member for assistance. 

One great tip from John D. Schriner, Associate for Admissions and Student Affairs at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine , is to solicit feedback from the medical school to which you applied. Reach out and ask what prevented you from being accepted in the previous application cycle. 

Though not all schools are receptive, it does not hurt to try. Plus, if you receive that feedback, you will know which areas to target, amend, and improve. It is the perfect opportunity to act on the advice you receive and show the admissions officers that you can absorb feedback and excel because of it. 

Schriner also notes that there is no shame in addressing that you were rejected in your reapplication. Show the admissions officers that you’ve taken the time to reevaluate your application and your experiences, although you were denied. This way, you’ll demonstrate you’re a worthy and passionate medical school candidate. 

Don’t let a rejection stop you from pursuing your career in medicine.  

Planning How to Reapply to Medical School: Step-by-Step

Preparations

The first step in planning to reapply to medical school begins with taking a long, hard look at your application. This is to find any areas that need improvement, expansion, or removal. Though this may be a tedious process, it is imperative. 

Some things on your application may have deterred admissions officers from accepting you into their program. By identifying what is wrong with your application, you are one step closer to improving your med school application. 

Areas of Focus

When reevaluating your application, focus on one section at a time. This way, you can set your focus on one specific aspect of your application and thoroughly evaluate it. 

For example, don’t evaluate your personal statement and essays until you have gone through your extracurricular activities and deemed what was and was not representative of your experiences. 

Then, dig deeper. Can you identify any weaknesses in this section? Is there anything you can add to help admissions officers better understand what you are trying to show them? Is there a more efficient example you can use or a stronger description you can implement? 

According to the American Association of Medical Colleges , several key components go into a medical school application: 

• Primary application
• Background information
• Coursework & official transcript(s)
• Work and activities
• Letters of evaluation
• Personal statements & essays
• Secondary application
• Social media/internet search
• Financial information
• Criminal history search

GPA and MCAT Scores 

Your GPA and MCAT scores should reflect each other. To be a strong med school applicant, you must show that you have performed successfully in both areas. If either of these areas hindered your initial application, take the steps necessary to amend them. 

For example, your grades and GPA may have been an issue in your initial application. In that case, consider taking another course to improve your GPA for the next application cycle. 

If your MCAT score was low, utilize this time period before the next application cycle to reevaluate how, when, and where you study. Consider taking a preparatory course and retaking the MCAT exam. 

You will have the time to retake courses or exams before applying to medical school again, and this is an extremely productive use of your time. Additionally, retaking courses or exams exhibits your dedication to medicine and becoming a doctor despite your obstacles.

Letters of Recommendation: What Should Change?

Your letters of recommendation should not be a simple statement of your academic achievements. When looking to faculty or advisors to be letter writers, you are looking for someone who will advocate for you. Therefore, you need to ask someone who knows you well and is willing to justify why you deserve to be a medical student. 

Your letter writers should be advisors or faculty with whom you have a strong, professional relationship. They should also be ready and willing to speak to your character, drive, and passion for medicine. 

If your letters of recommendation were a problem area in your initial medical school applications, consider sending the American Association of Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Evaluation to your letter writers. This helps your letter writers know what admissions officers are looking for in a strong applicant.

Update Your Work Experience to Strengthen Your Application

Maybe the area of your application that needs work is your work experience. Most, if not all, medical schools heavily emphasize the importance of experience in patient care. This is an essential aspect of your duty as a doctor in the future. 

 If work experience was a problem area of your application, there is nothing wrong with waiting to reapply to medical school. Because you will have at least a year before the next application cycle, this is the perfect time to expand upon your experience. 

Some experiences you can pursue include getting a part-time job, volunteering , or shadowing a doctor. Reference this comprehensive list of extracurriculars for any medical school application when adjusting your own. 

Taking this step will not only cause admissions officers to notice this update in your application, but it will also help prepare you to become a doctor. 

Medical School Reapplicant Personal Statement: What Should Change?

When it comes to personal statements in a medical school application, it isn’t about having the most detail or the longest essay. What matters is that the content represents you, your character, and why you want to be a doctor. It is as simple as that. 

Your statement is where you can give admissions officers an insight as to who you really are. In it, you can advocate for yourself and show them why you are meant to be a doctor. Anything that deflects from this distracts admissions officers from why you believe you deserve to be a student at their medical school. 

The first step to writing your medical school reapplicant personal statement is reflection and self-assessment . 

Ask yourself: What aspects of your first statement were weak? Have you asked your pre-health advisor to review your application? Did you ask the schools that declined you for feedback? Do you understand what medical schools look for in applicants?

Once you have reflected and highlighted areas of growth, take the time to address them. Remember — medical schools are interested in how you have matured and used your time since the last application cycle. If you can show that you have dedicated yourself to improving your application, this will increase your chances of admission. 

While it’s important to demonstrate growth, you should also continue to illustrate your continued commitment to medicine. Perhaps you’ve shadowed a doctor or conducted clinical research since the last application cycle. In that case, highlight your experiences in your revised statement. 

If you have struggled with writing a successful personal statement, consider researching what personal statements and essay topics and questions have proven successful for past applicants. This can provide inspiration, insight, and a baseline for you to refer to when rewriting your personal statements.

Of course, grammar, cohesiveness, and clear descriptions are still essential in your statement. Any discrepancy in these areas is a surefire way to distract admissions officers from the critical points of your statement.

Have a trusted faculty member, advisor, or family member read through your statement. A fresh set of eyes is always a good way to look for mistakes you may have missed. Alternatively, Inspira Advantage offers free consultations with admissions experts to increase your chances of being accepted to medical school.

Redrafting your personal statement isn’t easy, especially as it will need large-scale revision. But looking at medical school reapplicant personal statement examples can be useful to see what worked for other applicants. 

Medical School Reapplicant Personal Statement Examples

Let’s take a look at an example personal statement that impressed the University of Minnesota’s Medical School admissions officers. 

Admissions officers note that this statement contains several key elements that make it great: 

• A clear motivation to pursue medicine 
• An understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of being a physician 
• Impactful interactions with patients 
• Reflecting on difficult experiences and the challenges of a medical career
• Dedication to pursuing medicine (evidenced by the applicant’s willingness to give up their spot on the rowing team)  

If you can include several of the points listed above, you’ll write a stellar personal statement. 

Interviews 

It is no secret that interviews can be an extremely nerve-wracking experience for most people. The best thing you can do to prepare for a med school interview is practice, practice, practice. 

‍ ‍ Where Are You Going to Apply?

So, you have successfully reassessed and implemented meaningful changes into your medical school applications. In that case, create a draft of a list of medical schools to which you plan to apply. 

Ask yourself: Are you applying to all the same medical schools you applied to previously? Are you applying to fewer? Are you applying to more? Are you applying to entirely different medical schools? 

Answering these questions will help you know what sort of guidelines you are following in each application. Once you are sure of which schools you are applying to, you can adjust your application accordingly. ‍ ‍ ‍

How to Go About the Reapplication Process

When you have finalized your applications, set up an appointment with your premedical advisor or admissions consultant to review them. A fresh set of eyes can spot any discrepancies you may have missed. 

To ensure you have done everything you can to fix your application, take the time to review the AAMC’s Tools for Medical School Applicants . Create a checklist when reviewing these tools and check them off as you go to ensure you didn’t miss anything. It just may be your saving grace!

FAQs: Reapplying to Medical School

Being a medical school reapplicant isn’t ideal. But we’ve provided several questions and answers to help make this process as painless as possible.

1. Is it bad to be a reapplicant for med school? 

Not at all. Reapplying shows your perseverance and dedication to medicine. 

Most candidates who apply to the top medical schools are rejected, so there is no shame in reapplying. 

2. Can I reapply to medical school after withdrawal?

Yes. But your chances of readmission depend on your reasons for withdrawal, as medical schools may not guarantee you readmission if you withdraw from their program. 

If you withdrew due to a severe illness or a family death and you excelled while in med school, you should be fine to reapply. However, if you struggled with the program, it will be difficult to gain admission as a reapplicant to that medical school.

3. Can I reapply to med school with the same application? 

No, you’ll need to submit a new application. 

Submitting a new application provides an excellent opportunity to address the weaknesses of your first application. Take the time to highlight these areas and improve them. 

4. Can I reapply to the same medical schools?

Yes! If you can illustrate that you have meaningfully improved your application, you will likely be a competitive reapplicant to medical school. 

Of course, you should be realistic about your odds of gaining readmissions to an extremely competitive school if your application remains largely unchanged.  

5. Can you reapply to medical school with the same letters of recommendation?

Yes. But AMCAS doesn’t hold them on file, so you’ll have to resubmit your rec letters with your new application. 

However, take the time to assess whether you want to submit new letters of recommendation. For example, if you’ve undertaken new volunteering, clinical , or research experiences , you may want a letter from your recent supervisor or professor.  

6. When should I reapply to medical school?

It varies between applicants, but you should only reapply to med school when you are ready. 

If you need to accrue more volunteering and clinical hours, take the time to complete them. Sure, you may have to skip an application cycle. But if you reapply the year after with an even stronger application, your chances of admission may be higher. 

7. Is it worth it to reapply to medical school?

Whether it is worth reapplying to medical school depends on you. 

If you’re passionate about medicine, helping people, and serving the community, medicine might just be the career for you. Otherwise, think hard about what you want to do in life.

Final Thoughts: Reapplying to Medical School

Applying to medical school is a huge decision and requires a lot of hard work. On top of that, it is an extremely competitive field. Acceptance rates are low, expectations are high, and every other applicant is your competitor for a spot. 

It is perfectly normal not to be accepted into medical school on your first try! This isn’t something that just happens to “bad” candidates or people who don’t want it enough. It happens to great, passionate premedical students everywhere. If you don’t give up and make every effort to show admissions officers that you are passionate about medicine, they will see that. 

Whether you work on submitting stronger personal essays, gaining more work experience in patient care, or retaking your MCAT exam, admissions officers will see and notice this effort. It speaks to your character and your drive to become a great doctor, which encourages admissions officers to give you the chance to be just that.

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Reapplying to Med School: Your Primary Application

The previous posts have focused on identifying problem areas in your application and offering ideas to help you address them. You might be feeling a bit fragile after such a critical review – if so, then you’re doing it right. This exercise demands that you be ruthless and identify every potential flaw. Your ego might not like it, but you’ll be happy when you have a clear roadmap to highlight your strengths and address your weaknesses.

Before beginning the next part of your assessment – and deciding whether you’re ready to reapply – it’s time to take a reality check and ask yourself:

• Did I have a competitive GPA when I first applied? If not, how have I improved it?
• Did I have a competitive MCAT score when I first applied? If not, have I retaken it and improved my score?
• Did I demonstrate my commitment to service through both clinical and non-clinical experiences on my last application? If so, has my commitment continued/expanded? If not, have I taken concrete steps to address my deficiencies?
• Did I demonstrate other qualities that are important in medicine, including scientific curiosity, leadership and teamwork skills , problem solving, etc. through my experiences? If so, has my growth continued through these same or new activities? And if not, have I pursued ways to enhance my experiences?
• Have I done my due diligence, through both shadowing healthcare professionals and personal reflection, to know that medicine is still the right career?

If you cannot answer each of these questions with a resounding “YES,” you might need to hit the brakes. Far too many reapplicants submit a similar application in the next cycle. A few get lucky, but most do not. The applicant pool doesn’t get easier from year to year; in fact, the reverse is usually true: mean GPAs tend to rise, MCAT scores go up, and more people apply almost every year. If your application was unsuccessful last year, do you really think the same one will work this time?

Nobody wants to hear that their dream of medical school needs to be put off for another year. Applicants may worry that they will “age-out” of contention, or that their MCAT scores will expire, or that other parts of their life will not permit them to study in the future. Each of these concerns is reasonable and must be a part of your own decision calculus. Nonetheless, addressing the problem areas in your application is something you can’t do overnight. Time and effort are essential if you hope to show the substantial improvement expected of reapplicants.

But let’s assume that your answers were all “yes,” that you have worked hard to substantially improve your application, and that you’ve had time to see your hard work pay off. Congratulations! You’re ready to reapply!

Now, the question becomes how you can best present yourself to the admissions committees. These last two posts in our series will look at how the admissions committee saw you, based on your interactions. Unlike the rest of your application, your written materials – your primary and secondary application, interviews and additional communications – are entirely in your hands. Did you use them to your best advantage?

The primary application 

Whether you’re a first-rate candidate or a borderline student, your primary application is how you make your first and best impression on an admissions committee. It’s here that you share what matters to you and why, how you’ve put your interests and values into action, and what unique attributes distinguish you from all the other applicants. And along the way, you want them to understand why you want to become a doctor. 

Chances are, you poured your hopes and dreams into your essays the first time around. But just as you’ve assessed the other elements of your profile, it’s important to ask whether, in your honest opinion, you’ve presented the strongest possible personal statement . While re-reading your previous essay, ask yourself:

• Does my application reflect who I am today, with the new experiences that I’ve amassed since my last application? Do my new experiences better reflect the qualities that medical schools are looking for: commitment, compassion, leadership , curiosity, critical thinking, maturity, etc.? 
• Was my personal statement enjoyable and interesting to read? Did I start with a strong lead paragraph that inspired the reader to continue? Did I tell a compelling story and support my claims with evidence, rather than just listing what I’d done? 
• Did my personal statement and activities focus on me rather than my projects, patients, or mentors? If I was reading this material about another person, would that individual come across as someone I might want as my physician?
• Were my activities varied to reflect the breadth of my passion, intellectual pursuits, and integrity? Were my meaningful experiences personal and authentic, and was their impact clear?
• Did I have anyone else review my application for content and style before submission? Was my writing free of typos or grammatical errors?
• If the admissions committee decided to review my new application alongside my previous one – which is very easy to do – would it convince them that I have substantially improved my profile for medical school? Am I showing growth since my last application?

This last question is worth unpacking. Time and again, reapplicants ask me if they need to rewrite their personal statements. Keep in mind that you are considered a reapplicant at any program selected on a previous primary application, regardless of whether or not you completed their secondary. Those schools have access to your prior application, and while it’s unlikely that they will return to it, it is always a possibility. Submitting the same personal statement and experiences suggests the applicant could be apathetic, unwilling to change, and/or unlikely to put in the hard work that medical school demands. Is this the impression that you want to present?

Letters of recommendation

Although not technically how you represent yourself, recommendation letters are another extremely important part of the application process and your challenge is to find faculty members who can write a compelling letter.

Here are some more questions to consider (and again, you want to be able to answer “yes” to each of these):

• Did you select recommenders who know you well, whether in the classroom or beyond? Did they present different areas of your life to reflect your diverse pursuits and qualities?
• Did you supply them with your CV or a list of activities so they have a better idea of your pursuits? Did you advise them of any areas that you specifically wanted them to address to balance the rest of your application?
• Did you provide each recommender with clear instructions about submitting them to the appropriate letter services?

Finally, your review should include an honest assessment of your timing in the prior application season. Although some extremely competitive applicants do manage to secure acceptances late in the season, many more are put on “hold,” wait-listed, or just rejected. Conversely, those who begin the process early tend to have much better results. Some questions to ask yourself include:

• Did you register with the AAMC and/or the AACOM when it first opened? Did you submit your application as early as possible?
• Did you line up your recommenders early? Did you follow up to make sure they sent their recommendations in a timely manner?
• Did you follow the verification process to ensure there were no issues delaying your application? Was your application verified and released to medical schools early in the season?
• Did you take the MCAT early? Were your scores available when you submitted ? Did you have your MCAT scores to guide your school selection?
• Did you return your secondary essays in a timely manner (within two weeks)?
• After an interview, did you promptly send thank you notes expressing your interest?

Answering “no” to any of these questions could signal a serious problem. If you don’t have your MCAT score for your school choices, you might apply where you aren’t competitive. If your recommenders are late getting in their letters, the admissions committee might put your entire application on hold. If you apply later in the season, you face a larger applicant pool competing for fewer interview slots and, in many cases, fewer seats in medical school.

Applying late might not be your only concern, but chances of admission decline as the season goes on. Give yourself the best shot at admission by applying as early as possible, with the strongest application possible.

This exercise demands that you be ruthless and identify every potential flaw. Your ego might not like it, but you will be grateful when you have a clear roadmap to address your weaknesses.

“Reapplying to Medical Schools: Your Primary Application” is the fifth post in our series: Medical School Reapplicant Advice: 6 Tips for Success .

Our next post looks at the rest of the hurdles in the admissions process, and how well you cleared them.

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• Ace the AMCAS Essay , a free guide
• The Best Medical School Letter of Recommendation Advice for 2022

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Reapplying to Medical School: What to Change?

Benjamin Mittman

Are you reapplying to medical school after an unsuccessful cycle and are looking for advice? We are here to help! Although it may feel disappointing and stressful to go through a long cycle all over again, keep in mind that you are in the majority. Each year less than half of medical school applicants are accepted. According to the AAMC , reapplicants constitute a significant proportion of the total applicant pool each year. This means that you are not at a major disadvantage as a reapplicant. In fact, by repackaging your application you are showing medical schools your perseverance and growth. Here we will discuss how best to repackage your application to maximize your chances of success during a reapplication cycle, focusing on aspects of your application to change and how to do so.

Reapplying to Medical School at the Right Time

This first piece of advice, while not about the content of your application, is perhaps the most important. The application cycle proceeds on a rolling basis. Therefore applying at the right time will ensure that you put your best foot forward and receive a thorough application review by admissions committees before they become inundated with thousands of applications. Timing must be balanced between allowing enough time to revise your application and make it as strong as possible and applying early enough that you are competing for a large number of spots with a relatively smaller applicant pool.

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The best timing will vary slightly for everyone, but a few general rules apply broadly. First, aim to submit your primary application as soon as possible after it opens, but without sacrificing quality. In 2024, the AMCAS will open on May 2nd, and submission will begin on May 30th . One month should be plenty of time to complete the AMCAS, especially if you’ve started early. Begin writing your personal statement and organizing your activities section early in the year. If you need more time, it’s okay to submit in June. But you should wait no more than a couple of weeks and should certainly submit before July.

Secondary applications should have a turnaround time of two weeks. Rather than cramming dozens of essays in a short span, use two strategies to minimize your turnaround without sacrificing quality. First, pre-write your essays based on prompts from prior years which are widely available online. Second, evaluate your school list and make sure you are applying to a reasonable number of schools. Trying to write 50 secondary applications in the span of a month is a recipe for disaster.

Revisit Your School List

Speaking of your school list , our next tip is to think carefully about which schools you will apply to before you begin the new cycle. As noted above, applying to too many schools often handicaps students by overwhelming the secondary application phase. When it comes to essays, remember quality over quantity. That being said, given the competitive nature of med school applications, a certain amount is needed to improve your chances of getting at least one acceptance.

A good rule of thumb is that 10-12 schools are a good minimum and 16-20 is the sweet spot. Climbing above 25-30 risks overwhelming your time and writing abilities. Also, you can do yourself a huge favor by ridding yourself of the concept of “safety” and “reach” schools. Although these apply to college applications, medical school applications are uniformly competitive, drawing the best students nationwide. Therefore, it is a better idea to focus on your fit with individual programs which involves a holistic review of more than just stats. You should aim to find the schools that most closely align with your curricular, research, personal, and other goals.

Identify Weak Spots

Before you attempt to revise your primary application, it is crucial that you assess it honestly and critically. Ideally, this process should be done with the help of your pre-health advisor or a trusted mentor. You may feel that you were unsuccessful due to bad luck or poor timing, but all applicants (even those who are successful) will have weaker areas of their application that could benefit from thoughtful revision.

Perhaps you had a lower GPA or MCAT score. Although not easy fixes by any means, these are straightforward to address. If warranted, re-taking the MCAT or enrolling in postbaccalaureate courses are excellent ways of boosting your stats. If, on the other hand, you are lacking clinical or research hours , you may need to seek out additional volunteer or work experiences. Admissions committees value efforts to complete and balance your application, even if research isn’t your primary focus.

When Reapplying to Medical School, Be Sure to Craft a Compelling Story

As a reapplicant, you are tasked with telling a story about why are applying to medical school again and what motivates you to persevere. Schools encounter thousands of reapplicants each year, so they are looking for narratives that stand out among the crowd. Explaining what and how you improved in your application is a big part of this story, but meaningful reflection is also essential and vastly underappreciated. Why are you a better applicant this time? What did you discover about yourself during the unsuccessful cycle? How did you determine what needed to be improved? How did you enact these changes, and what challenges did you face along the way? What lessons did you learn from failure and/or growth that can be applied to medical school and clinical practice?

Redo Your Personal Statement When Reapplying to Medical School

Your personal statement is the primary means by which you communicate your story in narrative form. It is also a crucial element that requires significant change for reapplicants to succeed. The overarching theme and messages of your personal statement can remain the same, especially if you aim to show consistency of character, but improvement in qualifications. However, you should use different anecdotes and examples and modify the overall structure as needed. Additionally, scrutinize for distracting typos, grammatical errors, or stylistic issues in the essay. Attention to detail is a highly valued skill in medicine. Be sure to demonstrate this skill in all of your essays, especially your personal statement.

Reevaluate your Recommendation Letters

Evaluating your recommendation letters is a tricky step because their content is hidden from applicants. What we really mean is to think about how well each of your letter writers knew you. A longer and more meaningful connection will yield a better and less generic letter. As a reapplicant, success hinges on showcasing your excellence and unique contributions to create a diverse class. It is best to keep the letters that you believe are the strongest, and either remove or replace those that are likely the weakest

Furthermore, if you have had a significant new experience since your previous application cycle, you should include a letter from your new mentor or supervisor if possible. Admissions committees will want to hear directly from whoever oversaw your recent year(s) of additional experiences, which hopefully involved both personal and academic/professional growth.

Update Work and Activities Section

The final revision, the work and activities section, should be straightforward.  Basically, leave all minor entries the same (except for grammatical/stylistic improvements) and add anything relevant that you have done recently or originally excluded. Regarding your most meaningful experiences, most will find it best to only change one of them by replacing the least important or interesting one with the main new activity you undertook since your last cycle. The consistency of your application will be apparent to readers if you add a new “most meaningful experience” entry and recommendation letter that correspond with one another.

As you approach a new cycle, remember to be proud of yourself for your perseverance and commitment to medicine. If you acknowledge your prior mistakes or shortcomings and honestly explain how you’ve addressed them, you will win a lot of points in the eyes of admissions committees who are looking for just such qualities in future physicians. But, do put your best foot forward and emphasize your improvements above all else. In addition to developing a superior application, the best thing you can do to make your next cycle a success is to maintain confidence, optimism, and patience. Good luck!

For more help with your application, essay writing and editing, or retaking the MCAT, consider enlisting the help of an Elite Medical Prep tutor! Schedule your complimentary consultation today to learn more about how we can help you succeed!

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Reapplying: How much should I change my personal statement?

I have read that you should certainly update your personal statement if you are reapplying to reflect any progress you have made or changes in your life since you last applied. I definitely want to do this, and am actively reading (and re-reading) my personal statement to highlight what I have done in the last year, but I feel like my personal statement is heavily focused on WHY I want to become a physician and what motivated me towards this career, which has not changed.

Reapplicants: what changes are you making to your personal statement?

EDIT: if anyone is interested in looking over my statement, I would be very grateful!

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Revise a Personal Statement for Your Medical School Reapplication

Getting into medical school for dummies.

Sign up for the Dummies Beta Program to try Dummies' newest way to learn.

If you reapply to medical school, be sure to revise your personal statement. Do not reuse your previous personal statement; as a reapplicant to medical school, you really need to differentiate your current application from the previous one as much as you can. Some medical schools keep previous applications on file and compare the old and current applications.

When revising a personal statement, you don’t have to do away with all the material from your original version. For example, if your previous statement discusses an early experience you had within the medical field that inspired you to pursue the profession, you can still mention that activity in your new version.

However, you should also do a significant amount of fresh writing and emphasize your achievements and growth since the last time you applied, discussing how they’ve further motivated or prepared you for a medical career.

Because the opening and closing of a piece of writing make the greatest impact on a reader, revamping those sections for your new personal statement is especially important. A statement that starts exactly the same as last year’s essay sets the expectation that you won’t be offering much new material this time around.

Some applicants choose to directly address the fact that they’re reapplicants, discussing what they learned from the experience of applying previously and reflecting on how they’ve worked to improve their applications since they last applied. Others highlight new activities and discuss why they’re stronger candidates for medical school than ever before without addressing outright that they’re reapplying.

Both approaches are acceptable; however, if you decide to talk about a past attempt, don’t make it a major focus of the essay. The limited space you’re allowed for the personal statement is better used to discuss your strengths and motivation for medicine than to dwell on a previous rejection.

Even if you don’t mention that you’re a reapplicant, the schools that you’ve applied to before will likely still have your old application on file and be aware that you’re reapplying.

About This Article

This article is from the book:.

• Getting into Medical School For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Carleen Eaton , MD, has used her expertise in admissions and test preparation, as well as her experiences as an applicant who received acceptances to top-ranked medical schools, to guide hundreds of applicants successfully through the medical school admissions process. She is the founder of prehealthadvising.com, a medical school admissions consulting firm.

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Reapplying to Medical School? Here’s What To Do (2024-2025)

There are many things you can do to improve your chance of success.

Discover how to improve your medical school candidacy when you reapply!

Every year we talk to medical school applicants who feel confused and in the dark about why they have been rejected from medical school. They do not understand what went wrong or what needs to done differently when they reapply. If you are in this boat, you are not alone! Approximately  60% of medical school applicants are rejected every year .

Whether you are a premedical student trying to make sure to “do everything right” or a medical school applicant who has not yet been accepted to medical school, it may help to learn what applicants who are not accepted to medical school often have in common. Many of these problems are easy to avoid while others take a little more time and effort to remedy.

Some questions we will answer here:

• Can I use the same  medical school personal statement ?
• Where should I apply to medical school ?
• Do I need new  medical school letters of recommendation ?
• Do I need to improve my  GPA ?
• What about  retaking the MCAT ?

The good news is that we have worked with many successful medical school reapplicants. In fact, this is a topic I have been writing about since  2012 .

Let’s explore what you can do to decrease your stress and improve your chances of getting accepted to medical school the next application cycle!

Why Medical School Applicants are Rejected

First I want to present the facts to make you feel better! Many first time applicants to medical school are not accepted. Getting rejected doesn’t mean your chances of practicing medicine are nil. According the  Association of American Medical College , in 2023-2024, there were a total of 52,577 applicants. Approximately 75% of these were first time applicants and approximately 25% were repeat applicants (the AAMC does not indicate how many times an applicant has reapplied, however.)

Unfortunately, the AAMC does not publish what percentage of reapplicants are accepted to medical school. Anecdotally I can tell you that our reapplicants do very well if they are able to “fix” what they did wrong on an initial application. Assuming you have a competitive  GPA and MCAT  as well as great extracurriculars, there is no disadvantage to be a reapplicant.

In many cases, the reasons for rejection are fairly easy to identify. Therefore, remain calm and logically evaluating what went wrong, or what could be done better, will improve the odds of acceptance and future success.

Related Article:   State Medical School Information

There are six main problems that may result in a medical school rejection:.

• You submitted a narrow school list because you were not sure  where to apply to medical school.
• You lacked experience in research, clinical exposure or community service/advocacy work.
• You submitted a  medical school personal statement  or  work and activities  entries that didn’t tell your story effectively.
• You applied with a low GPA or  MCAT .
• You submitted a late  AMCAS  application.
• Your  medical school interview  didn’t go well.

Next we will discuss each of these common errors.

 Let the former medical school admissions officer experts at MedEdits help you with your medical school application materials. We’ve worked with more than 5,000 students and 94% have been admitted to medical school.

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Table of Contents

1) Applying to a Narrow Range of Medical Schools

Everyone has told you that you are a great applicant and you should have no concerns. Premed advisors, friends, and family may advise you to reach high and that you don’t need to apply to more than 20 medical schools. We advise most students to be wary of this advice.

While we always encourage medical school applicants to “aim high” and to have dream schools in mind, being realistic is also important. The competition for medical school admissions is fierce; fewer than half of more than 50,000 applicants matriculate every year. Unless you have outstanding grades, MCAT scores, letters of reference, experiences, written application materials, and a great interview experience, it is extremely important to cast a wide net and to apply broadly to a large range of medical schools. Consider reading my popular article:  Easiest Medical Schools to get into .

Sometimes applicants (or their advisors) overestimate their competitiveness and apply to mostly top-tier medical schools. These applicants are then surprised when they are not accepted to any of them. The bottom line is that, even if you are a top-notch applicant, you must consider applying to medical schools that are not ultra-selective.

You should consider  where to apply to medical school  based on your GPA and MCAT, state residency, and other factors that might impact your candidacy. It is okay if you apply to the same medical schools you applied to previously, but, you will to add medical schools to that list and possibly subtract some if you did not apply within your reach.

2) Lacking Clinical, Research, or Community Service Experience

You are applying to medical school, right? Then you must be able to demonstrate to the admissions committee that your experience fits this career decision. Many medical school applicants are interested in science and, while research is important, it cannot substitute for clinical exposure.

Some medical school applicants submit applications with an impressive list of accomplishments and experiences but don’t demonstrate any clinical exposure, which comes in many forms: You can shadow your own family physician, volunteer in a free clinic or a hospital, or participate in a formal premedical program that includes time spent with physicians. It is very tough to convince an admissions committee via your written documents or during interviews that you want to pursue a career in medicine if you have never spent time in a clinical arena. 

Contrary to popular belief, however, you do not need paid clinical experience to be accepted to medical school. Many of our students who are accepted to top medical schools, so not have paid clinical experience.

Something that is a requirement in 2025, is working with different populations, understanding healthcare inequities, and being an advocate for those who don’t have resources.

As you can see from the past experiences of applicants accepted to  Harvard Medical School ,  Columbia Medical School , and  UT Southwestern Medical School  to name a few, clinical exposure, research, and community service should be considered unofficial  medical school requirements !

While it is okay to send the same letters of reference from a previous admissions cycle, you should also add on to that letter profile, if possible, to showcase what you have achieved since your first application cycle. These additional letters can be written by professors, principal investigators, or other supervisors.

Related Article:   Successful Med School Personal Statement Examples

3) submitting a poor medical school personal statement or work and activities entries.

Regardless of your candidacy’s strengths, composing persuasive application materials is essential for success. Whether you are a competitive applicant seeking acceptance to the most prestigious medical schools in the country or a “borderline” applicant with lower than average grades, experiences, or MCAT® scores, your experience descriptions and personal statement must convince the people reviewing your application that you are worthy of an interview and an acceptance.

This is especially important during the first stage of the medical school admissions process when the admissions committee decides whether or not to extend an interview invitation. The committee bases this decision on the objective material you present such as your academic profile, but your written materials, including your application and letters of reference, is what determines the reviewer’s decision to extend an interview or not.

You don’t have control over the content of your LORs, but you do have complete control of what you write in your application materials. Written documents that clearly and articulately express the evolution of your interest in medicine with introspection and thought are more likely to motivate the admissions committee to click the “interview” box when deciding your fate.

Just this year we worked with one reapplicant who had exceptional experiences and strong grades and MCAT scores. Sadly, she worked with one of our competitors last year who misguided her with regards to what she should highlight in her written work. By simply telling her story in a more authentic and genuine fashion, she went from no interviews last season to four U.S. allopathic medical school acceptances by the new year.

Take home lesson – when you reapply to medical school you should write a new medical school personal statement that tells an interesting and compelling story to capture the admissions committee’s attention.

Related Article:   Best Medical Schools by State

4) having a lackluster academic profile.

You have done “okay” in college and on your  MCAT ®, but is your performance strong enough to gain admission to medical school? Many medical school admissions committees “screen” applications; if your grades or MCAT® don’t reach a certain threshold, you are automatically rejected and your application isn’t reviewed.

Other medical schools use a school-specific “formula” that takes into account your grades and MCAT® score and determines whether or not your application will be reviewed if you earn a minimum score. The general rule of thumb is that you must have an overall undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) of 3.5 with a strong performance in the sciences and a minimum MCAT® score of 510 to gain admission to medical school, but this rule has variations.

For example, if your UGPA is lower than a 3.5, your MCAT® is a 521 and you have outstanding LORs, documents, and interview skills (see below) you can still gain admission to medical school. It is interesting to view the  aggregate data from the AAMC  to see what percentage of applicants with certain GPAs and MCATs are accepted to medical school. You will see that 17% of applicants with MCATs of 517 or higher are not accepted to medical school.

Medical schools also take in to account the rigor of your academic course load, undergraduate institution competitiveness, outside pressures (such as financial difficulties), and upward grade trend when evaluating how you performed. Many students perform poorly as a freshman in college and as they adjust to college life their grades steadily increase as they improve their study and time management skills; admissions committees consider this.

If you are rejected by medical school and decide that your academic record needs to be enhanced, you have many options. If grades are the issue, consider taking upper division classes at a four year university after graduation.

Postgraduate special master’s programs specifically designed for students who need academic enhancement and want to attend medical school are also a good alternative; a searchable database of such programs is available from the  Association of American Medical Colleges .

Other possibilities are to pursue a master’s in public or global health or in a specific scientific discipline in which you are interested. These are all great options if you need to improve your academic profile. If your MCAT® is the concern, you must critically evaluate what you need to do to improve so you can target your studying.

5) Submitting a Late Application

Did you apply through multiple medical school application systems? When did you submit each application? Did you have a strategic  medical school application timeline ?

You are an outstanding applicant but submitted a late application. Though this problem is easy to “fix,” you should understand why it’s important to rectify it. Every year the  American Medical College Application Service ® (AMCAS®) starts accepting medical school applications in late May. Submitting your primary application as close to this opening date as possible is essential. Why? AMCAS® must review and verify your application, which can take up to six weeks (or more if there is a problem), and medical schools will review your application only after you are “verified” and they have received all supplemental application materials, such as letters of reference, Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT®) scores, and secondary applications and essays.

TMDSAS actually breaks down the interview data based on application submission date (AMCAS and AACOMAS do not offer this data). 38% of applicants who submit a  TMDSAS  application in June receive medical school interviews versus 7% of applicants who submit in August. 86% of interview slots were taken by applicants who submitted by July 31st!

By submitting an early application you will be considered within a smaller pool of applicants early in the season. In contrast, applicants who wait until deadlines to submit their application materials are typically considered within a much larger pool of applicants. In addition, because early applicants have been invited for some of a school’s finite number of interviews, those who apply late are competing with a large number of applicants for fewer interview slots.

Similarly, for medical schools with rolling admissions, interviewing late in the admissions season is less than ideal since in March or April, for example, most initial acceptance offers have been extended. This means that even if you are a competitive applicant, the medical school may not have any more interviews or acceptances to extend. This is why many great applicants who submit late applications, receive “hold”, ‘reject,” or “wait list” decisions rather than acceptances.

6) Demonstrating Poor Interview Skills

Once an applicant reaches the interview stage, the interview is the most important determinant of success. Typically, interviewees with great interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence are naturally better interviewees than applicants who are more introverted. Applicants who are very nervous, not articulate, or who aren’t comfortable speaking about themselves can under-perform during the interview.

Even though some US medical schools are adopting the multiple mini interview (MMI) format, most medical schools still conduct one-on-one interviews. Contrary to what most medical school applicants believe when they start this process, medical school interviews are typically relaxed dialogues; the interviewer is trying to get to know each applicant, assess if he or she has the qualities and characteristics the school is seeking in medical students, and if he is a good fit for the school.

While a certain degree of subjectivity influences every interview experience, applicants can perform well if they practice speaking about themselves before the interview and if they clearly express their motivations and experiences that influenced their decision to practice medicine.

Final Thoughts: What To Do Next

Every year MedEdits works with applicants who were rejected from medical school. We understand how devastating and disappointing this can be. However, we also know that these situations can be turned around with careful analysis about what the applicant did wrong or could improve with a reapplication. We work with many reapplicants who get in to great medical schools when they reapply so have hope!

Ready to analyze what you should do to improve your reapplication? Sign up for a  free consultation .

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Session 152

Applying to medical school is hard. Needing to reapply is even harder. Where do you start? What do you have to redo? That’s what our question is today.

All your questions answered here are taken from the Nontrad Premed Forum . Register for an account for free. Join a collaborative community of students and ask away!

If you haven’t yet, please check out our newest podcast, the MCAT CARS Podcast with Jack Westin . It’s a valuable resource, especially if you haven’t taken the MCAT yet. One of the biggest components of the MCAT is knowing what you’re reading and doing, as well as really thinking critically through it.

[01:44] OldPreMeds Question of the Week:

“I recently listened to an episode of the Q&A where Dr. Gray talked about needing to rewrite your personal statement when you reapply. I understand the logic behind it but it felt more applicable to the younger, traditional student. The driving point made was the student is expected to “grow” between the cycles. As far as my application is concerned, my stats are low and I see that as the primary hurdle to even being looked at. I am working on a DIY postbac and will retake the MCAT if needed. But otherwise, I’m having trouble seeing how to improve my application. I feel my personal statement is pretty good and very honest. Beyond numbers, I can’t see how to improve my chances for next year. I have one interview invite for this cycle. If I don’t get in this year, what should I do? I find hoop-jumping to be disingenuous and have done my best to approach this entire process with open eyes and honest effort. Not just tick box to make you like me.”

[02:44] What Do You Need to Change?

You laid our your heart out at this point, and how will that change from year to year if you need to reapply? But how do you know what it is in your application that is causing the schools to be turned off? Is it as easy as your stats being low? A lot of times, it is. But you don’t really know. And maybe they’ve read your personal statement and that your stats are low and your personal statement wasn’t good enough to overcome and make them want to invite you for an interview. Well, this obviously worked for one school where the student has one interview invite per school for this year. But what is it about the application that made one school decide to interview her vs. other schools? That’s the biggest problem when you need to reapply. So the best advice is to change as much as you can.

[Tweet “”The personal statement has one goal in mind, to tell, to show the admissions committee why you want to be a physician.” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-152-how-to-improve-your-med-school-application-as-a-reapplicant/”]

[04:55] An Honest Personal Statement?

The poster says she feels her personal statement is good and honest, but would you even lie in your personal statement? What are you being honest about in your personal statement? A lot of students will be honest about the troubles they have to overcome. But your personal statement is supposed to talk about why you want to be a physician, and not about the hurdles you’ve overcome along the way.

[Tweet “”There are so many variables in an application that you just don’t know what it is that caused the issue for not getting an interview invite.” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-152-how-to-improve-your-med-school-application-as-a-reapplicant/”]

[05:42] What Watered the Seed?

As you’re going through this process, you’re still getting clinical experience and you’re still shadowing. Hopefully, you’re still out there doing things and gaining more experience. When it comes to writing your personal statement and rewriting your extracurriculars, you had new stories to lean on, to show the interviewer the interactions that you’ve had with patients and physicians to highlight why you want to be a physician.

Your beginning story is the seed as to what made you want to look into medicine, to begin with. That’s not going to change. Your seed is your seed. You can’t change your seed. But you can change your watering story. What watered that seed that led you to be even more convinced that being a physician is right for you.

[Tweet “”What watered that seed that led you to be even more convinced that being a physician is right for you?” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-152-how-to-improve-your-med-school-application-as-a-reapplicant/”]

Hopefully, you’re journalling after each of your experiences (clinical experience, volunteering, etc.) so that you have new, different stories to lean on. So you can’t just look at your stats if that’s good enough because you don’t know. You don’t know what the admissions committees are looking at. You don’t know how they’re reviewing and judging it and critiquing your essays. So don’t try to convince yourself that they’re good. They may be great. But you don’t know.

[07:50] Final Words

Rework as much as you can with new stories based on new experiences that you’re getting through this time. Check out The Premed Years Session 171 , which is dedicated to reapplicants and one of the biggest mistakes students make when they reapply is reapplying too soon, and not being able to fix their application.

[Tweet “”Fix whatever it was that was wrong with the application which caused them to not get an interview or acceptance.” https://medicalschoolhq.net/opm-152-how-to-improve-your-med-school-application-as-a-reapplicant/”]

The number one thing that students aren’t able to get into medical school the first time they apply is lack of clinical experience. But for this poster, she already has one interview invite and it only takes one. But should she need to reapply, and you need to reapply, look at tweaking your essays, your extracurriculars, and really presenting new stories to highlight your journey to why you’re doing this.

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Surviving Medical School During a Pandemic: Experiences of New York Medical Students During the Height of SARS-CoV-2

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the landscape of medical education. While patients overwhelmed hospital systems, lockdowns and social distancing recommendations took priority, and medical education was pushed online. Early in 2020, New York State (NYS) was hit especially hard by COVID-19.

Objective This study sought to understand the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical students well-being and education.

Methods NYS medical students responded to a six-question survey during April and May 2020. Questions assessed self-reported changes in stress levels, academic performance, and board preparation efforts. Open-ended data was analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach.

Results 488 responses across 11 medical schools were included (response rate of 5.8%). Major themes included: standardized test-related stressors (23%), study-related changes (19%), education and training concerns (17%), financial stressors (12%), and additional family obligations (12%).

Second year students reported more stress/anxiety than students in other years (95.9%, p -value< 0.00001). Reported stress/anxiety, effects on exam preparation, and anticipated academic effect varied by geographics.

Conclusions While all NYS medical students reported being greatly affected, those closest to the NY City pandemic epi-center and closest to taking the Step 1 exam were the most distressed. Lack of flexibility of the medical education system during this public health emergency contributed to worsened student well-being. It is time to make plans for supporting the long-term mental health needs of these physicians-in-training and to examine ways the academic medical community can better adapt to the needs of students affected by a large public health emergency in the future.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Statements and Declarations:

Funding: No funding was received for conducting this study.

Competing Interests: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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'We are the people that we serve': Former Austin abortion clinic a lifeline for Black moms

It’s been months since Nakeenya Wilson signed the lease, but several times a week confused people still show up at her door. 

The building Wilson rents previously housed one of the largest abortion providers in Texas. Two years after the Supreme Court eliminated the long-standing national right to abortion, she still has to explain that the clinic is gone and abortion care is no longer offered at the building tucked away off a busy highway in Austin.

She recently had that difficult conversation with a mother and daughter.

“They were looking for Whole Woman’s Health, and her mom just kept saying in Spanish, ‘No, but like, where are they?’ ” Wilson said. “And with my limited Spanish-speaking skills, I was trying to communicate to her, ‘No, it doesn't exist anymore. It didn't just move. You cannot access these services in Texas.’ ”

On another day, Wilson said a Black woman who had just found out she was pregnant showed up looking for the Source, a crisis pregnancy center that took over the building in 2019. Wilson explained that it is gone, too.

Wilson cannot provide what these stray patients are seeking, but she has carved out a place to assist Black moms in the space that remains after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling in 2022 paved the way for 14 states to enact near-total abortion bans. She is part of a group of advocates and health care providers hoping to fill the vacuum left by the former clinic in a meaningful way.

Wilson is the founder of Black Mamas Village, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Black women and their families through “increasing connection and belonging, health and wellness, and economic empowerment.” And she shares the space that was formerly used by the clinic, now known as the Village Place, with several other nonprofit organizations and local business owners aligned with that mission, including midwives, doulas and a perinatal mental health nurse practitioner.

She's among many advocates across the country working to mitigate racial disparities in health care for people carrying babies to term. Black women are nearly three times as likely to die during or after giving birth, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in states with abortion bans, women are up to three times as likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth or soon after giving birth, according to a 2023 report from the Gender Equity Policy Institute.

"There are a set of corrective measures that are really about tackling systemic biases throughout the health care system. ... It's hard work, but it's also essential if you really try to build something that's workable for the future that is better than what we had before that's really responsive to the needs of all patients, particularly those who are most vulnerable, who have the least economic capacity and have access to health care," said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families.

How a former abortion clinic became a hub for Black moms

The first time Wilson entered the former clinic in North Austin was in 2007.

She was unmarried, pursuing a master’s degree in social work and struggling to make ends meet, with a daughter in prekindergarten, when she found out she was pregnant again. She said she went to Whole Woman’s Health and had an abortion in a room that’s now used by a homeschool pod, where 11 students, including Wilson’s youngest daughter, attend school. 

“I don't remember much more,” she said, sitting in the building’s colorful kitchen in late May. “It's one of those experiences that really does feel a bit out-of-body,” she said.

In the following years, Wilson often looked over at the clinic’s sign as she drove by it on the highway. One day, she noticed it had disappeared and had been replaced by a sign for the Source.

In 2016, Wilson had her second child. She developed preeclampsia , a serious form of high blood pressure, and the delivery was difficult for both her and her son. His shoulders became stuck in the birth canal during delivery, a condition known as shoulder dystocia, and she began to hemorrhage. The medication she was given to treat the bleeding exacerbated her high blood pressure, she said.

Wilson knows it’s common to hear similar stories from other Black women, including celebrities such as tennis great Serena Williams. In 2022, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 49.5 deaths per 100,000 births, compared with 19 deaths per 100,000 for white women, 16.9 for Hispanic women and 13.2 for Asian women, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The United States has some of the worst rates of maternal mortality among high-income countries, particularly for Black women and  women in states where abortion is banned or restricted . Strict abortion bans have also prompted health care providers to leave and clinics to close, worsening access to care.

In Texas, the problem of maternal mortality is particularly acute: Though fewer than 1 in 10 people in the United States live in Texas, 1 in 7 maternal deaths occurred in the state, which has one of the strictest abortion bans in the country . More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, according to the CDC .

Still, Wilson’s experience shocked her. When she gave birth in 2016, she felt she had all the advantages needed to do so safely.

“I had a master's degree, was solidly middle class, married, private insurance, fetal medicine specialists; I had the same doctor for the first one as the second one,” she said.

After her traumatic birth experience, Wilson got involved in a number of community organizations focused on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women, including the state’s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee .

Then, in the middle of her term, she had to reapply for her position as a community advocate. Late last month, she found out her application had been rejected and that the community advocate positions would be filled two doctors, including an outspoken anti-abortion OB-GYN . Wilson said that news is "still stinging."

"Essentially now there's nobody with lived experience and nobody that represents those most impacted at the table, coming up with solutions," she said. "That is not a best practice, and I think it is not respectful to families and Texans and the losses that we experience and the disparities that we experience."

Dr. Ingrid Skop, who now holds the rural community member position , the slot that Wilson hoped to fill, said in a statement to USA TODAY that she has long cared for women traveling long distances from rural Texas maternity deserts.

"For over 30 years, I have advocated for both of my patients, a pregnant woman and her unborn child, and excellent medicine shouldn’t require I pit one against the other," Skop said. "Any attempt to discredit me because I stand by my Hippocratic Oath to do no harm to any of my patients is rooted in pro-abortion ideology and bias."

Meanwhile, Wilson was feeling isolated on the outskirts of Austin, a predominantly white city , so she started a Facebook group for Black moms to swap stories and schedule playdates. As the group grew and pandemic-related restrictions eased, Wilson decided they needed a physical space to meet.

Wilson said the day she came to sign the lease for the building Black Mamas Village now occupies, a woman from the Source arrived to pick up baby mattresses. It took a moment, but Wilson realized they’d met before. The woman had taught the childbirth education classes Wilson attended during her first pregnancy at another location owned by the Source, previously known as Austin LifeCare.

“Both of the organizations who provided services in this space helped me in different seasons of my life. … And we are, in a way, a third generation of organization that supports families in this particular location,” she said.

Filling the 'huge need' for resources and community

Wilson estimated that she put $20,000 of her personal money into developing and renovating the space. There are still visual reminders of what it once was — exam room flags by the doors, pass-through boxes to collect urine samples in the bathroom — but there is also a colorful library stocked with brand new books and a cozy nap room for moms who need a break.

Wilson began recruiting other like-minded women to work in the building alongside her. She said the rent is over $11,000 each month, but she subsidizes the cost with a $50,000 grant from the St. David's Foundation and rents the space for meetings and parties. Her 12 tenants often barter or exchange services for a reduced rate.

“It really is like collective solidarity economics,” Wilson said.

Her neighbors in the "collective" include a massage therapist and another Black maternal health care nonprofit called Mama Sana Vibrant Woman . Mama Sana holds weekly prenatal and postpartum support groups and offers individualized doula services, midwifery and lactation consultations, serving more than 200 people, according to Tiek Johnson, the organization’s co-executive director.

This is another avenue that advocates in Texas and elsewhere say could improve pregnancy outcomes among women of color.

Midwifery care improved multiple birth outcomes, including lowering morbidity and mortality among mothers and newborns, according to a 2023 literature review published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology . However, just 8% of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives identified as Black or African American, the American Midwifery Certification Board found.

Once a quarter, the midwives of Mama Sana hold free childbirth education classes, sessions that Johnson said would typically cost hundreds of dollars.

“We try to also bring access to things that are usually inaccessible,” Johnson said.

Later, Wilson brought in a dance instructor and the homeschool teacher. Recently, she said she's received money to hire about a dozen people for a yearlong drop-in child care program. Thought it's not obviously connected to maternal health, Wilson said these offerings are essential to their core mission.

"When we talk about birth justice and reproductive justice, we're talking about everything it takes for a birthing person and their family to thrive and to have autonomy and to have humanity and quality of life that is equal to anyone else," she said. "And so education and child care, these things are a part of the full picture."

The Village Place is also home to nonprofits dedicated to HIV awareness, sexual health and resource navigation. Nyeka Arnold, executive director of the Healing Project, said the latter involves guiding families through the often complex process of acquiring public aid, such as rent assistance.

“I was born and raised in a marginalized community, so the resources that I use, I know of them because I use them. And so I just try to tell everybody about the resources, the way it works, the system, the steps,” she said before ducking out to unload a delivery of mushrooms for the weekly food pantry.

Jennifer Lynn Dungey, a co-owner of the Village Place and president of the Black Mamas Village board, knows how exhausting it can be to navigate these systems. Nearly 15 years ago, Dungey moved to Austin for work and lost that job just a few months later. She was seven months pregnant, she said, and couldn’t find a new job. She soon became homeless.

“It was a very humbling experience to go from making $70,000 a year to being broke and applying for a shelter,” she said.

Dungey is now a social worker overseeing a program that works with African American first-time moms in Travis County, in addition to managing the building and culture of Black Mamas Village. She said what sets the nonprofit apart is that the people who run it have an intimate knowledge of what resources are out there because, as she put it, "we are the people that we serve."

“There’s a huge need for community, huge need for resources and accessible resources without all the demands that are required by different agencies,” she said. “That’s the beauty of what we do.”

Dungey dreams of expanding. It’s been less than a year, but she said it feels as if the collective has outgrown the building already.

Though the organizations are able to offer a small stipend to two staff members, including Arnold, who helps manage the building, Dungey hopes to be able to hire a full-time staff, further expand the child care program and maybe even purchase a nearby hotel so the collective can offer housing.

“This is really just the beginning,” she said.

Staff writers Ken Alltucker and Christine Fernando of USA TODAY and Nancy Flores of the American-Statesman contributed to this report.

Reapplicant Advising

We’ll help you get accepted to medical school

The Reality for Reapplicants

You’re not alone. Each year, approximately 40% of medical school applicants successfully matriculate, leaving nearly 60% facing the decision whether they should reapply or pursue another career altogether.

Unfortunately, there’s a great deal is misinformation surrounding this stress-inducing topic – should you change your personal statement or use the same one you previously submitted? What about letters of recommendation? Can you reapply to the same medical schools or choose a new med school list?

The answers to these questions are straightforward, but the questions themselves are misguided. The most important questions to answer are: 1) why did I fail to receive any medical school acceptances and 2) how can I best position myself for a successful second (or third, or fourth) application cycle? It’s critical to understand what medical school are looking for and why that wasn’t portrayed in your application previously. From there, we can allocate time, resources, and energy most effectively to maximally strengthen your application.

At Med School Insiders, we don’t believe that rejection is final. We’ve helped hundreds of students get accepted to U.S. medical schools, many of whom were reapplicants.  But our industry-leading results  don’t happen from wishful thinking. Rather, we use our combined decades of medical school admissions committee experience in addition to a systematic way to approach the unique hurdles of reapplicants to deliver results. 

Our Approach for Medical School Reapplicants

Our systematic and comprehensive approach to reapplicant advising follows these steps:

1. Review and analyze your previous application – the first step to strengthen an application is to first accurately assess where you stand. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What held you back last cycle? We conduct a thorough review of your AMCAS application, previous grades, MCAT, extracurriculars, application timing, essays, school list, letter of recommendation writers, research experiences, unique circumstances, and more.

2. Goal setting – after understanding the limitations in your previous medical school application, we can then assess where you stand and what realistic goals would be. For some students, starting medical school as soon as possible is a priority. For other students, taking a gap year to further bolster their application is favorable. Some students are willing to put in the effort to get accepted to a prestigious medical school, and others are fine attending any medical school. Understanding your needs, desires, and how they relate to your current status is foundational in guiding you towards your personal definition of success.

3. Formulating a plan (soft and hard factor strengthening)  – the hard factors of your application are the objective measurables – your GPA, MCAT, and the like. The soft factors of your application include everything else – your personal statement, letters of recommendation, primary and secondary essays, interview skills, and more. Given steps 1 and 2, we’re now ready to begin formulating a plan to address weaknesses and balance what is optimal for your application with your own goals and timeline.

4. Plan implementation – it’s now time to put your plan into action. This step is customized to each student’s needs. A personal statement rewrite and AMCAS/AACOMAS revamp is suggested for almost all reapplicants. For some, we help secure post-bacc or special master’s program (SMP) positions. For others, we begin discussing alternative pathways, including osteopathic (DO) medical schools or international allopathic (MD) medical schools.

Reapplicant Service Features

Rigorous selection.

Being a top doctor isn't enough to become a Med School Insiders advisor. All physician advisors must make it through a rigorous screening process.

Flexibility

One size does not fit all. Whether you're a medical school reapplicant or planning your gap year, we treat you as a unique individual with a plan tailored for you.

Real Doctors. Insider Insights

Our team of doctors have served on admissions committees. You will receive key insights from those who have been intimately involved with the selection process.

Surgical Precision

You won't find another service with this level of attention to detail. That's because we have a proprietary systematic approach for each customer that we work with.

How it Works

Step 1. Sign up below. You’ll immediately receive our intake questionnaire that allows us to match you with the best advisor and customize your service.

Step 2. We will pair you with the best fit advisor with experience on medical school admissions committees. Your advisor will review your application materials and questionnaire results prior to speaking with you. You’ll find a time that suits you both and schedule your session.

Step 3.  Your advisor will speak with you for an hour or more via video chat or phone call. You’ll get custom tailored one-on-one attention and a detailed game plan of next steps moving forward!

See What Others Are Saying

Frequently asked questions.

We recommend every reapplicant rewrite their personal statement. Avoid being a “boomerang applicant”, meaning an applicant who responds to rejection by retrying with the same application – without any improvements. This is a sure way to be rejected yet again.

Rather, consider this an important lesson in life, taking a challenge or obstacle and using it to your advantage . Describing this journey and the process of learning about yourself, improving yourself, and reigniting your passion to pursue medicine is far more likely to yield the results you seek.

After our in-depth analysis of your application and your goals, we’ll be able to tell you how to best move forward. Some applicants simply need reworking the soft factors of their application. Other applicants need to take a year off to work on their MCAT or bolster other extracurricular or research experiences. We’ll figure out which plan is best for you.

After completing our intake questionnaire, we will match you with a doctor advisor best suited for your needs. Our advisors are real doctors with experience on medical school admissions committees and experience mentoring hundreds of students. If you’d like, you can specifically request an advisor and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

The quality of our advising service is second to none. That’s because our highly competitive team consists of real doctors with real admissions committee experience. They love mentoring and empowering the next generation of physicians. And to ensure the best results, each follows our proprietary systematic approach so that your interests are aligned with theirs. They love what they do, and they want to see you succeed. You can learn about the Med School Insiders method here .

Since advisors may be anywhere in the country and advisors and students are often hundreds of miles apart, we recommend a virtual meeting through video chat. 

If parents want to participate, they are encouraged to do so!

Our customers have consistently been amazed by the value they receive from our advising sessions. Prior to meeting with you, our advisor will carefully review your intake questionnaire to familiarize themself with your medical school application. That way, you will be able to hit the ground running and get tremendous value in each advising session. 

Reapplicant Basic Plan

• Real doctor
• Admissions committee experience
• Customized in-depth plan
• 1 hour of guidance
• Best for basic big picture planning
• Extended contact via email
• Continuity with advisor

Reapplicant Plus Plan

• 3 hours of guidance
• Best for securing a detailed plan

Custom Plan

• Custom hours of guidance
• Extensive advising and guidance available

What can we help you with?

We can handle just about anything related to medical school and residency admissions. If you don't see what you're looking for above, please get in touch.

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