ApplyMD | Reapplying for MD or MD/PhD Programs

Reapplying? Take some time off!

Sad to say but if you don't hear back from a medical school by now, you're going to have to plan to reapply to medical school. Don't feel like you have to reapply again and start writing a new personal statement or update your list of activities.

Reassess your application

If you ask, medical schools will give you some information on why your application was not selected for an interview or for acceptance into medical school. You can also ask them what your application is lacking. Don't reapply again when you don't have a clear understanding to as why your application failed to get you into medical school.

In fact, unless you accomplished something major during the past year, you're better off holding off on reapplying. If your application is lacking in research, then a major accomplishment is working full time at a laboratory, getting a letter of recommendation, and having submitted your work (at least submit a poster, you don't need to publish a paper). If your application is lacking clinical activities, then major accomplishment would be to have done a clinical shadowing program for at least a year and have a good letter of recommendation from a physician. Since this is your second time reapplying, a clinical letter can't come from a volunteer coordinator who tracks the number of hours you spend volunteering in the hospital. You need a letter from a physician who can comment on your patient interaction skills and how you interact with the rest of the medical staff.

Time is your friend

First time reapplicant is fine, but when you are a third time or fourth time reapplicant, there is a huge cloud or question mark over your application even if you have a lot more clinical or research activities. By the time you are a third or fourth time reapplicant, your application should have been packed with clinical, community service, or research activities. The admission committee members start questioning whether it is your personality that is a deal breaker. "Why is a third or fourth time applicant with all these activities and experiences not getting into medical school by now?" Don't reapply unless you are 90% sure you will get into medical school.

Refresh you letters of recommendations

If you reapply for medical school and don't have any new letters of recommendations, that is the "kiss" of death. Not having any new letters of recommendations tells the committee one of two things about you.

You are too lazy and unmotivated to improve your medical school application, hence not asking for new letters of recommendations or asking your previous letter writers to rewrite a new letter with new information concerning your community service, clinical experiences, and research experiences.
You did absolutely nothing new since you last reapplied, therefore you had no opportunities to ask for new letters of recommendations.

Don't fall into complacency. Make this second time that you are applying to medical school your last time. Make your reapplication COUNT! Details are very important, and that means refreshing letters of recommendations.

Get feedback on your application

Well, it's that time of year again. Yes, its when many medical school programs start. According to my contacts, there was very little movement in the waiting list for this past application cycle. Each year seems to be the record breaking year of application. One thing for sure, the medicine is still a very highly sought after profession despite more restrictions on medical reimbursements.

For those left on the waiting list, it doesn't mean you should reapply immediately. For one thing, you can contact the medical school admissions for feedback on your application. Many schools give applicants feedback on their application. Find out what your application needs improvement before you re-submit your application. There is no use reapplying with your old application if you have not made any significant changes. Bottom line, contact the medical school admissions and get feedback on your application.