3 answers
Arnav
Student
Plain City, Ohio
1
Question
Updated
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How do medical schools look at application? Is it simply based on stats or is it more so who you are as a person?
I'm an upcoming applicant to medical school and would really appreciate any advice.
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3 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1942
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Arnav your GPA isn’t everything. Medical school admissions committees also value applicants who demonstrate a well-rounded skill set, such as medical schools prefer candidates who, in addition to having outstanding grades, have demonstrated involvement in community service, volunteering, and extracurricular activities. While academic excellence plays a significant role, medical schools look beyond grades and test scores alone. Instead, they seek candidates who demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the medical profession. There are 3️⃣ key factors that medical schools prioritize:
1️⃣ EXTRACURRICULARS
One of the cornerstones of a strong medical school application is a commitment to clinical exposure. Medical schools want to see that applicants have gained firsthand experience in healthcare settings. Aspiring pre-med students should actively seek opportunities to immerse themselves in clinical environments. Whether in a hospital or through community outreach (at home or abroad), this experience is crucial for your medical school application.
• RESEARCH — Not all doctors do research, though some do. What medical schools are looking for here is a demonstration that you understand the scientific method and principles behind discoveries. You don’t need to be an expert in every field, but should be conversant in how discoveries happen.
• PHYSICIAN SHADOWING — Clinical exposure can take various forms, but physician shadowing is one of the most important. This is your opportunity to get up close with the daily realities of a career in healthcare. You’ll not only see treatment and diagnosis in practice, but you’ll also pick up on soft skills like bedside manner.
• COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER SERVICE — Seek opportunities to actively help out in disadvantaged communities. By offering free medical check-ups and participating in educational outreach, you get more than a chance to practice medicine; you also demonstrate a genuine passion for helping others.
2️⃣ LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Medical schools view letters of recommendation as a verification of the information they gain from your GPA. A transcript tells these schools how you performed as a student, but not who you are as a scholar and researcher. A good letter will boost your application slightly, but generally confirms what they want to see. One letter should come from a physician, one you met during shadowing or clinical experiences. They can speak directly to your aptitude for the field. This is an important letter, as being a doctor goes beyond just academics, and this letter addresses that.
3️⃣ PERSONAL STATEMENT
Your personal statement should reflect your goals and the qualities that are unique to you, so that you stand out. As you start your essay, take the time to carefully reflect on the academic foundation you have built and the experiences that have contributed to the development of your character and led to your decision to pursue a career in medicine. Think of a personal statement like a cover letter on a job application. It's a written explanation or essay detailing why you're an excellent candidate for not only the school, but the profession. When written well, these can help you differentiate yourself from the other applicants and showcase your personality.
CONCLUSION
Of course, you can’t overlook academic performance. GPA and MCAT scores demonstrate proficiency in the core scientific concepts related to medicine. These metrics indicate an applicant's ability to handle the rigorous curriculum of medical school.
Hope this will be helpful Arnav
1️⃣ EXTRACURRICULARS
One of the cornerstones of a strong medical school application is a commitment to clinical exposure. Medical schools want to see that applicants have gained firsthand experience in healthcare settings. Aspiring pre-med students should actively seek opportunities to immerse themselves in clinical environments. Whether in a hospital or through community outreach (at home or abroad), this experience is crucial for your medical school application.
• RESEARCH — Not all doctors do research, though some do. What medical schools are looking for here is a demonstration that you understand the scientific method and principles behind discoveries. You don’t need to be an expert in every field, but should be conversant in how discoveries happen.
• PHYSICIAN SHADOWING — Clinical exposure can take various forms, but physician shadowing is one of the most important. This is your opportunity to get up close with the daily realities of a career in healthcare. You’ll not only see treatment and diagnosis in practice, but you’ll also pick up on soft skills like bedside manner.
• COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER SERVICE — Seek opportunities to actively help out in disadvantaged communities. By offering free medical check-ups and participating in educational outreach, you get more than a chance to practice medicine; you also demonstrate a genuine passion for helping others.
2️⃣ LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Medical schools view letters of recommendation as a verification of the information they gain from your GPA. A transcript tells these schools how you performed as a student, but not who you are as a scholar and researcher. A good letter will boost your application slightly, but generally confirms what they want to see. One letter should come from a physician, one you met during shadowing or clinical experiences. They can speak directly to your aptitude for the field. This is an important letter, as being a doctor goes beyond just academics, and this letter addresses that.
3️⃣ PERSONAL STATEMENT
Your personal statement should reflect your goals and the qualities that are unique to you, so that you stand out. As you start your essay, take the time to carefully reflect on the academic foundation you have built and the experiences that have contributed to the development of your character and led to your decision to pursue a career in medicine. Think of a personal statement like a cover letter on a job application. It's a written explanation or essay detailing why you're an excellent candidate for not only the school, but the profession. When written well, these can help you differentiate yourself from the other applicants and showcase your personality.
CONCLUSION
Of course, you can’t overlook academic performance. GPA and MCAT scores demonstrate proficiency in the core scientific concepts related to medicine. These metrics indicate an applicant's ability to handle the rigorous curriculum of medical school.
Hope this will be helpful Arnav
Thank You Karen. Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.
Doc Frick
Madison Buchman
doctor
160
Answers
West Hartford
Updated
Madison’s Answer
Such a great question. First off, they consider alot of factors (or at least we hope that they do!) Schools individually may not say exactly how they rate/rank applicants but some schools will openly state this on their websites.
For most medical schools, Grades/mcat scores are high on that list but not everything! Typically med schools have websites that will state previous years admission statistics for both grades (pre-recs alone and/or overall GPA) as well as MCAT scores. Remember, these numbers are just averages and you certainly could get in or interviewed if you fall outside this range. Maybe make a list of schools you want to apply to and what their statistics for admissions are to see where you might fall. This may help you decide if you want/need a gap year to retake courses or get a better MCAT score or even a masters degree. You usually can also talk to a medical school advisor at these programs and see if they would review your scores/application and just discuss where you might fall and your chances of getting interviewed. They especially will offer this typically for students who did not get in one cycle and want to re-apply to advise them on what they may be able to change/improve in their application.
Schools also SHOULD and very likely DO consider other things in your application. Regional statistics (where are you from/living). Alot of schools may want to recruit med students who are likely to/express interest in living in/serving the comunity of their medical school once they graduate. Some schools also consider if you express interest in primary care or rural medicine.
Other things schools highly likely consider: Research (esp if you have publications/presentations), volunteer work/community service, leadership, or teamwork roles, unique sports or extra curricular activities, mission work, letters of rec, personal statements! Previous work experience!
Hope this helps!!
Madison
For most medical schools, Grades/mcat scores are high on that list but not everything! Typically med schools have websites that will state previous years admission statistics for both grades (pre-recs alone and/or overall GPA) as well as MCAT scores. Remember, these numbers are just averages and you certainly could get in or interviewed if you fall outside this range. Maybe make a list of schools you want to apply to and what their statistics for admissions are to see where you might fall. This may help you decide if you want/need a gap year to retake courses or get a better MCAT score or even a masters degree. You usually can also talk to a medical school advisor at these programs and see if they would review your scores/application and just discuss where you might fall and your chances of getting interviewed. They especially will offer this typically for students who did not get in one cycle and want to re-apply to advise them on what they may be able to change/improve in their application.
Schools also SHOULD and very likely DO consider other things in your application. Regional statistics (where are you from/living). Alot of schools may want to recruit med students who are likely to/express interest in living in/serving the comunity of their medical school once they graduate. Some schools also consider if you express interest in primary care or rural medicine.
Other things schools highly likely consider: Research (esp if you have publications/presentations), volunteer work/community service, leadership, or teamwork roles, unique sports or extra curricular activities, mission work, letters of rec, personal statements! Previous work experience!
Hope this helps!!
Madison
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
150
Answers
Sykesville, Maryland
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
Hi Arnav,
Medical schools definitely look at both your stats and who you are as a person — not just one or the other.
Stats matter first because they’re an easy first filter. A strong GPA (especially in science courses) and a good MCAT score show you can handle the academic pressure. If your numbers are too low, many schools might not even fully review the rest of your app.
But after that first cut, who you are becomes even more important. Admissions committees want students who show compassion, resilience, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and real commitment to helping others. They look very closely at:
Your personal statement
Clinical experiences (shadowing, hospital volunteering)
Research or leadership activities
Letters of recommendation
Interview performance
They want future doctors who are not just book-smart but also human, relatable, and trustworthy. Someone patients will actually want to talk to.
Medical schools definitely look at both your stats and who you are as a person — not just one or the other.
Stats matter first because they’re an easy first filter. A strong GPA (especially in science courses) and a good MCAT score show you can handle the academic pressure. If your numbers are too low, many schools might not even fully review the rest of your app.
But after that first cut, who you are becomes even more important. Admissions committees want students who show compassion, resilience, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and real commitment to helping others. They look very closely at:
Your personal statement
Clinical experiences (shadowing, hospital volunteering)
Research or leadership activities
Letters of recommendation
Interview performance
They want future doctors who are not just book-smart but also human, relatable, and trustworthy. Someone patients will actually want to talk to.