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How to Regroup After Medical School Rejection
Articles
August 15, 2024
After years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, receiving a “no” from medical schools can feel like a devastating personal failure. However, it’s important to understand that a rejection on your first attempt at applying to medical school doesn’t completely rule you out as a future physician – nor does it define your worth as a person. In fact, data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that roughly 10,000 of the 50,000 applicants to medical school during the 2023-2024 cycle were reapplying.
Being rejected by medical schools offers an opportunity to regroup, reassess, and come back stronger. Here’s a guide to help you cope with rejection, reflect on your journey, and strategize your next steps, including considering a premed post-baccalaureate (post-bacc) program to strengthen your application.
Allow Yourself to Process the Emotions
Rejection can stir up a lot of emotions—disappointment, frustration, anger, and self-doubt. It’s okay to feel these emotions. Give yourself the space to grieve this setback. Talk to friends, family, or mentors who understand what you’re going through, and don’t be afraid to seek professional support if needed. Remember, rejection is part of the journey. It doesn’t determine your future.
Giving yourself a few weeks or months to focus on something other than medicine can also help you recover and prepare for the next phase. Practicing self-care and taking steps to reduce stress can help.
Reflect on (and Reassess) Your Application
After allowing yourself time to absorb the emotional impact of being rejected by medical schools, the next step is to take a critical and objective look at your application. Reach out to the schools that rejected you and ask for feedback if they offer it. Understanding where your application may have fallen short is essential for improving it in future cycles.
We’ve written in-depth before about how to evaluate your medical school application for weak spots. To recap, consider:
- Clinical Experience: Did you have enough exposure to the medical field through shadowing, volunteering, or clinical work?
- Personal Statement and Essays: Were your personal statements compelling and reflective of your genuine passion for medicine? Did you effectively communicate your story?
- Letters of Recommendation: Did you have strong, supportive letters from individuals who know you well and can vouch for your capabilities?
- Interview Performance: If you were granted interviews, consider how they went. Did you present yourself confidently and authentically?
If the problem was your academic credentials – your MCAT score and GPA – it may be time to consider a premed post-bacc program.
Deciding Whether to Pursue a Post-Bacc Program
Premed post-bacc programs are specifically designed to help you improve your competitiveness as a medical school applicant. They generally come in two broad types: post-bacc certificates, which allow you to re-take upper-level science courses to boost your GPA, or special master’s degree programs, which offer graduate-level education in biomedical science and other topics.
If your GPA or science GPA was above 3.2, consider a post-bacc certificate program. These can provide a GPA boost of a few tenths of a point to help your reapplication effort. If your GPA was below that, consider a special master’s program instead. A certificate won’t boost your GPA enough. Doing well in a grad-level program, however, can show medical schools a trend of improvement.
Through a post-bacc program, you can also connect with mentors, advisors, and peers who can provide guidance and support, as well as potentially strong letters of recommendation. You may also be able to access additional clinical or research experience opportunities.
Stay Focused and Positive
Once you’ve reassessed and regrouped, develop a plan for your next application cycle. Make a timeline that includes when you’ll complete a post-bacc program (if needed), gain additional experiences, and retake the MCAT (if applicable). Revisit your personal statement and essays. Seek feedback from mentors or advisors.
Rejection is not the end—it’s merely a detour on your path to becoming a physician. Many doctors have experienced rejection at some point in their journey to medical school. What sets successful applicants apart is their ability to learn from setbacks, adapt, and persevere. Surround yourself with a support system that believes in you and stay committed to your dream. Remember why you chose this path in the first place and use that as motivation to keep moving forward. Good luck!
After years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, receiving a “no” from medical schools can feel like a devastating personal failure. However, it’s important to understand that a rejection on your first attempt at applying to medical school doesn’t completely rule you out as a future physician – nor does it define your worth as a person. In fact, data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that roughly 10,000 of the 50,000 applicants to medical school during the 2023-2024 cycle were reapplying.
Being rejected by medical schools offers an opportunity to regroup, reassess, and come back stronger. Here’s a guide to help you cope with rejection, reflect on your journey, and strategize your next steps, including considering a premed post-baccalaureate (post-bacc) program to strengthen your application.
Allow Yourself to Process the Emotions
Rejection can stir up a lot of emotions—disappointment, frustration, anger, and self-doubt. It’s okay to feel these emotions. Give yourself the space to grieve this setback. Talk to friends, family, or mentors who understand what you’re going through, and don’t be afraid to seek professional support if needed. Remember, rejection is part of the journey. It doesn’t determine your future.
Giving yourself a few weeks or months to focus on something other than medicine can also help you recover and prepare for the next phase. Practicing self-care and taking steps to reduce stress can help.
Reflect on (and Reassess) Your Application
After allowing yourself time to absorb the emotional impact of being rejected by medical schools, the next step is to take a critical and objective look at your application. Reach out to the schools that rejected you and ask for feedback if they offer it. Understanding where your application may have fallen short is essential for improving it in future cycles.
We’ve written in-depth before about how to evaluate your medical school application for weak spots. To recap, consider:
- Clinical Experience: Did you have enough exposure to the medical field through shadowing, volunteering, or clinical work?
- Personal Statement and Essays: Were your personal statements compelling and reflective of your genuine passion for medicine? Did you effectively communicate your story?
- Letters of Recommendation: Did you have strong, supportive letters from individuals who know you well and can vouch for your capabilities?
- Interview Performance: If you were granted interviews, consider how they went. Did you present yourself confidently and authentically?
If the problem was your academic credentials – your MCAT score and GPA – it may be time to consider a premed post-bacc program.
Deciding Whether to Pursue a Post-Bacc Program
Premed post-bacc programs are specifically designed to help you improve your competitiveness as a medical school applicant. They generally come in two broad types: post-bacc certificates, which allow you to re-take upper-level science courses to boost your GPA, or special master’s degree programs, which offer graduate-level education in biomedical science and other topics.
If your GPA or science GPA was above 3.2, consider a post-bacc certificate program. These can provide a GPA boost of a few tenths of a point to help your reapplication effort. If your GPA was below that, consider a special master’s program instead. A certificate won’t boost your GPA enough. Doing well in a grad-level program, however, can show medical schools a trend of improvement.
Through a post-bacc program, you can also connect with mentors, advisors, and peers who can provide guidance and support, as well as potentially strong letters of recommendation. You may also be able to access additional clinical or research experience opportunities.
Stay Focused and Positive
Once you’ve reassessed and regrouped, develop a plan for your next application cycle. Make a timeline that includes when you’ll complete a post-bacc program (if needed), gain additional experiences, and retake the MCAT (if applicable). Revisit your personal statement and essays. Seek feedback from mentors or advisors.
Rejection is not the end—it’s merely a detour on your path to becoming a physician. Many doctors have experienced rejection at some point in their journey to medical school. What sets successful applicants apart is their ability to learn from setbacks, adapt, and persevere. Surround yourself with a support system that believes in you and stay committed to your dream. Remember why you chose this path in the first place and use that as motivation to keep moving forward. Good luck!