Will you fall for these common misconceptions about applying to medical school? Can you tell the myths from reality? Which of the following statements are true, and which could lead to rejection?
After working with over 10,000 students, we’ve seen it all. Let’s cut through the noise and reveal the realities of getting into medical school.
Let’s start with one we hear quite often.
Myth or Reality? You Need a Science Major to Get Into Medical School
Myth or reality? You need a science major to get into medical school.
The answer? It’s a myth.
While you do need specific prerequisites to apply to medical school, you do not need to major in any kind of science. That said, the benefit of a science major is that it will cover many of your prerequisites, such as biology and general chemistry. For this reason, some form of biological science is the most common premed major.
However, since nearly 60% of premed students pursue biological sciences, it’s more difficult to stand out. If you have another passion besides medicine, this is the time to pursue it. If film studies or business is another passion of yours, this is an ideal time to explore it.
Just know that choosing a unique major will make it more challenging to complete your prerequisite courses because there will be less or, in some cases, no overlap. You’ll have to do your prerequisites on top of your other course load, which means taking more classes per quarter or taking longer to complete your undergrad.
You can absolutely get into medical school with a non-science major, but don’t force it just to stand out, as your lack of passion will be noticed by adcoms.
Myth or Reality? You Need a High MCAT Score to Get Into Med School
Next, is the following a myth or reality? You need a high MCAT score to get into medical school.
The answer? It’s another myth.
Think you need a perfect MCAT score to become a doctor? Think again.
Every year, thousands of premeds sacrifice their mental health, relationships, and entire lives chasing an elite MCAT score—convinced it’s the golden ticket to medical school.
Here’s what most don’t realize: medical schools reject countless applicants with stellar MCAT scores every application cycle.
Why? Because medicine isn’t just about test-taking ability.
While a strong MCAT score certainly opens doors and can help secure scholarships, it’s just one piece of a complex puzzle. Spending an extra 40 hours to raise your score by 2 points might actually hurt your chances if those hours could’ve been put to building meaningful clinical experiences or research accomplishments.
Who is the better candidate? The applicant with a 524 but no research and very little clinical experience, or the applicant with a 515 with an extensive research portfolio and publications, and notable leadership in a clinical volunteering organization? Obviously, the more well-rounded applicant.
It’s not impossible to do both. I scored in the highest possible percentile on the MCAT, equal to a 525, while gaining tons of research experience. A high MCAT doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice other aspects of your application if you hone the right active study techniques. But in some cases, we’ve seen students neglect important areas of their application in favor of a high or even slightly higher MCAT score.
Medical school admissions is ultimately a game of strategic time management. You can’t do everything.
Many students with good or average MCAT scores get accepted, while top scorers face rejection letters because they neglected other crucial aspects of their application. There are students who get accepted with scores both above and below the average.
And don’t believe the nonsense on SDN and Reddit that an MCAT score that is too high will hold you back, and signal to adcoms that you’re a weirdo. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, there is some correlation between some subset of top scorers being socially awkward and shooting themselves in the foot on the interview trail, but that just means they should have honed their essays, social skills, and interviews.
Overall, being a well-rounded candidate with a top score will make you that much more desirable and help you earn merit-based scholarships to cover all of your medical school expenses.
Bottom line: Strive for your best possible score on the MCAT, but remember—the student who gets into medical school isn’t necessarily the one with the highest score, but the one who has a well-rounded application that tells a compelling story. Just be careful not to use that as an excuse not to try to improve a score that you probably should.
Myth or Reality? If You Haven’t Applied by the End of the Summer, You Should Wait Another Year
Up next, is the following statement a myth or reality? If you haven’t applied by the end of the summer, you should wait another year to apply to medical school.
The answer? This one is a reality.
The application deadlines offered by medical schools are deeply misleading. The single most crucial strategy for applying to medical school is applying early, ideally as soon as applications open in June.
At Med School Insiders, we don’t want any of the students we work with to take risks when it comes to application deadlines. Although technical deadlines will say you have until the end of the year, if the end of summer is approaching, it’s better to wait until the following year to apply.
Why? Because of rolling admissions. Rolling admissions mean that medical schools review applications as they receive them on a continuous, or rolling, basis. The first to submit their primary applications receive the first secondary application requests. The first to submit their secondaries receive the first interview invites, and the first to interview successfully receive the first acceptances.
Applying late in the game or falling behind at any point in the process gives other applicants a strong advantage. It’s like starting a 100-metre race from 10 meters behind everyone else. Why would you ever do that?
Myth or Reality? It’s Easier to Apply the Second Time
Next up, myth or reality? It’s easier to apply to medical school the second time.
The answer? It’s 100% a myth. And far, far too many applicants fall for it.
Many students mistakenly believe they can easily apply the following year if they don’t get in, so they apply late or fail to put in the necessary effort to gain admission the first time around.
This line of thinking is incredibly flawed. The medical school application process is a grueling journey—it’s not something to casually try again if you don’t get in the first time. After over a year of hard work, stress, and the cost of applications, which can run you thousands of dollars, the last thing you want to do is start all over again when you’re already burnt out.
Plus, medical schools expect reapplicants to have substantially improved their application, which takes a great deal more time and effort, and thousands more in application fees.
Why would you want to apply twice? Ask anyone who has applied to medical school—it’s not a fun or easy process.
Beyond the cost of reapplying, there’s also the opportunity cost. The average U.S. physician earns $355,000 per year. So when you apply before you’re ready and don’t get in, that’s not just lost time.
That’s a $355,000 mistake. It’s one year of lost salary, and it’s one year of lost momentum.
Aim for acceptance the first time you apply.
Myth or Reality? You Should Apply to Many Medical Schools
Up next, is the following a myth or reality? You should apply to many medical schools.
The answer? This one is reality. At Med School Insiders, we recommend applying to no fewer than 25 medical schools.
Even though it may take a bit more time and money, it’s worth it to apply to more schools. Many people, including several misguided and ill-informed admissions consultants and guidance counselors, will say that it’s a waste of time and money to apply to a long list of schools.
They will even recommend applying to 18 schools, which is the average number of schools each applicant applies to, according to the AAMC. But following what’s average gives you average results.
At Med School Insiders, we’ve helped thousands of students get into med school. We’ve seen for ourselves that it’s far more effective and worthwhile to apply to more schools. It has a highly asymmetric risk profile, meaning the upside is far greater than the potential downside.
In the grand scheme of things, a little extra effort and cost are well worth it to ensure you are accepted the first time you apply.
Consider this: The average cost to apply to one additional medical school is about $150. Now compare that to reapplying next year. That’s thousands of dollars in application fees, lost income from delaying your career by a year, and the emotional cost of rejection.
The math is clear: Applying to 25-30 schools might cost about a thousand dollars more upfront, but it dramatically increases your chances of acceptance.
Plus, you can leverage multiple acceptances for merit-based scholarships, like I did. It pays to have schools fighting over you. Literally.
Don’t let short-term thinking put you back a year in your medical career. Apply widely and apply strategically.
Use our free Med School Chance Predictor to craft a strategic list that will increase your acceptance odds.
It will help you pinpoint the ideal 25-30 schools to apply to. Explore comprehensive data for all medical schools, predict your chances of acceptance, and craft a tailored school list in minutes.
Myth or Reality? You Need a Dramatic Story for Your Personal Statement
And finally, is the following a myth or reality? You need a dramatic story for your personal statement.
The answer? This is a myth.
You don’t need a dramatic story about a close brush with death or facing extreme discrimination to craft a stand-out personal statement. It’s much more important to be authentic to your own personal journey.
Engaging storytelling and a narrative that cohesively weaves together each piece of your application are what will catch the attention of admissions committees.
Adcoms will spot an exaggerated or phony story—they’ve seen it all before. And if they don’t spot the lie initially in your primary application, they will when it comes time to speak during interviews. Anything you include in your primary and secondary application is fair game for interview questions, and lies or embellishments crack under the spotlight.
Take the time to think long and hard about this: Why do you want to dedicate your life to medicine and helping others? What moments and people in your life led you to this monumental decision?
We compiled everything you need to know about crafting a personal statement that stands out, no matter your history or background, into one comprehensive and absolutely free guide. It includes how to get started, how to engage adcoms, bad personal statement examples, and more.
