If you’re like most premeds, the application process frightens you!  It’s extremely daunting.  Every ‘t’ crossed and ever ‘i’ dotted.  One misspelled word and you’re done!  Your application gets tossed out.  Well, maybe it’s not that serious. 

I happen to know someone who wrote the wrong school name in her secondary essay, and she still got accepted to that school!  Now, I’m not encouraging you to do that.  As a matter of fact, I’m telling you NOT to do that.    Here is a list of 5 things NOT to do when applying to medical school.

1. Don’t Procrastinate. You need to start today!  The reality of the situation is that the application process begins the moment you declare yourself as a premedical student.  Even if you haven’t reached the point in time when you are completing the paperwork, the process is already underway.  Make sure you know what you need to do, and when you need to do it.  Now, regarding the paperwork (i.e. the electronic application submission), you need to be prepared to fill this out before the application even opens.  Make sure your PreMed STAR profile is complete so when the application does open, you’ll be ready to simply copy everything over.
2. Don’t Exaggerate. Remember that time when you scaled Mount Everest with 1 hand tied behind your back then performed CPR on a grizzly bear?  Ummm….NO!  Perhaps I took it a little too far, but you get the point.  Be honest!  There’s no use in embellishing your story.  In this day and age, technology makes it too easy for people to figure you out.  When you make it to your interview rounds, you don’t want to be that kid stumbling over their words when the interviewer asks you to explain a story you exaggerated.  This can get you into big trouble.  Always be as factual as possible.
3. Don’t Cut Corners. In other words, be complete!  Be complete in checking for errors.  Be complete in filling everything out.  Be complete in explaining your experience.  I recommend you have a least two other people review your entire application prior to submitting it.  If you cut corners on the application, what’s to make the admission committee believe you won’t cut corners as a physician?
4. Don’t Apply Blindly. It is very important that you do your research on medical schools before you apply.  This application process can become very expensive very quickly.  Apply to schools that you’d be willing to go to.  Apply to schools that you believe you have a shot at being accepted to.  Apply to schools that share your values.  Do your due diligence, before clicking that submit button.
5. Don’t Quit! It’s a long journey to become a medical doctor.  I remember staring at that application and trying to make sure everything was perfect.  At times, it can seem a bit much.  This is a very resource intense process and it’s easy to wonder why you’re investing so much into it, with no guarantee of acceptance.  Let me encourage you to chase your dreams!  Now that I’m on the other end, I can tell you that it was well worth it!  Just be sure you’re doing the rights things and setting yourself up for success.  Hang in there friend.  Don’t quit!

Did any of these 5 don’ts resonate with you?  If so, which one?  What other “don’ts” do you have?

*Image credit pixabay

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