After A BS/MD Rejection, Consider These Alternative Paths To Medicine
College admissions decisions have likely all been released now. While many students may have secured admission into their dream schools or top programs, others might be feeling disappointed with their results. Perhaps they received an acceptance to traditional pre-med schools, but they didn’t get the one acceptance they were really hoping for: a spot in a direct medical program.
While it is disappointing to have worked for something without getting the results you were hoping for, now is not the time to give up on your dreams of becoming a physician. If you find yourself in this situation, here is what you should do next. This article was originally posted by Moon Prep on Frobes.
Don’t Panic
To qualify for BS/MD programs, you likely have a strong academic profile, a high GPA, excellent test scores and a competitive résumé. Not gaining admission to a BS/MD program after years of work can feel like a setback, but rest assured that your hard work will not be in vain.
A BS/MD program is just one of the many pathways to becoming a physician. All the hard work you have put in throughout high school means you are likely prepared for the journey to medicine. Now is the time to start to explore alternative routes and decide the best next steps for your medical career.
Consider Early Assurance Programs
Early assurance programs can offer a second chance at securing early acceptance into a medical school.
Not all undergraduate institutions will offer an EAP, but some notable ones include Tufts University, Georgetown University and Northwestern University. For EAPs, students typically apply in their sophomore year and must be attending the affiliated undergraduate institution. One exception is Mount Sinai’s Flex-Med program, which allows students from any accredited university to apply.
EAP requirements will vary by program, but generally, students will need to continue to demonstrate academic excellence as well as a commitment to medicine through activities like shadowing, clinical volunteering and research.
Prepare For A Traditional Pre-Med Pathway
The traditional pathway to medicine is still competitive and requires foresight to have all the necessary requirements in place.
Over the past few years, just 41.9% of medical school applicants gained admission. While this pathway isn’t easy, the chances will increase significantly, especially if the applicant’s GPA and MCAT score are higher. Applicants who had an average GPA greater than 3.79 and an MCAT score of 510-513 had a 66.7% chance of getting accepted, compared to a 40.4% success rate for those with a 3.60-3.79 total GPA and an MCAT score of 506-509.
Keeping these high expectations in mind at the start of your freshman year can help improve your candidacy for medical school.
In addition, throughout your undergraduate years, you will need to do similar activities you did to prepare for BS/MD applications: volunteering, clinical experiences and non-medical-related activities as well. Medical schools want to make sure you remain passionate about the field of medicine and are looking for quality, not quantity, of activities. By gaining leadership positions and developing interpersonal skills through meaningful involvement in your activities, you can improve your candidacy for medical school.
If you plan to matriculate into medical school right after graduating from undergraduate, you should take your MCAT no later than April of your junior year so you can have your score before the primary application opens in late May.
Creating a structured timeline before you begin college will help you stay on track when applying.
Consider If A Master’s Program Is Right For You
Some students enter college with the game plan of wanting to get a master’s degree, either to strengthen their medical school application or to align with their career interests. For example, some of Moon Prep’s students have opted to pursue a Master of Public Health because it fits into their desire to address broader societal healthcare issues like health disparities. Other students have pursued a Master’s in Biotechnology due to their passion for research and desire to pursue medical specialties like oncology or immunology.
Others may opt for a master’s program to strengthen their application if their undergraduate GPA is lower than expected because it demonstrates their ability to handle a rigorous course load. Post-baccalaureate programs can also help students who didn’t satisfy the necessary science course requirements.
However, master’s programs can be very expensive. Before committing, assess whether the program will strengthen your application or career trajectory.
What Is A Special Master’s Program?
Similar to BS/MD programs and EAPs, some Special Master’s Programs offer conditional acceptance into a partnered medical school. For example, students who graduate with a 3.7 GPA and score 506 or higher on the MCAT in California University of Science and Medicine’s SMP will be offered a seat in the partnered medical school.
These programs integrate advanced medical coursework with research opportunities, providing students with an in-depth understanding of healthcare. However, like other master’s programs, SMPs can be costly and do not guarantee medical school admission.
Can I Take A Gap Year Before Medical School?
A gap year doesn’t always start as a student’s plan, but sometimes it ends up being it. A gap year can be beneficial if used wisely, providing opportunities to:
- Gain more life experience and develop maturity, professional and interpersonal skills
- Strengthen their resume further as they gain more clinical volunteering, shadowing or work experience as well as research
- Hone in on making their personal brand stronger
- Have more time to write application essays without the burden of coursework
- Devote additional to prepare for the MCAT
However, a gap year can have its disadvantages because students might lose academic momentum, especially if they take several gap years. Additionally, delaying medical school means they lose out on earning a physician’s income from those years.
Some students worry that taking a gap year might hurt their medical school chances, but as long as they spend the gap year productively, it can be worthwhile. For example, Moon Prep worked with a student who decided not to apply to medical school immediately after graduation because they were offered a two-year research apprenticeship at an Ivy League school. By taking the apprenticeship, they became a stronger candidate for medical school and further developed their own personal “brand.”
Next Steps After A BS/MD Program Rejection
If you did not get accepted into a BS/MD program, remember that your journey to medicine is not over. Take the next few weeks to map out your next steps and decide how you can continue to work toward achieving your goal. There are multiple paths to becoming a physician and a BS/MD rejection won’t stop you—what matters most is persistence, strategic planning, and dedication to your future in medicine.