acceptances

You’ve probably heard some unwritten rules about what college students should or shouldn’t do to be successful. But what if I told you that following these rules could actually hurt your chances of getting into your dream job or graduate school? In this blog post, I’ll reveal 5 rules that every college student should break, based on my 11+ years of experience helping people get into college and graduate school. These rules will help you create your own path, showcase your strengths, and have more fun along the way.

Getting accepted into one medical school is a huge accomplishment! However, multiple acceptances can seem like both a blessing and a curse. It’s a “good” problem to have, but there is incredible pressure to make the right decision. One choice will determine the next course of your life: experiences, friends, education, and career opportunities.Therefore, it’s important to make a calculated decision based on your priorities and expectations. There are definitely some significant factors you should keep in mind when analyzing your best option.

If you look at the data for all applicants and matriculants for California MD medical schools in the 2020-2021 cycle, you’ll find the following statistics: Total applicants: 87,431. Total accepted matriculants: 1,520. Percent accepted: 1.7%. Those numbers are pretty daunting, so it’s wise for in-state and especially out-of-state applicants to diversify their school lists beyond California medical schools. But what do these elite 1.7% of accepted candidates look like? Who are they and what makes them so special?

Thousands of dollars in application fees; hundreds of hours writing and editing essays; dozens of schools selected to apply to; countless pre-meds all around the country vying for a seat at a medical school program. A seat. Yup, just one. A single acceptance to a medical school is all that is needed to become a doctor. But what happens if the only medical school that accepts you is a brand new school? Should you accept the offer of admission without hesitation or reject it?

How do ordinary people get into medical school?

You actually got in - and to more than one medical school! Congratulations! But of course, this brings up a new problem, one that you’ve probably overlooked with all of the focus and anxiety on just getting in:

If you wanted to apply to 151 medical schools, what would you need to accomplish that?

Imagine a private gathering of medical school admissions officers, perhaps in an ivory tower somewhere. This conclave of academic gatekeepers, mostly from prestigious schools, is meeting behind-the-scenes to discuss candidates and divvy them up amongst their programs.