The medical school application process can be long, drawn-out and arduous. And you may have even received a rejection or two. But you haven’t come this far to give up. It’s not who you are and you will become the physician you’ve always dreamed you’d be. So let’s explore your options.
First let’s talk about what you’ve already done and where you go from here. During your junior year at University you started looking into medicals schools and what the application process entailed. You reviewed the requirements and made sure your transcript mirrored those courses. In that time you’ve considered who you should approach to write letters of recommendation on your behalf. Then you started to study and prepare for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test.) This went on for some months – until the snow started to melt.
After taking the MCAT you made all your final preparations for your narrowed list of medical schools. You’ve completed the initial application phase and then in the fall of your senior year the secondary application phase. You waited on pins and needles for your acceptance and possibly a rejection to arrive during the winter and early spring months of your senior year.
You may have been accepted to your first choice school, but you may not have. And that’s where a positive attitude and exploring your options comes in handy. Some would slam the book shut with a “better luck next time” speech. But you won’t listen. Again, you didn’t get this far by giving up. And you have options. Many options.
Explore Different Options
This doesn’t mean slump your shoulders and sigh at the prospect of more research. This means investigate medical schools in a different way. Look at what they have to offer as a whole for you, the progressive medical student and soon to be physician. There are medical schools that offer excellent competitive programs with outstanding USMLE pass rates that also offer rolling or later admissions. You can still apply, be accepted, and start this May.
What are rolling admissions?
While It’s early spring and many other medical school admissions have closed, that is not the case with some medical schools including some Caribbean medical schools . Traditionally rolling admissions had the reputation of “first applied – first accepted.” But today’s rolling admissions are a little different.
For example, a premier Caribbean medical school, Ross University School of Medicine located on the island of Dominica, operates under rolling admissions. There are no application deadlines as they continue to accept applications for each semester until all seats are filled. In the event that they reach their enrollment threshold before an applicant receives a decision, the application is automatically considered for the next available semester. At this moment Ross University School of Medicine is accepting applications for a May start.
The Refreshing (yet still detailed) Caribbean medical school admissions process
To further break down the admissions requirements and process, we’ll use Ross University as an example again.
With a holistic approach to admissions, Ross University identifies candidates who possess the drive and determination to both successfully complete the medical school curriculum and perform as skilled medical professionals. While their admissions process takes into account grade point averages and Medical College Admission Test scores, they also take a wider view and give consideration to those who demonstrate the potential to handle the demanding academic challenges of the University. Their focus is as much on life experiences and determination as academics.
Keep in mind admissions to Caribbean medical schools and Ross University in particular is extremely competitive. As a result, it is imperative that you to be able to exhibit the necessary requirements throughout the admissions process. Which directly translates into careful consideration of your field of choice as well as volunteer work, past work experience and applicable personal experiences. They take this combined information into consideration during the interview process.
There are a variety of factors that determine final admissions:
- Undergraduate cumulative GPA
- GPA in required pre-medical classes
- Excellence in biology and chemistry courses
- Competitiveness of undergraduate school and curriculum
- Graduate work
- MCAT scores
- Personal essay
- Pre-medical committee evaluations
- Letters of recommendation from both academic and/or professional persons
- Extracurricular accomplishments and affiliations
- History of professional or volunteer work and experiences
- Personal qualities that set you apart
- Personal interview
What if you went to school outside the US or Canada?
In this case applicants will be evaluated on their merits but will be expected to have completed a pre-medical curriculum comparable to that described above.
How important is the interview?
This is a weighty topic. In all cases you should be yourself. You can be assured if the university you’ve applied to includes an interview as part of their admissions program, they strongly believe in the value of that personal interview.
Most medical school admissions believe that if an applicant’s credentials are judged to be indicative of the potential for successful completion of the program, they will be invited to an interview. You should expect an invitation in two to four weeks after the initial application is received.
The interview is designed to help access your overall personal and academic background. More specifically your maturity, adaptability, character, aptitude and why you wanted to become a doctor in the first place.
While the interview is not a guarantee of acceptance it does help the committee to make their final decision.
Your Application Checklist
- Be sure to submit your MCAT scores with your application. Contact the individual school for their institutional code number.
- Typical pre-requisites need to have occurred within the last 10 years and consist of at least 90 credits of the following categories. However, contact your school of choice for specific requirements.
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- Two semesters of Inorganic or General Chemistry (eight semester hours) with laboratories
- Two semesters of Organic Chemistry (eight semester hours) with laboratories
- Two semesters of Biology or Zoology (eight semester hours) with laboratories
- Two semesters of Physics (eight semester hours) with laboratories
- Mathematics: (College-level, preferably to include Calculus or Statistics) and one semester of Mathematics (three semester hours)
- English: Two semesters of English (six semester hours)
- Canadian students should contact their university of choice for specific English requirements, but as an Example Ross University accepts 2 semesters of University humanities where essays composed at least 40% of the overall mark, or those holding a grade 13 English credit in Ontario, or International Baccalaureate English and Advanced Placement English
- A complete application
- Official transcript(s) from each college and/or professional school attended
- Two official letters of recommendation
- Official report of scores from the TOEFL, if applicable
- Applicable application fee
