by Cydney Foote
Eight Reasons Medical School Applicants Are Rejected
The medical school application process is complex, with multiple steps and potential missteps around each corner. Because each medical school receives thousands of applications every year for a very limited number of seats, both first-time applicants and reapplicants must be extremely careful to avoid the eight most common mistakes that can result in rejections:
1. You present a low GPA or a GPA with a decreasing trend.
Medical schools say that prospective students should not be obsessed with having perfect grades, but this is hard to swallow when applicants’ GPAs keep rising. In the most recent data from allopathic medical schools (2024-2025) reported by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the mean undergraduate GPA for applicants was 3.66 (3.56 science GPA); for matriculants, this went up to 3.79 (3.73 science GPA). And the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) reported that the mean GPA for osteopathic applicants in 2024 was 3.56 (3.44 science) and 3.59 (3.49 science) for matriculants.
Of course, not everyone who was accepted had these grades – there’s always a range above and below. However, this information does suggest that the applicant pool is getting more competitive. If your GPA doesn’t fall within 0.2-0.3 points of your target school’s average, you should consider ways to improve your grades. And having a decreasing trend with a borderline GPA is an easy way to earn a rejection. It is essential to apply with an increasing trend in your GPA.
Although it’s hard to repair your GPA after the fact, there are concrete steps you can take such as completing postbaccalaureate coursework or a special master’s program before submitting the application.
2. You have a low MCAT score.
In 2024-2025, the mean MCAT score for all allopathic applicants reported by the AAMC was 506.1; for matriculants, it was 511.8. Again, there is a spread of scores on both sides of these numbers; but if you’re more than a couple of points below, this could be a problem in your profile. In my decades as an admissions consultant, I have seen many otherwise excellent applicants with an MCAT score below 505 struggle to gain acceptance to allopathic programs. In such cases, I recommend that they retake the exam before applying or consider applying to osteopathic schools, where the mean score for matriculants was 502.97 in 2024 according to AACOM.
3. You submit weak letters of recommendation.
Submitting old letters of recommendation (i.e., letters that are a year old or older) or not submitting strong letters can substantially hurt your application. These letters are quoted and discussed at great length during selection committee meetings – they matter. Take the time to attend your professors’ office hours and to form bonds with your mentors so that you can be confident that you will have strong letters to support your application.
4. You include incorrect personal information on your application.
By accidentally listing the wrong country of your birth or the wrong state of permanent residence, you can cause your application to be flagged or even rejected by schools that prioritize residents. And, of course, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t intentionally present incorrect information (e.g., lie about your nationality, race, or any other detail that you may think is an advantage or disadvantage). Double-check all of your contact information, personal details, and family information to ensure they are correct – these are simple but easy places to make a major mistake!
5. You misrepresent your activities.
Just as you shouldn’t lie about any of your personal details, you also should never lie about what you have or haven’t done. If you do not have significant clinical, volunteer, leadership, or research experience, consider whether you are ready to apply. You can sign up for volunteer work in the months before you apply, but admissions committees can easily see your level of commitment. The strongest applications include a balance of activities that represent three or four of the aforementioned categories (research is optional for many medical schools) and that show a sustained effort. Committing to a group or organization for a year or longer is viewed more favorably than hopping from one activity to another, and doing so gives you a chance to contribute and grow within the group or organization.
6. You submit sloppy or underwhelming primary and secondary applications.
Essays that raise questions rather than providing answers often confuse and frustrate their readers. If your personal statement is challenging to read, most application reviewers will not read it all the way through. If your secondary answer doesn’t address the prompt you were given, you’ll lose their attention. Take the time to create outlines and thoughtfully approach your writing. You can use these essays as a rare opportunity in your life for deep assessment and reflection. The more you know about yourself and how you approach life, the more gracefully you will be able to transition into medical school to take on the responsibilities of a healer.
The same guidance applies to your activity/experience descriptions. Many applicants do not include everything that they have done or explain why each activity was important in their growth. Use every character allowed and complete each description requested, even if it is optional.
Putting in the time and effort to help the admissions committee gain a stronger idea of who you are as an individual will make all the difference. On the other hand, don’t just ramble on simply for the sake of filling up space. Make sure that what you say is substantive.
7. You apply late.
There’s long been a misconception that applicants must apply on the day that the AMCAS application opens or they won’t have a chance. This is not true. However, “early” applicants have an advantage because the admissions committees have just started reviewing potential candidates and offering interview invitations. A few months in, it can be harder to impress them with your story – and much harder to win one of the dwindling interview spots. If you are applying later in the season, make sure that everything on your application – your GPA, MCAT score, and activities – is stellar.
8. You have a weak interview.
After taking the time to submit an excellent application that earns you an interview, neglecting to prepare for the interview – such as by not participating in mock interviews – can seriously jeopardize your spot in the entering class! Mock interviews can help you develop the skills required to give a strong interview. Most people struggle with public speaking and interviewing; the difference between those who interview well and those who do not is practice.
The application process for medical schools is complex, and there are many potential landmines. To be successful in securing your seat, you must avoid these mistakes by adopting a strategy that highlights your strengths and downplays your weaknesses. Working with a professional consultant can make a dramatic difference.
Accepted can help! Schedule a free consultation with an Accepted expert. We can assist you in creating an admissions strategy that works for your unique situation.
Since 2001, Cydney Foote has advised hundreds of successful applicants for medical and dental education, residency and fellowship training, and other health-related degrees. Admissions consulting combines her many years of creating marketing content with five years on fellowship and research selection committees at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She’s also shared her strategy for impressing interviewers in a popular webinar and written three books and numerous articles on the admissions process.
Related Resources
