Applying to the wrong schools - Word of mouth can be very useful for determining whether a school provides a good education, but you’ll still need to do your own research if you want to find programs that will be right for your medical interests and career goals.
Writing a bland personal statement - Your personal statement will serve as your first opportunity to share something meaningful with the people evaluating your application. Simply repeating experiences you’ve already listed on your resume or sticking to a generic outline won’t help you stand out.
Not acquiring enough experience - Even if you have a 4.0 GPA and outperformed all your peers on the MCAT, you’ll still need to round out your application with plenty of hands-on experience if you hope to stand out to admissions committees. They’re looking for applicants who have a demonstrated interest in the field of medicine.
Making excuses - Very few students have a spotless resume, so there’s no need to be embarrassed about imperfections. That said, it’s important to take responsibility for that bad grade or that short-lived volunteer experience.
Trying to be someone you’re not - When wading through so many applications, admissions committees can struggle to notice the distinctions between one applicant and the next. You might be tempted to make yourself stand out by writing a personal statement you think they want to read, but you should never misrepresent yourself.
Failing to fully prepare for medical school interviews - Medical schools are often very selective about how many invitations they extend, so if you get invited for one or more interviews, it’s definitely something to be proud of. But this also means you should take your interview preparation seriously.
Enrolling at the first school that accepts you - Gaining acceptance to medical school may leave you feeling ecstatic, relieved, or a combination of the two. While you might be tempted to commit immediately after finding out you’ve been offered a seat, you’re better off taking some time to think it over.