The decision to reapply to medical school hinges on numerous factors, including what needs to change by your next submission. 

Several factors to consider as you decide to reapply to medical schools:

  • Review and reflect on your first application and ask yourself the following questions:
    • How well did my application represent my strengths and demonstrate my story about “why medicine”?
    • What, if any, weaknesses in clinical experience, service outside of healthcare, research, leadership/teamwork, MCAT, GPA, or application content may exist in my application?
    • How well did my list of schools align with the competitiveness of my application?
    • Did I submit my materials on time?
  • Reach out to medical schools that rejected your application for feedback on your application. You may receive insightful information to assist you in crafting a stronger application moving forward. We strongly recommend soliciting feedback from medical schools!
  • Plan to demonstrate significant growth or change from your first application in your areas of weakness; this may include additional experiences, further coursework, a stronger MCAT score, and more.  This may mean taking time in between cycles to do this well.
  • We suggest reworking your experiences, personal statement, and secondary essays for your next application. You are in a different place than you were a year ago and subsequent experiences may have influenced you in ways that need to be communicated in your next application.
  • Review the list of individuals who wrote letters of recommendation for your application and consider any changes you may want to make.
  • You might re-evaluate your school list so you can apply to schools that are a better match, or where you are not a reapplicant.
  • If you plan to retake the MCAT, develop a preparation plan that works for you and supports you in achieving your target score.
  • Make sure sufficient time has passed between your first application and second to demonstrate significant growth.  This often means taking a cycle off.

 

Preparing as a reapplicant

We encourage you to work with a prehealth advisor during your reapplication.  Reapplicants are eligible for an RMA appointment focused on the needs of a reapplicant.   If you are planning on rolling directly into the next cycle please see the webpage for that cycle for updates to the process, resources, deadlines and scheduling a reapplicant RMA.  Details regarding the requirements and deadlines for the Duke Institutional Letter packet can also be found on that page.  

 

If you are enrolled in or have completed a Special Masters or Post Baccalaureate program, talk with individuals in your program to see what advising services they offer for reapplication and whether they offer a letter. A program’s letter will provide you with a stronger and more recent evaluation of your academic strengths from their observation of your performance and activities in the program.

We are here to support you as you consider next steps on your journey to becoming a physician!