What qualities do health professions schools seek in applicants? There is no doubt that they want excellent students with a demonstrated ability in science who made the most of the academic opportunities available at Hopkins, made efforts to learn about the healthcare field, and have demonstrated a commitment to helping others. Furthermore, professional schools seek students who are mature, stable, honest, responsible, trustworthy, enthusiastic, intellectually curious, and capable of leadership. This is quite a list of qualifications. Successful applicants, however, must first demonstrate a mastery of the basic requirements in the biological sciences, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Recently, successful medical school applicants from Hopkins had an average science GPA of 3.47. The science expertise of most Hopkins students pursuing careers in healthcare typically exceeds that of most applicants nationwide. Our students take advanced seminars, and most perform independent research with a faculty mentor. Applicants must also demonstrate intellectual breadth by either majoring outside of the sciences or by taking a sample of coursework in the humanities and social sciences. From a pragmatic vantage point, the abilities to read rapidly and understand dense, sophisticated material in the humanities and social sciences are especially important for success on standardized tests. The MCAT average at Hopkins is 30.9 (9.8 verbal, 10.5 physical sciences, 10.6 biological sciences, and a P writing sample), and the average non-science GPA is 3.65. Successful applicants also need to establish relationships with at least four faculty members and a professional in their field of choice who know them well enough to write substantive letters of recommendation. Perhaps most importantly, health professions schools look for students who have demonstrated that they are lifelong independent learners. This quality is evident in the way they approach learning “for the sake of learning,” their intellectual curiosity, and their approach to learning in service roles outside of the classroom. Additionally, students must provide strong evidence of a firm motivation to pursue a career in healthcare. These students demonstrate through their actions that they care about the welfare of fellow human beings and that they can effectively deal with those of different cultural backgrounds. Through their experiences, students must also understand the obstacles and difficulties faced by today’s health professionals. Furthermore, students must develop the skills that will allow them to contribute to the health professions school community and to their intended profession. Not all students apply to health professions school during the summer prior to their senior year. Many students committed to careers in healthcare delay their application to health professions schools to pursue other opportunities. Some enter the Peace Corps, and some enter Teach for America. Some obtain master’s degrees in public health and pursue careers in that arena before later applying to health professions schools. We believe that, above all, it is important for parents and advisors to allow each student to find his own path and support him along the route. We emphasize with students that forty percent of our applicants are rising seniors, while the other sixty percent have allowed additional experiences to impact their application by applying as recent graduates or alumni of one or more years. Both those who apply as rising seniors and those who apply as recent graduates or alumni enjoy high rates of acceptance. Students should plan to apply to professional schools when they are ready to present the strongest application. When considering their options, students should choose the best time for them. If students elect to apply after graduating from college, they are NOT at a disadvantage when compared with other applicants.
Many students choose to apply to medical school after they have graduated from college for a number of reasons. Some start premedical courses later in their undergraduate careers; some wish to improve upon the grades they received as undergraduates; some need to retake the MCAT; some students still feel uncertain about whether or not they're ready for medical school; and others want to take time to make money, conduct research, travel, or perform public service.
Because medical school is a rigorous and high-pressure course of study and because it is expensive, it often discourages students from casually pursuing a medical degree. Medical schools have absolutely no bias against older applicants; in fact, the average entering age of first-year medical students is 25. Many students will present much more impressive applications if they wait until after graduation to apply.
Remember, it is better to take the time to build a stronger application than to apply prematurely. A rejection will always remain on your record. Another reason to make a careful and well-informed decision about your application timing is that the application process requires a great deal of investment, in terms of time, money, and hard work. This office will assist students in the application process whenever they choose to apply.
When students have decided that they are ready to apply, timing is very important. Most professional schools have rolling admissions, and it is to a student’s distinct advantage to be considered early in the admissions process. Do not wait for deadlines! The medical profession waxes and wanes in popularity. Over the past decade, the number of medical school applicants increased nationally, then it decreased for a number of years and now it is back on the rise Nonetheless, a high percentage of applicants from Johns Hopkins gain admission to medical schools each year. Broadly-educated applicants and applicants who have been involved in life as well as books present very competitive applications for spots at medical schools. For additional information about applicant trends, please refer to the charts produced by the American Association of Medical Colleges. Some medical schools, but by no means all of them, have early decision programs. Students should check the MSAR book or individual school web sites for more information. In order to be considered for early decision, students must submit and complete their applications by August. Medical schools will send replies by October 1. Between August and October, students are prohibited from applying to other schools. If students are rejected under early decision, they will be forced to submit rather late applications to other schools. Students should consider the repercussions carefully. Early application may save money and time, but considerable risks accompany a student's decision to pursue early decision. After students have received their spring grades and MCAT scores, they should talk the option over with their premedical advisors. |
