An Open Letter to the Health Professional School Reapplicant

If you are among the many pre-health students reapplying to health professional programs, this blog post is designed to set you up for success in your reapplication journey. Know that you are not alone, and that many competitive applicants do not receive acceptances! 

Reapplying to health professional school requires a careful and strategic approach, which involves reflecting on oneself, identifying areas for improvement, and developing a compelling story that showcases growth and dedication. Whether you are reapplying to medical school, dental school, PA school, or any other health professional program, the following information is designed to provide a roadmap for a successful reapplicant application. The following sections will discuss: 

1. The importance of self-assessment and reflection
2. Methodologies for strengthening your application 
3. Strategic considerations for reapplication

Before you begin developing your new application, it’s important to reflect on your previous application(s). First, analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and assess why your previous application may have been unsuccessful. Self-awareness will go a long way in crafting an application that stands out to admissions committees. Re-read your personal statements, take a look at your transcript, and review your professional experiences. You may also seek feedback from others by reaching out to pre-health advisors, schools where you were rejected (if they offer feedback), or mentors for constructive criticism. 

After this period of review, you will be well-equipped to identify areas of improvement and strengthen your application. This could look like: improving your GPA, test scores (like the MCAT or DAT), communication skills, personal statement, core competencies, or extracurricular activities. The following are the most common steps toward improving your application:

1. Improve Academics:
   1. If your GPA is a concern, consider taking additional courses as a non-degree-seeking student, pursuing a post-baccalaureate program, or focusing on relevant coursework to your chosen profession. 
   2. You can also assess the list of programs you applied to. How does your GPA compare to your schools’ averages? It may be worth adjusting your school list next cycle to more closely align with your metrics.   
2. Boost Test Scores:
   1. If your MCAT or DAT scores need improvement, dedicate time to focused preparation and practice. There are multiple ways to study, including online slide decks, preparatory books, and study groups. Common test prep organizations include Kaplan and The Princeton Review. 
   2. Did you take situational judgement tests, like the Casper or PREview exams? It may also be worth retaking these if your score was lower than you’d hoped. 
3. Enhance Extracurriculars:
   1. Gain more relevant experience through volunteering, shadowing, research, or leadership roles.
   2. Consider how your experiences are helping you develop the skills you’ll need in your future health career, including being able to work with people, practice compassion, and operate in a healthcare setting. Refer to the Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students (these competencies are universal to all health professions, in addition to medicine, and are very important to reflect on and articulate within your application).
4. Refine Your Personal Statement:
   1. Craft a compelling narrative that highlights your growth, experiences, and motivations for pursuing a health profession. 
   2. Consider taking AHS 3401, a 1-credit course on crafting your personal statement offered by the PHSRC.
   3. The UMN Writing Center offers consultations to help students craft effective written work.
   4. The PHSRC also offers 30-minute career counselor appointments to review personal statements.
5. Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation:
   1. Ensure that your letter writers know you well and can speak to your strengths and suitability for your health professional program. 
   2. Give your recommenders ample time (2-3 months) to construct your letter, and be sure to provide them with copies of your CV/resume and personal statement.
      1. Here is useful Advice for Letter Writers from the PHSRC.
   3. Review the PHSRC guide to securing strong letters of recommendation.
   4. There is also a letter of recommendation guide on the PHSRC website.
6. Practice your interview and communication skills:
   1. If you received many interview invitations, but were not accepted to any of your schools, this may be an indicator that interview preparation should be your area of focus for the next cycle. Admissions committees liked your primary (and secondary) application content, which is why you landed an interview! 
      1. Interviewing is nerve-racking. But, admissions committees also see the interview as a reflection of how you may communicate and interact with future patients, families, and healthcare team members. Try thinking of the interview in this light; if you’re passionate about serving patients, the interview is your time to show that!
   2. Anticipate common interview questions. Here are some sample pre-health interview questions formatted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
   3. Practice connecting your experiences with the pre-health core competencies. 
   4. Don’t just rehearse the questions on your own, have a friend or mentor ask you interview questions so you can work on articulating your answers aloud and in the moment.
   5. The PHSRC offers 30-minute career counselor appointments for interview preparation.

Finally, you will want to think strategically about your application. Be realistic about the time it takes to craft a competitive application and don’t rush the process. Give yourself enough time to fully review and update your materials. It is also important to choose schools strategically. Research programs that align with your goals, strengths, and values. Although it may be tempting to send off applications far and wide, it is far more advantageous to research schools in-depth and choose based on factors such as:

• Location - do you want to live in this location for multiple years?
• Metrics - how do your GPA and test scores compare with your school averages? 
• Mission - do the values of the university/program reflect your values?
• Prerequisites - do they match your academic history?

By thinking intentionally about these factors, you will be able to craft an application that aligns with the programs you apply to, increasing your likelihood of success. 

For more resources related to reapplication, check out this article from the AAMC for reapplicants to medical school, the PAEA article for reapplicants to PA school, and this ADEA article for reapplicants to dental school. The University of Minnesota also has guidance on reapplying to the dental school and the medical school. 

For more assistance on your reapplication journey, consider scheduling a 30-minute career counselor appointment with the Pre-Health Student Resource Center, or attend our upcoming Reapplicant Renovation Workshops on April 10 and 14, 2025. 

Written by Whitney Oachs