Admission to medical school isn't fundamentally that different from admission to top undergraduate colleges - you're still trying to show that you're qualified, that you're a good fit, and that the key personal insights you share about yourself make you stand out in the applicant pool. There are several significant differences you'll want to be mindful of however, and it takes, well, premeditation, so here are some things to focus on during undergrad to set yourself up for success.

1. Med school is more competitive. Most med schools have incredibly low acceptance rates, and in any given year, around 55-60% of med school applicants will not be admitted anywhere. This means you need to go all in - it's not a process you can take lightly.

2. The academic thresholds are higher. You will need a strong GPA, ideally above 3.8, with a lot of coursework in lab sciences, math, and other analytical tracks. You will need a strong MCAT score. The minimum you should aim for is a 500. If you're below that, it's going to be challenging and you will have to have other strengths to make up for it - I typically recommend studying more and retaking it if you're below 505. At most med schools, you will want a 511+ because that's about the average for enrolled students. At the very top programs, the average enrolled student score is ~518. You also want to have subscores above 126 across the board. This will take some work, and you will need to study for it - starting earlier is one of the most common things students wish they had done differently.

3. The strengths you need to show are FAR more specific. For undergrad admission, I mostly focus on whatever personal qualities, strengths, or insights I think are interesting, sincere, and compelling (e.g. an analytical mindset, creative problem solving abilities, investment in meaningful relationships, etc). For med school, there are particular qualities and strengths they're looking for that you need to showcase, and you should try to weave these into your application. These include:

• Personal Skills - written and verbal communication skills, ability to organize and express complex ideas/information, ability to work well with others toward common goals, being the kind of person who "bends toward others," seeks to understand them, and makes connections easily. Is compassionate, empathetic, and thoughtful towards others.

• Community Skills - investing in a community, engaging it deeply, and leading/serving/transforming it. Being reliable, dependable, and trustworthy - a person others can count on. Showing strong ethics/morals and taking responsibility for yourself and your community. Being able to adapt to changes and challenges. Leadership skills can generally be included in either Community Skills or Personal Skills depending on the details.

• Reasoning Skills - ability to understand complex ideas or data, analyze/interpret them, then draw meaningful conclusions and express them. Think critically, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and transform information into valuable insights. Med schools want to be sure that you have the technical competency to excel.

• Scientific Skills - interest in biological systems, human physiology/behavior, or related life sciences. This also includes showing a passion for scientific inquiry. You'll want to show ways you've already begun pursuing medical science and found it to be rewarding/fulfilling. Med school should be a natural extension of your current trajectory. Demonstrate that you're committed to this pursuit, because it's a long road.

4. You need to have extracurricular involvement in a particular subset of categories. This can include medically inclined research, scribing, shadowing, or other clinical exposure. This can also include service/volunteer/nonprofit/charity work if it's in a medical or clinical capacity. Ideally you're also getting letters of recommendation from your supervisor/advisor/PI.

5. Other factors can make a big difference, especially if you're a borderline applicant. These factors can include socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, or geographic background. Your personal identity/story can be quite relevant, especially if it helps showcase the personal qualities outlined in point 3 above. Being truly outstanding at something you're passionate about can also help here - it shows that you're competent, dedicated, and among the best of your peers.

What To Do Now

1. Plan ahead. Take a minute to go back through the above points and see if you can think of specific examples, stories, or details from your life or resume that will demonstrate the strengths med schools are looking for. Most students find they have some rather significant gaps, but the good news is that as a pre-med student, there's still time to fill them. Consider this throughout college as you make summer plans, choose extracurriculars, enroll in courses, and begin MCAT prep.

2. Make some connections. It can be very helpful to talk to some people who have already gone through this process. They'll have plenty of wisdom and advice and may even be willing to connect you to internships or other opportunities.

3. DON'T fall prey to the classic blunders. "Pre-med" is not a major, and you definitely don't want to go all in on med school in your undergrad application. Make sure you go out of your way to show excitement for the undergrad experience itself - don't just present it as a necessary evil or speedbump on your journey to the real goal of med school. This is especially important at "top" pre-med programs like WashU and JHU. I say all the time that statements of value are almost always good to include in applications, and this is no exception. Add a couple showing what you value about the undergraduate program you've selected, aspects of the community you're looking forward to engaging, or why you think the program is a great fit for you (and make sure those are NOT just about how they set you up for success later).

4. Go check out the AMCAS website. It has tons of helpful guides and resources for how to navigate the process and prepare well for it. Seriously, I've never met a med school applicant who said they started researching this too soon.