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What should I do if I can't get into medical school?

183 Answers
Last Updated: 09/09/2022 at 8:03am
What should I do if I can't get into medical school?
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Polly Letsch, LCSW

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

I provide non-judgmental, person-centered, objective therapeutic treatment for individuals of all ages to improve social, emotional, mental and other areas of functioning.

Top Rated Answers
Iauren
April 8th, 2016 8:12pm
There's not a "what if I can't" since those words are stopping you from thinking you can achieve your goal. "If you can dream it, you can achieve it"
hopedreamlove
January 12th, 2020 5:50pm
Don’t give up on your dreams. Yes, maybe you didn’t get into medical school, but their might be other opportunities in the medical field that you might find you are really passionate about. And, you can apply again if you really want to. Or, you might decide that maybe you don’t want to go into the medical field, and you can find something else you love. It’s okay to not succeed the first time, or the second, time, or even the third time. Keep trying until you succeed. Whatever you want to do, don’t give up on your dreams.
compassionateBlanket92
March 2nd, 2016 7:13pm
Follow a completely different path! Choosing a similar course will painfully remind you of "what could have been" if you had succeeded in medicine. Take some time to reflect and get to know yourself. Accept your unsuccessful attempt and grow by exploring a new path whereto can find happiness.
carefreeHeart57
March 1st, 2018 5:52pm
Re-apply. It shows dedication to the profession and determination at achieving your goals. But don't just automatically re-apply! Ask for an application review from your undergrad pre-professional committee or from a medical school that rejected you. Many will do it free of charge. Then make a plan to fix any deficiencies identified.
moonfly94
March 5th, 2016 2:49pm
Med school is hard to get into, there's no doubt about that... I see a couple of options - either find something else that you think you'd be happy doing, or keep trying! Sometimes a year out and some life experience gives you that edge that you need to stand out :) Best of luck with whatever you decide to do :)
Textingpals
October 30th, 2020 4:00pm
As an aspiring student of medical school myself, I would suggest you to have a safety net before you pursue such a competitive career. Have a just-in-case option in you mind. Do not ever think that getting into medical school is everything or that you aren't good enough if you do not. Life is not all about getting into schools or getting a degree. It's much more than that. Coming back to the topic, have two careers in mind. Something you are interested it except medicines, preferably a safer one. Have a proper career plan extending into future. If things go wrong, you can always turn to that. Not only would you have a secured career you are interested in, you would have a whole life to spend on things you love.
LouisaCT
February 24th, 2016 5:57am
Hi, I know it can be scary getting into programs, but first remember - there are other areas related to medicine that you might be just as happy in or enjoy contributing too. What about pharmacy, medical research, biology, being an EMT, etc? It doesn't mean you can't work in the medical field, it just may take a different approach. if you don't get in it's important to remind yourself that you may just be needed in another field of work, and keep your options open and your mind set to help people - in any way. Brainstorming is wonderful. Write down all the things you've done in your life (volunteer, jobs, etc) you've enjoyed, and why. Write down all the careers you possibly could see yourself in. Write down your values and life dreams - what's important to you and where do you see other aspects of your life headed? From there, start crossing things out. Compare your lists and think if there are limitations that rule some ideas out. Talk to professionals in the fields about what their jobs actually look like. Expose yourself to different angles of school and work, and be open to new possibilities and opportunities. Lastly, take time and take care of yourself. You don't have to have it all sorted out right now. Take the time you need to find what else you really want. If it is med school - try again. Don't give up because of one set-back if you know you're meant to be there. Best of luck and lots of care being sent your way.
Fenixashes37
February 13th, 2016 11:57am
Go somewhere else besides medical school. There's everything for everyone. Maybe medical school not for you.
WarmPenguinHugs
December 8th, 2016 12:37am
When applying for medical school have a look at other courses which allow entry at a later stage (I. E. Biomedical science). Often the entry requirements aren't as high and will allow a swap over into medicine should it be desired. The qualities sought to be a doctor are found in other professions such as paramedics, nursing, care home workers etc, so there are many avenues to go down to help people
Anonymous
March 8th, 2019 8:34pm
There are a lot of reasons why people are rejected from medical school. These may include poor grades, poor interview skills, lack of clinical experience, poorly written essays, late applications, among others. You must ask yourself what have I done wrong. Make a list of all possible weak areas and try to fix them. For example, if the problem is poor interview skills, then practice more and if the problem is poor grades, then go back to classes an try to improve them. Remember, medical school is very competitive. I would recommend that you try to apply to multiple medical schools at once and make sure you have met their prerequisites. If, however, none of these are working, there are reputable medical schools in the Caribbean. They are cheaper and have fewer requirements compared to other medical schools.
Anonymous
April 8th, 2016 3:04pm
Well the best option is to try harder the next time. Work and address the areas which went amiss the last time. However, it should also be made that not getting into medical school isn't the end of the world. Careers can grow and generate from everywhere.
Greatlistener87
February 18th, 2016 2:16am
There are lots of different majors you can go to that requires you to learn medicine. You can research more about it online and by talking to others.
niamh333
August 19th, 2017 3:34pm
If you didn't get in to the course you wanted to do (in this case, medicine), my advice would be to sit down and carefully figure out what you want to do. Do you still want to do medicine? If so, what do you need to do now so that you can get in? It might be that you need to resit exams, get more experience etc but I know a lot of people have to apply more than once. You may also decide medicine is not for you anymore, and that's okay. You might consider doing something in a similar field such as nursing or a science course. Or you might do something completely different! But take your time to figure out what that is and then chase it. Good luck!
BetListens
November 1st, 2017 11:48am
Having goals to aim for is great! It's only natural that with that we will have little doubt and worries about what happens if we don't achieve those goals - especially if they are important to us. The best way to handle this is to be prepared. Find out if there is any other path to getting into medical school. For example, if you don't get the grades at first sitting is there maybe a college course you would be happy to do for a year until you can reapply with improved/additional grades/experience?
sotdspec1
September 19th, 2020 9:08am
Hi, fellow medical student here. There is many things you can do if you can't get into medical school. The most important thing is to consider what do you really desire. If it is related to medical school, you can try it again and again. My half brother got into the school for the second time and I know fellow medical students who got into the school after the fourth attempt. Also, it is possible to switch to something similar. For example, if you are interested in mental health, you can aim to become a psychologist, or if you are interested in emergency situations, you can aim to become a paramedic. There are countless of choices you can take, the most important thing is to be aware of the options. I am sure you will find your way! :)
Anonymous
February 15th, 2018 3:16pm
Take a deep breath and try again. If this is what you really want, then never stop trying until you get it. This is your dream, your future, work on it. You can do this and you will. Keep going.
CalmRosebud
October 30th, 2021 1:07pm
Be like me and do something different! This actually happened to me! I couldn't get into medical school because some of my grades were not As. What I ended up doing was becoming an accomplished PhD in the field of education. Your life may look at some times like you are destined to do one thing, and then circumstances or real events shift your path a bit, and I am here and alive to tell you that you will be okay. I am running my own successful business and consulting with adults about improving their own lives. So you see, that's not what I expected to be doing because I was so fixed on the idea of becoming a Medical Doctor. But it is the fixed idea that caused the problem, not the actual events in my life, which each seemed to be put there so that I could learn more about myself, the world and my place in it.
calmwaves8
July 9th, 2020 11:57pm
You can re-apply. Before you re-apply, sit down with a pre-med advisor to go over the application. Some part of the application may need to be improved. Through this process, don't be hard on yourself! Don't rush it either. Once you improve what you think you need to improve, re-apply. Your determination and perseverance will definitely show. You can may be think of other career that relates to or within the medical field. Assuming from your goal to go to medical school, you like to take part in patient recovery and patient's well being. Find career that may align this passion like nurse or physician assistant. There are countless options to choose from.
Anonymous
August 5th, 2016 4:43pm
Medical school can take a lot of time and effort. If it is really a dream of yours that you want to achieve, consider trying other avenues. Sometimes, the timing just is not right, but it does not mean all hope is lost.
aleafonthew1nd
May 28th, 2020 10:37am
It must feel discouraging to not get into medical school. Though it’s a noble profession, any efforts you put into achieving that goal aren’t gone and are still a great reflection of your character. The act of trying is much more important than the results of our actions, and I’m proud of you for being brave enough to take those steps in the first place. That cannot be taken from you. I know it can be difficult to either try again or to consider other academic or career options, but both are equally valid choices! You know yourself better than anyone else, so I feel like a good place to start is to ask yourself this question: “what can I not NOT do?” And then make steps towards that. Do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it, because I’ve been in a similar position, and there is hope that you’ll get to where you want to be.
Anonymous
June 26th, 2020 5:22am
There are various options available like dentistry, Pharmacy, physiotherapy, pharmacy d , AYUSH courses like Ayurveda , homeopathy, Unani (India), bachelor's in various sciences like genetics , biotechnology , biochemistry, botany, zoology, forensic science etc. You can also persue in computer science, cybersecurity, aviation science, management , hotel management, law , mass communication , journalism, etc . If you are interested in designing you can go for graphic designing, interior designing, apperal design , jewellery design and many more. Just try to find your interest and persue it because every field will give you success if you are hard-working and unique.
StrRock
February 14th, 2020 11:40am
Hello, friend. I am very sorry that you can't get into a medical school, but that's not the end of the world. If you want to work in that area, you can buy a pharmacy, for example. You just have to search for some information about Buy sell pharmacy. You will find a lot of sites like this one https://pharmacysales.com.au/. It's a pretty good investment, because a pharmacy can be very profitable. I have a friend that is a pharmacy owner too, and he sais that he is very happy and that he earns a lot of money on it. It's a very nice business, and if you like that area, why not.
lexisspace
July 8th, 2018 4:41pm
If you want it enough, you'd try again and again. But of you didn't get in and you feel like you don't belong in medical school, by all means you should try another career path! Don't waste your life without expieriencing what really makes you happy.
AglaosMarco
April 2nd, 2020 10:35pm
If you want to get into medical school really bad, you can always give it another shot if you don't get in the first time and that's perfectly fine. If that's not an option, I suggest that you do a research on other careers related to medicine too, such as biology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals,genetics etc. Who knows, maybe you'll end up liking another related career even more! In any case, don't forget to be persistent, positive and confident, and it will all be okay in the end. Don't waste your time thinking what if, take matters in your own hands and don't let anyone (including yourself) convince you that you can't achieve your goal.
Anonymous
June 11th, 2020 5:32pm
Take a gap year, this will give you time to reflect and improve your application, giving a higher chance of getting in next year! If not then you may go for your second option, and if possible take a conversion course. Don't forget you can apply for medicine as many times as possible, so do not feel put down at all by not achieving your goal at first! Look at the positive side, you have a year to focus on various aspects which let you down first time round. However make sure you focus during this time, as using it valuable is key.
theheartproject
April 10th, 2020 7:16pm
You can get into med school if you want to. How willing are you to go an extra mile to get you to achieve this goal? If it is the grades, look into foundation years in other countries. Pre-University courses could help. Research is key. With an open mind, look into all the options you have at hand, sit down with yourself and evaluate all options; both pros and cons. Get someone you trust or people you trust and share with them your thoughts and they can help you. You could visit a career counselor too. You can do another course related to medicine for example Biomedical science and join medical school. All hope is not lost. I once felt like this when my grades were low that I couldn't get into med school and I evaluated all my options. Now I am in med school. So you too can get to Med school.
luminousWords
April 26th, 2020 3:57am
You can always keep trying to apply, but if you don't want to apply anymore and can't get in, realize there are tons of other ways to get involved in the medical profession and "helping people" than just becoming a doctor. As a medical student, the fear of not getting in kept me up many nights, but ironically once I was in medical school there were just as many nights when I doubted whether medical school was right for me. There are tons of different types of therapists, different levels of nursing degrees, and masters/doctorates that provide crucial care to people; and oftentimes have more face-time with patients than MDs do. Different volunteering opportunities (esp in hospitals) can expose you to other professions you may never have heard of but are worth looking into if med school doesn't pan out. I know not getting into med school can feel like the end of the world, but don't let the bitterness of rejection make you turn away from so many other just as important opportunities to make a positive impact
Almira14
April 22nd, 2020 3:54pm
Getting into medical school isn’t the only thing you can do. If you have a favourite hobby why not consider taking it to a professional level. You love cooking, why not consider studying culinary arts in College. Sure, your parents might not want you studying anything else but tell them why you don’t want to go to medical school. If you really want to get into medical school, you really have to read hard. Work, push yourself if that’s what you really want. If you’ve passed the point of no return in your grades, pick something else. There’s no point working yourself over something you might not enjoy that much. There’s really always something else no matter your tastes.
bountifulCreature9495
May 15th, 2020 10:35am
This is a problem that I am going through personally at the moment. What should I do if I don't get into my school? I cannot give you a definite answer as I don't know your personal circumstances but the fact that you have a chance to go into medical school means that you're very clever and have a good heart. You can do anything you set your mind on. There must be other options you can explore and that you will love. You can always defer or try to retake your exams at a different date which means you might get in if your heart is set on that.
SS2328
April 26th, 2020 10:58pm
I am a strong believer that things happen for a reason. Maybe God has different plans for your future. You can either choose a different career choice or if this is something that you want in your heart, then keep trying. If one school does not take you there might be another one that will. At the end of the day it will not matter what school you get your degree from, just remember once you have your doctorates degree, no matter from what school it is from it is still a doctorates degree. If you want something you must never give up.