What to do if you have no research experience for medical school?

Don’t panic. If other areas of your application are competitive, then it’s not necessarily a big deal. Med schools admissions often only “prefer” research. They don’t make it an absolute must.

Of course, to be sure whether the schools you plan on applying to see research this way, you’ll need to check with their individual admissions criteria.

And if you’re not in that position, then this is the article for you.

We’ll discuss:

• How to get research opportunities fast
• Why your reason for not having research experience may be important
• If you can actually get into med school without it

As a med student that’s gone through the whole process myself, I understand the anxiety that comes with the question. Hopefully, this article can help show you the types of things you can do to feel more positive.

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

How to get research for medical school fast

Here’s what to do if you’re in a bind and need to hit the ground running.

Head to your pre-med/pre-health advisor immediately

The best place to get started is at your college’s pre-health advising services. They’ll likely have contacts or know of programs local to the area. Reach out to them to make connections on your behalf.

Get volunteer exposure in a lab

If you’re a non-trad applicant or your school doesn’t have a pre-health advisor, hit Google and get a list of research labs in your city/area.

Start going through contacts, ring numbers, and reach out to heads of research teams (or people in other positions) via LinkedIn (yes, it pays to have a LinkedIn account).

Just getting exposure to a lab environment can often be a good substitute for actually doing research.

It’ll show you’re at least familiar!

Search research faculties and do cold outreach

The same goes for colleges and teaching hospitals (even those where you aren’t enrolled).

Start contacting people listed as faculty and explain your circumstances and your willingness to commit as a volunteer. Possibly even consider dropping by in person if you know the specific locations.

If you already have the creds then look for research jobs. If you don’t, then know that you can score entry-level jobs as an assistant via sites like glassdoor.com and indeed.com.

Hunt for city-specific research/shadowing summer programs

Look for dedicated research internships and programs in your city (I detail a lot of them in my shadowing/research guides).

Most are competitive and require you to apply far in advance, but they can still be useful to know about if you run out of time and consider re-applying for med school again in the future.

Consider virtual/online opportunities

These types of programs, although rare, can be fairly easy to get started with owing to the fact you don’t have to travel anywhere.

Start your search for them on the web now.

What’s the easiest research to get involved with?

It’s probably best to apply for jobs as a research assistant. You can usually land jobs here without any specific credentials or STEM background.

Research jobs/internships in the public health sector are also in high demand.

They’re often just as relevant to an application as dedicated medical research too.

What happens if you still can’t get research experience?

Shoot for as high an MCAT and GPA as you can. Then focus on other extracurriculars. Try and shape them so that you pick up leadership experience, important responsibilities, and some aspect of community involvement.

Engage your passions, get to work and then write the best personal statements of your life.

Why don’t you have research experience?

Although a general browse of Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) data suggests that around 75% of applicants have research experience, your reason for not having any may be legitimate.

If you didn’t have time because you were pursuing some other important extracurricular, then that’s fine.

Adcoms will recognize the passion you placed in other things and hopefully still see you’re capable of medicine.

If you didn’t get any research experience but had the time and never tried, then that’s a different story.

In that case, you better hope the extracurriculars you detail have something special about them (or that you get a seriously impressive letter of recommendation), or try and get some by following the tips above.

Either way, the reason is important. It can make or break your application.

Related: What Counts As Research Experience For Medical School? (Explained)

Can you get into medical school without research experience?

The short answer is yes (even if it does put you at a disadvantage).

As I’ve mentioned before, research is not a prerequisite for most med schools.

If you have amazing extracurriculars and an incredible GPA/MCAT score, that’ll equalize the playing field more. Especially if you consider Adcoms teams allocate points to different aspects of an application.

But you’ll also stand more of a chance if you consider the following things…

Non-research heavy medical schools

Med schools outside of the top 20, or those considered “less competitive”, might look at your lack of research experience more favorably.

Because they’re not as dependent on research for funding, they’re not as demanding of it from their matriculants.

You could also tailor your application to what they do well outside of research (suggesting that you’re “more interested” in primary care, for example).

I go into all this in more detail here:

Related: Research Heavy Med Schools (8 Important Facts)

State schools

Another possible avenue to explore is applying for state schools.

Based on the idea that they “favor in-state applicants”, they might overlook your lack of research credentials.

Nontrad

Your lack of research may be a lot more explainable if you’re applying as a career changer or non-traditional student.

Diversity of experience can do a lot to make up for it.

Related: 9 Best Medical Schools For Nontraditional Students (Explained)

Other disadvantages

And if socioeconomic or minority issues come into play, you might be in a better position (than you would otherwise) too.

It’s just something else to consider!

When you have no research experience: Reddit’s recommendations

One thing that can help you keep from feeling disheartened is reading positive stories.

Luckily, the r/premed community has a ton of them when it comes to students making it into med school with zero research experience.

Take a look at some of these anecdotes for a start.

I didn’t have any research and I got into a top 35 school (for research per U.S. news rankings)

– max_923

I got IIs to multiple top 10s with basically no research because it just never interested me (literally what I said in my interviews). It’s possible.

– Luvestosplooge

If you have long-term clinical experience and non-clinical volunteering, that should be fine. I have zero research under my belt and was accepted.

– sagasheus

If you really don’t want to do research, and you have the funds for it, it wouldn’t hurt to apply to like 5-8 that you’re interested in. I would say your interview chances are pretty low, but as long as you apply to plenty of mid-tier schools you shouldn’t have an issue getting an acceptance somewhere!

– steaklover4

I got in without. But — I’m a non trad with a weird trajectory where my lack of research was explainable.

– awkwardpennster

Final Thoughts

You definitely shouldn’t worry if you have no research experience for medical school. Due to your circumstances, it can be understandable. And if you’re strong in other areas of your application it’s often less of an issue.

Bear in mind too that some candidates have a ton of research experience but might be horrible at writing about it (see: How To Write About Research For Medical School (Important Tips!)) – that could count in your favor!

But if you are still concerned, don’t panic either. Follow the advice above to start getting involved as soon as you can.

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

But one of the best places to go for inspiration, especially as it’s nameless and faceless, are communities like Reddit.

There, people seem to feel freer to express their essay ideas. As well as get critique!

Here I’ve distilled through a ton of posts to present some of the best tips I could find on the topic.

Ready to get started with Reddit’s 14 best? Let’s go!

Need detailed writing tips first? Check out this article; How To Write The Best Diversity Essay In Medical School (Explained).

Tips For Diversity Essays In Medical School (Reddit’s 14 Best)

Open yourself up

 You don’t have to hone in on just one aspect of yourself; you can write about multiple things.

– u/scubapollo

An important point to start on. Especially when sitting down to come up with ideas.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you only have to pick one!

It doesn’t need to be overly crazy

It doesn’t need to be some crazy experience. How many doctors do you think are marathon runners? Probably not many. You could write about your challenges and process of running, how you push through the obstacles, what you like about it, and how those qualities will benefit you as a student. What matters is that you transform something you do into a way to reflect on the qualities allow you to do it, what you’ve learned from it, and how that changes your behavior/perspectives in the future.

– u/ouganoma

A lot of people get hung up coming up with ideas because they feel their history or story isn’t interesting or exciting enough. That doesn’t need to be the case.

Seemingly run-of-the-mill hobbies can make for interesting subjects.

…Or serious

My diversity essay was very light hearted. I just talked about how much I love gardening. I hadn’t really talked about it much in my primary application, so I thought that it was a good place to add it in. If you feel strongly about your two experiences, it’s totally acceptable to write about them.

– u/poopooj

The same goes for activities.

Show passion (or a love for something) in your diversity essay, and you’ll often highlight unexpected parts of yourself. You don’t need to be serious or academic. Adcoms are looking for relatable humans above anything else!

Show you’re a real person who cares about things!

Its not about it being “some objectively cool activity” its about having something you care about. Real people have interests and things they care about. Seriously, I wrote about reading and going on walks with my dog as some of my interests. That’s a pretty average interest, yes, but I care about it. Adcoms are looking for real people who care about things and by doing so, enrich the lives of their classmates, their patients, and their communities.

– u/bright_and_peachy

This comment proves exactly that.

Even things as common as reading and dog walking can be used to craft an excellent diversity essay.

Creativity pays.

Diversity Essay White Girl – dilemma solved!

I am an upper middle-class white girl – I wrote my diversity essay on opera. Seriously. And the people who’ve edited my stuff have seemed to like it so I guess I did OK!

Step 1: pick a thing you enjoy that is important to you.

Step 2: explain how that thing influences the way you think about yourself, other people, and the world.

Step 3: relate step 2 to medicine in literally any way (as long as it is true for you).

– u/bluemooniris314

One of the biggest sticking points many have with diversity essays is when they’re written from the perspective of someone who’s not typically “diverse”.

But, as this commenter proves, that doesn’t have to be an obstacle.

Again, focus on something that you have a passion or love for.

Diversity Essay White Guy – dilemma solved!

This one was tough for me because I am a white male that grew up in an advantaged family and community. I tackled my diversity essay by describing my experiences and how they helped me to develop a unique perspective and approach to medicine.

– u/fruitandnuts

There’s no need to shy away from what you are either.

If you don’t feel you’re particularly diverse, it’s fine to show an understanding of that. What matters is that you show you’ve been on some kind of journey to expand your cultural experiences.

Sell your travel experiences

I wrote about some crazy experiences I had backpacking in Asia for half a year. I spent a decent amount of time in some rural or third world areas and met some amazing folks. I wrote about the perspectives I gain and my philosophy on culture.

– anonymous

One way of also overcoming the above is to capitalize on your travel experiences or adventures.

Showing what you’ve learned from travels in other parts of the world; and how they’ve helped develop your character, can be a great way to start coming up with some good ideas.

Talk about your involvement in societies or clubs

I spun my involvement with my school’s Japanese Culture Association as a diversity essay for a couple of schools. I’m not Japanese, but even if I were, even that could be spun as diversity by espousing the virtues of inclusiveness and getting others involved in another culture.

– u/Celdurant

Likewise, you don’t need to have necessarily traveled someplace to gain cultural insight.

Involvement in clubs or associations can often deliver important lessons and new understandings.

Consider your history

Some ideas for diversity: do you play an interesting musical instrument? Have an interesting hobby? What is that “wow” factor that people like hearing about you? Have you grown up outside of the U.S? Speak multiple languages? What organizations are you involved in at school? Are you non traditional? I.e. Did you pursue another career path before medicine? Are you studying something really unique outside of basic sciences?

– u/serpuoy

Coming up with the best ideas can involve a lot of questions. Prepare to go deep. Prepare to get personal.

Perhaps think about some of these someplace quiet outside in nature.

I know that I’ve had some of my best ideas there!

….and upbringing

I talked about being a first-gen college student and the perspective on education that comes with that as well as the challenges of earning a degree.

– u/myboysiddartha

How you were brought up can be just as informative as what happened to you while growing up.

Being the first generation of your family to do anything major can be a great starting point.

It shows courage in the face of adversity!

Consider any past careers

Teaching and tutoring could be a pretty decent diversity essay. You bring the perspective of someone who’s spent time educating, which is a huge part of a practicing physician’s job!

– u/alwayspositiveguy

Certain careers pair very well in terms of diverse experience.

Teaching and tutoring are two good examples, often bringing harmony and unity to broken or fractured communities.

Typical pre-med stuff? That can be diverse enough too!

Don’t automatically write off all of your activities as being “typical premed stuff”. If you have unique volunteering/research that you believe has contributed to your character significantly, those traits most certainly have a place in a diversity essay. I like to think of these essays as, “through my various experiences, what qualities/perspectives have I developed that will bring something different to the table in med school.”

– u/jayhiller21

And if you’re worried that your extracurriculars may not help you look all that diverse, don’t be.

Just use this advice to help frame them more uniquely.

…including extracurricular research

I wrote one of my diversity essays about my research experience working with people from different cultures. My main points was that everyone was in the lab for different reasons and motives (To get a job in the US, for personal growth, or unknown reason), and despite our differences, we worked together in harmony, while respecting each other’s values.

– u/stoyloks

Nailed it!

But be careful about your passions

Diversity essays are not where you discuss historical abuse done to underrepresented populations, but rather where you talk about your OWN diversity, what you bring to the school, and the underrepresented populations you have subsequently worked with. Calling out bigotry is good, but not what you would write in a diversity essay.

– u/nerdanese

Don’t get too carried away with the politics if you can help avoid it. Passion is good but it can lead you to risky places.

Be careful not to put people (especially Adcoms) on the defensive.

Stay as neutral as you can.

Final Thoughts

I hope hearing real advice and stories from other pre-meds who’ve gone before you might serve as encouragement.

I appreciate the hardest thing is getting started, but sometimes you’ve just got to go do that.

If you need any help structuring your essay or putting your ideas into words, make sure you check out my article; 6 Medical School Diversity Essay Examples (Ranked Best To Worst!)

Related Articles

• How To Conclude Your Medical School Personal Statement

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

A good way to prepare and get a better understanding of what diversity essays are all about is to take a look at prompts. Reading them; you can see recurring themes, common questions, and how schools even try to “diversify” their own diversity questions!

In this article I’ve put together 21 examples and grouped them together under the following categorizations:

• Prompts from Ivy League medical schools
• Prompts from mid-tier schools
• Prompts from low-tier schools
• Prompts from D.O. schools

I hope that by reading them you’ll get a better idea of what diversity essays are about!

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

Just want quick writing tips? Check out this article; How To Write An Awesome Diversity Essay In Medical School (5 Quick Tips).

How can you find specific prompts for schools you’re applying for?

The best way to stay on top of secondary essay prompts is via the community at The Student Doctor Network.

There, you can sign up for alerts on application information (and secondary prompts) specific to each school.

You’ll also see new threads for every year of admission!

Diversity essay topics

You’ll see the most common topics from these prompts include:

• Your educational environment
• Your cultural and socioeconomic background
• Your ethnicity
• Your geographic origin
• Your lifestyle
• Your gender identity
• Your sexual orientation
• Your physical ability/challenges
• Your views on social justice
• Your work experience

Ivy League medical school diversity essay prompts

Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive and colleges change these prompts every year.

You’ll also notice that not every school asks for a secondary essay based on diversity!

Pay close attention to the word count of your school’s prompt when it comes to writing…

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.) (1000 characters)

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your background and experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? 300 words.

Harvard Medical School

If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (4000 character maximum)

Geisel School of Medicine

Geisel School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Reflect on a situation where you were the “other”. (250 words)

Yale School of Medicine

Yale School of Medicine values diversity in all its forms. How will your background and experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (500 words limit)

Alpert Medical School

How will your unique attributes (e.g., cultural or socioeconomic background, lifestyle, work experiences) add to the overall diversity of the Alpert Medical School community? (2000 characters)

Mid Tier medical school diversity essay prompts

*Schools typically ranking 10-20 in common medical school rankings

These schools follow the same trends as those of the Ivy League ones. They also expect you to think about socioeconomics, sexual orientation, gender, and ethnicity, etc.

Some recycle their prompts every year. Others (like John Hopkins/Vanderbilt) are a little more open to creativity.

Duke University

Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

Stanford University

The Committee on Admissions regards the diversity (broadly defined) of an entering class as an important factor in serving the educational mission of the school. The Committee on Admissions strongly encourages you to share unique, personally important and/or challenging factors in your background which may include such discussions as the quality of your early education, gender, sexual orientation, any physical challenges, and life or work experiences. Please describe how these factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine and may help you to uniquely contribute to the Stanford learning environment. (2000 characters)

Johns Hopkins University

Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (2500 characters)

Optional: You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. (2500 characters)

University of Pittsburgh

UPSOM is committed to building a diverse and talented community that will train physicians in delivering culturally competent, person-centered care, and promoting a supportive, collaborative learning environment. To achieve this, we want our fellow students to recognize health disparities and advocate for health equity. We are interested in combating all forms of systemic barriers, and would like to hear your thoughts on opposing specifically: systemic racism, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and misogyny. How will you contribute? (Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

Vanderbilt University

Tell us about a time when you interacted with someone who is different than you. What did you learn? What would you do differently? (600 words)

Northwestern University (Feinberg)

The Feinberg School of Medicine values diversity as a measure of excellence. We define diversity as the totality of the characteristics and experiences of our students. We believe that a diverse student body improves the educational environment and the ability of our graduates to serve an increasingly diverse patient population. Narrative Descriptions: Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 word max)

Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific interest in medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago which is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 word max)

Low Tier medical school diversity essay prompts

*Schools typically ranking outside the top 20 in common medical school rankings

Diversity is at the heart of all medical colleges in the U.S.

Rankings? Have nothing to do with a school’s level of commitment – as you’ll see with these prompts!

Make sure you read your school’s mission statement along with their prompt, that’ll help you better approach an answer.

University of Iowa (Carver)

Describe any unique personal characteristics or obstacles you may have overcome that will influence your contribution to a diverse healthcare system.

Temple University (Katz)

How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2000 characters)

Florida Atlantic University (Schmidt)

Diversity means understanding that each individual is unique and recognizing our individual differences. Describe what uniqueness you would bring to the Schmidt COM. We are proud to already have a medical school rich in cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. What values, skills, talents, and life experiences would you add to our culture? (1600 characters)

SUNY Upstate Medical University

Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice. (500 words)

George Washington University

What makes you a unique individual? What challenges have you faced? How will these factors help you contribute to the diversity of the student body at GW? (1000 characters)

D.O. medical school diversity essay prompts

You’ll also see that D.O. schools require diversity essays just as often as their allopathic counterparts.

The same writing rules and strategies apply.

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM)

Other than healthcare access, what are some of the most important health care issues confronting underserved communities? How would you address them?

Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from this experience?’

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM)

NYITCOM values diversity, equity, and inclusion. How will your background and experiences add to our inclusive culture and how will this focus influence your future role as a physician? (Max. 1000 characters)

What should you do with a medical school diversity essay prompt?

The next best step is to look at your school’s mission statement. Examine what their aims and objectives are in terms of student and faculty representation. Understand that, then try to draw parallels from your own background that lend themselves well.

Use it to brainstorm a couple of points from your life that fit the prompt. Then choose what you feel are the best ones and start writing a couple of rough drafts.

The important thing is to make an attempt early. That’ll make it seem less daunting!

Where can I see medical school diversity essay examples?

I’ve ranked some of the best diversity essay examples I could find, along with giving them a small critique, in the following article…

Related: 6 Medical School Diversity Essay Examples (Ranked Best To Worst!)

Hopefully, scanning over those can give you further ideas on what to think and write about.

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

In this article, we’ll be looking at Reddit’s opinion on how best to get into Harvard Medical School (HMS).

Why? Because sometimes the opinions and insight of Reddit can be more honest (and actionable) than that delivered by admission and consultation teams.

Hopefully, you can find some pointers here to help you best prepare.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

Before we get started you may want to check out my other article in the how to get into medical school Reddit series here. There’s plenty of unique info there!

How To Get Into Harvard Medicine: Reddit’s Best Tips

1. Work on unique extracurriculars

Got in, but not attending. Everyone I know who got in was more than just a stats person. Everyone did a bunch of extracurriculars (ECs), and they often were really easy to talk to. Probably interviewed well and had great letters of recommendation to supplement strong grades, MCAT, and ECs. And their ECs weren’t cookie cutter; they were things that the people loved to do.

u/strikerzo

Working on obtaining extracurriculars that go outside the norm, especially those that involve strong community involvement, are some of the things mentioned by other Harvard med students. It’s something highlighted in the article below…

Related: How Hard Is It To Get Into Harvard Medical School? (Explained!) [2021]

2. Aim to be a top achiever (but stay grounded)

A friend of mine is there now. He got >99th percentile on the MCAT and has a super high GPA. He has both a Master’s and PhD in science fields. He built prosthetics in one developing country and ran the healthcare system for a large portion of another one. He’s fluent in Spanish (self-taught), super pleasant/agreeable, and did lots of mentorship/volunteering stuff. He went to an Ivy for undergrad, but not Harvard.

u/Sekhmet3

Obviously, it’s near impossible to get into Harvard med without exceptional academic achievement. But, as well as being a top achiever and go-getter, it’s important you remain personable and grounded.

Getting additional educational experience in other postgraduate fields, as well as experience in the medical/healthcare industry, also seems to be a big plus!

And if you didn’t already know about the HMS admissions process (and requirements), make sure you check it out here!

3. Get plenty of research hours (but don’t sweat publications)

I interviewed here and some other top 10 schools. I made it to plenty of waitlists and got a couple acceptances overall. MCAT/GPA of 522/3.93 with few thousand hours research (no pubs during app/updates), mid-upper hundreds volunteering, very emotional/real personal statement, and talked a lot about the many thousands of hours I put into my sport that I love so much…

u/ACuriousBird

Harvard Medicine is a research-heavy school. Showing that you have the capability and expertise to work on research projects can go a long way in any application.

4. Maybe sweat publications!

I was browsing LinkedIn and found a Harvard MD-PhD student with a mutual connection. He had 4.0 at Stanford Bio/CS, did research throughout almost all of college, and matriculated without a gap year. Here’s the killer: he had 6 publications prior to matriculation. None of them were junk journals either; 3 of 6 were in Nature and 1 of them was in Cell. The journal with the lowest impact factor was like a 4.9. Oh, not to mention he held leadership in multiple clubs.

u/santiationengineer

Of course, having publications in some of the more outstanding journals is going to help! But you’ll still have to be a rounded applicant in other areas.

Browsing LinkedIn to see the credentials of accepted HMS students is another top tip. Especially if you can find ones matriculating in the years closest to you.

5. Your personal statement is everything

I am pretty confident that I got an interview because I had a robust set of meaningful extracurriculars and my personal statement was very, very good. Almost everyone I interviewed with commented on my personal statement and how much they appreciated it. It was a very unique and personal account of how medicine intersects with my religious/spiritual background and aspirations. It likely read as very genuine because it was, well, very genuine…The interviews went extremely well. I have no regrets. I would guess that my numbers probably ended up holding me back.

u/mister_ratburn

I’ve got a lot of content on this on the topic of representing your experiences in writing. Finding an interesting spin on what makes you a diverse applicant is one of those methods, and, as this successful applicant suggests, being genuine is the key.

Related: How To Write An Awesome Diversity Essay In Medical School (5 Quick Tips)

6. Where you go for undergrad could matter

In the land of top 20 med schools, coming from a top 10 undergrad really helps. If you had an MCAT/GPA of 516+/3.9+ and standard ECs but if your undergrad was Harvard, Yale, or Princeton (HYP), then getting into HMS or another top 20 is very feasible. Coming from a no-name state school, you need to be exceptional to get into the top 20. My very large (class size ~20K, ~300 people applied) state school only had 5-10 people get into the top 20s. The rest went to state MD schools and mid-tiers.

u/denzil_holles

For the top medical schools, undergraduate prestige is also argued to make a difference. Many successful applicants seem to agree with this.

7. Overcoming the odds can be appealing

Med schools like HMS HIGHLY value those who have traveled a great distance and look for those who are the first in their family to go to college, etc. They also understand it if applicants have constraints on their time because they have to work to help defray the cost of college. The fact remains, though, that most of the people enrolling in med school come from fairly comfortable backgrounds. But med schools look for those who break that mold.

u/ThompsonAdvising

Looking past the “traditional applicant” to consider things like the socioeconomic and racial backgrounds of students does seem to be a current trend with med schools like Harvard. As their commitment to diversity is a strong one, coming from an underrepresented minority could definitely play in your favor.

8. Sometimes it’s a little down to luck

I know a person who is the definition of a perfect applicant (scores, extracurriculars, research, volunteering) and even has a heartwarming backstory, who interviewed but was not accepted. Yeah, they’re at another top school, but honestly, nothing you do can guarantee an acceptance at Harvard in my opinion.

u/MaroneySandwich

Sometimes you can do seemingly everything and be a superb candidate on paper but it just doesn’t work out for you. Don’t apply for Harvard med thinking there’s any guarantee.

Remain open-minded to the dozens of other top-tier schools that might be just as willing to listen.

Final Thoughts

There’s a ton of information on what’s expected from Harvard medicine out there on the web but a lot of it is rather ambiguous.

Hopefully, the article above has given you a bit more to think about other than the obviously high MCAT and GPA you probably already know you have to aim for!

Note: And if you were in any doubt about the importance of those two “opening the door” for your application, check out the histogram below…

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

In this article, we’ll be looking at Reddit’s opinion on how best to get into Stanford Medical School.

Why? Because sometimes the real-talk of Reddit is a lot more reliable (and actionable) than that put out by big med school admissions teams and the like.

Hopefully, you can find some pointers to help you best prepare.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

Before we get started you may want to check out my other article in the how to get into medical school Reddit series here. There’s plenty of unique info there!

How to Get into Stanford Medicine: Reddit’s Best Tips

1. You need a “wow factor”

If you have a wow factor (cool and unique non-trad job, TFA/peace corps, Rhodes scholar, etc) and a very strong academic history at a good undergrad school then I’d go for it. If not, I’d save the cash.

u/anonymous

You can read about Stanford Med’s exact admissions policy on the FAQ section of their website.

2. Focus on research

Stanford really really likes research and publications. If you’re not research heavy the odds are against you.

u/BananaSplits_79

I’ve got lots of articles on the importance of research in med school. Be sure to check out one of my favorites below.

Related: How Many Hours Of Research For Medical School Is Best? (Explained)

Stanford doesn’t explicitly state anything about needing research in their admissions policy but they do have one of the biggest research schools in the country.

It’s also home to the esteemed Stanford Medical Scholars Research Program.

3. Be a leader in research

Stanford: I was admitted here, and “research” is an understatement. They are specifically looking for people who want to be leaders and innovators in biomedical research…extra points if you have a background in biotech or engineering. A fair amount of their graduates choose to not go into residency.

u/Ccw07

If you need any further clarification, Stanford doesn’t just want research. They want you to be a leader and innovator!

Extra points for choosing a difficult STEM undergrad too.

Related: What’s The Easiest Pre Med Major?

4. Studying for undergrad at Stanford can definitely work in your favor

The initial screen [for admissions] is based solely on a calculated score that involves GPA, MCAT and the strength of your undergrad school. It goes something like 3 points for a GPA of 3.8 and above, 2 points for 3.6 to 3.8, 1 point for 3.3 to 3.6. 3 points for MCAT of 36 or above, 2 for 32-36, 1 for 30-32. 3 points for Cal, Stanford or other ivy league/top tier schools, 2 points for mid tier schools, and 1 point for lower tier schools and Cal state schools (CSU, not UC).

u/kipuck17

Admittedly this information is from 2012 so is probably outdated but there are still big rumors that top-tier schools like Stanford still operate this way.

5. Have a strong narrative (show a commitment to your community)

My stats [for Stanford acceptance] were 511, 3.8cGPA + 3.8 sGPA. I had a strong research background, I almost went to grad school. 2 publications, both in a high-impact journal. 1 was co-author, more in-prep but wetlab publications take forever. In addition, I think I had a strong narrative. I’m first-generation, low income (FGLI) from an underrepresented minority (URM) with a commitment to give back to my community that reflected in my essays and in my extracurriculars. I think having a strong narrative and passion really matter in your application.

u/Okamii

So get involved in volunteering in the community as early as possible. And get those personal statements and essays checked!

6. Consider Stanford’s Medical Scribe Fellowship (if you have cash to burn)

Part of me wants to say they’re scamming desperate well-off pre-meds. But part of me feels like the program will be a huge benefit to some because Stanford doesn’t talk to anyone outside of their system. In my experience you literally can’t even offer to work for free without some sort of connection, and if you’re in the area that’s the place that has a ton of good opportunities for your extracurricular needs, especially people in their gap years. You know you’re smart when people offer to work for free, but you know you’re powerful when people would pay to work for free.

u/anonymous

Most pre-meds aren’t a fan of the cost of Stanford’s $7,500 Medical Scribe Fellowship program. But as to whether it could help an application? There is some suggestion it might!

Final Thoughts

Obviously, getting into Stanford, given the competition, their prereqs and the low admissions rate, is super tough.

But hopefully, the quick tips above might give you a little something extra to think about in terms of your potential preparation.

And if you do indeed get lucky, beat the odds, and actually get through to interview, make sure you watch this YouTube playlist of Stanford doctors discussing why they went into medicine.

It could really help!

If you found this article useful, you may enjoy the following:

• Best Pre-Med Schools In California
• Best MD/MBA Programs

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

Are medical school reapplicants at a disadvantage?

No, not necessarily. How you’re viewed as a reapplicant is school-dependent. For ultra-competitive med schools, you could be. Especially if you haven’t addressed the areas of your application where you first fell short. But for state schools (where you’re a resident), it could be different.

We’ll dive into exactly what this all means in this article. Here’s what else we’ll cover:

• If it’s bad to be a reapplicant
• If med schools know
• How many times you should/could reapply
• What the reapplicant success rate is

As a med student myself, and one with quite an unorthodox story as to how I got in, I understand how tough the process can be. So I hope this article can help give some real answers!

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

Is it bad to be a reapplicant for medical school?

Let’s face it, applying to med school is very much like entering into a seller’s market. The number of places available is low, and the number of buyers (applicants) is huge. Seeing you’ve already once tried and failed, some med schools may just immediately dismiss you from the get-go.

Harsh, but true.

That’s why it’s always best to try and nail your application the first time. Be patient, don’t rush your MCAT, and take your college classes and med school prerequisites very seriously. Work on those extracurriculars as soon as you can.

Aim to apply once, with the best possible application.

Of course, that’s not to say it’s not possible to reapply to med school and get in after several tries. It is.

But you’re definitely likely to experience one of the following:

• A lack of motivation to try again
• A stronger interest in another career path (that’s less competitive and a better use of your time)
• Enthusiasm for hobbies/activities outside of those typically desired by med schools

So although it’s not strictly “bad” to be a reapplicant, it definitely doesn’t play into your favor either.

You’ll need to be hugely resilient, more dedicated than ever, and highly analytical as to how to address your application’s failings.

And that’s universal for all schools. Not just state schools that are said to look more kindly on reapplicants.

Do medical schools know if you’re a reapplicant?

Only the medical schools you’ve already tried and failed to get into know if you’re a reapplicant.

That’s a big reason why being a reapplicant is not always a disadvantage!

For schools where you haven’t applied before, you’ll be seen as a “fresh applicant”. They’ll have no previous record of an application from you that they can reference. And you can apply everything you learned from failing the first time into a stronger first-time application for them.

Granted they’re not a weak point of your application, you can even use the same letters of recommendation (LOR’s) that you used the first time.

Related: Medical Schools That Don’t Require Letters Of Recommendation (10 Examples)

So you see, you have to take any idea of you being at a disadvantage with a grain of salt. There’s a certain nuance in the answer to the question – and it’s only half-true for schools where you’ve already applied.

Is it bad to apply to med school twice?

It’s not bad if you’ve actively worked hard to identify and address the weaknesses of your application.

But if you haven’t done that, or don’t know exactly where these weak points are, it can be something of a pointless endeavor.

That’s why I’d recommend doing one of the following (if you’re thinking about applying twice to the same school):

1. Having an existing student of the school scrutinize your past application
2. Connecting with admissions consultants and following their recommendations
3. Asking other successful students for their opinions on where (and what) you could do better

And then doing everything in your power to follow and act on their advice.

What about three times?

Again the above applies but it’s also important to recognize how many times you’re eligible to reapply (some schools have limits, others do not).

You’ll want to pay close attention to their admissions policy, find the school-specific answer to the question and figure out if you’d be wasting your time or not.

You can usually find the answers to these questions online.

As an example, here’s what the Alpert Medical School at Brown says about reapplication limits…

Applicants who have previously been dismissed, withdrawn, or already graduated from a medical school will be considered ineligible to apply to Alpert Medical School. Applicants to AMS may apply a maximum of three times.

(Source)

What percentage of med students are reapplicants?

According to the AAMC’s data from 2020, 27% of the total applications for the Fall intake came from reapplicants (Source).

What’s positive from the AAMC’s data is that the general number of re-applicants, taken from 1980 to the present (in conjunction with the number of applications), is on the rise.

Although this data doesn’t show successful matriculation figures, or how many attempts a reapplicant has made, it still goes a long way to dispelling any myth around a reapplication disadvantage.

The figure above is a clear demonstration that any disadvantage is either not believed or not deterring applicants.

So while most don’t assume that you don’t stand a chance!

Medical reapplicant success rate

Of the 53,000 applications made in the 2020 cycle, we know (from the AAMC’s data) that 42% of that pool successfully matriculated.

What we don’t know is how much of that percentage is made up of successful reapplicants (AAMC doesn’t provide this data).

But because the vast majority (73%) of total applications come from first-time students, we can safely assume that the data is probably skewed towards them.

In terms of applicants vs reapplicants, more of the first group make the cut.

So while there is an argument for reapplicant disadvantage, at least in numbers, it doesn’t tell the whole picture.

What is a disadvantaged medical school reapplicant?

Disadvantaged reapplicants (probably) fall into the following categories:

• Poor GPA or MCAT score
• Insufficient clinical experience
• Badly written personal statements
• Weak research experience
• Less-than-desirable extracurricular experience

Related: No Extracurricular Activities For Med School? Here’s What To Do…

Of course, it’s impossible to know exactly what makes up a disadvantaged reapplicant because of each school’s specific admissions policy.

To get the best idea of why your application failed you want to go as deep as possible into what the school you applied for is said to favor/look for.

Unfortunately, most admissions policies are rather unclear in this regard. That makes understanding any reapplicant disadvantage you may have, very difficult.

Do reapplicant secondaries take more importance?

Your secondaries should definitely be revisited if you feel that’s where the weakness of your original application was.

As suggested before, it’s extremely important to get valuable feedback on your first attempt and try to figure out potential weak points.

But it’s not universal to all reapplicants.

You may have incredibly strong secondary essays that are well-written and detail important adversity, diversity, etc., but fall down on meeting an MCAT or GPA cut-off.

You need to do some information gathering and get as much constructive criticism as you can before deciding.

Where to find reapplicant success stories

Personally, I think it’s super important to go about finding success stories in order to help motivate and inspire you into reapplying.

Although I’m not a reapplicant, I do try my best to encourage people that they can make it into med despite any such adversity. I have a ton of articles along these lines!

Related: Can I Get Into Medical School With C’s? (Explained!)

Still, if you do want to look for additional encouragement I strongly suggest checking out Reddit communities like r/premed and r/medicalschool and using the search function.

Forums like Student Doctors Network are another place to find great reapplicant success stories too.

But you do need to be critical (just as you should when you read this site) when taking the advice of others. Your set of circumstances will be unique. And the times are always changing.

The information in these places might not always be accurate for your case. But you can get some important takeaways!

The medical school reapplicant disadvantage: Reddit’s opinion

On that last note, let’s take a look at some of these reapplicant stories on Reddit.

I’ve tried to collate some of the best points from users I could find here. I hope it helps!

Seek out answers…

The best advice I can give, given my experience, is if you have to reapply, seek out answers for why you weren’t accepted. Whether they tell you outright (like my school did), or you have to call a dean 5,000 times to get an answer, do it!

Find out what made your application weaker than you intended, and then fix it. I had a neighbor apply 4 times because he didn’t fix the problems the admissions committee told him to fix. He finally got in though. My school saw reapplying as more of an “oh look, we told him, no but he came back for more…maybe he’s serious about this whole medical school thing.”

Anonymou

There’s no disadvantage, only perseverance…

I got in my second cycle. The primary apps are screened by admissions officers who see reapplication as a sign of commitment and perseverance. It helps if you improve your stats between cycles. I raised my MCAT by 2 points between cycles.

u/sentriculus

Set up counseling appointments

I didn’t get in my first round of applications so I called every school and set up counseling appointments with an admissions officer (where offered)

u/ronpaulkid

Be conscious of the state advantage (and don’t apply late)

First off, being from a school with no in-state advantage will put you at a disadvantage compared to applicants from N. Dakota or Arkansas, or West Virginia where they have a good chance of getting in their state school…As for me, the reason I and my friend (3.9/30) are reapplicants is simply due to the nature of how bad being complete late in the cycle will disadvantage you.

u/azntrojan

Practice your interview technique

I was a reapplicant with a 3.7 35. I applied late (submitted primary in late July), didn’t really have great secondary essays, and 2/3 of my interviews in the first cycle went poorly because I did not have practice. The second cycle my app was essentially the same but my essays were sharper, I submitted much earlier (which netted 3x as many interviews), and my interviewing skills were much better because I practiced with a career advisor at my school. I ended up with 4 MD acceptances and now go to a school where I am very happy.

Anonymous

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

But how do you write about research for medical school?

The best way to write about research is to start by outlining the importance of the larger project and then to explain, clearly, what it is you did to help achieve that. Med school admissions want to see understanding and engagement. Not only that you’ve ticked a relevant box.

Writing simply but with adequate detail, is the best way to do that.

As for how best to go about that, that’s what we’ll get into in this article.

You’ll learn:

• General tips about what to include in your writing
• Common pitfalls
• Why good writing (especially about your research) is important
• Other important things to think about in terms of research

As a med student myself, I understand that writing may not come all that naturally to many aspiring physicians. But it is a crucial skill that can definitely help you look more competitive.

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.

What to include when writing about research

The first big thing to consider when talking about what to include in the activities section of your med school application is the question; “do I even want to include my research experience?”

If you found your research boring, unengaging, unimportant, or simply limited, then it’s probably better to use this section to talk about something else (shadowing, work experience, volunteering, etc).

Space is limited and you don’t want to waste it talking about something uninspiring. It will show through in your writing!

But if you have found your research experience significant and feel it could be an important factor in your application’s success, include it. But be honest. And weigh it up against all your other extracurriculars as unobjectively as you can.

If you do decide to go with it; here are some key pointers to keep in mind:

Write clearly and succinctly

Avoid jargon and assume the reader will have some familiarity with how research works and how it’s done. Be brief on the details and expand more on why it’s important and what you learned from it. Think about how that relevance plays into making you look like a competitive candidate. Outline your role and detail what you contributed.

Clarify any unanswered/unclear factors

Ensure you know exactly what your research project was about and its grander importance. Clear up any doubts with those involved. Keep a running diary (while undertaking research) detailing your activities, their outcomes, and their supposed purpose. Ensure you know it in depth; hypothesis, design, results, and interpretations.

Proofread/get an editor

Get another pair of eyes on what you write about your research. Check for clarity, spelling, and grammar, etc. Judge your writing on the basis of whether it explains what you did, why it was important, and why it’s relevant to your desire to be a doctor. Think about the reader (and the possible interviewer).

Here are the types of questions you should seek to answer:

• What did the research teach you about being part of a team?
• How did you resolve issues and conflicts?
• What did it show you about working with others?

Is it backed up by a research letter of recommendation?

If your letter of recommendation (LOR) is from the research head (or anyone else involved in the project), then make doubly sure the details you’ve written check out. Any mismatch in the facts or details has the potential to look bad.

Finally, Dr. Grey, from Medical School Headquarters, also has a ton of great advice about writing (not just on research) in the video below. Check this out for extra pointers!

Should I only write about research work if it’s been published?

Get it out of your head that your research work has to be published.

As long as you can talk about it in impactful terms, paying close attention to the things outlined above, what you did can make a positive impression.

What to avoid

Fluff

You don’t have an endless amount of characters to outline what it is you did. Focus only on the key facts. Drop the terminology. Prioritize the importance and the impact.

An overeager tone

Gushy and cliched language only serves to irritate the reader. If you cringe writing it, they’ll cringe reading it. Aim for a professional, concise tone.

Exaggeration

If you feel the need to exaggerate the importance of your research, or your level of involvement, then leave it off your application entirely.

Research is not an absolute must for most med schools. Don’t feel insecure because yours seems insignificant. It’ll only come back to bite you (more on this later).

Writing about research for AMCAS: Reddit’s best tips

If my own personal tips above aren’t enough, here’s a round-up of some other top tips as recommended by pre-meds (and the like) on Reddit.

If you can’t get published…

See if in the first manuscript you could get an acknowledgment. If not, just describe the type of work you did and that it was published, but you’re not an author

r/dawitt10

If you select your research as one of your “most meaningful” activities…

I first talked about my role as an assistant, basically explaining what I do and how I contribute to the overall objective of the project. Then, I discussed what I’ve learned from my role and the research process in general and how I can apply it to medicine.

r/Silly_Background

If you’re tempted to go heavy on the research experiment’s details…

You do want to focus more on what you learned in the lab and what your specific roles were, more so than describing the entire experiment.

r/frannyshi

Leave the jargon out…

It doesn’t matter about the jargon. The physicians and students who read your description know what basic science methods are.

r/Ccw07

But still, mention the methods (just not the steps)…

Mention the methods. They [Adcoms] definitely will want to know what you did. Any method that you do in your lab, they have heard of or at least have the capacity to look it up on PubMed. Plus it really details the techniques you know and you can then talk about your research more in interviews.

r/Ccw07

Do you write research papers in medical school?

Particular medical schools, like Harvard for example, require their students to put together research papers as part of their medical degree. It’s something you’ll want to verify when selecting which schools to apply to.

The majority of schools, however, don’t make writing research papers a necessity.

Where it can benefit you though, is when it comes to applying for residency (and later fellowships). Having involvement in important research studies during your time as a med student can definitely help in that regard. Especially as it’s easier to make connections, find projects to work on, and make contributions.

So learning to write well, and taking time to do so before med school, can help you later in your educational journey too.

Related: Do You Have To Write Essays In Medical School? (Explained Plus Tips!)

Talking about research in med school interviews

Next to writing effectively about any research project is that of talking about it. Usually, both go together. This is another reason why learning to write about research is doubly important.

Being asked about any research project you detail on your application is very common in med school interviews.

Obviously, the more exciting the project is, the better able you are to talk about it and give insight. But having things put down in writing, helps too. Especially in helping you give precise dates, activities, involvement, and outcomes.

So when you’re talking about research in interviews, make sure you refer to your writing!

Here are some general pointers to keep in mind:

• Familiarize yourself with your writing
• Demonstrate your understanding of the research project
• Detail briefly what your role was (and what you did)
• Be ready to expand that detail
• Avoid any exaggeration
• Be honest

Those last two points, although fairly obvious, are very important. You will get found out quickly if you choose to exaggerate details or refer to false contacts.

Speak slowly and assuredly, but don’t feel the need to insult your interviewer with lies.

Related: Do Med Schools Call Your Contacts? (Explained!)

Do med schools care about what kind of research you do?

How deeply med schools care about the kind of research you do, is hugely dependent on the school. Because each school has a varying admissions policy and admissions committee (ADCOMS), there’s no universal answer. A general answer is probably something along these lines…

Having any type of research (regardless of the subject) is usually better than none.

Beyond that, there’s possibly some loose order of preference. In order of importance, that could go something like:

1. Basic (hard) science research
2. Non-health related social science research
3. Non-health related research

But don’t be fooled into thinking this is any type of hard rule. Don’t tick a research box just because you feel your med school application needs it. The best type of research project will be the one you’re actually interested in!

This last point is important because interest is likely what will lead you to become more involved in the type of research you do. Thus hitting on each of the major points in the answer to the following question…

Does research look good for medical school?

Research can definitely look good on a medical school application. In helping schools choose one candidate over another (all things being equal), it can become an important differentiator. Especially if the role of that applicant’s research was one of responsibility.

It looks good for the following reasons:

Shows Commitment

Conducting medical research (or any form of science-based research) helps demonstrate to med schools that you’ve got a strong academic commitment to the field. Participating in research as one of your extracurriculars (in addition to your normal schooling), also shows you’re keen to learn and contribute to other areas of medicine (clinical or non-clinical) too.

Shows Organizational Skills

Taking part in research students requires you to be organized, punctual, and trustworthy. As a member of a project, you’ll have others dependent on you. You’ll also be reliant on others, and show your capability of working in a team, depending on the nature of the research study. Med schools want to see this.

Highlights Experience

Being able to link an application to research, and possibly list a coordinator or research lead as a contact on your application, shows experience and maturity. Med schools favor candidates who can show long-term experience in real-world settings. While the quality of research may only really matter for top-tier schools, your level of involvement is still key.

I go more into why research looks good (as well as how what counts and how much of it you should aim for) in the following article…

Related: How many hours of research for medical school is best?

What if you don’t like your research project?

Because of how important writing and speaking about research can be in terms of your med school application, it’s important you try to find a project that you genuinely enjoy working on. Finding that makes everything above all the easier.

If you don’t like your research project, here are a couple of options you could consider:

• Ask for a different project to work on
• Request a different role (i.e. switching from data collection to project management)
• Seek to better understand the research project (engage and ask more questions)

Often that last tip is the first step you’ll want to take. Sometimes simply engaging more with what you’re doing can lead to greater interest.

Besides, you’ll want to do that anyway if you hope on writing (and talking) effectively about what it is you’re doing!

Otherwise, think twice about including it. Another extracurricular might well look better.

Related Articles

• MD/Ph.D. Programs: Everything You Need To Know

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

I’ve researched the top courses that deliver exactly that and listed them in this article.

Here’s what else we’ll cover:

• Accredited online biochem courses from top colleges
• The best courses offering online or virtual lab
• Recommended free/cheap options
• What to expect from studying biochem online

As a med student who’s taken several biochemistry courses myself, I know what’s important to look out for when it comes to selecting the best courses available.

Ready to learn more about what’s out there? Let’s go.

Best Accredited Online Biochemistry Course Listings

Here’s a quick overview of all the recommended courses…

Best Online Biochemistry Courses

The following online courses are offered by some of the top colleges in the U.S.

University of Arizona Biochemistry

The University of Arizona has several offerings when it comes to online biochemistry courses.

Their “Biochemistry” course is specifically tailored for MCAT and Grad school prep and is taught by world-class scholar and textbook author Roger Miesfeld.

Two courses are available:

• Biochemistry 384, “Foundations in Biochemistry”
• Biochemistry 385, “Metabolic Biochemistry”

Each is offered year-round as stand-alone courses running through Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms. Prerequisite waivers may be available.

DETAILS

• Name: Biochemistry
• Institution: University of Arizona
• Level: MCAT/Grad school
• Prerequisites: College-level biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry
• Length: 38 weeks
• Hours: Variable
• Website: https://online.arizona.edu/biochemistry
• Price: Check website

University of New England Medical Biochemistry

UNE Online offers a self-paced (to be completed within 16 weeks) medical biochemistry course that is four-credit lecture-only.

Focusing on human medical biochemistry, this course promises to teach the core concepts of the subject and help you understand the main mechanisms and reactions required for better understanding human health.

There is no associate lab component for this course but all exams are taken online via ProctorU.

The course uses Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry to teach and requires the use of a UNE-approved external webcam for proctored exams.

Courses typically begin every 2-3 weeks.

DETAILS

• Name: CHEM 1005: Medical Biochemistry Lecture
• Institution: University of New England
• Level: Upper-level undergraduate (Credits: 4)
• Prerequisites: College-level biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry
• Length: 16 weeks
• Hours: Self-Paced
• Website: https://online.une.edu
• Price: $1510

UC San Diego Biochemistry

UC San Diego offers a 4.50 credit online biochemistry course for beginners with only a rudimentary understanding of biology and chemistry.

The course runs for 10 weeks and covers the following topics:

• Atoms; Life; Water
• Protein Composition and Structure
• Concepts and Kinetics of Enzymes
• Hemoglobin, Carbohydrates, and Lipids
• Membranes, Signal Transduction, and Digestion
• Metabolism, Glycolysis, and Acetate
• The Citric Acid Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation
• Nucleic Acid Structure and DNA Replication
• RNA synthesis, processing and regulation
• Protein synthesis

Courses typically begin every 4 weeks. There is no lab component.

DETAILS

• Name: BIOL-40357
• Institution: UC San Diego
• Level: Beginner (Credits: 4.5)
• Prerequisites: None
• Length: 10 weeks
• Hours: 3-6 hours per week
• Website: https://extension.ucsd.edu
• Price: $745

University of St Joseph Biochemistry M.S.

USJ offers a completely integrated online Biochemistry Master’s Degree with a two-course load per semester.

Program director, Dr. Sarah Zingales, has put together a curriculum with varying outcomes, including:

• Recognize the interconnections between Biology and Chemistry
• Relate medical diagnoses and treatment at the molecular level
• Interpret the relationship between the physical properties of the reactants and products, and the reactivity of biological reactions

And more!

The Master’s offers each of its courses online and is focused prep for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) certification exam.

It’s by no means cheap, the total degree costs something in the region of $23,300 ($789 per credit), but it’s no doubt destined to open career doors in fields like biomedicine, date science, forensic science, and more.

Here’s a promo for the course…

DETAILS

• Name: Biochemistry M.S.
• Institution: University of St Joseph Connecticut
• Contact: szingales@usj.edu – 860.231.5727
• Level: Post Grad (Masters) (Credits: 30)
• Prerequisites: Science GPA 2.8 (or higher)/introductory chemistry, organic chemistry and physics (all with labs)
• Length: 52 weeks
• Hours: 5-10 hours per week
• Website: https://www.usj.edu
• Price: $23,300

Online Biochemistry Courses With Lab

Arizona State University Online Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

Arizona State is one of two online biochemistry courses with options for virtual labs.

Unlike the community college option below, this course is a fully accredited Bachelors in Biochemistry. It’s delivered in 42 total classes, 7.5 weeks per class and has 120 total credit hours.

The degree includes both online and in-person lab courses. The organic chem and biochemistry labs must be done in person, while the other lab science requirements (general chemistry and physics), can be done via eScience lab kits and online labs.

The in-person lab works by spending a week at Arizona State University and completing the requirements in a fast-track format.

Up to 80% of Arizona State’s students receive financial aid.

See the website for more details, as well as admissions criteria.

DETAILS

• Name: Online Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
• Institution: Arizona State University
• Level: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science (120 total credit hours)
• Prerequisites: 3 years lab sciences (1 year each from biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated sciences or physics)
• Length: Full Bachelors Degree
• Hours: 5-10 hours per week
• Website: https://asuonline.asu.edu
• Contact: asuonline@asu.edu
• Price: Variable

Southern California University of Health Sciences Biochemistry

SCU’s Biochemistry course with virtual online lab describes itself as a good fit for Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Dentristry Programs, and more.

All classes at SCU are recorded in the same way on transcripts and the course is divided into lab credits (1) and lecture credits (3).

Course instructor Astor Suriano welcomes new enrollments every 5 weeks, with self-paced and interactive online lecture options also available.

Lab courses provide hands-on experiences that complement the lectures, occurring in real-time. Classes begin with intensive lectures (up to 5 hours) and are made up of a mix of presentations and small-group discussions.

Recommended prerequisites include Organic Chemistry II (or equivalent) and General Biology II (or equivalent).

DETAILS

• Name: BIO322
• Institution: Southern California University of Health Sciences
• Level: Upper-level undergraduate (Credits: 4)
• Prerequisites: Organic Chemistry II (OCHM316 and OCHM316L) or equivalent and General Biology II (BIO116 and BIO116L) or equivalent
• Length: 5 Weeks
• Hours: Self-Paced
• Website: https://acceleratedsciences.scuhs.edu
• Price: $2000

Free/Cheap Online Biochemistry Courses

The following courses, although not “officially” accredited, are still good options for students looking to take structured biochemistry courses to help in the preparation for exams and further education.

Carnegie Mellon University Biochemistry Open & Free

Carnegie Mellon’s Biochemistry offering is a completely free course aimed at biology and chemical engineering majors with a basic understanding of the subject.

Delivered via the Open Learning Initiative platform, the course has two main learning goals:

1. Predicting how changes in structure affect function.
2. Utilizing quantitative approaches to characterize structure-function relationships in biochemical systems.

Beginning with amino acids and moving on to oxygen transport and immunoglobulins, the course is a comprehensive and self-paced option that you can begin and start at any time.

DETAILS

• Name: Biochemistry Open & Free
• Institution: Carnegie Mellon University
• Level: Beginner (Unaccredited)
• Prerequisites: None
• Length: Variable
• Hours: Self-Paced
• Website: https://oli.cmu.edu
• Price: Free

HarvardX Principles of Biochemistry

Offered by HarvardX, the Principles of Biochemistry course on EdX is another free offering aimed at intermediate-level learners.

15 weeks long, you’ll need to put in around 4-6 hours per week to ensure you complete the course and get the chance to pick up a verified certificate.

As far as learning goals, here’s what you can expect to master:

• The structure and function of the chemical building blocks of life
• How to navigate protein structures using PyMOL
• The central role of enzymes in catalyzing the reactions of life
• The primary metabolic pathways that power cells
• The intricate mechanisms that regulate cellular metabolism
• The integration of biochemical processes in the context of cells, tissues, and whole organisms

The course instructors are genuine Harvard professors; Alain Viel, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and Rachelle Gaudet, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

DETAILS

• Name: Principles of Biochemistry
• Institution: HarvardX
• Level: Intermediate
• Prerequisites: College-level introductory biology, college-level introductory general chemistry
• Length: 15 weeks
• Hours: 4-6 hours per week
• Website: https://www.edx.org
• Price: Free (or $199 for a Verified Certificate)

MIT’s Biochemistry

MIT’s intermediate-level biochemistry course is a 12-week commitment at 3-6 hours per week.

Hosted on the EdX platform and delivered by MIT’s own Professor Yaffe, this course uses molecular visualization software to help teach and understand what’s happening in important biochemical reactions.

Stand-out students have the opportunity to take the MITx 7.05x Biochemistry Competency Exam for extra credit.

The course covers the following topics:

• Introduction to Biochemistry; pH and Buffers
• Amino Acids and Proteins
• Protein Structure
• Protein Folding
• Hemoglobin and Allostery
• Hemoglobin and the Bohr Effect
• Enzyme Chemistry
• Enzyme as Catalysts
• Enzyme Kinetics
• Membranes, Channels, Transporters, and Pumps
• Blood Clotting
• Signal Transduction

MATLAB, a programming platform, features sporadically throughout the course. Although no prior knowledge of it is required, students unfamiliar with it may find this course a struggle.

DETAILS

• Name: Biochemistry: Biomolecules, Methods, and Mechanisms
• Institution: MIT
• Level: Intermediate
• Prerequisites: Undergraduate Introductory Biology
• Length: 12 weeks
• Hours: 3-6 hours per week
• Website: https://www.edx.org
• Price: Free (or $150 for a Verified Certificate)

Oregon State University Biochemistry Free and Easy

Oregon State University’s Biochemistry Free and Easy course is taught by Dr. Kevin Ahern and aimed at complete beginners to the subject.

It’s less structured than the other courses on this list – and less interactive, but the 36 video lectures are comprehensive enough to give you solid foundations.

The course comes with a free textbook that helps reinforce the concepts and includes several practice questions.

Oregon University also offers a Biochemistry for Pre-Meds course too.

Unfortunately, there’s no certification or credits awarded with this course.

DETAILS

• Name: Biochemistry Free and Easy
• Institution: Oregon State University
• Level: Beginner
• Prerequisites: None
• Length: Variable
• Hours: Variable
• Website: https://itunes.apple.com
• Price: Free

University of East Anglia Biochemistry

This 3-week long course only asks 3 hours per week of you but still delivers a good grounding in the basics of biochemistry.

Aimed at 15 to 19-year-olds who already have some knowledge in biology and chemistry, you don’t need any formal qualifications to sign up.

The topics you’ll cover include:

• Skills from biochemistry
• A brief history of biochemistry
• Everyday biochemistry
• Metabolism and bioenergetics
• Bioenergetics
• Future developments in bioenergy
• Natural products and healthy living
• Future developments: new technologies in the molecular sciences
• Getting involved in biochemistry

Course platform Future Learn gives the course a 4.7/5 rating from 79 reviews, while the extra payment grants access for 5 weeks and issues you a digital Certificate on completion.

DETAILS

• Name: Biochemistry: The Molecules of Life
• Institution: University of East Anglia
• Level: Beginner
• Prerequisites: None
• Length: 3 weeks
• Hours: 3 hours per week
• Website: https://www.futurelearn.com
• Price: Free (£52 Certification)

Related Questions

What are the most important things to look for in an online biochemistry course?

Biochemistry is a hard subject to learn (I talk about this here). But learning it online can be just as effective as taking a class in person. To get the best out of an online course you’ll want to look for the following qualities:

• Structure: how well are the course goals defined and the curriculum laid out?
• Time commitment: does the course give you a rough estimate of how much time you’ll need to commit to it each week?
• Cost: does it fit your budget?
• Instruction: is the teaching professor suitably qualified and delivering the classes in an easy-to-understand format?
• Prerequisites: what level of knowledge should you have before starting the course?
• Support: once signed up, how much support is available to you to help meet your goals?
• Assessment: how is your knowledge and progress assessed?

Many of these questions are answered in the introductory table at the beginning of this article.

Anything else should be researched via your own criteria and the contact you make with course providers.

What is a biochem lab?

Biochem lab is the practical component of a course. A reputable and accredited course should have a lab component that has you making hypotheses and designing experiments based on biochemical concepts.

Virtual labs typically introduce you to microscopes and other important instruments. Depending on the institution, they’ll typically have you observing the effects of drugs and food on biological processes, etc.

Can I get a biochem degree online?

Yes, as previously mentioned, Arizona State University offers undergraduate and graduate biochemistry degrees while the University of St Joseph Connecticut offers an online Biochemistry M.S.

Can I take biochem without orgo?

For intermediate or undergraduate level biochem courses, you’ll typically need to have completed an introductory organic chemistry course.

Others can be more flexible depending on their level and learning goals.

What study tips can I use for biochem?

Biochem is best studied via active recall techniques such as flashcards and a ton of practice questions.

I’ve put together a comprehensive guide on the best way to study for biochemistry here.

If you found this article useful, you might find the following interesting:

• 8 Best Online Physics Courses For College Credit
• 6 Best Accredited Online Microbiology Courses

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

Do medical schools accept community college credits?

Medical schools accept community college (CC) credits but you’ll also need a bachelor’s degree to be considered. As long as you transfer the credit over (or have an existing 4-year degree), it won’t matter. Your MCAT score is more important. 

Of course, the real answer is a little more detailed. So we’ll dive into that in this article.

We’ll also cover:

• Which med schools accept community college credits
• How community college credit “looks” on an application
• What it’s like starting pre-med at a community college

As a med student and career changer myself, I know just how much of an important question this can be!

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.

List of medical schools that accept community college credits

Almost all med schools will be open to receiving your application if you gained pre-med credit at community college. But there is one important caveat; you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree.

So, unless you transfer the credits (those you got at community college) to the school you eventually end up earning your undergraduate degree from, you won’t be able to apply for med school.

Granted you do that, you’ll be fine to apply to any school.

Here’s who this most commonly applies to:

• People who’ve already attained bachelors (career changers etc.) but gone back to community college to take prerequisite classes
• People who started out at community college and later transferred to a 4-year college degree

To be 100% sure the school you plan on applying to will accept your community college credit, make sure you carefully check their requirements on the Medical School Admissions Requirements website (MSAR).

Although most will (at least on a case-by-case status), it’s always best to check with them first.

What about the top schools?

Yes, even the top schools will accept community college credits. They have the same admissions policy as all others. Your MCAT, your GPA, and your extracurriculars are what they’re going to pay the most attention to.

Related: No Extracurricular Activities For Med School? Here’s What To Do…

Does Harvard medical school accept community college credits?

Here’s what Harvard Med says itself about its admissions policy…

A limited number of required courses taken at an institution other than students’ degree-granting institution may be used to fulfill requirements, determined on a case-by-case basis. Students should make every effort to take the majority of required courses at the institution that will be conferring their degree. Required courses taken as part of a post-baccalaureate program of study do not need to be taken at students’ undergraduate institutions.

(Source)

Just as I’ve suggested above, they are willing to consider applications from anyone with community college credit on a case-by-case basis.

Note how they urge you to make the effort to do most of your prerequisites at the institution you do your bachelor’s.

Does UCLA medical school accept community college credits?

UCLA follows a similar line to Harvard.

There’s no explicit refusal to accept community college credit as long as you have studied 3 years minimum on your bachelor’s…

Successful applicants will have obtained a Bachelor’s degree from a US or Canadian institution by completing a minimum 3 years of undergraduate coursework…The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA does not evaluate specific prerequisite coursework. Instead, applicants are given the flexibility to demonstrate mastery of competency areas throughout their unique academic history.

(Source)

UCLA seems a little more flexible. You can expect this from most schools.

Does Community College look bad for medical school?

As for whether community college credits look bad for medical school, there are a few schools of thought…

1. Doing prerequisites at community college can look like you’ve taken the “easy road”
2. Lab work isn’t as reputable
3. They typically lack “pre-med support” (dedicated advisory teams)
4. The old stigma that CC students are “inferior” or “incapable”

Luckily that last one is dying out. Very few people, especially anyone on Adcoms (med school admissions councils), still believe that. Especially after a global pandemic and lots of students successfully studying online!

The real truth is there are a ton of students in med school who have community college credits to their name.

It hasn’t stopped them. Why should it stop you?

Note: med schools also want diverse applicants. Sometimes an untraditional route can work in your favor. Especially when it comes to your application essays and interview stories.

How to be competitive with community college credits

Obviously, that begs the question; how do you increase your chances of getting into med school with community college credits on your transcript?

Aside from the ways already mentioned (GPA, MCAT, etc.), here’s what else you can do:

• Try and take your “harder” prerequisite classes after transferring to 4-year undergrad (organic chemistry etc.)
• Get a ton of volunteer experience (or anything else that shows community and leadership-based skills)
• Shadow as much as possible
• Pick up any other clinical experience you can (EMT, scribing, etc.)
• Organize important programs/run events
• Network and acquire amazing letters of recommendation (LOR’s)

As a common criticism of community colleges is the fact they sometimes lack pre-med advisory services, doing all this is doubly important.

Starting pre-med at community college

Many community college courses will deliver the typical prerequisite med school courses just as well as any other school. Whether you decide to get credits there or not, you’ll still need to be at the top of your game to ensure you come out with the best grades.

But what you’ll also want to do, especially as you’ll be short on time later, is to start your pre-med preparations from day one.

The tips recommended above? Going to take some serious time to put together.

It’s best that you get started calling/emailing around clinics, hospitals, programs, etc. to see what you can get involved with while you’re still studying at community college. 

Here are some extra tips that could help (especially if your community college has no advisory board to support you):

• Network with other pre med’s in your area (helps you keep on top of events and opportunities that could benefit your application)
• Learn how to study effectively (to maximize your chances of top grades)
• Don’t think for a second that community college credit will hold you back

If you’re a Harvard Med level applicant, you’ll get into Harvard Med!

Are there any doctors who started at community college?

Yes, thousands.

Do a simple search and you’ll find tons of stories from doctors who started off at community college and later went on to med school.

Here’s a great video of a doctor who did just that, Dr. Francisco A. Solorio…

Can I go to medical school with an associate’s degree?

The quick answer here is no if this is the only degree you have. If you have a bachelor’s however, you can.

As mentioned before, no med school will let you matriculate (at least in the US) without that.

But it’s worth mentioning that you definitely can get into a med school outside of the US if you only hold an associate’s degree (or even no degree at all).

English-speaking European medical schools let students in these positions matriculate all the time on 6-year courses.

So it could be something worth looking at!

Final Thoughts

Community college doesn’t deserve the bad rep it gets in some circles. If it’s all you can manage, and there’s definitely no shame in that being the case, you can absolutely still get into med as long as you do all the right things.

Your credits transfer so focus on your MCAT, extracurriculars, and everything else.

Hopefully, this article has helped explain how.

If you enjoyed this article, you might find the following useful:

• What To Do Before Medical School Starts (10 Ideas)

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com

While none of the answers to these should be taken too seriously, I thought a nice round-up of places where you could take a quiz might help.

I’ll be doing each of these quizzes myself and sharing my results along the way – as an actual med student!

Will I be embarassed?

Let’s find out!

List of “Am I Smart Enough To Be A Doctor” Quizzes

We’ll be covering the quizzes at the following sites:

• Smooth Radio
• Quiz-Bliss
• MagiQuiz
• Brainfall
• ProProfs
• Playbuzz
• EduAdvisor

If you’re interested in my actual take on whether I think you have to be smart to be a doctor, check out the following article…

Related: Do You Have To Be Smart To Be A Doctor? (Explained!)

Although I’m biased, I think that’s a much more practical discussion compared to any of these quizzes!

But let’s find out how I fare…

Smooth Radio: Are You Clever Enough to Be a Doctor?

First up, Smooth Radio’s quiz.

Expect a lot of repetitive questions; i.e. the skin being the largest organ in the body (there’s a free answer for you).

Not a great start…

The question that stumped me? The number of organ systems in the body…

It’s not something we usually worry about!

Quiz-Bliss: Are You Smart Enough To Be A Doctor?

This 16 question quiz has one or two tricky aspects but shouldn’t stop you.

Not sure how it’s so sure of it’s conclusions though…

Yeah, I’m pretty good on the basics (4th year med student afterall) but to suggest I can skip school altogether and head straight to attending/consultant level?

Probably a bit premature…

Magiquiz: Only A Med Student, Or Someone Who Is Obsessed With Medical TV Shows Can Ace This Quiz

This one has about 12 questions; simple but fun.

Covers anatomy, general knowledge and more.

Not perfect but at least it’s looking good!

Brainfall: If You Can Get 25/30 On This Medical Test, You Must Be A Med Student!

A very anatomy heavy quiz but with some interesting questions thrown in.

It’ll take you a little longer, but it’s fun to do. No pressure though…

Was fooled by the smallest bone in the body question. Not happy! But I guess I did OK.

ProProfs: Should I Become A Doctor?

This 8 question quiz is a little harder hitting, asking more ethical types of questions.

Granted, they’re not all on point (dinosaurs?), and it centers more on a patient’s experience more than a doctors, but still, it’s quick to run through and has some interesting conclusions…

Erm, yeah. Not sure how they ended up at this!

Playbuzz: Could You Really Be A Doctor?

This is hardly a reliable quiz or one that asks useful questions.

A 10-round examination that mainly focuses on stereotypes (i.e. how do you feel about shots?), I wouldn’t take this as any real measure of how passionate/suitable you are for med!

Just look at my results for instance…

EduAdvisor: Is Medicine A Good Fit for You?

An actual serious quiz, this one’s a three parter that requires you to add your details at the end to get your results.

Questions here are very centered on your personality, habits and motivations. It’s originally intended for Malaysian students interested in medical studies but the questions are relevant to anyone anywhere.

Completing this felt like I was doing a routine work questionnaire. Hardly inspiring even if I do see some practical value!

My result…

Not bad considering if I was hitting the middle answer for a whole bunch of them! Plus reaffirmation that I’m on the right track?

Final Thoughts

Am I Smart Enough To Be A Doctor” quizzes probably aren’t the best measure of whether you’re up to the challenge or not.

The above? Not the most methodical (or rigorous) way of testing. And I’m not even sure if I would have scored as high as I did back in the days before I went into med!

Running through the quizzes above has done nothing to change my opinion.

Almost anyone is capable of becoming a doctor. So long as they put in the hard work and dedication!

Will

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.

willpeachmd.com