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Everyone, thank you so much for joining us. I'm Julia with Inspira Advantage. We're an admissions consulting company dedicated to helping deserving students get into the medical school of their dreams. I'm really excited you could all join us here today. We’ll be discussing what top medical schools look for in their candidates, and we’ve got a really awesome and exciting webinar ready for you.
Before we start, let me quickly touch on the agenda. We'll cover the key qualities that top medical schools value. Then, we'll dive into building a compelling application story, and lastly, we’ll touch on mastering the interview process.
Just a little bit about us—if you're not familiar with what Inspira Advantage does—as I mentioned, we’re an admissions consulting company focused on getting you accepted to your dream school. We have over 15 years of experience, and our applicants have a 94% acceptance rate. We’ve helped them get over $23 million in scholarship awards, and our clients have four times higher acceptance rates compared to others, which is pretty crazy. So, if you’re looking to get accepted into your dream school, please contact us. If you hang tight, we’ll also have a special code for you as a little reward and treat for joining us today.
Now, I’m going to turn it over to our panelist, Dr. Aryaman Gupta. Aryaman, if you want to go ahead and say a little bit about yourself before we dive into the content.
Absolutely. Great to meet everybody. Thanks for joining, I know it’s tough on a Tuesday night like this. My name is Aryaman. A little bit about myself: I grew up in the Midwest but wanted to explore more, so I went to Duke in North Carolina, where I studied biomedical engineering. I worked as an engineer for a bit and then decided to make the switch to medicine. I was fortunate to be accepted to Johns Hopkins, as well as several other schools, but I chose to attend Johns Hopkins as a merit scholar. I’m currently an Interventional Radiology resident at Johns Hopkins and have been working as a counselor for Inspira for a few years now. I’ve also served as an interviewer for Duke and Johns Hopkins, so I’m very familiar with what medical schools are looking for these days.
Amazing, thanks so much! Alrighty, let’s go ahead and get started.
Great. Key qualities top medical schools value. I’ll preface this entire presentation by saying that each person and medical school is unique. However, there are some underlying common themes that we’ll highlight tonight. If you truly want to tailor your application, it’s really helpful to work with someone who can do that for you.
The three big things medical schools look for are academic excellence, leadership, and research experience. First, academic excellence: as a baseline, you need to have good numbers. Often, schools use GPA and MCAT scores as thresholds. They receive thousands of applications, so they need a way to filter them. Each tier of school will have a different threshold for GPA and MCAT, so you’ll want to make sure yours is competitive. Don’t let that slip.
Next is leadership. Medical school and being a doctor are all about leading teams and being part of multidisciplinary networks. You’ll need to show that you can work in teams, both as a member and as a leader.
Then, research experience. Schools expect more research every year, whether it's basic science or clinical research. They want to see that you understand research because it will continue in medical school.
Moving on, commitment to service is another crucial quality. Schools look for long-term service, both clinical and non-clinical, so you can show a true understanding of what it means to go into medicine. Medicine is a marathon, not a decision made lightly. Schools want to know you’re pursuing it for the right reasons and with a dedication to service.
Diversity of experiences is also key. Schools want a breadth and depth of experiences. Don’t just do something for a month and then try to speak like an expert. Instead, engage deeply and for a long period of time. Lastly, resilience and determination—your personal story matters. Medical schools want to see what you’ve overcome, and how those experiences have informed your decision to pursue medicine.
Now, building a compelling application story. One of the hardest and most important parts of applying to medical school is figuring out your niche—your unique story. At Duke and Hopkins, during interviews, we tried to boil applicants down to their most unique feature. What are you going to be remembered for? Is it research in CT cells? Weekends volunteering at the Red Cross? Figure out what that is and build your application narrative around it.
Lastly, mastering the interview process. While your primary and secondary applications are important, the final decision often comes down to the interview. That’s when schools get to see if you’re a good fit for four years with their educators and peers. Prepare well and be ready to communicate what you’ll bring to the school.
I know that was a lot of information, so let’s take a quick break. As I mentioned earlier, we have a special promotion for everyone who joined today. If you're interested in working with Inspira and an admissions consultant, we're offering 10% off all services for you because you joined this webinar. You can scan the QR code on the screen or go to our website and use the promo code.
Also, I want to flag that this webinar is being recorded and will be sent out tomorrow morning. So, if you missed anything or want to go back, you’ll be able to do that. We’ll also have a designated Q&A section at the end, so if you have any questions, please hold onto them until we finish the last slide, and then we’ll answer them in real-time.
Now, let’s dive back into our regular programming.
Alright, so academic excellence—your GPA and MCAT scores are key thresholds. While medical schools look at applications holistically, strong academic performance will help. Doing well in your college coursework shows that you can handle the rigor of medical school.
Make sure you're taking the right pre-med classes and performing well in them. And when it comes to the MCAT, take your time and get the score you want the first time around. This will help ensure that your academic performance sets you up for success in medical school.
Now, leadership. When you're crafting your application, your list of activities should highlight leadership roles. Medical schools want to see that you're not just a team player, but that you can also step up and lead when needed. It’s important to have both team experience and leadership roles, and it's especially impressive when your involvement is longitudinal. You won’t start as president of a club, but as you grow in the organization, you can identify areas of improvement and lead in making things better for the group. Make sure to emphasize this growth in your application.
As for research and innovation, this can take many different forms. Some applicants are strong in basic science research, while others excel in clinical research. Both types show that you're committed to improving the field of medicine from a scientific perspective. When you're applying, think ahead—residency programs are looking more and more at research experience now that Step One is pass/fail. This means your research background will help you hit the ground running in medical school. It’s not about whether you're doing wet lab work or clinical trials; it’s about being an active participant in research. Admissions committees want to know that you’ve contributed to research, brought ideas to the table, and can articulate how you’d take that research into the future.
Commitment to service is huge. Medicine is a service-oriented field, and when you're practicing, it’s all about the people you serve. Through service, you get exposure to different walks of life, which helps you appreciate diverse backgrounds and experiences. It’s important to do both clinical and non-clinical volunteering, and, again, it’s key that you don’t just go through the motions. Be invested in the service work you do, and make sure you’re able to reflect on what you’ve learned and how it has shaped your understanding of medicine.
Now, let's talk about diversity of experiences. Each applicant is unique, and medical schools want to build a diverse class. A common secondary essay prompt asks what makes you unique. This can be your identity, your life experiences, or even the diversity of the work you've done. Don’t be afraid to highlight the different perspectives you bring to the table, and be sure to balance your application with a wide variety of experiences—research, service, leadership, and more.
Resilience and determination are also critical. Many schools ask applicants to write about a time they struggled or faced a hardship. Overcoming challenges can show resilience, which is a valuable trait in medicine. Personal stories can also demonstrate vulnerability, which helps you build strong relationships with patients. Being able to share how you’ve grown through adversity is a key part of connecting with patients and helping them through their toughest moments.
Let’s move on to extracurricular activities. You’ve probably heard that the big three categories are research, clinical experience, and volunteering. You’ll want to show strong involvement in each. Clinical experiences, such as shadowing or volunteering in a medical setting, are essential because they show that you understand what a career in medicine entails. Non-clinical experiences are equally important because they show that you’ve explored other paths and ultimately found that medicine is the right career for you.
Letters of recommendation are crucial. Medicine values the opinions of others who know you well, so you want to make sure you’re selecting the right recommenders. It's better to have someone who knows you deeply write a letter than someone with a prestigious title who barely knows you. The depth of the relationship is more important than the position of the recommender. Make sure to build strong relationships with your professors, mentors, and supervisors, and ask for recommendations well in advance of deadlines.
Your personal statement is the heart of your application. It should showcase your niche—what makes you unique—and the resilience and obstacles you’ve overcome. Be clear about why you’re pursuing medicine and why it’s the right path for you. There’s no need to tailor this to specific schools, but focus on articulating why medical school is the right choice for your journey.
Now, let's touch on interview prep. By the time you reach the interview stage, you’re likely exhausted from months of applications, but the interview is crucial. It’s your chance to show the admissions committee who you are beyond the paper. You’ll be expected to answer common questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “Why medicine?” and “Why this school?” Practice these ahead of time and get into a rhythm. Virtual interviews are common now, so ensure your setup is professional—lighting, camera level, and attire all matter. Also, be prepared for curveball questions that might test how you think on your feet. The stronger your communication skills, the better you’ll do in these interviews.
Time management and organization are skills you’ll need to demonstrate. If you can balance studying for the MCAT, finishing your degree, and applying to medical school, it shows that you’ll be able to handle the workload in medical school, residency, and beyond. Each stage of your medical career will be a balancing act, so strong time management skills will serve you well.
Start early – Procrastination is common, but the earlier you start, the better. Work backward from your goals. Know when you want to submit secondaries, when you need to submit primaries, and when you should take the MCAT. Build in buffer time for life’s curveballs.
Be authentic – It’s easy to spot when someone is being genuine versus when they’re just trying to impress. Focus on talking deeply about the things that truly interest you rather than trying to check off what you think sounds impressive. Genuine passion always shines through.
Seek feedback – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Getting feedback on your personal statement and other aspects of your application is crucial. Every draft will go through multiple revisions, and input from others will only strengthen your application.
Before we dive into the Q&A, I’d like to quickly ask for your feedback on this webinar. If you scan the QR code on the screen, you can share what you liked or what you think could be improved. Your feedback is valuable and helps us make these sessions even better.
Now, we’ll go into the Q&A portion. If you have any questions, please type them in the chat, and we’ll address them.
While we wait for your questions to come in, I’d like to start with one for our panelist,Dr. Aryaman Gupta.
Aryaman Gupta: Great question, and thanks for asking! Yes, I worked for about a year at an orthopedic company, Zimmer Biomet, focusing on knee implants, and also spent time as an engineer in a lab. It really ties back to the diversity of experiences we were talking about earlier. When I entered medical school, I realized that my engineering background gave me a unique perspective. For example, just recently, I was explaining something to a patient’s family, and we ended up talking about Poiseuille’s law, and discussing pressure and flow rates. My engineering background helped me break down complex medical concepts in a way that made sense to them.
In addition, the way I approached studying and problem-solving came from my engineering training. Medical fields like cardiology, renal physiology, and pulmonology often come down to understanding systems and equations, much like engineering. The heart is essentially a pump, so thinking about it in mechanical terms can be really helpful. I believe that the skills I developed in engineering helped me approach medicine with a methodical and analytical mindset, which has served me well both academically and in patient care.
But beyond the technical side, my background also served as a great conversation starter. Many of my patients have been curious about my journey, and I’ve been able to relate my previous work in ways that build rapport with them.
Julia: I love that! It’s so interesting how your engineering background helped shape your approach to medicine, both in your studies and in connecting with patients. It’s a great reminder that no matter where you start, the skills you develop along the way can be incredibly valuable in a medical career.
We’ve got a question from Tatiana. She asks: Are there differences in how clinical experiences or roles are valued, or is it really about how well you can explain their value?
Aryaman Gupta: Great question, Tatiana. The short answer is that it’s all about how well you can explain the value of your experience. For example, I’ve seen two applicants who both volunteered in an emergency department. On paper, their roles were very similar—they handed out water, blankets, and snacks, and made sure patients were comfortable in the waiting room. However, during the interviews, their descriptions of their experiences were very different. One applicant just listed what they did, like a checklist, but the other really dug deeper. They talked about how they connected with patients, listened to their stories, and tried to help in meaningful ways. The same role, but the second applicant was able to convey the impact it had on them and on the patients they served. That made a huge difference in how I perceived their experience.
It’s not just about what you do—it’s about what you learned and how you grew from those experiences. Admissions committees want to see that you’ve reflected on your experiences and that they’ve shaped you into someone who understands the human side of medicine. So even if your role seems small or mundane, if you can explain how it contributed to your understanding of patient care and your desire to be a doctor, it will have a big impact.
Julia: That’s such a great point. It’s really about how well you can articulate your experiences and show how they’ve influenced your journey toward medicine.
Here’s another question from Allison: Do you have specific advice on how to balance your personal life and health with your medical career?
Aryaman Gupta: This is a really important topic. Balancing personal life and health with the demands of medical school and residency can be incredibly challenging. One thing that often gets overlooked is mental health. You can study as hard as you want for the MCAT or any exam, but if you’re not taking care of yourself mentally and physically, it will catch up to you on exam day, or worse, down the line during medical school or residency.
The strategies you develop now to take care of yourself will pay off in the long run. Residency can be brutal—just this past week, I worked a seven-day stretch, including the weekend, and next week looks just as tough. But I make sure to carve out time for things I enjoy, like cooking. Right now, I’ve got broccoli cheddar soup and fresh bread on the stove because that’s my way of unwinding after a long day. Finding those little joys, whether it’s cooking, spending time with friends, or going to a pumpkin patch, helps maintain a sense of balance.
The key is to be really diligent about protecting your personal time. Know your limits and don’t overextend yourself. It’s okay to say no sometimes. When I’m off duty, I sign out of my work system and allow myself to fully disconnect. That way, when I’m back on, I’m fully present for my patients and my work.
It’s all about finding what works for you and making sure that you prioritize your well-being, even in the middle of the chaos of medical training.
Julia: That’s such valuable advice, and I’m sure many of our attendees can relate. Self-care and setting boundaries are crucial, especially in a demanding field like medicine.
We have another question, this time from Allison: Do you have any advice on preparing for multiple mini interviews (MMIs)?
Aryaman Gupta: Absolutely. MMIs are a unique challenge, and they definitely require practice. The key is to not just focus on the answer you think is “right,” but to show that you can think through the problem systematically.
For example, in one practice question I worked on with a student recently, the scenario involved a patient who needed an emergency blood transfusion but had a card in their wallet indicating they were a Jehovah's Witness and didn’t want blood transfusions. The initial instinct is to jump to a conclusion—either to follow the patient’s wishes based on the card or to override it because the situation is life-threatening. But in an MMI, you need to walk the interviewer through your thought process.
You need to first identify the key ethical issue—autonomy in this case. Then, you consider the stakeholders involved, like the patient, their family, and the hospital. Next, you ask yourself, “What more information do I need to make the best decision?” For example, is the card valid? Does the family confirm this is the patient’s wish? Are there any relevant legal or hospital policies I should be aware of? You want to show that you’re thorough, methodical, and thoughtful.
So, my biggest advice for MMIs is to not rush to a conclusion. Take your time, break down the scenario step by step, and think about all the factors at play. Practice with someone who can give you feedback, and work on staying calm and composed even when faced with curveball questions.
Julia: That’s really insightful. MMIs can be stressful, but it sounds like preparation and having a systematic approach can make all the difference.
We’ve got time for one last question. I’d love for you to touch a bit more on letters of recommendation. What advice do you have for choosing the right people to ask for recommendations?
Aryaman Gupta: Great question! The most important thing to remember is that depth matters more than prestige. It’s much better to have a letter from someone who knows you really well than from someone with a big name who barely knows you.
For example, when it comes to science-related recommendations, I’d much rather see a letter from a junior faculty member who worked with you closely and can speak to your strengths and contributions in detail than a Nobel laureate who supervised you from afar. The personal connection and the recommender’s ability to write specific, meaningful things about you will always carry more weight than a prestigious name.
You should also aim for diversity in your recommenders. Ideally, you want one from someone who knows you in a science or research setting, one from a non-science professor, and one from someone who can speak to your extracurricular involvement. This helps round out your application and gives the admissions committee a fuller picture of who you are.
Most importantly, build these relationships early and don’t wait until the last minute to ask for letters. The best recommendations come from people who’ve known you over time and can reflect on your growth and character.
Julia: That’s great advice. Building relationships early and choosing people who can really speak to your strengths sounds key to getting strong letters of recommendation.
I think that’s all the time we have for today. I want to thank Dr. Gupta for all of the incredibly valuable insights. I hope everyone learned a lot—I know I certainly did! If you’re interested in booking a consultation to work with Dr. Gupta or any of our other counselors, feel free to scan the QR code on the screen.
Thank you all so much for joining us, and we look forward to seeing you at our next webinar. Take care!
Aryaman Gupta: Thanks, everyone. Take care!
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